Word War 1 || 227 words
Prompt: “Oh, Hello! You’re stuck with me now. Ha! This is going to be fun.”

The young dragonborn trembled under the force before them. They couldn’t even see what it was, but they could feel it swirling around them like a cloud of smoke. “What a silly little child Dusk has found for me today,” the voice laughed, poking at the dragonborn and causing them to squeak in fear, which only resulted in more laughter. They bolted, trying to find their way out. It wasn’t that big of a box they had been shoved into, right? If they went far enough maybe they could find a wall and-
A set of eight glowing pupilless white eyes appeared in front of them, and they scrambled away as a weak silhouette of some sort of spider like creature formed in front of them. It was odd to see in the darkness, and as it towered above them, the dragonborn heard the eerie laugh again. “There’s no escape. There’s never an escape…the question is if Dusk chooses to spare you or if I can play with you forever!” With a giggle that sounded borderline insane the dragonborn found themselves pinned down by some sort of clawed talon. They flailed and kicked and tried to cast some sort of spell or use their breath magic, but nothing worked in the void. “The power of the wispmare,” the creature continued, oblivious to the panic in the creature

Edited/Completed Version
TBD

Bidaily part 2 (I'm too lazy to think of a real title) | 464 words

This is the city.
It is a shambling patchwork monster, like a sentient quilt, stretching over miles. Building spill and bubble over into a ragged border, made of wood and stone and garbage. Like a fat old dragon, the city claims more land every year, stretching further and further. Rats scuttle along the outer edges, but the inner city is kept fairly clean.
These are the people.
They are as colorful and varied as the city itself. Some are rich, and some are poor, and some are in between. Unlike most cities, there isn't a strict line drawn between classes. The city dwellers have learned this wisdom, at least–there is no value in separation.
Well, they're well on their way to learning, at least. Give it a few more decades. People change slowly.
This is the alchemist. He lives in a building more chaotic than the rest of the city combined. Colored smoke rises from one of several chimneys scattered haphazardly over the roof, and something explodes inside, followed by loud cursing as colorful as the smoke. An old man stumbles out a minute later, coughing and wheezing bright blue fog. His caterpillar-like eyebrows are being charred by wisps of pink fire. He swats at them, stifling the flames, and mutters to himself irritably. Even by those who know his status, he is considered…odd.
He also has a strange fascination with blowing things up. Luckily for his neighbors, he hasn't damaged anything too important yet, like, say, their houses or small children.
This is the alchemist's apprentice. She is a skinny and unremarkable young woman who does her best to draw little attention to herself. Her master has plenty of money, but she prefers going barefoot and in, if not quite rags, at least clothing that has seen better days. Right now her hair is in a sloppy ponytail, and she is trying to stop the pink flames from destroying her home. Her task complete, she sags, panting. All in a day's work for her, but she doesn't have to like it.
She never leaves, though. Before the alchemist picked her up, she was…nobody. An orphan (or practically) who scavenged on the streets. Unlike most of her peers, however, she didn't spend all her coin on food. Some of went toward frivolous things like education. Books. Her master bumped into her in a bookshop and snapped her up the instant he realized she could leave. He was looking for cheap labor, and not only did she fit the bill perfectly, she had expressed an interest in his career. As his servant, he would have had to pay her, but as an apprentice, all he had to do was teach her.
This is her home. These are her people.
This is her story.

https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/topic/768651/?page=16#post-8043212 < original outline

581 words from luka's scenes


Suddenly, the buzzing crowd is silenced by the slam of a previously unseen door, cleverly camouflaged amongst the texture of the wall. A tall, lean man steps into the crowded room and forges his way to the center of the mob. The air is heavy with tense silence.
The man smooths down his black blazer, clearing his throat. Craning her neck to see better, the girl watched from the outskirts of the crowd.
“You are all here for the same reason.” His voice carried firmly over the cavernous room, eliminating the possibility of anyone not understanding him. He exuded authority, and the girl got the impression that he should not be messed with. Maybe it was the fact that he was the only person they'd all seen since they escaped their chains. Maybe it was his entirely black attire, or the fact that his eyes were hidden behind sunglasses whilst indoors. Or maybe it was the edge to his voice- the slight intonation that implied that resisting his will would not end well.
“You have been removed from your previous lives. You are no longer affiliated with who you used to be. Do not try to return.”
Confused and fearful glances were exchanged around the room.
“You were all able to escape from your chains. This proves that you are meant to be here. Do not try and argue against that fact. However,” his jaw clenched imperceivably, “One of you is… anomalous.”
"One of you has cheated. We do not take cheating lightly here. It would do you all,“ the emphasis on the word made some avert their eyes, ”well to remember that.“
”Magic was used to escape the chains.“ At some snickers, the man raised his voice. ”This is grave magic. Not the type you hear about in children's stories. It is to be taken seriously. And if you are disbelieving, go ahead and act on that false belief and see where it gets you.“
Silence.
”This… individual… who has cheated their way here should be eliminated. You are here in order to carry out this elimination.“
”As in… killing them?“ someone put in. The girl inhaled sharply.
The man glowered. ”Yes. That is how the elimination of human life proceeds.“
He coughed and continued his speech. Eyes around the room were no longer just confused- they were panicked.
”If you can locate and eliminate the anomaly, you will be released back to your lives. Your memories will be restored, and all will proceed as normal. However, every day that you fail, one of you will be taken at random and dispatched.“
”Released?“
”No. ‘Killed.’"
An explosion of noise resounded in the room. The girl's feet were stuck to the ground, their mind reeling. Magic? Was that how they had managed to escape their chains?
Hold on… they were the target.
They were the person that everybody would try to kill.
The girl sucked in a sharp breath, dark spots clouding her vision.
The man, unfazed by the commotion, continued.
“If the target survives, they will be the only one rewarded with normality. They will resume their identity, and the rest of you will be deceased. They will also be rewarded with riches for life,” the man added.
“This isn't fricking fair!” someone shouted. The man glared at them coolly.
“I don't believe that you are in the position to decide what is fair and what it not.”
And with that, he made his exit, leaving chaos in his wake.

