The Hugoverse

Something horrible really did happen on Y2K, and experts are just now starting to realise the gravity of the situation. [ Link to post ] “Let’s say you’re right. Is there anything we can do about it?” Mike leaned over Frida’s shoulder and stared at the numbers on her computer monitor. She swiveled in her chair to look him in the eyes. “Nothing yet. But being aware of it is the first step,” Frida said. She stood and gave Mike a hug. He returned the hug, and he felt warm drops of water falling on his shoulder. Her body shook in his arms while she cried silently. “How many times have you checked the figures?” Mike asked. He also let his tears flow while he enjoyed the scent of her perfume. It smelled like vanilla. “It’s running again. 28th time right now, it’s always the same.” Frida sighed. She pulled away from the embrace and sat down again. “Should we tell someone?” Mike asked. He grabbed a chair and rolled it to sit next to her. Frida shrugged. “It’s over our head,...

You live in a world where people are granted superpowers, however you have to mentally solve a math problem to be able to use it, and the effect of it scales with difficulty. You have the power of instant teleportation, but are not good at math. One day, you appear to have cheated the system. [ Link to post ] “Zero.” I said aloud and focused on the number in my mind. When I opened my mouth to speak the word I stood on top of the Eiffel Tower. When I finished speaking I stood in my room, in Texas, just like I practiced. I stood in the center of a giant zero I painted on the floor of my room. “One.” I said, to practice the rounds again. I appeared in my local grocery store, staring at the sign that said “Aisle 1”. It was working, I was getting better and faster. “One Hundred” I said, then appeared at the Eiffel Tower again. I spoke “Zero” to go home. It happened accidentally. I don’t know if anyone else knew it was possible, but I was not planning to share my secret. I was r...

Background story for 74 year old Japanese Ninja Thief. [ Link to post ] “Remember to stay out of the forest Tohru. You’re still young, your training isn’t complete.” An old man with no hair and a long greying beard nodded at the young boy. The 12 year old boy nodded while trying to steady his breathing. The movement spilled drops of sweat from his brow. Tohru’s training ended for the day and the old man gave him free time to play. “The Tanaka clan is still holding a grudge, and we can’t afford to lose any more students.” Tohru ran off to his room to gather his things. The river was safe enough, and he wanted to enjoy the cool waters to rinse off the day’s labor. He took his fishing pole and spent the afternoon swimming and catching dinner for his master and his friends. Tohru’s Master trained him privately because he was more advanced than the other students training in different parts of the village that day. “You have amazing talent, I have no doubts you will be the most...

Flash Fiction challenge. Location: Amusement Park Object: Graffiti [ Link to Post ] “Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked my daughter. We sat in a fairly empty parking lot, with a bright noon sun overhead. The barren lot was due to a school day. A giant colorful wooden sign said, “King’s Amusement Park”. I turned the car off. This was her last chance to back out. To not grow up for another year. Her jade eyes gave me an icy stare. She removed her seatbelt without breaking eye contact. “I let you talk me out of it for the last three years. Do you know how many people make fun of me for being 18 and not having my own Amusement yet?” I shrugged, and felt bad. I had no idea it was such a big deal, of course my parents gave me an Amusement when I was nine. I grew up too soon. She grabbed her backpack and opened the car door. “I’ll be back when I find one I like.” I had no idea how long it would take her to find her Amusement. Amusements are like living hobbies. You ne...

He was out in January and was not happy about it. It wasn't the weather that made him unhappy. The calendar said "January" but the weather indicated late spring. The rest of the country had snow and ice. Here, there were birds. Thousands of birds. Singing and chirping so loudly he couldn't hear himself think. He saw her while walking towards his car. The world, and the birds that filled it, went quiet. The silence enveloped him, and he rushed to introduce himself to her. "I'll go with you." he said in April. "I work from home. Home can be anywhere." She revealed that she was leaving at the end of the month. "You can't, but I'll be back in January." she said. She left and took the birds with her. He waited with an empty heart in a quiet world. When January returned, so did she. The music of the birds filled his heart. The few months they were together were a dream for him. He was happy to be out as long as he was w...

You have followed the same morning routine for the past 8 years of your life, but one day you wake up and suddenly the routine seems wrong. It's as if your muscle memory doesn't fit anymore. [ Link to post ] “I turned right instead of left. I think that was the first sign.” He rubbed his forehead, as he remembered the loud “thud” he’d made when his head hit the wall. The young man was sitting in his living room. He was sitting uncomfortable and alone in a brown suede loveseat. Across from him, on the other side of a small dark wood coffee table sat the woman who knocked on his door minutes ago. The bright daylight streaming in through the blinds illuminated her, while her companions somehow managed to stay in shadow. “Tell me everything about it.” She encouraged him, seemingly sincere. “You can trust me.” She was sitting upright, with her legs crossed at the ankle. Her hands rested delicately on her knees. The young man wasn’t afraid of her. It was the two large men tha...

