History Gush / Fanfiction

* [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2488754/1/A-Second-Chance-at-Life A Second Chance At Life]] (Miranda Flairgold), anyone? The single best AU Harry Potter fanfic I have ever found. Reasonable divergence from cannon, brilliant {{Original Character}}s, and even some elements of the original thrown in for flavor. Also: time travel! Dragons! Vampires! Animagus forms! Space elves! And more! Currently in the third story out of an unknown number. Hasn't been updated in a while, but Flairgod is still active on Website/FanFictionDotNet, as far as this troper can tell.

** Its sequel series, ''Songs of Lost Children'', expands on this universe. While it features an all new cast, the characters from the previous series also appear as supporting characters. Of notable mention is what just might be ''the'' most badass version of Princess Cadence to ever grace the halls of Website/FimfictionDotNet.

* What happens when you combine several [[Franchise/{{Nicktoons}} well-known]] and [[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls beloved]] [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse cartoons]], an even blend of comedy, drama, action, and horror, an entertaining MythArc, a powerful RealityWarper, and sprinkle meta humor and [[GeniusBonus genius bonuses]] throughout? You get the ''Fanfic/HalloweenUnspectacular'' series, an amazing October tradition over on Website/FanfictionDotNet.

* ''Fanfic/HalkegeniaOnline'', a seemingly bizarre CrossOver between ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'' and ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' that is better than either. It has some spelling issues, but not enough to detract from the awesome. Said awesome includes: a well thought-out and unpredictable plot, a huge number of well crafted and entertaining {{Original Character}}s, and a unique concept for a ''Familiar of Zero'' crossover. Instead of Louise just summoning a single familiar from some other story, she summons [[MassTeleportation all of ALFheim Online]]! Toss in some great fight scenes, plenty of {{Shout Out}}s, some real {{Tear Jerker}}s, and an incredible update speed (does Triggerhappy even sleep?), and you've got one of the best fanfics this troper has ever read.

* On that note, Lightning on the Wave's ''Sacrifices'' Arc, which starts with [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2580283/1/ Saving Connor]]. A fascinating AU, and one that truly deserves to be called an AU: the characters have been stripped down to their basic selves and set in an entirely different situation, but react to it the way they would were it canon. With the exception of Lily, perhaps, everyone fits their characterization like a glove, and there are no handwaves. This is a fic that manages to make Harry a Slytherin and friends with Draco, among other things that I won't say in case someone wants to read it, and it ''works'', beautifully and tightly. Lightning introduces his/her OC's so well that multiple people have said they thought they were canon characters that simply didn't get enough time in the original books to make an impression, and this troper for one has been surprised at the mention of characters in other, unrelated fics that I'd thought were OC's. It is the only fanfic that I will say this for: were it not for its dependance on Rowling's world and characters, it would be published as-is, with the exception of about three typos per book (there are seven "books", getting longer as the story progressed beyond what Lightning had originally intended). Granted, it would be shelved strictly in the adult section, but I find myself not wanting to go back to a universe that doesn't contain these characters and situations.

* ''FanFic/TitanLegends''. A fanfic that could probably pass for a highly obscure alternate DC continuity in and of itself.

* ''Fanfic/{{Game Theory|LyricalNanoha}}'', a ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' that is simply better. It goes into an extreme amount of WorldBuilding, particularly for a fanfic, to make the series much more realistic. Yes, it's pretty strange to call a story with interdimensional travel and magic "realistic," but the world and characters are very believable and likable. The handful of {{Original Character}}s and all unique, and the numerous [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird Cameos]] fit perfectly into the plot, rather than seeming as though they had been thrown in. Plus it manages to simultaneously be a DeconstructionFic and a FixFic. The sequel, Power Games, is just as good. It is bar none this troper's favorite fanfic.
* ''Fanfic/HalkegeniaOnline'', a seemingly bizarre CrossOver between ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'' and ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' that is better than either. It has some spelling issues, but not enough to detract from the awesome. Said awesome includes: a well thought-out and unpredictable plot, a huge number of well crafted and entertaining {{Original Character}}s, and a unique concept for a ''Familiar of Zero'' crossover. Instead of Louise just summoning a single familiar from some other story, she summons [[MassTeleportation all of ALFheim Online]]! Toss in some great fight scenes, plenty of [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]], some real [[TearJerker Tear Jerkers]], and an incredible update speed (does Triggerhappy even sleep?), and you've got one of the best fanfics this troper has ever read.

