Best Long Canon Divergence Fanfics
Canon Divergence fanfics from 50k to 100k words — full novel length with room for slow development. Curated from AO3, ranked by kudos.
Top 20 Long Canon Divergence Fanfics
Ranked by AO3 kudos. Each fic is tagged with canon divergence and falls in the 50,000–100,000 words range.
something you can build
by some1_around
Six months ago, Shane’s intimate conversation and break-up with Rose Landry was recorded and leaked. In those six months, his life had completely upended and everything had changed, for better or for worse. Except for Ilya. He still has Ilya, and he’s beginning to understand that he always will. It’
re: hi
by fleezerweezer
At eleven years old Ilya Rozanov's class is given an assignment:They will be randomly paired with a student at another school in Canada via email. In order to get full credit on the assignment, they must send at least five emails back and forth and gather enough information to write their project.Af
All For One's guide to a peaceful retirement
by ScottishSunshine
When Inko gets sick, all she asks is that her husband take a step back from his work and focus on raising their son. And of course All For One agrees, because he can afford to take it easy for a few decades.How hard can parenting Izuku be, after all?
a turn of the earth
by microcomets
Dean’s your typical half-orphaned, monster-killing 22-year-old until a trenchcoated stranger crashes into his back windshield one September night, claiming he’s an angel that knows him from the future and that he’s on the run. Frigging fantastic. (Or, in which Castiel gets stuck in Dean’s timeline p
The Game Plan
by FestiveFerret
Shane Hollander is the number two overall NHL draft pick and a newly minted Montreal Voyageur. He’s also laser focused on his goals: being the best by beating the best. For him, this means a continued rivalry with number one draft pick—and new Ottawa Centaur—Ilya Rozanov. But when a problem with Roz
Next to You (It's the Rule)
by LunaMyLove
Arthur and Merlin have a special relationship. They always have, even when they were prince and servant. While many question it when first noticing, eventually it becomes an understanding in Camelot—and even among some other countries—that where there is Arthur, there is Merlin. And, where there is
The Secrets We Kept
by Larissa_liest
Shane Hollander disappears from the NHL at twenty with a career-ending “injury.” Four years later, he’s the new assistant coach for the Ottawa Centaurs when Ilya Rozanov signs with the team. His former rival. His secret hookup. The father of his daughter.Ilya doesn’t know Lily exists and Shane plans
Carry Me Home
by valleykey
The boy shifts on his feet. “The year is two thousand and eighteen? Common Era?”Slowly, smile still plastic on his face, Suguru faces Satoru. This fucking dumbass. “Satoru,” he says, dangerous edge to his voice, “what did you do?”Satoru makes some bastardization of a sound, half between a laugh and
Home Ice Advantage
by taywrites11
“You’re going to Boston.”Long after Farah hangs up, the words keep echoing in Shane’s head. If he had thought his thoughts had been chaotic this morning, when his biggest problem had been his rival potentially fucking him when he came to Montreal in two weeks, that’s nothing compared to the code-red
It's a Secret to Everybody
by Snapdragon_in_the_Snow
“I have kids," Clint said. "I know dad behavior when I see it.”Tony blinked multiple consecutive times, processing the statement. “Excuse me?”“Tony,” Steve said now, “how long have you had a son? And how come we’ve never known about him?”“Yeah,” Clint spoke again, “I thought I was the only one with
guess your trajectory
by ohwickedsoul
That’s a fucking kid, is the first thing that Iruka thinks. That’s the fucking jinchuriki, is the second. The first thought comes back, even stronger, overwhelming him with outrage, with fury, with a sick sort of disgust, and now it comes out as a shouted, “That’s a fucking kid.”
What Goes Around
by KouriArashi
“Well,” Stiles says, “if they’re going to hunt werewolves, I’m going to hunt them.”It’s a ridiculous statement from a ten-year-old, but he’s obviously one hundred percent sincere. For the first time since the fire, Peter feels life stir inside him, feels purpose. It’s kismet, clearly. He’ll never me
Heal Me
by EmbraceTheEccentric
It's the Healer!Deku AU that nobody asked forUpdate: Now with PodFic options!
9/10ths
by RayShippouUchiha
“Y-Yeah,” the slightly stuttered answer is beyond charming. Shōta’s already imagining a thousand and one ways he can hear that stutter again in more private settings. “Y-You’re my favorite hero.”See, that dark voice whispers delightedly in Shōta’s ear again, he’s already yours.“Hmm,” Shōta hums, al
Another Option
by sandersonsister
When Touya stops his mother from hurting Shouto, he decides enough is enough. He needs to get out of this house and he's taking his baby brother with him.8/24/22 -undergoing revision
the lathe
by palmviolet
"This time, do it right. This time Eddie won’t bleed out in his arms, in anyone’s arms. This time, Steve will do it right."— or, steve relives the day they try to kill vecna over and over, and eddie just can't seem to stop dying. steve finds this totally unacceptable.
A Long Way From Home (And No Way Back)
by Vivia_wants_boba
“Oh,” the kid says, head turning to look back at the bathroom. “It’s fine. I’ve got it figured out.”Dick’s face pulls to a pinched expression, shaking his head slowly. “As much as I’d love to believe you, I can’t. That stuff can’t just be emptied down the drain.”The kid’s own face scrunches this tim
Pattern Break
by ThisBeautifulDrowning
Will knew what had happened. He knew exactly how Abigail's ear had gotten into him, who had shoved it down his throat. He also knew that trying to indicate Hannibal as a killer again was futile. Jack seemed to want to believe him, going by the conversation in the BSHCI's visitor hall, but Jack neede
quicksand
by likearecord
Andrew and the Idiotic, Thirsty, Ill-advised, Very Off-Limits Crush on his College Roommate's Younger Brother.
The Meaning of Dandelions
by Endrina
The stupid hat was stupid and refused to help Harry. The whole school and its division in houses was stupid too, and the teachers.Harry was in Hogwarts, but he didn't want to be. He wanted to go back home.
More Long Canon Divergence Fics on AO3
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About Canon Divergence
The story follows canon faithfully up to a chosen moment, then branches: one different decision, one survived death, one secret told early, and everything downstream changes. One of AO3's largest tags, because almost every 'what if' is a divergence.
Divergence fic is the fandom conversation made narrative — every entry is an argument about which moments actually mattered, and readers love watching one changed variable rewrite a world.
Common scenarios: A story where the character who died in episode nine simply doesn't, or where the protagonist accepts the villain's offer and the war takes a very different shape.
About This List
This list of 20long Canon Divergence fanfics spans 1,474,468 total words. Kudos range from 11,798 on the newest entries to 44,680 on the most established. Nearly all (85%) are complete, so you can start any of them without WIP anxiety. The most common rating is Teen And Up Audiences (9 of 20 fics).
Recurring tags across this list: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence · Angst · Slow Burn · Secret Relationship.
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