10.07 - daily

I sit on a fallen log, absent-mindedly daydreaming with the warm sunlight hitting my face. Everything feels perfect.
And then a shadow must pass over my face. I feel the absence of warmth for only a second or so, but enough to make me open my eyes slowly, irritated. A strange figure stands in front of me – he looks nothing like any of the fairies of the forest, and as far as I am aware, my parents weren’t expecting any foreign visits. He is tall and lanky, dressed in dark fabrics and staring at me with a peculiar expression – has nobody told him that it is rude to stare?
Evidently not, as he continues to stare and stare, so I tell him, “You know it’s rude to stare?”
That seems to snap him out of the trance-like state he was in, for he blinks and startles, a frown deepening on his face.
“Terribly sorry.”
I narrow my eyes. I am alone in the forest with a complete stranger in front of me, and I am the sole child of the reigning monarch. Surely this couldn’t be safe in the slightest. I have a mind to just get up and leave, but the stranger’s next words intrigue me.
“You are prophesied to be the saviour of our human lands, my lady.”
At first, I almost scoff with laughter. Me? A saviour? And this is one of those human creatures? Why, he doesn’t look half as powerful as the war-hungry beings they are rumoured to be. But then my curiosity and greed get the better of me, and I lean in to listen closely.
“How so then, human?”
His eyes flicker from me to the shadows behind. “Our world was once great. We lived in peace and harmony, and every human, from the lowly farmer to the king of the realm, was happy.”
I raise an eyebrow sceptically, but make no comment. I don’t believe his argument, but I am still hesitant to dismiss what he is saying. Maybe, if I really am a prophesied saviour, my father will finally accept me as his heir and not keep constantly pushing for a son.
“But then sickness broke out across the land – something we call the Black Death. Humans die in agony in their hundreds in every village, and there is no end in sight. But there is one way to stop it.”
I am on tenterhooks, listening with wide eyes.
“You are Princess Gloria, correct?” the human asks, and I respond with a curt nod. “The glory of the fairies will be the one to keep the human race from death,” the human recites. “It’s you.”
And I am so, so tempted to believe the human and run off with him to save the humans or whatnot. But my common sense overrides my sense of mischief. I have no way to know if the human is telling the truth, whether they are even human or not.
“I’ll think about it,” is all I end up saying.

daily july 10th: monomyth bidaily part 2 (take someone else’s outline and write a scene)
outline chosen: @theoddity’s ‘meeting the mentor’ bit

.
Night had been aimlessly wandering for a couple days now, not really knowing where to go besides ‘away’. If she were being completely honest, it was a rather nice routine to settle into - the rhythm of the sun rising and setting, camping away cool spring nights under the stars. She found that she much enjoyed the company of nature over the old musty cottage. Yet she knew it was never meant to last forever. Eventually, the summer heat would get to her, and she would one day run out of food or water and starve to death. Fun. No, she had to get herself together and make some real progress; she could have all the fun she wanted after finding the mysterious sender of the letter. Maybe even a better life, if she were lucky enough.
Night remembered that there was a lonesome pub a bit of a ways down the dirt road, golden lanterns lighting the dark when she had passed earlier on. She wasn’t super interested in the idea of loud music and drinking, nor having to backtrack, but who knew how much further she’d have to go to find life? After a short and personal debate, she pushes herself off the ground and gets going, for once having a destination. By the time she’s there, the sun’s sunken past the trees, and the little pub was luckily open and full of people. She pushes the heavy wooden doors open, taking a deep breath. There’s a pretty, overall trustworthy and normal looking lady working behind the bar, and she looks like her best bet.
“Uh, excuse me? Ma’am?” Night asks, her voice a bit crackly from not having talked in a while, “Do you happen to know anyone by the last name of Lunera around here?” She feels the color rise in her cheeks - that was a stupid question, why would she? She herself could barely list any of the names she knew, and much less the last ones.
The bartender lady turns to look at her with wide eyes, her blonde curls bouncing with the motion. Then she laughs, and Night’s previous thoughts were just as good as confirmed. What she wasn’t expecting, however, was to be surprised.
“Love, all the Luneras are dead,” she says, with a hint of sadness and mist in her eyes.
It’s quickly Night’s turn to be wide-eyed. “Well, some news, I’m a Lunera–”
The bartender looks her up and down, some sort of a realization settling in her expression. “Care for a drink? We can get to know each other first, then come to my house for the heftier part of this conversation.”
It sounds like something out of a horror movie, and generally something not suggested for anyone - having a drink, and then going to a stranger’s house. The lady flushes, probably realizing the creepy intonation to her invite.
“Sorry. Non-alcoholic, and you don’t have to go if you don’t want to, of course–”
That didn’t change Night’s response one bit. She was desperate for answers, wasn’t she? There wasn’t much left to lose, anyways. No one would miss her, and she was homeless.
“Sounds good,” she chokes out, giving a weak thumbs up. All the Luneras were dead?