* ''Fanfic/{{Game Theory|LyricalNanoha}}'', a ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' that is simply BetterThanCanon. It goes into an extreme amount of WorldBuilding, particularly for a fanfic, to make the series much more realistic. Yes, it's pretty strange to call a story with interdimensional travel and magic "realistic," but the world and characters are very believable and likable. The handful of {{Original Character}}s and all unique, and the numerous [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird Cameos]] fit perfectly into the plot, rather than seeming as though they had been thrown in. Plus it manages to simultaneously be a DeconstructionFic and a FixFic. The sequel, Power Games, is just as good. It is bar none this troper's favorite fanfic.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2347648/1/Tony-s-Mansion-of-Heroes Tony's Mansion of Heroes]]'' is one of my favs. It's not perfect but it brings together several characters from different universes to save the Worlds from familiar to obscure villains. You get [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Sora, Riku]], [[VideoGame/MetalArmsGlitchInTheSystem Glitch]], [[Franchise/LiloAndStitch Stitch]], [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter]], [[Anime/YuGiOh Kaiba]], and [[LoadsandLoadsofcharacters several others]] to stop the villains' plan to resurrect the [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Dark Gundam]] and the dragon creature known as [[TheAntichrist Kikros]]. It seems that the writer has recently began to fix his earliest chapters. Spacing out paragraphs better, getting rid of subplots that haven't gone anywhere since 2005, and it's looking better.

* ''Fanfic/HalkegeniaOnline'', a seemingly bizarre CrossOver between ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'' and ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' that is better than either. It has some spelling issues, but not enough to detract from the awesome. Said awesome includes: a well thought-out and unpredictable plot, a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters huge]] number of well crafted and entertaining {{Original Character}}s, and a unique concept for a ''Familiar of Zero'' crossover. Instead of Louise just summoning a single familiar from some other story, she summons [[MassTeleportation all of ALFheim Online]]! Toss in some great fight scenes, plenty of [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]], some real [[TearJerker Tear Jerkers]], and an incredible update speed (does Triggerhappy even sleep?), and you've got one of the best fanfics this troper has ever read.

* ''FanFic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'' is one of the best books that I've ever read, and yes, it is a book more than it is fanfiction. As multiple reviewers have noted, more thought seems to have gone into this than into the actual HP books, and into ensuring that there are no dastardly, for-the-lulz evil villains, magic based handwaves or storms of cliches. The HP:MOR world works in a way the original doesn't, simply because it makes a world of magic so believable that it's hard to realise that someone actually sat and worked out rational explanations out after Rowling had already had a bash at it. It is a must read for anyone even vaguely interested in the Harry Potter universe, as long as they don't mind the occasional author tract.
* On that note, Lightning on the Wave's ''Sacrifices'' Arc, which starts with [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2580283/1/ Saving Connor]]. A fascinating AU, and one that truly deserves to be called an AU: the characters have been stripped down to their basic selves and set in an entirely different situation, but react to it the way they would were it canon. With the except of Lily, perhaps, everyone fits their characterization like a glove, and there are no handwaves. This is a fic that manages to make Harry a Slytherin and friends with Draco, among other things that I won't say in case someone wants to read it, and it ''works'', beautifully and tightly. Lightning introduces his/her OC's so well that multiple people have said they thought they were canon characters that simply didn't get enough time in the original books to make an impression, and this troper for one has been surprised at the mention of characters in other, unrelated fics that I'd thought were OC's. It is the only fanfic that I will say this for: were it not for its dependance on Rowling's world and characters, it would be published as-is, with the exception of about three typos per book (there are seven "books", getting longer as the story progressed beyond what Lightning had originally intended). Granted, it would be shelved strictly in the adult section, but I find myself not wanting to go back to a universe that doesn't contain these characters and situations.

