Fate stay night/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here, provided you don't die when you are killed:

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Fate/stay night fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be Zapped. Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be. You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

Add new examples at the bottom of the section, please.

Authors and Websites
Beast's Lair Type Moon Fanworks Thread
 * Recommended by Chaosjunction, Aokuchi, nitewind
 * As the name suggests, this is the fanworks thread over on Beast's Lair, one of the best Type-Moon fansites. Many great stories, including some of those recommended here, can by found on this thread.
 * Note that the original site was shut down by ProBoards at short notice. Many of the stories have since been put back up.
 * Note also that most threads on Beast's Lair have massive amounts of discussion and off topic posting so story-centric navigation can range anywhere from "difficult" to "flat out impossible" for authors who do not post links to chapters.

General Fics
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.

The World Without, by Lunaludus Scribex
 * Recommended by User:Comartemis, Cherry_Lover, Caellach Tiger Eye
 * Synopsis: Follows Bad End #1. Shirou is as good as dead, but the war will go on without him. Unwilling to give up her chance at the Grail just yet, Saber seeks out the remnants of the Makiri family hoping to find a new master and finds herself enlisted by Zouken as a back-up Servant and bodyguard for Sakura.
 * Comments: Only five chapters long and it's already a highly entertaining read. Shirou fans should be warned that several scenes go into rather graphic detail of what exactly Ilya is doing to his severed head (hint: power tools are involved), and Ilya fans should be noted that the psycho moeblob is not being portrayed very sympathetically. On the other hand, Sakura fans should note that the series seems to be headed in the direction of making her Shirou's stand-in as main character and Grail War Hero(ine). Everyone else should note that this is not a Dark Fic despite Shirou being dead; while Sakura being one of the main characters means significant amounts of angst are involved, there are also flashes of humor here and there and the author has done a bang-up job of recreating the overall feel of the series.
 * Elf: Finally, after months of pimping this fic it's getting the recognition that it deserves. Also, the author writes one of the best Lancers I've seen, and what he's hinting at with Archer has me curious as well.
 * Caellach Tiger Eye: It's well-written, but for me impossible to enjoy thanks to the aforementioned characterisation of Illya - I honestly couldn't move past the first chapter knowing what would come next with her, particularly since she's my favourite character. I understand that perspective, but as an Illya fan I cannot help fundamentally protesting to her being portrayed without the slightest sympathy, particularly given the base behind her character. I'd rather read a Dark Fic version of this with Illya redeeming herself much later on, possibly as The Atoner, as opposed to ... well, as opposed to what we actually get here. That's just me giving what I feel is a much-needed thumbs-down, but perhaps others will feel differently, so don't let my opinion tarnish your free will.
 * It is an accurate characterisation of Ilya, though, given the situation. And, there's nothing anywhere which says she can't redeem herself at a later date, especially given that . Also, I don't think Ilya is being portrayed "without sympathy", the writer is just assuming we've already played the game (or, at least, seen the anime) and thus know what she's really like. It's hard to write her as sympathetic from that scenario without basically rehashing the backstory we've already been given by the game.
 * You're jumping the gun, Tiger. The story is one that favors the slow burn, and the latest chapter seems like it might finally be edging toward giving Illya a Heel Realization. In fact, the story appears to be heading down the path you described, so why don't you give it some time before you start complaining?
 * C.T.E.: Well, I can admit when I'm wrong about something. Having looked at the recent chapters, I must take back my hesitation regarding this fic (which I've started now to read and enjoy very much. I will, however, state that calling Ilya's depiction "unsympathetic" isn't exactly accurate, especially Chapter 11 (where  learns of her past and is horrified); so my gripe wasn't so much with the story, but with the original "Recommender" having mis-advertised it's depiction of Ilya (I'd assumed she was being given the Ron the Death Eater treatment, and after the first chapter can you blame me for complaining?) Also note that the story, while hopeful, does get dark at times (it's the first story I've seen which  ). But overall, I've come to deeply respect this story - among other things, it has the most satisfying Karmic Death of Shinji Matou that I've ever seen.

Fate Once Again by Ayleris
 * Recommended by User:Comartemis, User:Ten Four, Walktalk
 * Synopsis: Seeking to free Archer from his deal with the world, Shirou and Rin return to Fuyuki City ten years after the UBW True End to take part in the Sixth Grail War.
 * Comments: What may well be one of the best FSN fics in the fandom, Ayleris knows his Type-Moon lore and isn't the least bit afraid to make references to the rest of Nasu's extended universe, particularly Fate/Zero and Tsukihime (which it is sort of a crossover with; be on the lookout for curry monsters with very large guns). Of special interest are the developments in the rest of the FSN canon cast; Saber and Taiga are the same as always, but Sakura... well... see for yourself.
 * Alyeris: O.o While I am grateful for the undeserved praise my first foray into fanfiction gathered, I'm afraid that this is one project I will NOT be finishing. The storyline from chapter 14 onwards became too loose for me to accept and if I ever do get back to this I will be collating the last 5 chapters into 2 or 3. Again this is unlikely due to time constraints. Sorry to anyone out there who's been hoping for a continuation.

Endless Dream by Pata Hikari ""..." Lancer lowered his lance. "Oh God Damn it! You use a sword too? For the love of.... why the hell aren't you and Archer Saber!?"
 * Recommended by User:Universalperson, User:Op Megs, User:Ten Four, nitewind
 * Synopsis: When Sakura makes her Servant, she gets a Caster-type. One with a special connection to her. Note: Original fic has been scrapped, is being rewritten.
 * The new version can be now found here.
 * Comments: In a sense, this premise has been done before but it works extremely well, and is also (more importantly) well written. Highlights include: Caster's plans backfiring, a subtle subversion of the "You Lost Me" meme and Rider and Sakura as Sentai.
 * User:Pata Hikari: Holy crap. :O Also, what subtle subversion of the "You lost me" meme.
 * User:Universalperson: What can I say, it's a good fic. Although admittedly, I thought of posting it here after I saw your name. The subtle subversion, I assumed, was in Chapter 13. The first part.
 * swtrooper42: This is hilarous and well written. I liked the whole Go-Karting with Bowser part with Lancer, Saber, and Archer eating pizza.
 * Coker: Lancer bemoaning the fact that both archer and caster use swords despite not being saber made nearly die laughing

"...you sound offended." Caster commented.

"Of course I am! I'm Lancer." He held up his weapon, "Note the fact that I use a Lance.""


 * User:Jisu: Love it, love it, love it. It's been a while since I've read something this good.
 * User:Neo Crimson: It is indeed very well written, the only flaw is that Caster is a total Fixer Sue, but at least the author realizes this and makes fun of him/herself for it.
 * User:Guessmyname: And at least her plans do  on at least one occasion.
 * User:Op Megs: This one is unique in that I found it to make Gilgamesh more understandable in motives than the actual canon. His makes his comments on wanting to "elevate humanity back to what it was" seem more sensical and Gil himself less of an Omnicidal Maniac.
 * User:Sneebs I'd probably enjoy this a lot more if the writer could learn how to edit properly. Using a symbol like "..." should not be the way to say the scene has changes. Damnabbit, I might actually be enjoying this if I knew the difference between a scene change and a character being dumbfounded by the comic relief.
 * User:Pata Hikari: There used to be lines for scene changes, it seems that Fanfiction.net removed them.
 * @/awakenDeepBlue: I'll have to agree with Sneebs, the formatting is terrible. Also, IMHO, I don't really find this fic to be well written.
 * You did read the part where it says that the fic is being rewritten right?

Cooled Ambition by Kratoserving
 * Recommended by User:Comartemis, User:Op Megs, User:Ten Four, Cherry_Lover
 * Synopsis: Another take on the "Rin as Counter Guardian" plotline.
 * Comments: Superficially it seems like a copy off of Endless Dream, with so many similarities in the early plot that one is tempted to sound the plagiarism alarm. However the story is different enough to stand on its' own, and recent chapters have been diverging farther and farther away from Endless Dream. It helps that Kratoserving has a much smoother writing style than PH does and he's willing to do some very interesting things with the characters, like  Suffice it to say that if you liked Endless Dream you'll probably like Cooled Ambition.
 * User:Guessmyname: Eh, personally, I find Endless Dream has a better writing style. Kratoserving is too long winded and tells more than he shows. But that's just me...
 * Solopy567: One of the funniest parts of this story that I found was
 * Zephaoreos: Up to chapter five so far, and if it doesn't change soon I can't recommend it. Archer is portrayed as an even denser version of Shirou, despite being one of the cleverer characters in canon. I don't mind fanfiction where personalities are tweaked, but an EX-level idiot ball doesn't make for an enjoyable change. Apparently projected weapons are super easy to explode, despite Medea (a better mage than a future Tohsaka would be) not realising this. What makes this even more grating is that the combination of drawing unlimited magic from alternate realities and the ability to store mana for later in gems would make for a logical method of making Caster overpowered without plot hole inducing asspulls.