The lady, who she learned was named Sol, lived in a little building behind the pub built rather similarly to the one she used to have. The difference was that it was much less musty and much more cozy. Sol apparently owned the house and ran the bar, one of the many things she’d learned while silently sipping a root beer.
As the door closed behind them, Night half-expected to be thrown into a basement, not really caring much for the outcome. Instead, Sol immediately began picking up their conversation.
“So! I, uh, knew your parents. At least, I think they were your parents?” She points to a small photograph in the hallway, and Night stares at it in a silent kind of shock. Yep, those were her mom and dad, although way younger. It was a jarring thing to look at.
“Wow,” Night starts, “You can’t just drop plot-heavy one liners like that the second I step into your home,” she laughs dryly.
Sol laughs too, but it’s much more melancholic. “Sorry, sorry. That’s why I wanted to bring you here - can’t risk eavesdroppers and all that. They were executed… six years ago?”
“Executed?” she asks.
“You didn’t know?” Oh, so the surprises apparently never ended.
“No. They just never came home one day. I’d assumed it was an accident of some sort.”
Sol frowned. “Peculiar. That’s why I was so taken aback when you mentioned you were a Lunera - the entire bloodline’s been executed. I’m not sure why, I was only trusted with half the information.”
The two of them stand in silence for a moment, the information kind of bouncing around the room like a rubber ball.
“So…” Night begins awkwardly, “I’m not supposed to be alive?”
“Um,” Sol nods. “Yeah, I’d assume so. I don’t think the executioners knew your parents had a child, and they certainly weren’t looking to tell, so.”
Silence again.
“Can I sit down?” Night says.
“Of course, sorry, dear,” she answers, “You’re more than welcome to stay the night, if you’d like. There’s a guest room on the right of the stairs, painted yellow.”
Night nods. “Thank you,” she says quietly, not really sure where else to go with the conversation. She heads up the stairs.

Her parent’s had been executed. That was a fun thing to learn in a night, although she was certainly glad to know. She didn’t see how it could help her find the sender of the letter, though, so she just lies on the empty mattress (which was extremely nice to have after days on grass), and stares at the ceiling. Oh. The letter, she’d probably have to bring that up eventually. Or was it too family personal? The answer never came, though, as she drifted off into sleep.
When morning came, she quickly made herself presentable using the table mirror, and went to her bag to pull out the letter. She headed downstairs to find Sol drinking tea.
“I’ve got this,” she says kind of offhandedly, setting the black envelope down. Sol reads the few lines with interest, nodding as she went. She flipped it over to see the seal, eyebrows furrowing.
“Okay,” she finally says. “That’s… interesting. I take it that you’re trying to find the sender?”
“Mhm.”
“Okay, good idea. I’m not really sure what guidance I can give you on that, considering I hadn’t known you existed. I trust that you’re smart enough, though.”
Night looks down, taking the letter and putting it in her pocket. “It’s okay. Thank you, I just thought you should know.”
Sol smiles. “I take it you’ll be on your way soon?” Night shook her head, agreeing. “Right, then. Hold on just a second, dear.” she leaves the room, returning with a shining silver necklace, holding a glistening red pendant.
“Ruby,” Night states without really thinking. Sol fastens the jewel around her neck gingerly.
“You know your stones. That’s good,” she says, and Night can tell just from that that Sol is a gemstone enthusiast. “I have to run my pub, so while I’d have loved to assist you on your journey, I cannot. This necklace is meant to ward off all evils, which I hope keeps you safe.”
“Thank you,” Night says earnestly, feeling like a broken record. This lady had done so much for her in just a couple hours, she recognized that she’d gotten very lucky. To not only not get kidnapped, but to be met with kindness. It gave her a new sense of determination.
“If there is still that tiny sliver of hope left, then you may as well follow it,” Sol adds. “Good luck, love.”
Go where the moon shines brightest.
La lunera esta un lumiere, amore.
She could almost hear her mother’s voice in Sol’s.
.

Sometimes, Night resented her family tradition of wearing black. She still always wore boots and cloak the color of ink wherever she went, she was respectful afterall, but that didn’t mean the comments on her strange way of dressing didn’t upset her. Though at times like this, rummaging through a newly filled dumpster for anything of use to her, the fact that no one could see the messy stains from old food and dirty clothes was a nice perk.

Today, she didn’t find much of anything, she had been held up and arrived too late so any of the excess food the store threw out instead of giving away had gone entirely cold. And at the age of sixteen, old toys didn’t pique much interest to her. Night pulled herself up and out, wiping off the trash smeared on her clothes and sticking to the shadows as she left the alleyway into the street. Another perk of always wearing dark clothing, it was easy to avoid the boys who constantly teased her.

She took a breath of the cool night air and felt at peace, perhaps because her family valued night so much, it made her feel like she was still with them. Sure, she barely remembered her parents, if she even had siblings and other things orphans couldn’t relate to, but they must enjoy the darkness, the moon and the stars even a little bit. Otherwise, why would they name their kid Nightlace Lunera? That’s the type of name that gets someone bullied and teased. She would know.

Eventually she found her way to her house, right outside the dim lights of the town. The stars were clearer here and it brought a rare smile to Night’s face. Perhaps it was strange, but the twinkling lights were like friends to her, even in the day when they couldn’t be seen, she knew they were alway there. She walked down the dilapidated, old pebble path leading to her door, when something caught her eye.

Her mailbox, rusted with lack of use, was hanging ajar, with something fluttering inside it. Strange, Night didn’t know anyone had her address, or even cared enough to send her anything. She walked over and pulled the loose paper out, revealing a dark indigo letter with a golden seal with a crescent-shaped engraving. The sight shocked her, this wasn’t any normal letter. Something had to be up.

Daily 7/10 || 486 words
@Galaxy_Awesome || Outline || Crossing the first threshold

