Once Upon a Time Fanfiction
Once Upon a Time reimagines fairy tale characters living in the modern world, unaware of their true identities. Discover Once Upon a Time fanfiction with magic, romance, and family drama. Browse the best OUAT fan stories and ships on AO3.
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What is Once Upon a Time fanfiction?
Once Upon a Time fanfiction is fan-created stories set in the Once Upon a Time (TV) universe. With over 42,000 works on Archive of Our Own, Once Upon a Time is one of the most popular fandoms in the fanfiction community.
These stories explore beloved characters like Emma Swan, Regina Mills, Killian Jones, Rumplestiltskin, and many more. Writers create everything from short one-shots to epic novel-length adventures, exploring relationships, alternate universes, and "what if" scenarios.
Most Popular Once Upon a Time Fanfics
These are the highest-rated Once Upon a Time stories on AO3, ranked by kudos from readers.
Temporary Distractions
by amycarey
“Oh, I don’t know,” Regina says. “It makes a certain amount of sense on paper. Henry’s two mothers, all that fighting, making magic together, tentative trust built. Destroyed of course, but Robin needn’t know that. Plus, I knew it would really irritate him.” Emma wants to ask why but also doesn
Right There All the Time
by devje
His mothers are obviously in love and totally married in everything but name, so why is Henry the only one in their house who knows this? His moms don't even seem to have noticed that Mom kisses Emma on the cheek every morning when she leaves for work. Every. Single. Morning.[Post 4A, Swan-Mills fam
Send Up a Signal (that everything's fine)
by coalitiongirl
Emma Swan is catapulted into stardom, the newest lead actress on a sanitized show featuring modern fairytales. Regina Mills is a long-undermined star with a chip on her shoulder and a thousand reasons why she's invested. Naturally, they loathe each other on sight.Their characters' fanbases, however,
autocorrect claims another victim (and this one's gonna be a bloodbath)
by coalitiongirl
Emma types I’ll owe you into the message field, glancing over at Henry to shoot him another smile before she looks down.Autocorrect had turned her message from I’ll owe you to I love you. She stares at it bemusedly, her heart racing for reasons that make no sense. It’s just a typo. Of course she lov
every winter fades away (into the spring)
by coalitiongirl
Emma reaches for Regina’s hand again, but Regina’s moved her ice cream to it instead. “Though, I mean, if I were into women, your mom would definitely be first on my list,” Emma tells Henry.“I’m flattered,” Regina says dryly.Her voice sounds a little strained, and Emma tries to lighten the tone. She
everything looks better (in hindsight)
by insanetwin
Emma almost has everything. She's got a wonderful son, a beautiful, tender friend and co-parent, and a family she can count on. It was all she ever dreamed of, once upon a time. At times, she thinks she finally understands what authors mean when they end their story with: they lived happily ever aft
Kissing Regina Mills
by misscanteloupe
“The name is just for show. It’s supposed to bring out some of your deeper desires. Spurs you to act on them,” Regina explains, even though Emma stopped paying attention several words ago.Their eyes lock, and Emma feels that same prickling sensation on the back of her neck.“Is there… anything you wa
Amor fati
by coalitiongirl
Just days after Emma announces her engagement, Regina is found in her vault without any memory of the past five seasons. The newly returned Mayor Mills is caustic, scheming, unnerved by her own future, and loves only Henry– and she might see more clearly than anyone around her. Then again, that migh
For Love or Money
by starsthatburn
Emma Swan is deep in debt, working for a boss who hates her, and has just been dumped by a guy who didn't deserve her in the first place. When Regina Mills - millionaire, high-flying art dealer and the most beautiful woman Emma has ever seen - swoops into her life and offers her a world of luxury in
Synesthesia
by coalitiongirl
It had been a simple dare, one that had made sense when Emma had been two drinks away from passing out. She doesn’t know what exactly Ruby had done to bind it– is still very new to magic as a real thing, flowing through Storybrooke– but it’s now a dare she can’t back off on.Ruby had laid out the rul
A Dark Ocean
by chilly_flame
When Regina is injured in an accident, Emma steps in to assist.
Prism
by coalitiongirl
Soulmate AU where you see the world in black-and-white until you meet your soulmate. Regina Mills meets two people at once at the moment she first sees in color, makes the wrong choice, and falls in love with the right one anyway.
A Changed Game
by Aponi_Aquene
On hiatus/Under Maintenance Swan Queen Enchanted Forest AU: Fulfilling a prophecy that existed longer than she had, Princess turned White Knight, Emma defeats the Evil Queen in battle and decides to take her prisoner as a slave and Emma sets on a path to break the believed to be unbreakable Queen. D
The MILF Next Door
by misscanteloupe
“Do you think she's pretty?”“Yes. I think she’s really… pretty,” Emma coughs. Hopes she can pass off her tomato face as a heat symptom.“And smart?”“Mhmm.”“And nice?”“Kid, if this is your way of interrogating me for your mom’s friendship, then yes. I think she's super pretty, super smart, and super n
Miss Swan Goes to Storybrooke
by coalitiongirl
Regina Mills is running an underdog mayoral campaign when her hapless partner in crime, Neal Cassidy Gold, hires his new girlfriend to be a part of it. It's hate at first sight. Emma Swan is infuriatingly attractive, infuriatingly competent, and– most infuriatingly– will absolutely bring down their
Emma Enchanted
by coalitiongirl
Emma Swan– orphan, vagrant, and possible secret princess– has been gifted with obedience. She has no choice but to follow any orders given to her, which is complicated enough before life throws in her long-lost parents, a power-hungry witch, and the evil queen she just happens to be in love with.
Storybrooke Singles (or: Emma Swan Decides Not To Die Alone After a Humiliating Snapchat Incident)
by coalitiongirl
"To commemorate this achievement and prove just how good at this I am, Storybrooke Singles has decided to take on a charity case.” Zelena claps her hands together. “Someone forever doomed to be alone if not for me."Emma says under her breath to Regina, “Which desperate sucker did she get for that?”
Movie night
by AOBZ
Emma and Regina have been having a movie night for months now, and Emma's been hiding a secret from Regina the entire time. She's been performing a concealing spell to hide the fact that every time they curl up to watch a movie, she ends up in a raging hard-on. What happens when Regina discovers Emm
Emma Swan, Professional Cuddler
by misscanteloupe
Come Wednesday night, Regina has something akin to a bucket list written out to get over her nerves. It looks something like this - 1. Get Henry through college2. Date someone who isn’t a buffoon3. Marry that person and hope they never turn into a buffoon4. Destroy meninism5. Cuddle a strangerOr, in
Someone Will Remember Us
by starsthatburn
On day one of her junior year at Boston College, Emma makes a fool out of herself in front of the most beautiful woman she’s ever seen. She tries not to dwell on it, though – after all, it’s not like the woman is going to end up teaching one of her classes.
Common Once Upon a Time Tropes
Popular Characters
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Once Upon a Time fanfics are on AO3?
There are over 42,000 Once Upon a Time fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own, making it one of the platform's largest fandoms.
What are the best Once Upon a Time ships?
Popular Once Upon a Time pairings include . Each ship has thousands of dedicated stories exploring their relationship.
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