Fandoms:
Angel & Buffy
CSI shows
Harry Potter
Pride and Prejudice
The Sentinel
Stargate SG-1 & Atlantis
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Angel & Buffy
Expecting the Unexpected by YoAngel4E
A different turn of events after Expecting changes the AI gangs' world forever. Angel/Cordelia.
A very long fic, in which Cordelia actually gives birth at the end of s1 episode Expecting. It goes through the seasons of the show, changing the events to match this AU. A good read.
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False Claims by SKauble
Angelus is forced to claim Cordy leading to unexpected consequences for Cordy and the Scoobies. Angelus/Cordelia. Adult.
This an AU of Buffy season 2, and among my very favourite BtVS fics. Cordelia is gradually brought further and further into Angelus' control, with magic at work making them fall for each other, but she's a fighter, and won't let herself go easily. I love the portrayals of not only the two main characters, but also Giles - I have a great love for Giles-Cordelia interaction (of any kind) and there's loads of it in this fic. It's a really long fic, currently standing at 95 chapters and still a WIP. Even if it is never updated again (and I hope it will be), I'd still deeply recommend it to anyone who likes this type of story.
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Protocol by The Brat Queen
AU about an apocalyptic world where Wes is a prince trained in the arts of pleasing a husband, and Angel is the king that he ends up being married to. Angel/Wesley. Adult.
One of my favourite things about this fic is the index page! The quotes given for each chapter are wonderful. Anyway, it's a well-written fic, gripping and long. Wesley is a strange combination of prince and slave, trained since childhood to ignore his own wants and needs in order to serve his husband totally. Angel has recently taken over LA, invoking some kind of old vampire law in order to protect everyone, and has signed an alliance with the Council, who sent him Wesley. Their interactions are often fun, but at other times heartbreaking as Wesley's past is revealed. The story's a WIP, and the author's health means that I don't know when it'll be updated again, but don't let that stop you - there's plenty to read.
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CSI shows
Katie by Belle Walker
Sara and Grissom are reunited with a girl from their past. Gil/Sara.
I know of several brilliant GSR kidfics, but this is probably the only one I can really class as an AU. The premise is that Sara had once been "mother" to her young cousin, but had lost custody of the child. The girl, Katie, is determined to find Sara, and comes to Vegas looking for her. It's a lovely story, one of my favourite parenting fics, and I love the Sara/Grissom romance in it too. Definately recommended.
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Harry Potter
Better Angels by lmk05
When James Potter rescues his rival, Snape, from a cruel fate, he doesn't understand the responsibility he is taking on. Can a confused and resentful sixteen-year-old overcome his old animosity to help and protect his former rival?
This is probably one of the best slavefics in the HP fandom, made all the more realistic because it's gen. It's actually the story which inspired my own fic, An Unwilling Ownership. It's based from the scene where James removes Snape's trousers - but in this AU, he reveals a brand, showing that Snape is the property of Lucius Malfoy. James decides to rescue Snape by claiming him as payment for a life-debt - but he's a naive teenager, and he doesn't realise that Snape expects him to act like his former master. It's a well thought-out story which attempts to be as realistic as possible - although I do feel that at times it goes a bit too far, especially in the portrayal of Sirius. In any case, it's a great fic, and recently completed. I really hope that there is a sequel.
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The Darkness Within by Kurinoone
"What if Wormtail hadn't told Lord Voldemort the Potters hideout? What if he took Harry straight to him instead?" Harry/Ginny.
There are plenty of dark!Harry fics out there, but it's still hard to find ones that are truly well-written and believable. This probably comes about as close as I've seen. In this fic, James & Lily believe Harry to be dead, but he is actually being raised by Voldemort as his heir. When they finally find out, they and the others in the Order - as well as Harry's younger brother - must convince him that he has been lied to all his life.
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Peorth by Bleudiablo
After Hagrid dopped Harry off after getting his supplies for first year, things went slightly different. Beaten and not looking at all like himself Harry ends up at Hogwarts.
In this fic, Harry was abused badly as a child, and in order to get away from the Dursleys he unconciously turned himself into his animagus form. He then ends up getting taken in by Severus, who forms a mentoring bond with him, without knowing that he's actually human. Meanwhile, the wizarding world is searching for the Boy-Who-Lived. It's a lovely story, and still a WIP, although I think it may be drawing to a close now.
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Uneasy Lies the Head by Katling
Harry comes to Hogwarts as a King - rewrite of Philosopher's Stone.
This was based on my bunny! I posted it at FictionAlley Forums, not expecting much... and then it was claimed by my very favourite HP author! Katling is a fantastic, prolific writer who has not yet written anything I haven't loved, and ULtH is pretty much my favourite of all her fics. In this AU, the wizarding world is ruled by a monarchy - and with the death of the last king, Harry inherits the throne. However, he's a child, so his godfather Sirius is appointed Regent. It is a WIP, and updates don't come all that often because Katling simply writes so many fics at the same time - however, when the chapters do come, they are always long and interesting. A fantastic story.
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Unnatural by Lexin and Tidmag
Far far away, in an alternate universe, hermaphrodite Harry gets into trouble. That's not just ordinary trouble, but "trouble". Harry/Severus. Adult.