Anjani awed at the shimmering blue lake, surrounded on all sides by the crumbled bricks of what had been before. She had never seen anything like this before, and as she peered down at her reflection in the water, she realized that this lake couldn’t be a normal one. It was too blue, as if food dye had been put into it, and it sparkled in such a way that was definitely unnatural. She shook this wonder out of her head, remembering that she was supposed to be saving Grace, and turned towards the robot beside her, raising an eyebrow. “So?”
The clockwork robot nodded, audibly ticking with the clocks and gears within it. “This is no ordinary lake,” it explained, gesturing to the glittering water. “Rather, this is a portal through time. It is how your friend got lost, and it is how I was able to come to your time.” “Seriously?” Anjani blurted out without thinking, before realizing. She was talking to some robot, her friend had disappeared /somehow/, and that lake was WAY too sparkly and blue.
“…Okay fine,” she muttered, looking back at the portal. “Do I just…jump in?” “Simple as that!”
Anjani sighed. If only Grace hadn’t been so reckless! Her doubt about following her friend had returned, and she debated going back. Exploring was Grace’s thing, she could handle herself, right? Jumping into random puddles of time magic was NOT Anjani’s expertise. But…what if Grace was in trouble? What if she really was lost, and Anjani was the only one who could save her?
Biting her tongue and really hoping that she wouldn’t regret this, Anjani jumped in.
Sure enough, it wasn’t water waiting for her. She felt like she was on a roller coaster, tumbling through a glowing stream and waves of blue. She caught some glimpses of what might have been alternate forms of the ruins, and possibly the robot following behind her, but with all of the twisting and twirling and tumbling and an oddly sickening feeling that came from the bright blue and constant sparkles, she couldn’t focus on any one given moment.
The next second, she was laying in the grass, coughing and feeling sick. As she recovered, she heard the clanking of the clockwork robot’s gears as it landed beside her. She faintly remembered it saying something about how the lakes were used to collect resources and communicate with other timelines or something like that, but she didn’t find it very interesting.
Standing up, she mumbled “Let’s just find Grace and get out of-“
She realized she was surrounded not by the ruins she had seen before, but huge buildings of brick and wood, people running to and fro with something to do. In the distance Anjani could even see a massive castle overlooking the city and the lake. The clockwork robot nodded as if to confirm her suspicions.
They were in the past.

July 10th Daily
The dragonet was confused as Evan plopped them in front of a large dragon cave. “THERE. Off you trot. I bet you there's SOMEONE in there to take care of you.” The little guy looked up at him, tilting its head. “Go on, I can't keep you, and there's probably a dragon in there that'll take better care of you.” he shooed the dragon, who instead of going in walked back to him and sat on his feet. Evan was particularly frustrated. “Go away!” he shouted again, but the dragon simply stared blankly. This aggravated him even more, and in a burst of rage he gave the drake a kick, which finally got it to move. Pained, the dragon retreated from him, but wouldn't go into the cave. “Come on! Go!” Evan shouted. “Keeping you means pain for me and my family! I'm not about to get involved in a war that has nothing to do with me!” The dragon whined, staring at him with puppy eyes. Evan started at the small thing, before sighing, his anger changing to remorse. “Look… I already lost my uncle to war, I can't let anyone else get involved.” The dragon tilted its head, seeming to be curious. Evan sat down, starting to tear up. “I… I can't let the same thing happen… If I lost my parents, then what? They don't deserve to die because of me.” He started to cry, falling to his hands and knees, his tears falling to the dirt. Soon he felt a weight on his side as the dragon nudged him. Suddenly he was overcome with a vision through the eyes of the dragonet. The dragon above him was his father, bowing to his much smaller body. The dragon then turned away, lifting his wings and soaring off. Evan (as the dragonet) ran to the edge of the cave, watching as their father plunged into a war torn battlefield to gather supplies. As he foraged around, an old ballista lodged in the ground triggered and-
Evan gasped, back in his true body. He looked at the dragonet, who was staring at him solemnly. “You… you lost someone to war too…?” The dragonet nodded, which broke his heart a little. “I'm sorry…. If I'd known…” He sighed. "Okay, I get it. If I stop the war, it won't near my colony. Is that what you're trying to say.
The dragonet simply sneezed.

(403 words)

daily 07.10 | hero's journey / monomyth part two | 789 words | 600 points
–> based on the Crossing the First Threshold segment of @Galaxy_Awesome's outline

When Anjali steps out from between the crumbling walls of the alley into the open area, she’s momentarily blinded by the sunlight before her eyes adjust. The little clockwork robot, whose name she still doesn’t know and is a little too afraid to ask for, stands only a bit ahead of her, seemingly waiting.

In the heart of the grand ruins is this vast space, and starting from the edges of the buildings are huge terraced steps, each about a meter tall and made of limestone or soil, some thriving with grass and flora. They descend in rings towards the center until they disappear under the rippling surface of a cerulean lake. It looks almost unnaturally blue, even from the distance that Anjali’s still at.

“What is this place?” she asks softly. It feels wrong to raise her voice here — the silence is so thick, as though the air is full of the ghosts of whatever this place once was. The area around the lake, on the other hand, looks awfully alive compared to the dead city around it — it’s teeming with plants and the grass looks healthily cut, as though someone had mowed it and trimmed the weeds only recently.

“Follow me,” the robot says without answering her question at first. It starts off towards the terraces and Anjali follows, unwilling to be separate from the only other sort-of-sentient thing in the city. “This is a lake.”

Anjali wants to say something that she really shouldn’t in response to that statement. “Clearly,” she says instead. “But why are we here?”

The robot doesn’t stop moving for a moment, but its head jerks to the side a little. “It’s not just a lake anymore,” it explains. “Your friend went into it. No one has been through it since time out of mind. She is now at the whims of time.”

At this point, the sarcasm is only deserved. “That’s crazy, genius, and explains literally nothing. Where is she? What does this lake have to do with anything? What, did she drown or something?”

“No, child. It’s a portal through time.”

“What.” Anjali nearly trips over her own feet. “What are you talking about.”

“This lake serves as a gateway to bygone portions of our timeline,” the robot explains, coherent for once. “When your friend entered it, she was transported somewhere behind us in the timestream. The only way to retrieve her is to go into it yourself.”

“That’s the most ridiculous story I’ve ever heard.” They reach the bottom of the terraces, and the robot pulls to a stop a couple of meters away from the water. Here, Anjali can more properly see what the lake looks like — it’s absolutely opaque, because she can’t see anything through it at all, but it shimmers and swishes over itself as though there is something hiding within its waves. The color is the most vibrant, gorgeous blue, shifting from sapphire to azure to turquoise and back to cerulean. It’s the eeriest thing she’s ever felt, and the ghosts of the city have never felt more distinct than they do here.

“It’s true,” the robot deadpans. “If you want to save Grace, our only choice is to enter the past. That is where she is, after all.”

It sounds crazy and inane. Anjali doesn’t want to go back potentially centuries and endanger herself at the word of an oddly emotional robot in the abandoned ruins of an ancient city. That makes no sense. But, at the same time — she came here for Grace. How can she leave without Grace?