Heaven's Failure, aka "The Emilya Saga" by Limit Break Original Webcomics and first volume Volumes 1-5
 * Recommended by User:Andyzero
 * Synopsis: An alternate take on the happy ending of "Heaven's Feel", since Shirou's body is full of holes, and Ilya doesn't need hers anymore, she gives him her body. (Not like that.) Thus, Emilya is born
 * Comments: Non-H Doujinshi.. Mostly whacky hijinks as everyone adjusts, but there is one heartwarming scene.
 * A rather interesting and funny What If. It takes place after Heaven's Feel True End and despite some characters being OOC (Sakura for example and Rin to some extent), it IS a good read..

Fuyuki High Class Reunion by sasahara17
 * Recommended by Steve the Corn Muffin
 * Synopsis: This oneshot's subject material is not what you think it is about.. Takes place during the 5th Grail War.
 * Comments: A very humorous one-shot. Saying anything else would give away too much. A must-read for the F/SN fan who likes their WTF? moments. Also contains some rather interesting backstory for the cast.

Childcare is War by St. Parasu, part 4 is here (rest of site is NSFW) and here (SFW).
 * Recommended by User:Andyzero, User:Universalperson, User:Ten Four, Cherry_Lover
 * Synopsis: Counter-Guardians are not affected by Time Paradox. When Archer is summoned by the child versions of Rin and Sakura; he discovers there's something more Gar than being a hero and more altering than the Holy Grail itself. A loving father.
 * Comments: Non-H Doujinshi. There is a fanfic continuation on the author's website. However, it is entirely in Japanese. The pictures, however, more or less say it all.
 * The authors website even has a fan audio drama. I can't understand it, but it's just too cute!. Someone translate all this, the doujins are NOT enough...
 * Someone is translating the fanfic. Someone is translating the fanfic. Xephyre, you win at life.

Precept of Destiny by Caradryan
 * Recommended by Person With Many Aliases
 * Synopsis: Presumably following the events of the Anime, Shiro and Rin attempt to return to a somewhat normal life, only to find themselves being caught up fighting with and against Heroes in a battle across time, to try and stop the damaged Holy Grail from destroying all history.
 * Comments: Many likable characters, old and new, return. Meshes combat, mythology, and humor very evenly, providing you with some utterly bizarre and awesome combinations that may need to be read to believe.
 * User:Comartemis: It also flips the bird at Nasuverse canon and many things which were detailed in the game. Caradryan seems to be working with just what information the anime provided and working from there, so those who've played the game should expect a lot of conflicts with their knowledge base. That said (and having read only the first chapter so far), the writing is pretty solid save for the occasional spelling and grammar glitches.
 * User:Caradryan: You guys have got to be kidding me...Now I can die happy - I mean, I can write more! Although, Precept of Destiny is currently on indefinite hiatus, so I'm not sure if it's appropriate as a Fanfic Rec. Perhaps someone could consider its follow-up, Fortune's Providence once I have a few more chapters of it up?

Shattered-Heaven by tesculpture
 * Recommended by User:Narvi, User:Rivenscryr, DaRandomUser.
 * Synopsis: Basically Fate/stay night: The Mirror Universe. Archer is caught up in one of Rin's magical detonations, and is sent to a universe where he should (by all standards) have a goatee.
 * Comments: Hilarious, if only for uncertain emo Shinji-esqu Gilgamesh crushing on Archer, a crazy tyrannical Saber who has no taste in food yet remains a Big Eater, the delinquent Issei who keeps trying to burn the school down, and a Also has bastard Shirou as an antagonist, who is about as evil and clever as good Shirou is nice and dim.
 * User:Comartemis: Didn't care for the plot all that much (it's pretty well-written, the concept just isn't really my cup of tea), but it was worth reading anyways just to see what inverting everyone's personalities does to Zouken.
 * User:Rivenscryr: Certainly a good many moments of amusement to be had, as well as more serious moments resulting from the inversions of almost every character in canon (and not in the Nanaya or Tohno style), but I find its the more subtle shifts later on that really caught my attention, with one example being our dear Einzbern homunculus).

Nine Ways Archer's Plan Went Horribly Wrong, by Mini Nephthys
 * Recommended by User:Sparkysharps, User:Ten Four, User:Animenutcase
 * Synopsis: Nine short scenarios in which Archer's plan to erase himself from existence falls completely on its ass before it even starts.
 * Comments: Simple, short, and bloody hilarious -- as well as rather heartwarming in the final scenario.
 * User:Mini Nephthys: According to the rules of the rec page, I should mention that it has more than a fair bit of Archer/Rin. Also, I'm flattered beyond belief.
 * User:Animenutcase would also like to warn you that there are a couple blink-and-you'll-miss-it slash hints.

Phantoms by Burnout
 * Recommended by iridium248, StevetheCornMuffin
 * Now has a Trope Page.
 * Synopsis: Thirty years after the Fifth War of the Holy Grail, Ichiro Tanaka, protege of Emiya Shirou and Master of Assassin, participates in the Sixth. A Psuedo-crossover with Phantom of Inferno.
 * Comments: Fate as film noir. Intriguing callbacks to both Fate/Stay Night and Fate/Hollow Ataraxia. Seems to be a Spiritual Successor to Fate/Zero in mood and tone, with an interesting lead character.
 * Strong characterization, but depressingly bleak and oppressive, keeping in line with the tone of the source materials.
 * New link up above to replace the old one.
 * The recent chapters...Holy shit, the recent chapters are incredibly, incredibly brutal, verging on mean-spirited. Worth a read just for the clash with the Shadow.
 * This story is definitely meant to appeal to hardcore fans of Zero and Nitro+, what with the dark, violent tones. However, those aren't the only selling points, since the storytelling itself is also a superb example. In addition, no prior knowledge of Phantom is required to enjoy this one, but it does help to understand Ichiro's Assassin's backstory.
 * Quiksilver: Well-written but nihilistic, with intense grit and gore. A good read if you like Darker and Edgier stories, but occasionally rather disturbing.

Dear Tohsaka by tobias (TV Tropes page)
 * Recommended by User:xm 0123, Cherry_Lover, User:Ten Four, Ximsol182
 * Synopsis: Set after the UBW True End, Sakura writes a letter to Rin detailing her life and feelings.
 * Comments: One chapter long, but incredibly powerful. By the end, I wanted to give Sakura a hug. This is definitely a tearjerker, but well worth the read for anyone who's played the visual novel.  Also has a sequel, Dear Emiya, which is also powerful.
 * Seconded. This fic is very powerful and it might make you cry even if you're not a Sakura fan (Sakura fans on the other hand need to get those tissues prepared.....). It's extremely emotional and amazingly well done, particularly since the writer is not actually overly fond of Sakura in general.
 * And be sure to read Dear Matou, the conclusion to the "Letters" series. The quality seen in the first two letters carries through just as well. If you have played the visual novel, do yourself a favor and devote some time to reading these stirring, emotionally powerful stories. You will not be disappointed.

Chaos Theory by Moczo
 * Recommended by J the Drafter, User:Comartemis, User:Unclouded TJ, Cherry_Lover, Darkholme, nitewind, Caellach Tiger Eye
 * Now with it's own Trope Page!
 * Synopsis: A random act of kindness on the first night of the Grail War alters the course of the entire conflict when Shirou makes nice with Ilya.
 * Comments: First of all the writing is excellent. It's thoughtful, it conveys information without getting bogged down in it, and it's spiced with some occasional humor. The idea is clever, for its simplicity and its shear plausibility. As of October 14, 2010 there are five chapters.
 * Please note that those three chapters and the prologue were written in under a week's time while the average fanfic is updated about once a month and additionally this one has a combined (as of October 10) word count of over 16,000 words. Suffice to say that Moczo writes fast.
 * User:Moczo: Wow. While I really appreciate the rec, please do keep in mind that I'm totally rushing on that 'new fic' buzz; don't expect three-chapter-a-week updates to last forever, or I'll end up really disappointing you. Still, glad you liked it enough to put it here!
 * Comartemis: I was disappointed that what appears to be an Ilya route doesn't feature an appearance by Archerko, but as a new spin on the source material this is a very entertaining AU. Chaos Theory combines elements of the Fate and Heaven's Feel routes but also isn't afraid to do something completely original, like breaking up the Tohsaka/Emiya alliance. Definitely one to put on your watchlist.
 * User:Unclouded TJ: Would have otherwise passed it up, but I saw the recommendation and found the story to my liking. Excellent characterization and a very open future.
 * There isn't enough love for the homunculus in the world of fanfiction, so I'm quite pleased with the story so far. Looking forward to updates from this one, and so should you.
 * User:silvercover: I like the sweet parts between Shirou and Ilya here. The story is really great and makes excellent sense on what might happen with a random act of kindness.
 * Kazeto: I also recommend this story - it's rather well done and has some funny and heart-warming moments. It seems to "follow" the Heaven's Feel route, or rather - what would be of this route if its main heroine was Ilyasviel, and it is written in a way that is pleasant to read.
 * Caellach Tiger Eye: If I knew how to create TV Tropes pages for Fan Fics, I would make one for this fic. From the humourous scenes to the sad ones, from the character development to the horror & darkness, from the battle scenes to the sweet interactions between Ilya and Shirou, every moment Chaos Theory is a moment well spent. A true gem.
 * awakenDeepBlue: I also like this fic, this is what a Ilya route would be like.