You know, I'm not generally the hugest fan of mpreg. Which may be strange since I actually wrote it once. However, in general I just don't like it. There are however a few mpreg fics I make exceptions for - and this is the top of the list. Technically, it's not mpreg, actually, it involves a hermaphrodite pregnancy, but it's close enough. In this AU, hermaphrodites are considered to be almost royalty by the wizarding world - but Harry was raised in the muggle world, where the Dursleys forced him to keep his 'freakishness' secret.
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Pride and Prejudice
I have a separate list of Pride and Prejudice AUs here.
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The Sentinel
Control Issues by Lit Gal
In a world that knows, loves, respects, but doesn't trust its sentinels, Jim is determined to hide his abilities. He will not yield to a system where Sentinels are defined as "non compos mentis." He will not give up his control, not to anyone. Jim/Blair. Adult.
A really well-written, fairly heartbreaking fic where sentinels are treated like children - at best. Lit Gal is a reasonably well-known fanfiction author, and rightly so, and in my opinion this is right up there with the best things she has ever written. Angsty and thought-provoking, this is one of those stories which you simply cannot read without then spending ten minutes writing extended feedback on the themes, characters and settings within.
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The Family Series by D. L. Witherspoon
The stories of Jim Ellison's "other" family, a watchdog organization of which he is the Elder, second-in-command and "heir to the throne".
This series is among my very favourite Sentinel fics, and I have read it many times over. Jim is the heir to a world-wide organisation which is very mafia-like in nature, complete with ring-kissing. It's completely unbelievable of course, but despite that it's great fun, and the character of Adam - who I'm assuming is an OC - is fantastic. The series is complete, but I wish it wasn't - I'd love more fics to read.
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GDP series by Susan
In a world where the guide is a slave to his sentinel, one pairing is about to make a difference.
This is possibly the most well-known Sentinel AU out there. It's established many cliches of Sentinel fanfiction - bonding, Dark Sentinels, guides (or sentinels) as second-class citizens, etc etc. It's definately gen, but the bond between Jim and Blair is so strong that it generally satisfies even hardcore slashers. It does have its faults, of course, but in general it's a hugely interesting universe, with well-written stories. It's also massive. Each story is pretty long in itself, and I can't begin to count how many stories there are even in the main series, let alone all the spin-offs. Many of Susan's other stories are tied in some way to the GDP - and other writers have also played in her universe. I'm not sure if there's an actual list of all GDP-universe fics anywhere, there are just so many of them. The place to start, though, is Sentinel 101.
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Reflections in the Mirror by Susan and Maedoc
GDP crossover with The District. Vincent Hunter is a Sentinel (Jim's half-brother) and accidentally imprints on a rogue guide, Sarah.
Susan's GDP series is hugely famous within the TS fandom, but IMO this AU of the series is even better. I've never seen either show this crossover's based on, but it's never mattered - all of the characters are superbly painted, most especially Vincent Hunter. I'll admit that I'm not overly keen on one of the newest plotlines, but despite that I am desperate for more. Each story in the series (and there are 7 so far) is very long, and very well-written. You will probably need to read at least the first few stories in the main GDP series to understand this one.
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Turn Upon a Dragon's Wing by Sorka
On the planet Pern, a young Holder's son is brought to Fort Wyer on Search, changing his life utterly. Jim/Blair. Adult.
This is an AU set in the world of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern fantasy series, where human "riders" bond telepathically with their dragons. It's well-written, fairly long, and engrossing.
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Stargate SG-1 & Atlantis
Coming Home by Xanthe
“Colonel John Sheppard knew, from the moment he first met Dr Rodney McKay, that the man would be trouble.” John/Rodney. Adult.
This is a prequel to Xanthe's fic General & Dr Sheppard, in which the couple from CH's AU came to the canon universe. It's a bit overly sappy for me in places - I'm not a major fan of fluff, and I have no interest at all in porn - however, it's just a fantastic universe. A D/s universe, where everybody is either a top, a sub or a switch; where corporal punishment is the norm; and where Carson Beckett is a dom. The story of John and Rodney getting together is well written, long, sometimes angsty, and rather romantic.
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Renaissance by Melyanna, Angelqueen04 & Meira_C
A mysterious stranger arrives in Atalan and finds himself grappling with pirates, entangled in court intrigues, mistrusted by the highest nobles in the land, and captivated by the young woman about to become queen - if she lives to assume her throne. John/Elizabeth, Kate/Lorne, Laura/Carson, etc.
My absolute favourite Stargate fic - even if it's so AU that it's not even really Stargate anymore. It's a massive AU, with loads of characters, loads of stories, and constantly being added to. Well-written, engrossing, and with rare pairing choices that just make me cry out in delight. Who doesn't love General Landry as a king, or Radek as a prince? It has drama, romance, court intrigues, assassination attempts, and everything else you could possibly want. I'm especially happy with the major role given to Lorne, one of my favourite SGA characters. You do not need to have seen either Stargate show to read this five-star series.
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These are by no means all of the AU fics I enjoy, just a selection of my favourites.
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