Proof that 10% of all fics are still worth getting out of bed for.
A testament to the horrors inflicted by humanity upon themselves, the dangers of war, and the general hope that humankind will one day find a way to end all conflict, Now and Then, Here and There has very few fan works of note, save for those below. Here is a sample of some of the best the Internet has to offer.
Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.
Brand New Day
by Rio Azules
- Recommended by NKSCF
- Status: Complete
- Pairing(s): None mentioned, but subtle signs of Shu/Lala-Ru.
- Synopsis: Following his return from Hellywood, Shu tries to adjust back to life back home in Japan, but finds that he can't help but feel that no one enjoys life as much as he does. Attempts to reconnect with his family, teachers, and students leaves Shu unable to fit in, especially around women, who he can't help but see as "fragile" compared to the ones he met in the other world.
- Comments: An excellently written one-shot that shows a realistic portrayal of Shu's inability to fit back into the home he'd always known before trying to save Lala-Ru. Spectacular characterization and plot development flow from this story, crafting a wonderful story and an effective followup to the series itself.
Life Is Worth Living by NKSCF.
- Recommended by: Keene The Man
- Status: Complete
- Pairing(s): Pairs Sara Ringwalt with Original Character Matthew King, but does little beyond that, save for very subtle signs of Shu/Lala-Ru, but those are debatable at best.
- Synopsis: To celebrate his girlfriend's birthday, Matthew "Matt" King takes Sara Ringwalt out to dinner, but after that, they find themselves captured by a group of people from the future who claim that Sara is a person named Lala-Ru. Working together, Matt and Sara try to find a way out of Hellywood, finding more about themselves and the world that they have been forced into along the way.
- Comments: I have a confession to make: I despise anime. I really do. So when I say that this was brilliant, I mean it. I first found out about Now and Then, Here and There thanks to this fic, which was written by the same guy who wrote Breaking the Deal, a Spider-Man fan-fic that introduced me to his writing. Curious, I checked out the anime online first and then read this, being wonderfully surprised by its intricate plot and wonderful characterization, especially giving back stories and even names to some of the characters that didn't get as much screen time as the main characters. It contains a lot of Biblical references, sometimes a bit much, but more often than not they tend to work out in the fic's favor. Definitely comes highly recommended by me.
- Caellach Tiger Eye: A small piece of advice, however, for anyone who cares: the overall plot does not change. That is to say, everyone who lives and dies, and the final results of the story, are almost exactly the same for the characters (besides the OC lead, of course). The effect of the writing is mostly strong - no, excellent - on its thematic focus, but do not go in expecting the plot itself to be altered in any way. Subjectively, I consider writing fanfiction in such a way pointless, but that doesn't mean it's bad - just not what I search for in fanfiction (my preference is AU). If the aforementioned spoiled information disagrees with your likings then this fic may not be for you, but it is beyond a doubt an excellent read from an objective perspective. Take from that what you will.
10 Billion Years by andyjay18.
- Recommended by: Feeping Creature
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: All she wanted to do was bring water to the desert. One-shot short story crossover with Puella Magi Madoka Magica: One day, Lala Ru encounters a small white cat with strange ears...
- Comments: This is one of those rare crossovers that manages to recontextualize the entire plot of its source material just by the matter of which show it crosses over with. One may accuse this of reducing the impact of NTHT's story, but in my opinion it's a setting that could desperately do with some measure of hope. And it makes a bizarre amount of sense, given that it was not planned this way - of course Lala Ru would wish for water! Of course the stone is her Soul Gem! Really, most of the plot of this is predictable from the mere fact of what it crosses over with, but reading it is still a joy in a setting that is so very starved of it.
A Gate to Desolation by xxSPARTAN119xx
- Recommended by: Red-Dead-Redeemer
- Status: Dead; last updated March 2018
- Crossover with: Gate
- Synopsis: Eighteen years after he returned from that desolate, violent world, Shuzo Mazutani wanted to get on with his life. Off-duty JSDF officer and self-admitted otaku Youji Itami just wanted to buy some doujinshi at an anime convention. Unfortunately for both of them, Shu's dark past invaded Ginza with a vengeance...