* ''The Cyclonus Diaries'' by Pivot is probably the funniest ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' fanfic out there. It's a parody of Mary Sue fanfiction that is completely random and makes perfect sense at the same time.

* [[FanFic Tony's Mansion of Heroes]] is one of my favs. It's not perfect but it brings together several characters from different universes to save the Worlds from familiar to obscure villains. You get [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Sora, Riku]], [[VideoGame/MetalArmsGlitchInTheSystem Glitch]], [[Franchise/LiloAndStitch Stitch]], [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter]], [[Anime/YuGiOh Kaiba]], and [[LoadsandLoadsofcharacters several others]] to stop the villains' plan to resurrect the [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Dark Gundam]] and the dragon creature known as [[TheAntichrist Kikros]]. It seems that the writer has recently began to fix his earliest chapters. Spacing out paragraphs better, getting rid of subplots that haven't gone anywhere since 2005, and it's looking better.

* whydoyouneedtoknow's Harry Potter AU Dangerverse and associated [=AUs=] (yes, [=AUs=] of [=AUs=]) have been called "better than canon".

* ''Code: Total Drama Reality'' is an excellent blend of the ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' and ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'' series, which sounds a bit far-fetched at first, but Lord Maximus is able to squeeze every bit of adrenaline out of such a premise and make a completely awesome crossover. It's also recommendable by how LM keeps characters from both shows intact, even coming up with rather TearJerker backstories for quite a few as well as the chance for several Total Drama favorites and Aelita to [[TookALevelInBadass take major levels in badass]].

* I, Tropers/{{Grognor}}, love the Hell out of ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality''. I never read Harry Potter, I don't understand four-fifths of the references, and I'm missing probably all of the subtle foreshadowing. I still love it. When I first started reading it, I couldn't do anything else for several days.
* ''The Interloper'' is a realistic take of the future after the ending of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'', it starts out giving you the fact that humanity simply hates digimons rather than loving them, and that there had been a war between Humans and Digimons for three years, currently, it's a fanfiction in work... But the author, The Silent Insomniac on fanfiction.net proves to spare no expense when it comes to the story, all of his chapters take on absurd detail about everything, ''everything'', there is also an OC called Christopher Van Numen who, while he is a Sue Power-Wise, proves to be a very, ''very'' interesting character, the author even goes into absurd detail on his backstory ''and Christopher isn't even one of the Main Characters''. Absurd word count - over 400k words up to chapter 23 - but definitely worth a read if you care about Digimon at all. Forewarning: Battle chapters tend to be gory

* [[http://m.fanfiction.net/s/3164366/1/Homeless-Two-Tail Homeless Two Tail]] is the greatest Sonic Fanfiction featuring tails as the main protagonist. Its moments funny, heartwarming, sad, nightmare fuel, and awesome are stupendous. Its characters are pretty cool, too. All of the characters from the official media are portrayed nearly identical of what they're like in the source material. Although there are a few exceptions, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools this is not a bad thing.]] It's also one of those few fan fictions that uses fan characters that ''aren't'' Mary sues. Smoke stack is a really cool character, Igneous Rock is flippin' hilarious, Karst Ice is an irredeemably evil villain with quite the ego, and Hang Nail is a character who is a monster of the highest caliber[[spoiler: , especially when he comes back.]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis This. Fanfic. Needs. Its. Own. Page.]] With its own Character Sheet, Crowning moments of funny, heartwarming, awesome, tearjerker, and nightmare fuel pages.
* [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2488754/1/A-Second-Chance-at-Life A Second Chance At Life]] (Miranda Flairgold), anyone? The single best AU Harry Potter fanfic I have ever found. Reasonable divergence from cannon, brilliant {{Original Character}}s, and even some elements of the original thrown in for flavor. Also: time travel! Dragons! Vampires! Animagus forms! Space elves! And more! Currently in the third story out of an unknown number. Hasn't been updated in a while, but Flairgod is still active on FFnet, as far as this troper can tell.