''[http://forums.nrvnqsr.com/showthread.php/766-Teach-us-Gil-sensei! Teach Us, Gil Sensei!]'' by Verg Avesta
 * Recommended by User:Pata Hikari, Darkholme
 * Synopsis: After one to many indignities at the hand of Kotomine, the King of Heroes moves out on his own. After a bit of searching, he ends up as a PE teacher. Hilarity Ensues
 * Comments:An utterly hilarious work. The story is told from Gilgamesh's point of view, which means that we get to see how his pride and idiocy get him into so much trouble.
 * User:T-bone 61: This fic. It is golden. Otaku!Gil alone is beyond words. Definitely worth your time.
 * Link is now fixed. Enjoy the mayhem.
 * Bar none definitely one of the better comedy fics out there.

F/SN - Prismatic Chaos by Ayleris Now on Fanfiction.net!
 * Recommended by Chaosjunction, Darkholme, DaRandomUser, silvercover, nitewind
 * Synopsis: After a incident involving the Kaleidostick 5 years before the start of Fate/Stay Night, Emiya Shirou has become the female Emiya Kirika. Fast forward 5 years, and the Holy Grail War begins. Archer is summoned, along with 2 Sabers. Wait, what!?
 * Comments: Another fic from the mind of Ayleris, the same person who gave us Fate Once Again, F/SN-Prismatic Chaos, though young yet, is already a fic that deserves to be recommeneded here. Not only are the relationships of Female! Shirou hilarious:, not to mention her relationship with Rin... This fic is definitely one worth reading.
 * Darkholme: I'll admit, the premise turned me off at first. But then I gave this fic a chance. And boy, I'm glad I did. An adorable little story that will have you tickled the whole way through.
 * User:silvercover: I also recommend this one. Kirika behaves like the original Shirou but also behaves like a girl due to being exposed to Rin's influence. I'm also interested in how the pairings might end up with.

The Twelve Days of Carenmas by Verg Avesta
 * Recommended by Steve the Corn Muffin
 * Synopsis: A Christmas fic that consists of a series of different chapters written in varying styles for maximum effect. Good, no, perfect for your Type-MOON holiday fix.
 * Comments: Also contains the excellently written bonus Mind of Steel short-story "Faker" and a preview of the upcoming fanfic "Fate/End" also written with comparable quality. . The fic as a whole contains a solid mix of comedy, drama, and is recommended to any Nasuverse fan looking for a good holiday story.
 * Ever since the fall of the old Lair, the original shorts were lost, leaving only the final three segments, including Faker and Fate/End. Still a nice holiday read regardless.
 * Has a spiritual successor in the form of The Twelve Days of Saturnalia, which features Gilgamesh and Nero hosting a Christmas special and culminates in this little beauty right here.

Fate Retold by Kent Vonce
 * Recommended by 4seasons
 * Synopsis: This is an AU story in which none of the seven Servants were summoned and the Masters summoned seven other servants instead.
 * Comments: Trust me, this is the best AU Fate/Stay Night fanfic that I highly recommend. With FSN Servants replaced by other heroes that everyone's aware of . The author of this amazing fanfic did the most wonderful job of combining elements of both three scenarios together. As I said before, this is a kind of AU fanfic that FSN fans would really enjoy.
 * The fanfic is already complete, but there is some recent news that the author will do a rewritten version of this fanfic, which has yet to be published. And once he finished the rewrite, he'll start the sequel, which makes it even more epic.
 * The first chapters are definitely nothing to write home about, but to be fair the story does improve considerably as it goes on.

Burning Crusade by nexusmaster
 * Recommended by 4seasons
 * Synopsis: This boy, this... Slayer of Heroes. He will begin a Crusade etched with flames, a Burning Crusade.
 * Comments: This is the most epic fanfic sequel for Fate/Stay Night. A fanfic involve with some returning characters, siding with the Angels to battle against the Demons, more opposing Heroic Spirits, and the Corrupted Grail. This fanfic contains alot Funny, Heartwarming, and Awesome, even a tearjerking moment that this fanfic is definately worth reading.
 * The fanfic is already completed, although the epilogue hinted a sequel, which was never published, but the autor wrote a prequel of it, Crimson, but it happens to be on hiatus.

Fate's Game by Cloud 802
 * Recommended by nitewind
 * Synopsis: One who could give up everything to save the people he loves, an interesting man to be sure. Shirou/Saber
 * Comments: About a month after the fate route things appear to be returning to normal until Shirou when attempting to trace Archer's swords accidentally summons Saber. Unfortunately, it looks as though the Holy Grail wasn't destroyed as thoroughly as everyone hoped and a new Grail War is starting. Not only that but while Shinji may be dead Zouken Matou is still alive and plotting. Follows the fate route but incorporates much of heaven's feel. Also features UBW, Ilya goodness, Shirou, Rin, Ilya, Saber, and  saving Sakura, and a whole new cast of servants (except Saber and Rider). It also appears that a sequel is in the works and will probably feature characters from Tsukihime.

The Loli Grail War by Twelveseal
 * Recommended by StevetheCornMuffin, User:silvercover, DaRandomUsername, nitewind
 * Synopsis: Ten years after the previous Holy Grail War, it is once again time for the new round of mortal combat for the eldritch artifact known as the Holy Grail to resume once more. But something is...amiss. Why are there so many Servants this time? Why are they all so nightmarishly powerful? And why are they all prepubescent young girls???
 * Comments: Not only does Twelveseal have a good writing style, but the story also packs a strong mixture of action, comedy, drama,, and even  . The story consists of individual snippets that take place anachronlogically - which is initially rather confusing for new readers - but begins making a lot more sense as the story goes on. Also notable for making use of background characters and raiding the Nasuverse for lore and information. Surprises are around every corner, which makes this one a pleasantly surprising good read.
 * User:silvercover: It can get pretty confusing but is quite entertaining. I love how every Servant is a Badass in their own way and also their relationship with their Masters. I'm interested to see what would happen when Archer and Archerko meet, along with the other Servants and Masters.
 * Steve the Corn Muffin: This is definitely some serious epicness that Twelveseal has going on here, although do be forewarned that there are NSFW lemons, with more on the way. Just as a heads-up for y'all.
 * Grant: Some of the best character development in fanfiction period. As evidence it is actually managing to make . However, at the time of this writing the fic is roughly 450 pages long with about 183,000 words and still not even close to being finished. This is not something you can read in just one sitting.
 * As of 06/04/12, the link for the story is broken, I only get an error 404 when ever I hit it. If someone who can access the story and/or site provide another link to where the story is accessible, it would be much appreciated.
 * Link is now (hopefully as this is my first edit) fixed. Enjoy people!

I Put On My Robe And Wizard Hat by Ol'Velsper (Trope Page) "Shirou: Fuck my life!"
 * Recommended by User:Comartemis, User:Unclouded TJ, nitewind
 * Synopsis: The Great Fuyuki Fire never happened, and Shirou was never orphaned. But ten years later, Grail War 5 happens anyways and sure enough, Shirou's got his Command Seals. But life as a modern teenager has given Shirou something potentially more valuable than Kiritsugu's ideals: exposure to 4chan, and the ability to successfully troll everyone and everything.

Complete. The sequel, Apostles in Leather Pants is up, focusing on the plot of Tsukihime.
 * Comments: Epic crackfic. Uses a lot of 4chan memes and internet humor for comedy, but uses them magnificently, particularly Archer's use of the Old Spice routine and Rin's first exposure to the internet. Also features a Shirou/Ilya pairing by way of strategic use of Teen!Ilya.
 * To classify this as just a crackfic does Wizard Hat a great injustice. The story grew beyond the simple premise of mere crack into something that is truly enjoyable and action packed filled to the brim with humor and Crowning Moments of Awesome throughout on behalf of all the cast.

