Micro SF/F by O. Westin

Every morning, the queen asked her magic mirror to show her the most beautiful person in the world.

The mirror replied "To whom?"

"The miller who made the flour for my bread," the queen would say, or "Whoever spun the thread my shawl was made of".

The mirror would show her, and she'd be amazed.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Here you go," the guard said, "in you go with the others."

The door clanged shut behind me. The cell was quite crowded, a quite homogenous group of men looked at me.

How to say it in Latin? "Cur in carcerem es?"

"We are also time travellers," one said in English, "here to warn Caesar."

#IdesOfMarch #TootFic #SmallStories #MicroFiction

"I will grant you three wishes," the genie said.

"I want you to agree with me," the man said.

"Very clever!"

"I want you to stay with me."

"Gladly!"

"Give me what I ask for."

"I already have!"

The man asked for many things, and while he didn't get any of them, he had company and validation.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories #Allegory

There used to be an old sign by the path, warning passers-by of the local sleeping willow, which would trap the unwary with fatigue, engulf them while they slept, and release them a hundred years later.

There was a new sign:

"This sleeping willow is full."

And a map of other locations to try.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"I bought this enchanted sword," the student said. "It glows in the presence of someone who questions their identity."

Buying such a sword was a strong hint, the swordmaster thought. "And it glows?"

"It glows regardless of how far away I am!"

"Ah. Is it a sword, or an identity doubt detector?"

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The professor brought a large box.

"Here, I built you something."

I've tested many of her inventions, so...

"A doll house?"

"Scale 1:24. Put it on the floor and press that button."

We shrank.

"Time also scales. A full night's sleep here is twenty minutes."

"There's only one bed."

"Details."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

I heard stories of people who've fed crows, and been given gifts in return. It sounded charming, so I began doing that.

Then, one night, there was a rapping on my bedroom window. I stumbled up and opened.

A crow flew in and spoke: "They're coming for you. You must flee."

I only just made it out.

#TootFic #SmallStories #MicroFiction

** Over on Tumblr, one of my stories has reached a milestone - 100k notes - largely thanks to the comic adaptation a reader made of it in 2024.
You can see it here:
https://www.tumblr.com/microsff/809813190811811840/my-first-100k-post-after-almost-thirteen-years-on
**

I stand in the yard as the sun rises behind me. My shadow stretches out in front of me.

The sunrise shadow contains all you've done, everything you've been. I see triumph, defeat, love, loss, and dreams.

One could get lost; reminiscing, reflecting.

One could.

I shrug and get on with my day.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

It was one of those days when nothing goes right. I managed to hit a button that wasn't there in the lift, and instead of taking me to the fourth floor, it took me four worlds sideways.

I've gotten used to it here, but I really miss dodo burgers.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Will there be treasure in this dungeon?"

"I'm sure there are some silver candlesticks, but we're after the library."

"Books again? Last time we almost died just so you could read the final volume in the Nightraid Saga."

"This is the library and archive of the Dungeon Builder's Guild."

"Oh? Oh!"

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

It is hard to admit ignorance, so when one of the new recruits to the Pangalactic Bureaucracy raised a tentacle with a question, Xtrrt let them ask.

"What is 'fafo quotient'?"

"A Human term. Fuckaroundment over Findoutability. We stay over 2.718. Humans..." Xtrrt paused. "... hope for over 1."

#MicroFiction #TootFic

"I see you have a new sword," the swordmaster said. "May I have a look?"

"No," said the student. "It is a cursed blade. I would only draw this in dire need."

"What kind of curse? Must draw blood, or will betray you?"

"It will speak, and tell an embarrassing truth about both wielder and opponent."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"I know I asked for a classic noir model, but is that meant to happen?"

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" the sexbot asks.

"You're smoking."

It looks at its empty hands. "No, I'm not. Do you want me to?"

"No, I mean-"

"Oh bleep, I'm overheating!"

I send it to the shower.

Heh. Still got it.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The dragon heard someone disturbing their hoard. Looking in, they saw a knight checking a bejewelled sword.

"There you are! May I buy this?"

"You have a sword," said the dragon.

"It's for a valentine!"

"A sword?"

"What better gift to give?"

"Hm. That one is blunt. I'll find a sharp one."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories #ValentinesDay

"I have questions about this interstellar travel form," the human said. "What should I put at 'Rose'?"

"The star system you are traveling from," xFfy said.

"I see. And at 'Violet'?"

"The one you're traveling to."

"Ah. Who translated this form?"

"Our best poets, well versed in human poetry."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Does the role really require a woman?"

"No?"

"Or youth?"

"Er... No?"

"Is being royal or nobility a must?"

The dragon hesitated. "It's traditional..."

"We can mention that it's a position traditionally filled by a princess," the HR consultant said, "but we do welcome all applicants."

"Okay."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

I have been trapped for ages. I grab a door handle; it breaks off. It's chocolate.

"Ahaha!" The mad chocolatier's laugh rasps from hidden speakers. "Everything here is made of chocolate!"

I stop. Everything? I focus on my fears... They manifest as chocolate monsters.

I eat them.

"You're free."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories #Chocolate

‪** Hugo Award nominations are now open! As usual, I am eligible for Best Fan Writer - I wrote a summary of my year here: https://microsff.com/2025-wrapped

For more info, see the Los Angeles WorldCon site: https://www.lacon.org/hugos/
#HugoAwards
**

"Oh," the emperor of the galaxy said, "what happened to that monkey world?"

"Our agents infiltrated them some eight thousand years ago."

"Have they taken over the world?"

"Not yet."

The emperor licked a paw and started washing his ears.

"I'll still count it as one of mine," he purred.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Sure," said the rocket scientist, "we can send rockets to the moon."

"We can build a city there," said the engineer. "It'll be expensive, but we can do it."

"But why?" said the economist. "What would you mine there you can't get on Earth?"

"One thing," said the billionaire. "Respect."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The alien ambassador sidled through the museum in awe.

"You Humans have so much art! Do you have machines to make all paintings, poems, stories and songs?"

"We experimented with that, briefly," the guide said. "But humans are both cheaper and more creative. And, well, we will make art regardless."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"The Dark Lord has taken over our land. What do we do?"

"Learn from the goblins."

"What? Those useless little-"

"Takes skill to mask rebellion as incompetence."

"What?"

"They know His reign will end. For now, they persist and resist."

"Oh."

"Also: remember every moment of joy is a victory."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The first thing I noticed was that the pain was gone. The tall, thin, hooded figure let me bask in that for a moment.

IT IS TIME

"Oh," I said, looking down at the frail vessel I had inhabited all my life. "Right."

COME

"Do you remember," I asked as we walked, "everyone you come for?"

YES

"Fondly?"

I DO NOT JUDGE. AS A RULE, I SPEND LITTLE TIME WITH PEOPLE AS THEY LIVE

"No, but you spend some time with them after, like now."

1/2

"What happens to books that nobody reads?" the king asked.

"We send them to the archive for safekeeping," the librarian said. "There are many more books in the archive now than we have on the shelves."

"That must cost a fortune!"

"Not at all. Centuries ago, we found a dragon who hoards books."

#TootFic #MicroFiction #SmallStories #vss