* ''[[FanFic/BloomingMoonChronicles The Blooming Moon Chronicles]]'': a 10-book series that is an excellent blend of ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]'' and Myth/NorseMythology. The best parts about this series, in my mind, are the world-building. [=BlackRoseRaven=] creates a universe that while radically different, remains faithful to the show. The characters are also amazingly well-developed and relatable. These versions of well-known characters like Luna or Twilight are some of the best interpretations I've ever seen in my life. The series has both its moments of hilarity and its moments of darkness. The fifth book, ''Because Love Conquers All'', is honestly one of the darkest fanfictions I have ever read.

** Its sequel series, ''Songs of Lost Children'', expands on this universe. While it features an all new cast, the characters from the previous series also appear as supporting characters. Of notable mention is what just might be ''the'' most badass version of Princess Cadence to ever grace the halls of [[FimFictionDotNet Fimfiction.net]].

* ''Fanfic/AgainstTheMoon'' is one of the best [[Franchise/HarryPotter Marauders]] fanfics that I've ever read, mostly because the characterization for all the characters, especially the four Marauders, is on point. Young Remus is the sweetest little boy ever and deserves the entire world. James and Sirius are huge assholes, but still have their hidden depths, with Sirius' quarrelsome relationship with his bigoted parents and James' support of social justice in spite of his privileged background, and can be quite charming. Peter is a quiet boy, at times flaky, at times a brown-noser, at all times concerned with self-preservation. And the little snippets we see of other canonical characters like Lily Evans are excellent. Stoplight Delight even made sure that characters who didn't get a line or description in the original canon like Dorcas Meadowes, who is reimagined as the strict Gryffindor Head Girl, have fleshed out and likable personalities. [[DeadFic It's a travesty that it hasn't been updated in three years.]]

* ''Fanfic/NobodyDies''. It's ''Fanfic/ShinjiAndWarhammer40k'' for people who like their CrazyAwesome levels administered in safer doses.

** Now, let's not be so hasty as to simply post the fic. Let's ''explain'' why this thing is a total masterpiece. It's a cocktail of insanity, a twisting of plot so horrendously bizarre that it stops being stupid and becomes what could possibly be called [[CrazyAwesome Pure]] [[PureEnergy Spiral]] [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Energy,]] engulfing the reader in its amazing attitude, incredible nature, and disregard for rationality all in one amazing package.

* ''Fanfic/AgainstTheMoon'' is one of the best Marauders fanfics that I've ever read, mostly because the characterization for all the characters, especially the four Marauders, is on point. Young Remus is the sweetest little boy ever and deserves the entire world. James and Sirius are huge assholes, but still have their hidden depths, with Sirius' quarrelsome relationship with his bigoted parents and James' support of social justice in spite of his privileged background, and can be quite charming. Peter is a quiet boy, at times flaky, at times a brown-noser, at all times concerned with self-preservation. And the little snippets we see of other canonical characters like Lily Evans are excellent. Stoplight Delight even made sure that characters who didn't get a line or description in the original canon like Dorcas Meadowes, who is reimagined as the strict Gryffindor Head Girl, have fleshed out and likable personalities. [[DeadFic It's a travesty that it hasn't been updated in three years.]]

* While WesternAnimation/TotalDrama crossover fanfictions are nothing new or special for the most part, ''Fanfic/TotalDramaEverything'' is a fantastic read. With so many characters from diverse series, it gives so many chances for hilarity, romance and of course, drama. I had never heard of around half of the characters in the series when I first started reading, but I was still able to understand them or grow to like them. This is written better then some seasons of the actual show.

* [[FanFic Tony's Mansion of Heroes]] is one of my favs. It's not perfect but it brings together several characters from different universes to save the Worlds from familiar to obscure villains. You get [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Sora, Riku]], [[VideoGame/MetalArmsGlitchInTheSystem Glitch]], [[Disney/LiloandStitch Stitch]], [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter]], [[Anime/YuGiOh Kaiba]], and [[LoadsandLoadsofcharacters several others]] to stop the villains' plan to resurrect the [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Dark Gundam]] and the dragon creature known as [[TheAntichrist Kikros]]. It seems that the writer has recently began to fix his earliest chapters. Spacing out paragraphs better, getting rid of subplots that haven't gone anywhere since 2005, and it's looking better.