Magical Vanguard Shirou by Erlkonig
 * Recommended by DaRandomUsername, Steve the Corn Muffin, nitewind
 * Synopsis: The Holy Grail becomes contaminated from the very get-go, and Angra Mainyu tries to birth itself into the world. How do the original founding families deal with the Divine Spirit? By adding a little twist to the Grail System in order to combat All the Evils of the World, that's how. Now, fast forward to the 5th Holy Grail War...
 * Comments: What happens when you take Fate/stay night and throw in elements of super-sentai, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, a hint of Role-Playing games, toss in some delightfully enjoyable harem antics, mind rape and juice it up with a whole mess of hot-blooded action? You get Magical Vanguard Shirou. GAR-ness inbound.
 * Unfortunately, the author hasn't updated since April 22nd so... T.T
 * I would like to say that the fic isn't discontinued, but the Author hasn't been able to post due to Writer's Block. However, lack of updates does not mean there will be no updates in the future- All it means is that you can forget about it for a while, and if you keep browsing fanfics, sooner or later it'll surface again.

Fate ReNight by Hopeless Romanticist
 * Recommended by Caellach Tiger Eye, User:Electroninja, nitewind
 * Synopsis: "It turns out a single Excalibur is not enough to completely destroy the Grail, and Shirou's unwitting comment 'to go back' is interpreted by it as a wish to "go back" in time to the start of Fate." Shirou/Saber pairing.
 * Comments: Peggy Sue fanfics in the Fate/stay night universe - at least, those with Shirou going back to the start of the 5th War - are a rare breed, and P.S. fics which are actually good are proportionately rarer. Which makes this fic stand out even better, as a result, mostly because despite the intended ending being a Foregone Conclusion, Shirou simply going back in time does not equal pwnage, particularly since he's coming back from the "Fate" route and doesn't know as much about events as he might think (though he is more skilled and has ditched his infamous sexism and (most of) his bullheaded stupidity). Also, his hastiness (and approach) to changing things is flawed: not only does, but  . Chapter 6 proves that the author is not handing out happy endings on a silver platter, making it that much easier to care about what happens to the cast.
 * Electroninja: Agreed. One of the best Fate/stay night fanfics I've read in a while. I love the fact that while Shiro is far smarter than his Fate Route self, he still makes a lot of stupid, though reasonable, mistakes.
 * awakenDeepBlue: I agree as well. Even though he has previous knowledge of war, he only has knowledge of the fate route. Also, that knowledge does not prevent him from making mistakes.
 * And now, Shirou's changes (both accidental, such as having to stay home from school during the day, and well-intentioned, such as inviting Sakura to stay with him until Shinji's Masterdom "blows over") seem to have pushed the story onto the Heaven's Feel storyline, with the most recent chapter introducing  to the cast.

From Fake Dreams by Third Fang (TVTropes page)
 * Recommended by EXpERieNCed, nitewind
 * Synopsis: Emiya Kitsirugu was happy living the rest of his short days. He had put his past behind him... until he began to dream of futures that had yet to be. Let it be known that the Magus Killer was not dangerous simply because he was dying and would not fight.
 * Comments: One of the few FSN fics that can be considered one of the fics out there. It shows what would happen if Kiritsugu train Shirou properly with his magecraft as well as telling him not to become a superhero. It's quite a serious fic but has some quite funny moments as well (to mention that Third Fang is quite famous for his Naruto fic which has more than a million words, which is both serious and wacky the same time).
 * awakenDeepBlue: I agree that this is one of the best fics that I know of.
 * Xynth: YMMV. I find it a fairly weakly explained Dues Ex Machina mechanic that has resulted in Shirou becoming a Gary Stu, rather than simply giving him a leg up.

Escaping Fate by Arashi Leonheart
 * Recomended by User:Pata Hikari, nitewind
 * Synopsis: Shirou saves a young girl from a magi's experiment. With nowhere for her to go, he adopts her.
 * Comments: A brilliant take on a Post-Fate Shirou. Best read on Beast's Lair because the author includes links to music to help set the mood of each scene.

Tainted Ideals by Stormedge (TVTropes page)
 * Recomended by animeorbust, miragecoordinator, StevetheCornMuffin, DaRandomUser, nitewind
 * Synopsis: In the fire that ravaged Fuyuki city, it was not Emiya Kiritsugu who saved the life of a young Shirou, but the tainted grail itself, and is then taken in by Kotomine Kirei as his adopted son. Ten years later, the Holy Grail War is about to begin, and Kotomine Shirou summons forth a kindred spirit as his Servant.
 * Comments: An interesting take on a Shirou that seems to be different and yet the same. Tsundere Rin is a nice bonus too.
 * miragecoordinator: Seconding. This fic in particular needs a lot more attention; it takes a concept that's mildly popular in the Japanese fandom but mostly remains in fanart, and executes in a completley different yet brilliant and fascinating way. Shirou is, as mentioned, incredibly different in an understandable way-- yet still the same. The author definitely knows what they're doing, and put a lot of thought into the story and the Servants in this alternate take of the events of the Fifth Grail War. Not to mention, besides the aforementioned Tsundere Rin bonus, it contains a truly epic Crowning Moment of Funny in which Shirou trolls Gilgamesh. With video game spoilers. It needs to be seen to be believed. For that matter, Shirou's altered dynamics with many of the characters, Gilgamesh included, are just as fascinating and interesting and fun to read.
 * Let's not forget the action-packed combat scenes. And to further mix things up for all the better, the Master/Servant teams are also totally different from what they were in the source material too, courtesy of the For Want of a Nail moment that happened at the start of the story. Notable pairs include Bazett/Lancer as it was meant to be in the original canon, the gut-busting epic teamup of Illya/Saber with Illya adopting a viewpoint of justice that is even more hilariously distorted than canon Shirou's, and Shirou's own Servant - a certain character from Fate/Apocrypha who's interpretation in Tainted Ideals has her very attached to him.

Fate:Spiral Time by Z.N. Singer
 * Recommended by Trooper1023, Shinji117
 * Synopsis: There are many theories about time. Some call it a circle, every repeating; others a line, never looking back. But the wisest call it a spiral, and say the future contains echoes of the past. But...if that is so...then do we all get second chances?
 * Comments: A wonderful continuation of the FSN anime, and the many liberties taken with the Nasuverse don't detract from the quality of the story one bit. YMMV, however, depending on how much of a canon-nut the reader is. Has a significant side of shipping (every one of the core characters with somebody), but really, this story is about the REALLY happy ending that Nasu never gave his characters in canon.
 * While I do recommend this, there is at least one flaw in the story that made me hesitate before typing this rec: The author has an...unfortunate tendency to alter the Nasuverse as he please. One of the strangest examples probably in chapter 5, where Gae Bolg suffers a ridiculous Nerf from a Reality Warping instant-kill Noble Phantasm into something that can be totally blocked by any paranoid, highish level modern day magus. The author then tries to explain it by saying that Gae Bolg was overpowered in the original story. The problem is it was meant to be overpowered, and if the author had wanted, he could have simply chosen a different NP (such as Durandal or Houtengeki, if a spear was really necessary) to avoid this situation arising. Similar situations arise a few more times during the fic. Summing up, those who want a nicelly written and quite inventive story should be able to enjoy this, but those who also want a story where the author tries to stay as true as possible to the original facts and characters should probably look elsewhere.
 * Z.N. Singer: Well, in all fairness, I was an anime watcher operating at a time when there was precious little Nasuverse info out there - the expansive wiki section we know today was a bare bones joke at the time, and for various reasons I will never play the VN, or any other VN in fact. Still, that doesn't change the fact that the above warning is largely fair and true. However, every VN player who has reviewed positively has cited my characterization and handling of emotion as the reason, so if that's what you're worried about, you should really try it for yourself and see. Just don't review me about how and why things are wrong if you do, PLEASE. I get a lot of those, but there's just no point in it - I'm writing my own novel now, which is probably for the best anyway. Nothing's going to change anymore. Oh, and I AM thrilled to be on this list, hearty thanks to those who recommended me.
 * This story can also be read at my site, and I strongly recommend it: not only is it just a more pleasant experience (Fanfiction.com has changed their formatting several times and not all the resulting scrambling has been rectified), but because it's so much easier for me to make changes there, that version is much smoother and has seen more post-posting attention to detail. Commenting is open to all. Fate:Spiral Time

Last Forge by Ricky Controversy
 * Recommended by User:Moczo
 * Synopsis:A Sixth Holy Grail War looms, and with it the promise of tests far more dire than any that have come before. Set seven years after Unlimited Blade Works True.
 * Comments: A re-write of an earlier work by the same author, this fic is still in the prologue but already has a lot of promise. The writing style is smooth, polished, and professional, and the plot (such as been revealed so far) has a great deal of potential. One of the only works I've seen that actually looks at the aftermath of this particular ending, it looks to be an interesting experience.