“You know what? Fine. Whatever. I’ll do it. Let’s go. Not that I entirely believe your story to begin with, but the worst that can happen is me getting a little wet. How do we go?” She blurts it all out with one breath, knowing that she’s making the most impulsive decision of her life.

“You just touch it,” the robot says like its obvious. Anjali sighs.

“Okay. Sure.”

The odd pair of them approaches the lake, and Anjali is mesmerized by its color and movement. The atmosphere over it feels dark and heavy and churning. “Ready?” asks the robot.

She’s really not, and she’s still wholly confused, but it doesn’t matter at this point. She’s in too deep to back out now. “Yeah.”

The robot moves forward and bows its head down to touch the surface, and Anjali crouches next to it to do likewise. The moment that her forehead brushes the brilliant blue water, she gasps, but its cut out.

Suddenly, the city is empty and undisturbed once more. There’s nothing and no one there. Anyone who comes by might think that nobody has been there in millennia.

bi-daily 10 - use someone's outline and turn it into a story - 955/400 words

Violet walked through town, flashing a smile or waving a hand at any friendly face she recognized on the way to her next alchemy lesson. Her mentor greeted her at the door of their little training house, his black hair frizzy, and eyes bloodshot.
“Probably just another failed attempt at what we’ve been working on together,” Violet mumbled to herself, slightly irritated that he messed around with it while she was away.
“I have an exciting announcement!” He said, pushing her into the small cabin. “This is top secret, you can’t tell anyone!”
Violet nodded dramatically. “Yeah, ok, I think I know what a secret is. Spill the tea, Horatio.”
“Any minute now, the trumpets will sound to tell—” He paused, blaring trumpets interrupting him like he predicted. After a second, they quieted and he was able to continue. “Soldiers just told the city about a war!” A crooked smirk appeared on his face and Violet shifted nervously in her seat.
“And you’re excited about that?” She questioned, unsure about how she should feel.
“Of course! We finally get to unveil our creation!”
Violet stood up and walked to the back of the room where their experiments were kept. She dragged a dark blue cloth off of what Horatio was talking about, and let out a shriek.
“This?” She shouted, whipping around to face him. He was still sitting in his chair, the sick smile still resting on his face.
“Indeed, Violet. Indeed.”
“But this has the capacity to hurt so many people! This wasn’t what it was designed for!”
Horatio stood to comfort her, putting a hand on her shoulder as they stared at the creation. “I know, dear. And you’re right; that’s not what it was designed for, but last night I did some work and modified it! The king informed me about their plans for war, and when he asked if I had anything to help their army, I knew this was the perfect move.” He paused, letting her take it in. After a moment of silence, he sighed. “I know you and I worked so hard on this, only for me to turn it into something completely different. But, this has the potential to kill thousands! It’ll work brilliantly for the upcoming war. And, when we win, the city will think of you as a hero! Come back tomorrow, Violet. Our lessons will be slightly different from now until the war is over, but I’ll let you take the day off.”

Violet made her way back home, thinking through all of the possible scenarios that could happen if the weapon was or was not used. She lay in bed, overwhelmed by the possibility of harming innocent people with a weapon she and Horatio had crafted.
Not but a moment later, she threw off her covers and left to go steal it and protect the other kingdom. They hadn’t done anything wrong! It was a matter of wanting more land, the king was greedy, and she wanted to stop him. She wanted to be a hero to the other kingdom, not someone known for playing a part in the carnage.
She put on a dark cloak, hoping it would help her hide in the shadows on the way there and back.When she got to her destination, she opened the old wooden door slowly, praying it wouldn’t let out one of its obnoxious squeaks. Thankfully, the door stayed silent as she opened it, and Violet was able to walk in unnoticed. She walked to the back of the room as quietly as humanly possible in order to not wake Horatio, and snatched the weapon, hiding it in her large cloak. As soon as she was in, she was out, and she casually strolled through town as if nothing had happened, eventually running into a group of runaways like herself.

“What are you doing?” The leader seethed, looking at her fiercely, a glimmer of anger in his eyes.
“I — uh,” she stuttered, eyeing the group nervously. She spotted a patch woven into each of their jackets, and a feeling of relief washed over her. “Aren’t you the runaways?” She asked, smiling.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he spat back at her.
With a sigh, she revealed the weapon, hoping to show them she wanted to help. “I’m Violet, Horatio’s apprentice, you may have heard of him. I want to help you, please.” The runaways looked at her suspiciously, then let her continue out of curiosity.
“This is the weapon we’ve been working on, and it’s going to hurt the other kingdom but they haven't done anything wrong!”
“Come with us,” the leader said.

The runaways lead her past the kingdom’’s gates and into a massive battlefield. Dodging fire balls and other dangers is harder than it looks, but after valiant efforts, they manage to get in contact with some people from the other kingdom who are willing to cooperate with the runaways.
Violet shows them the weapon, and they accept it with open arms, eternally grateful for her help. A massive group praises Violet and promises to protect her on the way back to her kingdom (who lost by the way) and make sure she is safe from the angry soldiers and king living there.

Horatio walks up to her angrily, questioning why she would steal the weapon instead dof coming clean to him.
“I didn’t want to be on the wrong side of the war, and fighting for this kingdom would’ve been wrong.”
Horatio attempts to kill her, but her large number of allies helps to keep her safe like promised and Horatio is forced to accept defeat.
“I’m sorry, Horatio,” Violet tells him sincerely. “I just knew you wouldn’t help me.”

weekly pt 2 (mwahahahahahaha > ) 588 words
(Sorry it said daily/+600 points before I think I had copied and pasted that first line-)

As Eloise sat down for dinner, she saw the tenth pansy sitting on her plate. Lily, her sister, glanced over, snickering.

“Someone must really like you, Eloise.”

“Oh, be quiet, Lily. I don’t even know who’s sending them. It’s probably you that’s putting them there, or someone else just playing a trick on me.”