It's been a long time, old friend. [ Link to post ] Jenny explored Regal's cabin. Her cabin now. She buried Regal five days ago, when she came back to life. She spent her days going through his notes and trying to sort her memories. Regal's pantry was completely stocked when she woke up. She would need supplies soon, but she did not know where town was. Nor did she have any idea about what she might use for money. If worse came to worse she could hunt using her magic. She quickly grew used to using the world's magic. She practiced after sunset, because she enjoyed the colors. Before the sun went down she heard a knock at Regal's door. It opened before she could answer it. "Regal! Supplies." A young voice said. A boy walked in the door carrying two large burlap sacks. One hitched over his back, the other in his arms. He stopped when he saw Jenny. He dropped the single bag from his arms. "You're alive?" He stared at her. He set the other ba...

Story where the main character is preparing a sandwich. Make it sound EPIC [ link to post ] The tall man, a baker, bowed before the princess. His princess. He presented her with an ivory white plate that held four small sandwich triangles. “Please, m’lady. Allow me to regale you with a tale of how this marvelous repast came to be,” he managed to bow lower. The princess’ mouth was full, she waved a hand at him. Permission to continue. He nodded. “As you know, my Princess, I am a baker by trade. I found the farmer with the best wheat in the land. He required of me a quest before he would consider a trade. He wished to be rid of a beast, and I slayed it in your name. Once he gave me the wheat I milled it into flour myself. The rest of that loaf is for your lips only,” the baker said. The princess dabbed a glob of jelly from her lips, but said nothing. She kept eating. “I found the best sugar cane, and the best fruits. Your jelly is a special blend. The fruits in the jelly...

Hey folks, welcome to my writing blog. This is where I'll collect my writings to share with the internet. Hopefully you'll find something here to entertain you. I'm in the process of moving. All new content will be found on my new blog at Hugoverse.info . Hugoverse : I have most of my universe planned out already, and I'm using writing prompts to fill it out while practicing my writing. A side effect of choosing a new prompt every day is that the story will hop around a lot. Timeline  - Lists the stories out in chronological order.  Guidebook  - A spotting book of the Souls in the Hugoverse. Fringes of the Hugoverse - Side stories that help explain how things work. Annexations - Oneshots chosen to be integrated. AlterNet - Stories that mostly take place in the AlterNet: a cross universe virtual Earthsized MMO.  Dirge & Dread  - Weekly(Sunday) adventures of Dirge & Dread.  Underworld - Stories involving the organized criminal underwo...

Here are some short stories I've done that I ended up liking a whole lot. Vegas  : Vegas is the first character I created that felt special to me. I came up with him for a creative writing assignment. I don't remember the specifics, but I'm pretty sure it was something along the lines of, "Imagine a character named Vegas. What are they like?" He is the first character I wrote that I truly wanted to do more with. This is how he starts bungling into his true calling. Free Dinner  : This is another story I wrote for a prompt given to me in a creative writing class. I don't remember the specifics, but it was something along the lines of "Someone wakes up and calls in sick to work. Why?" Some minor updates and tweaks, but nothing major. Starring El Diablito. Snow Bird  : This is a short story that I was lucky enough to get printed in the local paper a while back. They had a thing for authors and I submitted this quick and breezy story. I'm a se...

Welcome to my universe. Here you can watch me develop it using writing prompts from r/writingprompts . Please note that the stories are listed in chronological order as they happen in-universe. The date shown is the date of the writing prompt. It's also worth mentioning that some stories contain NSFW language. Rise of the Demon Queen  - Find out how and why Ballisea became the Demon Queen. (4-05-2018) WedBlock [WP]: You are determined to propose to your partner for 3 years. Nothing can stop you. Well, maybe one thing... (11-13-2017)  Zero Hero  [WP]: You’re a normal villager in a fantasy town and the main hero has just moved in next door after completing his quest.   (11-21-2017)  Necro Romancer  [WP]: You are the hero the kingdom needs, just not the one it wants. You are The Necromancer.  (01-09-2018)  Flutter Bye [IP]: Corruption by ChrisCold (01-22-2018) Abort, Retry, Fail?  [WP]: Goodbye... (01-04-201...

Death makes a mistake and comes to you. Upon realizing you are the wrong person, he lets you choose your death date for compensation. [ link to post ] “Wow, turns out you’re a pretty nice guy, Death,” I said after he apologized. He shook his head. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not nice, I’ve just got rules I have to follow.” Death pulled a cellphone out of his robe and checked it. “I can still catch the right one, what death date did you choose?”  He asked. I had several in mind. “I don’t know, there’s so many options, so many variables. What if I have a kid? I want to be sure I’m around to take care of them. But I don’t want to end up incontinent in an old folks’ home,” I thought to myself, aloud. Death seemed annoyed by me taking so much time to think. “Look pal. Hurry up, or I’ll just kill you now,” he glared at me. He looked different. He looked human now. His scythe and robe were gone, he looked like a young man in his 20s. His hair was jet black hair and gre...