A Stolen Heart by Aladar (Beast's Lair version)
 * Recommended by The World of Fantasy
 * Synopsis: A lone detective takes it upon himself to solve the murder of a young woman, willingly diving into the dangerous web of conspiracies weaved by the feuding mafia families. But after the truth is uncovered, will that city of sin be the same ever again?
 * Comments: An AU Fate/stay night fanfic in a Noir-style Detective story, with Lancer taking the role as a Private Eye and the main character of the story. This one mystery story here is very well-written that the author deserve a round of applause. Let's not forget how this story contains a lot of surprising twists, and even has characters appeared and/or mentioned from other Type-Moon's works such as other Fate series, Kara no Kyoukai, etc. This is a kind of fanfic that I highly recommended to fans of Fate/stay night, including those who have passion for a detective story.
 * Now that the fanfic is finally complete, the author made a Spin-Off that's connected to this is called Saligia: Seven tales from the city of sins that show life through the eyes of its residents. From Pride to Wrath to Envy, seven one-shots that unveil what lurks beneath the surface- the truth behind all the facades...
 * Seconding this. Hard. If you like gritty, unforgiving film-noir styled work set in the Nasuverse, then look no further.

Fate/Re:Trace by Aladar (Beast's Lair version) (TVTropes page)
 * Recommended by The World of Fantasy
 * Synopsis: A whole world away from Fuyuki, in a city of mages, a new War threatens to break out. Seven new Masters are chosen and enter a life-changing battle, unknowingly becoming part of a War in which there are more players than the eyes can see...
 * Comments: From the author that brought you A Stolen Heart (look above), comes another well-written Sixth Grail War FSN fanfic that I also highly recommended. With best chracterization, plot and setting, and so much more that it must be read.
 * He even made this updated "guide" of this fanfic called Wise up! Fate/Re:Trace- Limited Special Collector's Ultimate Edition, that contains character profiles (Masters, Servants, etc) and the settings of the fictional city Hartcroft.
 * Again, I second this review. This story needs more love. The Saber-class Servant is awesome in this one.

The Hound and the Blacksmith by Elf. (The beginning is also available on FF.net)
 * Recommended by Zaneal, Hymn of Ragnarok, nitewind
 * Pairings: Archer/Rin, Lancer/Ayako, with a side of Shirou/Sakura and unrequited Rider/Ayako
 * Synopsis: One's a Celtic demi-god with a lust for battle and the ladies, the other is a former Counter Guardian who's body is made of swords. Together they fight the forces of evil. Or something.
 * Comments: The synopsis does not do it justice, this is another excellently engaging fanfic by Elf that captures the characters perfectly, and includes Lancer/Ayako
 * A throwback to Buddy Cop Shows from the 80's, this story is an Urban Fantasy with snark, action, and romance. What's not to love? It's got a Trope Page too!

Remember by Golden Lark
 * Recommended by: Mirage, nitewind
 * Synopsis: When Rin Tohsaka's dad proves that he is her father by wearing the Family pendant bringing CG Emiya into the 4th holy grail war.
 * Comments: Another Archer gets summoned to the 4th holy grail war, except this one is much longer than the others. Archer then proceeds to troll the participants and mess with everyone in general. A very good Fate/zero Fate/stay cross.

Njeri by Brynhilde
 * Recommended by: Rivenscryr
 * Synopsis: In the history of the Holy Grail Wars, one family has been desperate to win - more than any other. This is the story of that their successor, of the search for the catalyst of the strongest Hero. This is the story of a young girl, uncertain of her destiny. A simple tale carried to extremes - it is but a tale of humanity.
 * Comments: Set in the Balkans, Njeri is a deeply...human story (indeed, the title is Albanian for "human"), with Illyasviel von Einzbern and her homunculi companions setting out on a journey to a warzone to seek the catalyst for the strongest of heroes. But physical danger is the least of their concerns, as ghosts of the past dog them at every turn, and few things in the Nasuverse are quite what they seem to be. Refreshing for the uniqueness of the premise, the atmospheric quality of the author's work, and its look on Illya. The tension and confusion of a warzone, of the journey, were obvious, and the atmosphere...remarkable. This is an author to watch.

Lancer Gets Serious by Bloble
 * Recommended by: spacemonkey37, nitewind
 * Synopsis: Essentially, a version of Fate/stay night where Kotomine lets Lancer off the leash and he gets to show just how awesome he really is. For anyone who likes Lancer, this is an absolute must read.
 * The story soon gets FAR more complicated than this.

Fate Indubitanter by Lacks Gravitas
 * Recommended by: User:Omega NITRO
 * Synopsis: Shirou and Rin from UBW True End use a time travel spell to return to the past. They end up at the beginning of the War... except it's not their version of it.
 * Comments: Extremely well written, the characterization is top notch, and the writer really knows his/her stuff. Any liberties taken with canon fit rather naturally, and the writer tries to retain the same kind of tone used in the visual novel while storytelling. It's on indefinite hiatus, but the beginning that is there is definitely worth a read.

The Game of Kings by The Road to Ultima Grey
 * Recommended by: lowsoman
 * Synopsis: In which: The final Fifth Holy Grail War is Fought, Every Servant summoned is a titled King, Iskander has no Master, Shirou's wish is Granted, and everyone is Well and Truly Fucked.
 * Comments: Damn well written (haven't caught a single grammar mistake / plot hole yet), the story is more intriguing than a barrel of scientist monkeys performing an autopsy. The concepts of Akasha, Gai, the Throne of Heroes, and screwing with the Space/Time continium is spectacular. Definitely worth the read.
 * User:The Road: Holy crap, my week == made. lowsoman, you absolutely rock!

What If (Almost) Everybody Was Shirou's Servant by Mereo Flere
 * Recommended by: Electroninja
 * Synnopsis: At the very start of the Holy Grail War, Shirou is attacked by Ilya and Berserker before ever summoning Saber. Somehow in his panicked attempt to escape, he summons all six other Servants.
 * Comments: Easily the funniest Type Moon fic I've ever read. It starts out interesting and mildly dramatic, but quickly becomes a hilarious Crack Fic of epic proportions. Especially funny is the ways all of Shirou's Servants interact with each other.

Crossover Fics
Fate: Nightmare Apatheia by HeavyValor
 * Recommended by User:The Philosopher King, crazyeater, nitewind
 * Synopsis: Welcome to Fate/Nightmare Apatheia. Welcome to the war. A deceptively simple crossover between Code Geass and Fate/stay night. The Holy Grail War becomes the deciding element in Charless  plans for Instrumentality, leading to a guaranteed Gambit Pileup revolving around Servants and Immortals. One of each falls into the hands of two Ashford Academy students, Servant Saber for Shirou Emiya and the Immortal C.C. for Lelouch Lamperouge. With both Servants and Immortals scattered throughout the world, the Holy Grail War is escalated to a global conflict, promising a new release to Angra Mainyu, All The World's Evil.
 * Comments: Combining the worlds of the Nasuverse and Code Geass, F/NA takes the tried-and-true formula of simply mixing both works into the same story and turns it into something glorious. This fic starts both protagonist's routes anew, and then proceeds to intertwine their paths seamlessly. Everything familiar about CG and F/SN is still present, and preserved to an exacting degree. However, the combination of both opens up the fic to a plethora of promising ideas. The hints of knightmare-magecraft combat, Servant battles on the scale of entire military operations, and Immortal special forces are simply tantalizing for a military buff. Not to mention the excellent characterizations and interactions. Definitely one of the 10% worth dying for.
 * crazyeater: The author has a habit of changing up the story with added content, which can throw the reader. It's worthwhile, though, to look through the entire story every so often to see what changes were made. What really stands out in this fic is the character development due to the personal interactions of the added characters, such as  (though which is added to which is sometimes hard to tell. This isn't a bad thing. It's pretty much the biggest sign of good crossover writing). The author captures each character's personality to a T, with the possible exceptions of Suzaku, who (by Word of God) is a psychopath (which turns out to be a lot more logical than it seems, canon-wise) and Lloyd (who is admittedly difficult to capture well). Thus far, though, the breadth of the story and the depth of the characters make this fic an excellent read.