“I don’t know…”

She rolled her eyes. It was probably just Lily- but the notes were always strange. I need your help. was what it had said last night. Tonight, it was, Meet me by the fountain at the front of your house at eleven PM. Eloise knew she shouldn’t go, but her curiosity always took hold of her when she saw something like this. She would go tonight, she decided.

Dinner was delicious, but Eloise ate impatiently. The clock seemed like it was ticking slower than usual, and it was only 7 o’clock. Still four more hours, she thought as she walked upstairs after dinner. She sat at her desk, staring at the ceiling, trying to think of what to draw. Eyes weren’t that hard like everyone made them out to be, and hands she had gotten better at. Realism, maybe? Or greyscale on traditional… the shading on that would look cool, and then she wouldn’t have to do a base color first- that was probably a good idea. Eloise looked up a few images on her phone, finally deciding on an image of a person playing the guitar while sitting on a bench. Drawing was always an easy way to pass the time, and soon, it was nearing eleven. The house was quiet, with everyone else sound asleep. Eloise got up from her desk and padded quietly out of her room. Once, she nearly tripped and knocked over a vase, but she caught it before it shattered. The door opened silently- which was strange, since usually it creaked just a bit.

The night air was cool, and everything was silent. It was peaceful and a bit creepy at the same time. The fountain she was supposed to meet this person at was in a side garden near the end of the driveway. Eloise stuck close to the hedges, hoping they would disguise her if someone looked outside. Once she was in the garden, she stood up, glad to be able to not have to crouch. There was nobody at the fountain. Eloise checked her watch- 11:04 PM. Either they were late, or the entire thing was just a trick. She walked over and lay back on one of the benches, looking up at the stars. Her grandma used to tell her that they were wishes- when you made a wish, it floated up to the sky and became a new star. When she was little, she had chosen one star that she thought was her wish. She found it in the sky, and it shined faintly. Whatever is happening, if it is anything at all, she wished, help me figure it out, would you? Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flower float down from… nowhere. She picked it up, examining it closer.

It was a pansy.

She gasped, dropping it in the fountain. A few feet away from her, there was a slight sparkle, then a boy- probably her age, about 15- appeared there, dusting off sparkles from his suit.

“Hello, Eloise. Glad to see you got my message. I need your help.”

(I used the Call to Action from @Galaxy_Awesome’s outline: https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/topic/491835/?page=13#post-8043299 )

Anjani looks up from her book as Grace adjusts the straps of her backpack, preparing to go on her biggest journey yet. The roommates lock eyes as Grace straightens up, swinging the backpack over her shoulders just like she’d done so many times before. But this time was different. Grace was planning to venture outside the town limits, on foot, exploring territory that no one had traversed in years.
“Oh, I almost forgot-” Grace says, rummaging through her pocket and pulling out a small device. She hands it to Anjani, who tentatively reaches out and takes it. “It’s a GPS tracker,” Grace explains. “So you can see how far I’ve gone!”
Anjani nods. “Thanks,” she responds. She never understood Grace’s obsession with exploration, but it would be nice to know Grace was safe out there. “Message me when you can, okay?”
“Of course.” Grace grins determinedly. “Welp, time for me to get going. See you soon!” Practically running out the door of the apartment they shared, Grace throws one last wave goodbye to Anjani. And then she’s gone.
For a while, Anjani relishes the quiet left behind in Grace’s absence. At last, she can read her books in peace. But as the hours pass, she finds herself thinking more and more about what Grace is doing. Had she passed the town limits yet? Had she found anything interesting?
Checking her phone, there were no messages. No activity on the GPS tracker either- was it broken?
A day passed. Then another.
Anjani's anxiety grew. She still hadn't heard from Grace since she left, and the GPS tracker remained blank. Anjani tried to stay calm, reminding herself that Grace was experienced and capable. But as the second night wore on, her worry turned to fear.
On the morning of the third day, Anjani awoke to the sound of her phone buzzing. She grabbed it, her heart pounding as she saw the notification: a text from Grace's number. With trembling hands, she opened the message.
“You have to see this.”
Her breath caught in her throat as the GPS tracker flickered to life on her screen. Did Grace only just now turn it on? The dot representing her location pulsed steadily, indicating she was deep outside the town boundaries, far from any known path or landmark.
Anjani wondered what to do. She didn’t want to go chasing down her roommate into the middle of nowhere, but what if Grace had found something really cool? Or dangerous? Anjani knew that Grace had a tendency to bite off more than she could chew, jumping into situations without thinking it through first. Anjani’s worries built up as she paced the apartment, thinking it over.
Should she go?

Daily 10 - imaginary products (242 words, written as a script)

The lights dim dramatically as a red curtain is slowly parted to reveal a young woman with blonde hair, holding up a large jar of what seems to be green sludge. She waves to the audience, showing off her creation.

ROCKIE: Have you ever wanted your very own bayou, complete with singing alligators and a chef who can turn into a frog?

THE AUDIENCE clap and cheer with various versions of the word ‘yes’. ROCKIE smiles widely, displaying her jar on a pedestal in the center of the stage.

ROCKIE: Well, you’re in luck! With the Amazing Splendiferous and Beautiful Bayou in a Jar TM, you’ll be able to have a lovely little swamp all to your own. And here’s the kicker: this incredible product can transform a hallway or backyard into a bayou with just the click of a button, or, as we like to say, a twist of a jar. And don’t worry, folks: this Amazing Splendiferous and Beautiful Bayou in a Jar TM comes in with all of the beignets you can eat! Quite the deal, if we do say so ourselves.

More cheers from THE AUDIENCE.

ROCKIE: This magnificent creation is only a hundred thousand dollars! And, of course, because we love a deal, if you buy one of these Amazing Splendiferous and Beautiful Bayou in a Jar TMs, you’ll get the next one for only 99,999 dollars!

Even more cheers from THE AUDIENCE.

ROCKIE: Get yours now!