FateGeass: The Eden Vital War by AlfheimWanderer
 * Recommended by User:Rivenscryr, Steve the Corn Muffin
 * Synopsis: Set in an altered Code Geass universe with Fate/stay night elements mixed into it, this fic tells the story of the most recent Eden Vital War, a ritual established to minimize damage in resolving disputes between Code-bearers with different visions for the future of the World of C, since the last dispute resulted in a world-spanning war that destroyed Atlantis and nearly caused The End of the World as We Know It. But, as the cast of Code Geass isn't exactly known for following rules, V.V. decides to stack the deck by sealing away C.C. before the War in order to prevent her from stopping Instrumentality. C.C. does not take kindly to this, and upon her release during the Shinjuku Incident, appoints Lelouch as the 8th champion of the War - Avenger, the wielder of Absolute Retribution.
 * Comments: While what is featured is admittedly something of a departure from the traditional Holy Grail War, both in concept and in scale (it empowers currently living humans all over the world who meet the standards of the various Servant classes), FateGeass is still an interesting read, with AlfheimWanderer doing an outstanding job of blending elements of the Nasuverse into the world of Code Geass, with the result a refreshingly unique story. From references to Geass as a channel for the power of a greater archetype crystallized in the collective unconscious (one that they can use in the physical world, as opposed to the phantasmagoria in which most Servant battles are fought in this continuity), the balance of daily life at Ashford Academy with a secret life of combat and intrigue, and many references to myths and legends, this fic captures the style of the Nasuverse quite well, weaving it together with tantalizing bits of the other world's mysterious past.
 * Person With Many Aliases: I have no problem with admitting the level of writing is certainly at an acceptable level, and it makes for a good read. C.C.'s sheer badassitude and experience so far has taken the story down an non-stop Curb Stomp Battle, outwitting and nearly outgunning all of her opposition. I haven't finished the story quite yet, but at 32 chapters out of a finished 40... Again, I would say a good work for simple escapism and unwinding, but this is like "Military Exploits of S.S."
 * Steve the Corn Muffin: To put it simply, Lelouch being Avenger is absolutely perfect. That has to be the greatest concept for a plot point in a fanfic that I have ever read. Ever. I mean, the parallels between canon Lelouch and canon Avenger are so similar it's insane. If you are familiar with Fate/hollow ataraxia, then the symbolism and parallels will not be missed. It's almost as if this crossover were fated to happen. The muses willed it so!

The Hill of Swords by gabriel blessing
 * Recommended by Ninmikey01, Rivenscryr, User:Schizo Technician, User:Ten Four, User:T-bone 61, nitewind, Shinji117, margibso
 * A crossover with Zero no Tsukaima
 * Synopsis: Shirou Emiya has dealt with human summoning, magical battles, and saving the world. Now he is brought into a world where magic equates to nobility. The Zero has just summoned a Hero. Has its own Trope page!
 * Comments: While, as the author notes, this is not the first Fate/stay night / Zero no Tsukaima crossover ever thought up, it is one of the most promising in execution. Even with only three chapters so far, the attention to detail, weaving of hints, and laudable efforts to flesh out exactly how Shirou fits into this new world make this tale a fresh take on the setting, one well worth reading.
 * User:Comartemis: I almost wrote this one off before the first chapter was done because Shirou doesn't talk or act anything like any version of Shirou seen in the games. Then it hit me towards the end of the first chapter; it's not Shirou, it's Emiya, or at least a Shirou who's well on his way to becoming a Counter Guardian. Subsequent chapters and authors notes confirm this, and I'm eagerly awaiting future installments on this one.
 * Another thing worth mentioning is the consistent speed of the writer. He started on the 18th of July and got 4 chapters done in 8 DAYS. The total word count so far (for those 4 chapters) is about 40,000 words. This alone makes the fic quite recommendable, but then add in that the quality DOESN'T take a hit from it and you get a really great piece of work.
 * Grant: It does deserve a word of warning, it appears to be a Love It or Hate It fic.
 * User:Caellach Tiger Eye: The simple fact of the matter is that, while it is a good story, it's one of those things where the fundamental goal of the fic may be one you don't like. That's probably why I disliked the ending - I am fundamentally repelled by, and that is what the author set out to do here. The Love It or Hate It really depends on if the storyline's purpose is one you like or not. If you dislike it as I do, there's not a chance in hell for you to enjoy the overall story once you've read it, no matter how good it is. After all, good does not necessarily equal enjoyable. That is just my two cents of course, but I thought I should put it out there. Don't like   and  ? Then there's no fundamental need to read, because this story may disappoint you. If you do, congratulations - there's a wonderful piece out there, waiting for you.
 * That's quite the emphasis on one rather minor aspect of the story, really. Shriou, while he never stops, develops through the story and finds himself enjoying life and his companions by the end of the fic. Simply well-written Character Development for both Louise and Shirou. Louise starts off as a brat, Shirou starts off as a cynical Death Seeker, and both change massively during the novel, and even draw attention to it. Very, very much worth your time, even if you don't know Zero no Tsukaima.

Fate/Inertia Dawn by InsertRandomUsernameHere and AlfheimWanderer
 * Recommended by User:Rivenscryr, Darkholme
 * A FSN Megacrossover
 * Synopsis: Everyone knows that the Holy Grail War is a ritual where magi contend for a wish using Servants, human spirits that have ascended to near-divinity due to the legends of their deeds. But what if Avenger's contamination of the Grail in the Third War had distorted the ritual beyond what anyone thought possible. What if the Servants summoned weren't even quite those of ancient legend, but modern media?
 * Comments: While others have fiddled with fictional Servants in the Grail War in the past, most have limited themselves to simply replacing Assassin. This fic, however, seems to be going the route of replacing every Servant with a fictional counterpart, while still staying true to the 'feel' of Fate - exploring the mystery behind a spirit's true identity. Even with only one chapter (the near-requisite Tohsaka prologue), hints of how the fic as a whole will be are evident with Rin/Luvia interactions, Shinji Ikari as Rin's Lancer, and Luvia's mystery Servant (going only by Ryou) throwing a Spanner in the Works. Shirou ends up summoning Lightning, True Assasin is Altair summoned by Ciel, and Berserker is Guts. A megacrossover that one should definitely keep an eye on.
 * Darkholme: Seconded. The servants are well-chosen and each one has a certain . . . chemistry with their master. Great grammar, spelling, and sentence flow. The story manages to really capture that Fate/stay night feel so many fics seem to lack.

Fictional by Dark Syaoran.
 * Recommended by User:Shadow AI, User:Unclouded TJ
 * Fandoms: Harry Potter, Fate/stay night,
 * Synopsis: Author's Summary: The dictionary defined fiction as thus: something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story. The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining. Yes, Harry thought, this defined him nicely.
 * Comments: This is a fic that treats the Harry Potter books as works of fiction and has Harry improperly summoned by Caster. Aside from being well-written and paced this story deals quite well with Harry's attempt to come to terms with his fictional nature, and I would recommend it even for people not too familiar with Fate/stay night. It's a bit short now but the author is updating.
 * User:Unclouded TJ: Seconded. The characterization with Harry dealing with not being real is very well done and the fact that his beliefs stay with him will make the coming events of the anime itself very interesting to watch. So far (chapter 4) it only seems to be beneficial to have watched the crossover material but not necessary.
 * User:Shay Guy: What concerns me is that it is apparently based off the anime, which, being the mishmash of routes that it is, has a less cohesive plot and more plot holes than the visual novel. (Disclaimer: I'm only on the first route of the latter.)
 * Kylone: As of chapter 6, the author has settled on following the UBW path.

FATE Holy Grail War of 2814 by Shadow Crystal Mage.
 * Recommended by Ninmikey01
 * A mega crossover, connects with Takamachi Nanoha of 2814
 * Synopsis: Interconnected with the storyline of Takamachi Nanoha of 2814. The Holy Grail War gets mixed in with the madness of magical girls, Books of Darkness, blood, gore, and many references to Freud. WARNING: HEAD MAY EXPLODE WHILE READING THIS FIC.