Introducing the “Snoozelöffel” - The Ultimate Nap Spoon!

Product Description
Have you ever found yourself craving a quick nap in the middle of your meal? Introducing the Snoozelöffel, the revolutionary spoon designed to transform your dining experience into a serene, dreamy escape. This innovative product combines the functionality of a traditional spoon with the comfort of a plush pillow, making it perfect for those moments when you just can't keep your eyes open any longer.

Features
- **Ergonomic Design**: The Snoozelöffel features a sleek, ergonomic handle that fits perfectly in your hand, providing the ideal grip for both eating and napping.
- **Plush Pillow Head**: The spoon’s head is made from ultra-soft memory foam, wrapped in a cozy, hypoallergenic fabric. It’s gentle on your skin and offers unmatched comfort for your mid-meal snoozes.
- **Thermal Technology**: Equipped with built-in thermal technology, the Snoozelöffel keeps your food warm while you drift off into dreamland, ensuring that every bite is as fresh as the first.
- **Dishwasher Safe**: Despite its high-tech features, the Snoozelöffel is easy to clean. Just pop it in the dishwasher, and it's ready for your next nap-time meal.

Customer Reviews
“A Dream Come True!” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I never thought I'd find a product that understands my love for both food and naps. The Snoozelöffel is an absolute game-changer! It’s perfect for those busy days when you just need a quick rest. The pillow head is incredibly comfortable, and the thermal technology keeps my soup at the perfect temperature. Highly recommend!

“Napping and Eating, Perfect Combo!” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
At first, I was skeptical about the Snoozelöffel, but it has become a staple in my kitchen. It’s especially useful for those late-night snack sessions when I'm too tired to hold my head up. The only downside is that it's so comfortable, I sometimes fall asleep for longer than intended. But honestly, who cares when napping feels this good?

“Genius Invention!” - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Snoozelöffel is pure genius. I use it every day at lunch. My colleagues laughed at first, but now they’re all jealous of my mini power naps. It’s so practical and comfortable. I’ve even bought one for my sister, and she loves it too. Best purchase ever!

Find Your Snooze
Visit your local IKEA store today and discover the Snoozelöffel, the spoon that lets you savor every bite and every nap. Embrace the fusion of functionality and comfort, and make your mealtime naps a delightful reality. Don't wait—your perfect snooze is just a spoonful away!

417 words

raya

july 11 daily: 201/200 words

MÄFGÄÄD: A banana counter for all with bananas! Count your bananas without a hitch with MÄFGÄÄD. Safety tested.

Kevin's Review: 5 stars.
Banana counter accidentally counted my buddies too. They are banana.
- Kevin

love my MÄFGÄÄD: 4 stars.
Buying a MÄFGÄÄD was the right decision! I now know how many bananas I have in my fridge all the time.
- Mom

MÄFGÄÄD review: 4 stars.
great
- paying customer

Banana Counter: 5 stars.
With my Minions running around like crazy and misplacing all their bananas, I needed a product like MÄFGÄÄD. It is perfect and counts every banana with precision. There should be no more fighting between rations, for now I have MÄFGÄÄD.
- Gru

MÄFGÄÄD Banana: 1 star.
My MÄFGÄÄD won't stop counting all my yellow things! One moment it's counting bananas just fine, the next it's overloaded with my yellow floors, bathtub, tiles, and towels! Awful product, I will be returning.
- Mother of One

I love my MÄFGÄÄD: 4 stars.
MÄFGÄÄD looking pretty fine for Stuart. Stuart calling his buddies with banana counter. Stuart likes playing the banana. Stuart likes MÄFGÄÄD.
- Stuart

(no subject): 1 billion stars.
BANANA IS GREAT. BANANA IS POOKIEEEEEEEEEEEEE
- Robert

raya's weekly 2

Part 1: Three Word Stories (written by Summer)

Once you’ve participated in a few threads, choose one to use as your inspiration for a story of 300 words.

Part 2: Bestselling Bookstore (written by Marbles)

Take a story of your own, anything you are planning to write, have already written, or a piece you're really proud of, and send a short 50 word blurb of that story in this studio. Then, find someone else's blurb and claim it, using it to make a story of your own with 250 words. Don't forget to send your story to the original author! In total you should have 300 words in this section before proceeding to the next one. Good luck and have fun <33

Part 3: Take a Break (written by Mabel)

Now before we continue, set aside your device for 15-30 minutes and take a short screen break until you're ready to come back. (Check!)

Make sure your poem is at least 150 words before finishing.

Part 4: Google Translate (written by Alia)

For the fourth part of this weekly, we're putting a twist on our classic Google Translate daily! Take any 50-100 word piece of writing you wrote for this weekly and put it through Google Translate as many times as you like, until you get something completely wild and wacky! Feel free to share some of your favorite translated lines in the main cabin ;D Then, write an 400 word story based on your translated piece!

Outro (written by Finley)

1. A story based on a three-word story chain (300 words)
2. Your book blurb, and a story building on someone else's (300 words)
3. An ekphrastic poem based on what you did / saw during your screen break (150 words)
4. A story established from your google-translated weekly piece (400 words)

Including all of this, your weekly should be 1150 words for 1500 points. This weekly is due on July 16th at 11:59 PM UTC. If you need more time, hop over here and apply for an extension, and if you have any questions, ask a coordinator on their profiles. Have fun!

Word War 2 || 187 words
Prompt: “Dear diary, today I finally figured it out.”