In Flight by gabriel blessing. (TV Tropes page)
 * Recommended by Ninmikey01, User:T-bone 61, nitewind
 * Crossover with Sekirei
 * Synopsis: Honestly, Shirou was beginning to think that he should be used to this -- being unwittingly selected to take part in brutal tournament that he had no idea existed until he found himself in the middle of it. Then again, second time's the charm, right?
 * Comments: Another awesome FSN crossover from the same mind who gave birth to The Hill of Swords. The canon characters of Sekirei are shifted around a bit. There are also some good ecchi scenes. And considering the art style of the Sekirei manga, there will be a lot more. Note that this story had the first two chapters posted within a day of the other; this will probably match the update speed of HoS, so hold on -- gab will definitely bring us another great story.
 * Kazeto: I also recommend this story - it's a nice read and the story actually makes sense (its author puts a lot of effort into researching things). Typos are rare (the only "serious" one was "mpy" instead of "not", and it was kind of funny), and author's grammar is very good. I dare saying that it's better than one of the works it was based on (namely Sekirei), due to the fact that things that should've been fixed got fixed and fan-service isn't so ever-present and is only used as a fun-increasing element in some scenes.
 * Usandru: While this is technically well written and the author is clearly above average for a fan fiction writer, calling this an actual Nasuverse fanfic is correct only in the sense that it uses the trappings of the Nasuverse to alter Sekirei. If you are looking for something that includes the actual themes and underlying concepts of the Nasuverse, including the creeping sense of horror as the truth is revealed, this is not for you. The characterization of Shirou could also be challenged. All in all, this comes off more as a darker version of Sekirei with a "cooler" protagonist instead of a genuine crossover. The latest build-up suggests that this might change, but it is dubious if this will succeed. Summing up, your mileage might vary.
 * Zoner16: The story isn't as fast paced as Gabriel Blessing's previous work, The Hill of Swords, but the tale is both well written and entertaining to say the least. Don't expect to see a lot of Nasuverse regulars, mainly because this is about Shirou being transplanted into the Sekirei-verse, but expect to see them both referenced and discussed a lot. GB does a good job of explaining and crossing Nasuverse mechanics with Sekirei in both a believable and gripping way, allowing those who aren't exactly avid scholars of the franchise to jump in rather quickly. Shirou remains a likeable, yet more mature and well developed character since this is five years later, when he is 20. Some creative liberties have been taken (A couple of Nasuverse characters were made up, but they serve their purpose, and a small amount of Nasuverse lore is incorrect, GB admits that he missed a couple things in research), but overall it is a must read for any Fate Stay Night or Sekirei fan, or even someone just looking for a great story.

Miracle by Grunt
 * Recommended by Chel, nitewind, Aishata
 * Crossover with Berserk
 * Synopsis: As long as his body can grasp his sword he refuses to fade away. The title of struggler defines his existance. It is time for the black swordsman to enter another war. A war between Masters and Servants. A war for the holy grail.
 * Comments: A strangely emotional and compelling story, despite its somewhat awkward structure. If you know anything about Berserk, reading this story will give you chills.
 * Aishata: Be warned. This story is fucking epic.

Fletching by AlfheimWanderer
 * Recommended by Rivenscryr
 * Crossover with Tsukihime
 * Synopsis: In a dying world where civilization has been brought to its knees, can even a would-be hero maintain his course? Or like so many others, will he stray from it...and fail? A sidestory to Evangel Notes
 * Comments: I find myself at a rare loss for words to describe "Fletching", as it is one of those stories a brief summary simply cannot do justice to. It is the story of a man who wanted to be a hero, living only to save people, bitterly discovering that not everyone could be saved. It is the story of a woman who simply wanted her end, living only to destroy a certain person that her tortured existence might come to an end. It is a story of two humans souls slowly wearing away in a blighted land of steel, questing after impossible goals in a world shot through with despair and desolation until they reach their destinations at last, finding perhaps not what they sought, but what they truly needed. It is all of these and more. Raw, powerful and poignant, it beautifully captures the struggle of two human beings trying to keep their humanity in a hostile world, finding strength in the least likely of places. This is one of the best stories I've had the privilege to read, and I recommend it to any Nasuverse fan looking for a truly moving tale.
 * A psuedo-crossover with Angel Notes and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

FateBlack Reflection by Nameless Flame Wielder
 * Recommended by Bf, nitewind
 * Crossover with Bleach
 * Synopsis: With Aizen's plans foiled in Karakura, Ichigo and his friends are called to investigate strange happenings in nearby Fuyuki City. Hang on, what the heck are Magi? And who's that woman who's calling Ichigo "Master?"
 * Comments: An absolutely excellent crossover. It blends the two worlds together perfectly by introducing the Bleach universe into the Nasuverse and seeing how it will affect the Holy Grail War while maintaining balance between both franchises. A must-read for people who like both Bleach and Fate Stay Night.
 * YMMV here, especially for Nasuverse fans. While the writing is impeccable and the dialogue and interplay between characters is very fun to read, battles are another story.
 * This Troper finds this fanfic becoming his favorite the more he reads about certain story routes in Fate. The battles aren't disappointing in the slightest, and this troper KNOWS bad fight scenes. Consider this a Fix Fic done right.
 * while the fight scenes may be well written and entertaining, they are not accurately taking into account the power lvls of the characters. typemoon fans are very picky when it comes to facts and details and as a fan myself, it's kind of offending to see ichigo stomping everyone. a YMMV fic but interesting none the less.
 * The battles, while executed well, are extremely discriminate towards the Nasuverse characters. Almost all of the Bleach characters win, no matter how unlikely it is. Several mechanics of the Nasuverse are ignored in their entirety, while others are badly skewed so that the Bleach characters come out on top. This is less of a Fix Fic and more of a "Look how awesome Ichigo is" fic.
 * This Troper really thinks the two reviews above this one are really over-exaggerating or downright making things up, as there is no case of Ichigo "stomping" anyone in the entire fanfic, nor do the Bleach characters "always come out on top". This Troper honestly wonders whether or not these two guys actually read the same story as he did, because the only other alternative would be that they are projecting their own conclusions onto the characters and plot while seemingly ignoring completely what is supposed to be blatantly true in the story. This crossover seems to get criticized using the same argument of "biased fanwank" from both sides of the respective fandoms. This Troper advises the reader, if they may, to take those two reviews with a generous grain of salt, as he can't understand where they got these notions from in the first place. Give this story a try and keep an open mind.
 * any fan of either series with adequate knowledge of the series will tell you that ichigo is stomping. but don't take my word for it, read the fic and formulate your own opinion. i myself, have talked to the author, lets just say, that his knowledge on FSN is a bit lacking, but good enough to write an above average fanfic. if you want to be entertained, read the fic, i know i was. i ALWAYS read a fic all the way though and thoroughly before i criticize it, unless the grammar and/or spelling is too horrible to take.
 * Deserves its own page.

The Third Magic by Deviate's Fish and AlfheimWanderer
 * Recommended by DaRandomUsername, Steve the Corn Muffin, Rivenscryr, nitewind
 * Fanfiction.Net link here.
 * Synopsis: After "succesfully" completing the Springtime Familiar ritual, Louise finds out that she is now the master of a certain white-haired homunculus. Follows the Unlimited Blade Works storyline.
 * Comments: If we're going to recommend every single good FOZ fic out there, might as well rec this. What could have been just another "What if Louise summoned X?" story, but it deviates quite nicely early on, which is nice and apparent even from early chapters. To start things off Illya is actually Myozunitonirun, NOT Gandalfr . The very fact that the classical Void Familiar class has been changed (and therefore open to just about any other candidate) is an enticing thought. Perverted!Illya is a riot. Another thing to consider is.

Fate Deathly Poison by Eddyak
 * Recommended by Oblivionhold
 * Crossover with Tsukihime
 * Synopsis: It's a new kind of Grail War. Instead of fighting each other, they must fight a far more deadly foe: Hisui's cooking.
 * Pure, unadulterated crack. It calls back to very dramatic scenes in the original game, references mythology, and has everyone perfectly in character. Except now it's all related to cooking the world's most terrible stew.

The War Of Kings by Pale Wolf
 * Fanfiction.Net link is here.
 * Recommended by User:Jiven, nitewind
 * Crossover with Code Geass
 * Synopsis: The Holy Grail War is taking place in Fuyuki at the same time Kallen's resistance is stealing CC. When Lelouch protected that purple-haired girl from the fighting between terrorists and Brittanians, he didn't think he will be able to seize an extraordinary opportunity. Lelouch, as Master of Lancer, will try to grasp this wish with his own hands and to destroy Britannia. And doing his level best to put some more 'war' in the Holy Grail War.
 * Comments: A newborn fan fiction who shows great promise. Some original flavor, good characterization, good use of drama, and really well-paced action.

An Island in the Warp by Grimgor Ironhide
 * Recommended by Shinji117
 * Crossover with Warhammer 40000
 * Synopsis: Radical Inquistors try and summon a Daemonhost, only to get the King of Knights from after the Fate route. (Avalon Huzzah!) Things get...interesting.
 * Comments: While the story is so far still quite short (Saber has yet to leave the Inquisitorial base), the crossover seems to be done well. Her interactions with the Radicals are certainly in-character, and the confusion and misunderstanding of the Radicals leads to a situation where diplomatic connections break down. And then they think she wants to possess someone, and try and give her her tortured Master as a Daemonhost. However, in the latest chapter the Inquistors and Saber seem have come to a kind of agreement, with Saber putting aside her smoldering hatred and disgust for the good of humanity. All in all, a very good fic that certainly doesn't sugarcoat anything from 40k verse and keeps Saber in-character.