In truth, Nephilim didn’t have a diary, but she liked to talk to herself as if she did. It’s not like she had anybody to confide in after being banished from her own realm. “I think I was banished,” she whispered to herself, “because I didn’t work hard enough!” She scoffed. Of course she didn’t work hard enough. Her boss was always on her case because she was ‘lazy’ and didn’t put enough ‘effort’ into her work. She knew that they were all wrong though! She did work hard enough! And she would prove it….somehow. She looked around on the mortal plane she was trapped in, the wing in her tail fluttering wearily. What could she do that was big enough to get the attention of her ex-bosses in the world beyond… She started walking. Maybe she needed to go to one of those big cities, she decided. Those really big ones that were owned by the deities. Maybe then she could get the attention of the corresponding deity and work hard enough for /them/ so they would induct her back into her homeland. That was a

Edited/Completed Version
TBD

Daily 11

Are you an SWCer searching for the perfect drink to suit you? Do you need some extra energy for cabin wars? Do you LOVE mangoes? Well, it seems you’ve come to the right place. Our specially made MangoTango is a mango smoothie, personally made to fit your exact choice. As well as this, you can choose one free topping for free and only £1 delivery! Or, if you want, come to our little shop and enjoy endless mango treats along with a mango-filled doughnut, mango-filled pastry and mango jam!

Reviews

@Bertie’sBrilliantBakeBar - 5 stars

As I walked into this shop there was a wonderful atmosphere and everyone seemed so friendly! It was busy, as it was cabin wars, and I just felt like I couldn’t be happier. My mango smoothie had lovely little chunks of mango at the top and a mint leaf as well as flakes of coconut! I was even offered a free mango plushie and my pastry was heavenly! I couldn’t
recommend a shop more than this one!

@CRAZYSWCER - 4 stars

YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!!! IT WAS THE MOST YUMMY THING EVER! HOWEVER, WHEN I WALKED IN THE NOSE LEVEL WAS ALMOST ACCEPTABLE! DESPITE THIS IT WAS VERY COMFY AND (WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY TOO) RELAXED!!!

@PranksterPoet - 1 star

When I sat down, my chair collapsed. My drink looked like absolute vomit and my food… the mangoes were all unripe and I broke my tooth as I bit into mine! My doughnut was raw and my mango plushie was made of little scraps of drawing fabric and fell apart when I squished it. This shop is THE WORST.

PRANK!!!
BEST SHOP EVERRRRRR!!!

@amazing-writes - 5 stars

I was feeling very ill and I knew there was only one thing to do. I had been meaning to try out this shop for ages, and when I was in my bed, unable to move, I got my sister to order me a mango smoothie. It even got hand-delivered to my bed and they gave me a ‘Get Well Soon’ card! After having this smoothie I immediately felt better! I can’t thank MangoTango enough!

@Hobbit-in-a-hole - 2 stars

Despite the amazing taste of my pastry and the perfect consistency of my drink, I felt like a baby. These waiters were so… kind to me and made me feel as though I were actually special. Never have I experienced such loveliness. It makes me sick. However, they did make a wonderful LOTR reference, and so I shall forgive them (perhaps).

July 11th daily for sci-fi (399 words, +200 points)

Have you ever wanted a stuffed animal with laser pointer eyes? Me neither, but now I do!

The SuperStuffyLaser9000™ is exactly that! Not only does it have laser pointer eyes, it also has a nightlight, RGB nightlight, and discoball projection modes. However, it can also have just normal eyes if you want to be lame and have that, too.

The nightlight provides low light appropriate for sleeping. You’ve seen those cool nightlights that are different colors, right? Well, you can also choose that setting! It’s exactly like the nightlight, but you can choose different colors by pressing your plushie’s paw/flipper/foot .

SuperStuffyLaser9000™ also includes a discoball projection setting. Discoballs are pretty expensive, right? Most of them are 20 to 40 dollars. With this setting, you can have a projection around the room just like there was a discoball hanging there.

And, finally, the laser pointer mode! Perfect for playing with your cat, or even entertaining yourself, friends, or family! It’s a low power laser, so it’s completely safe. You can choose between one or two lasers. Just don’t point it at anyone’s eyes, kids!

Buy the SuperStuffyLaser9000™ NOW at your local IKEA, Walmart, and Target, or online for only $29.99 . Currently available as a lion, elephant, chicken, monkey, cat, and mango.

Need some reviews to help convince you?

5 stars - @NattsBrother123
“Amazing product! The discoball mode is just to useful. I’ve always had times where I thought, “Hey, I could really use a disco ball right now,” and now I can have one!”

4.9 stars - @ultra_mega_super_duper_big_starwars_fan
“The Force is strong with this product, because that’s no moon, it’s the SuperStuffyLaser9000! This product is definitely where the fun begins. Don’t underestimate its power- now only does it have laser eyes, it also has tons of other different modes! When my kid asked me for one of these, the negotiations were short. I just had to buy one. And if you think this is a bad toy? Just remember, the ability to speak does not make you intelligent.

92746637@97464 stars - @aperson
“Cool. Awesome. Amazing. Terrific. Fabulous. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

4.5 stars - @iiiiiddddddkkkkkk
“What a lovely purchase. I am very pleased. Make sure you take the warning label seriously, though.”

*SuperStuffyLaser9000 Toys is not responsible for any damage to you or any objects while using the laser pointer. Children under 9 should not use. Children should always be supervised when using the laser pointer mode.

7/11/24 - 244 words

Do you ever find yourself with an incessant need for a Little Guy™?
Well look no further! All you need to do is head to your local IKEA and find the SMÅ. SMÅs come in only one size, small! They fulfill all of your Little Guy™ needs! You can fit them in the palm of your hand, place them on your shoulder, cradle them in your arms and whisper sweet nothings, place them on shelves, and even hide them where your family will stumble upon them one day be filled with the signature SMÅ joy. SMÅs are also designed so they are not a choking hazard to small children, so you can raise yourself a happy little family, complete with your own SMÅ!

Reviews:

“My family loves our SMÅ” - ★★★★☆
My son insisted on buying a SMÅ when we came to an IKEA. I caved and it was the best decision of my life. When we have family arguments we bring out the SMÅ and just looking at him calms us all down. He is also a wonderful decoration.

“Cured my depression” - ★★★★★
My therapist told me to get a SMÅ. At first I was skeptical, how could a wooden toy help me? How wrong I was. When I look at that little face I feel like everything will be okay in the world. It reassures me that I am safe and that I can take care of myself. He is also fun to pet, very calming.