Beast of the Moon, by Kieran
 * Recommended by Comartemis
 * Crossover with Final Fantasy X
 * Synopsis: In an alternate timeline Shirou's bond with Ilya led him to make a wish on a purified Grail. From that wish came Grail Works LTD, a Second Magic-powered troubleshooting agency formed on Shirou's desire for a chance to save everyone, everywhere. Now the agency faces its toughest case yet when the spirit of Bahamut enlists their aid to free Spira from Yu Yevon's cycle of death.
 * Comments: One of several stories by Kieran and several other authors set in the same 'verse. The insert characters for this fic are Saber and Kieran's self-insert Kurai (who happily enough is not your typical self-insert) along with Ilya and other characters acting as Mission Control. Replacing Tidus with a heroic spirit and an epic level druid might not seem like the most interesting decision, but Kieran is very much a proponent of the stance that "one who makes Frodo a Jedi must give Sauron the Death Star":

Herwald von Einzbern and the Philosopher's Stone, by kyugan
 * Recommended by User:Xamusel
 * Fandoms: Fate/stay night, Harry Potter
 * Synopsis: As from the Fanfiction.net entry: "The 5th Heaven's Feel has been averted, with no apparent victor, but for Herwald von Einzbern, recently turned eleven, a whole new adventure is about to begin in a world he left behind ten years prior."
 * Comments: A story that starts off a series by kyugan,  The story is complete, but it has a sequel up set during the events of The Chamber of Secrets, which shows that the author knows what he's talking about....
 * Wiki magic, please?
 * Wish I knew enough on the wiki to give it the magic it needs (this is Xamusel, by the way), but I don't.

Fate Night Sky, by Beasts lair's Fraggle
 * Beast's Lair link: http://forums.nrvnqsr.com/showthread.php/1000-FSN-x-MGLN-crossover-Fate-Night-Sky
 * Recommended by Ye Of Little Faith, User:Kazeto, nitewind, User:Xamusel, spacemonkey37
 * Crossover with Lyrical Nanoha
 * Synopsis: It was just a small wish: To live with their master and their friends as those uneventful days passed by, to see him grow up as he chased his ideals by his own strength. To become an ally of justice; a hero who can save everyone.
 * Comments: A story in which the Book Of Darkness binds itself to Emiya Shirou instead of Yagami Hayate. A interesting idea with a good deal of potential, and a greater amount of work put into it. Even though it is still in its infancy, it delivers some well-done character interactions. The initial development of the Wolkenritter's feelings towards Shirou as their master is truly endearing and heartwarming.
 * As fraggle himself put it: Fraggle presents: Fate/Night Sky The only fic that has induced Avalon rage in it's readers.
 * DAMMIT, AVALON!! ...Er, this troper agrees with the above comments, actually.

Thu'um of a Distant Utopia by Deviate's Fish (TVTropes page)
 * Recommended by User:gadeel
 * Crossover with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
 * Synopsis: Without any sense of self, she is tossed through the void and taken by Akatosh. Here in this creation, she will carve for herself an Empire.
 * Comments: Rather than a blank slate Player Character for this, King Arturia takes center stage. As such, Helgen begins with her eschewing the conventional option of Stormcloak or Empire and doesn't once look back. And she's the Dragonborn, which is awesome.

Postnuptial Disagreements by Zalgo Jenkins.
 * Recommended by Mythtakesweremade and Grand Prince Paul II
 * Fandoms: Sekirei, Fate/stay night, Fate/Zero
 * Now with a trope page: Postnuptial Disagreements
 * Synopsis: Author's Summary: Years after his parents survived Heaven's Feel, the son of Kayneth and Sola-Ui finds himself in a different sort of supernatural tournament. But can he survive superpowered alien females, scheming businessmen, and his own partner's urge to strangle him?
 * Comments: Somehow, Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi and his wife Sola-Ui survived the fourth Heaven’s Feel ritual. Their son, Meriwether, seems like a chip off the old block when he travels to Japan to research the Fourth War. Unfortunately, his short layover at Shin Tokyo takes a little longer than expected when he accidentally wings Benitsubasa and gets dragged into the Sekirei Plan. Benitsubasa soon finds to her disappointment that her Ashikabi has lived a rather...sheltered life. Not that this will stop our protagonist from making the Sekirei Plan a whole lot bloodier...

Monster Vampire by Impaled with Extreme Prejudice.
 * Recommended by AAKRON
 * Fandoms: Rosario to Vampire, Fate/stay night, Tsukihime
 * Synopsis: Author's Summary: As a punishment for running away from home, Akiha enrolls her elder brother in the Youkai Academy. Thus the kind hearted monster is admitted into the academy of monsters. More of a Nasu X Rosario than Tsukihime X Rosario.
 * Comments: Not what it sounds like. Rather than being your stereotypical "X replaces Tsukune" where the original Rosario+Vampire story is rehashed with a new leading character, this is more of a proper Crossover of Nasuverse and Rosario to Vampire with a completely new plot. It has been confirmed that Tsukune, Shiki, and Shirou will all be main characters in the story. The author is new, but seems to have a good grasp of writing already, and has good spelling and grammar (even though he doesn't seem to be from a native English speaking country). Haven spoken to the author extensively, I can safely say that the future for this story is looking very... Nasuverse. It's worth a read.

Lunatique by Moczo
 * Recommended by AQZT
 * Crossover with Tsukihime
 * Synopsis: Late one night in the Clock Tower, a frustrated Rin and a mildly amused Zelretch have a little chat. As the moon shines down, the Wizard Marshall weaves a tale for his prize pupil, of the greatest and most costly battle of his career...
 * Comments: A oneshot involving Zelretch telling Rin the story of how he defeated Brunestud of the Crimson Moon. It is absolutely awesome.

Shipping Fics
Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Peorth by Yuurei-san
 * Recommended by User:Comartemis, User:Ten Four, User:T-bone 61, Cherry_Lover, nitewind
 * Pairings: Lancer/Sakura. No, really.
 * Synopsis: While performing his recon duties several days prior to the official start of the war, Lancer happens to witness one of Sakura's... "fits"... and is compelled to lend her a hand. One thing leads to another...
 * Comments: The author could have stopped right at the "is compelled to lend her a hand" part and if she had she would have made a fairly decent Porn Without Plot Lemon, but it's the "one thing leads to another" that makes this such a fun story. Lancer's initial encounter with Sakura throws a bit of a monkey wrench into the gears of the Unlimited Blade Works route and saves Sakura from getting the shaft in a very satisfying manner (while giving her another shaft in an equally satisfying manner). The story is short, little more than a lengthy one-shot composed of a collection of scenes spanning the length of the war, so don't expect a complete retelling of the arc. On the other hand, if you've ever wanted to see Sakura get swept off her feet by a Badass Knight in Shining Armor, you're going to love this fic.
 * User:Mini Nephthys: This troper can wholeheartedly second the rec; it was the entry she voted for in the Lemon contest for which it was written. (It tied for fourth, amid some excellent entries.) The only thing she'd add in the rec would be to mention that the later parts have some Archer/Rin as well (it's the author's OTP), although the focus remains on Lancer and Sakura.
 * Indeed, this troper had to display an astounding measure of self-control not to giggle for... various reason, not all of them illicit, and/or leap up in a fuitile attempt to glomp the moniter at all the heartwarming moments. All the pointy edges. Ow~
 * Very few fics ever get this male troper blushing. This one did just that, with gusto.

Black Princesses, Crow's Wings and Hero's Broken Dreams by Elf
 * Recommended by User:Comartemis, User:Ten Four
 * Pairings: Bits of Rin/Aoko and lots of
 * Synopsis: Altrouge Brunstud wants a rematch with Arcueid, and nothing will stop her from getting it. Not even a Grail War veteran, a rogue sorceress, a Burial Agency executioner, and.
 * Comments: This one's primarily a Fate/stay night fanfic, but members of the Tsukihime crew are present as well and considering Altrouge's objective it seems likely that Shiki and Arcueid will be making appearances in the near-to-distant future. The story takes place a few years after what appears to be the anime version of the FSN Fate route, with Rin attending classes at the Clock Tower while the rest of the gang is still in Fuyuki. The story is very Rin-centric but also features a few enjoyable original characters and appearances by and references to characters from all around the Nasuverse, including everyone's favorite Blue Magic Gunner, who takes a major role in the story. Be warned, though, this one's a Lemon with a Rin/Aoko mana recharge sequence and a few scenes as well.
 * User:Zeke: Whether you read the rest or not, read the interlude, The Fall of Emiya Shirou. It'll break your heart.
 * User:Fish Called Waldo: Also here
 * User:Mini Nephthys: Better yet, read that and the whole thing. It'll be well worth it.
 * Elf: Aww, this makes me feel all warm and gooshy inside.

Dawn by CFX
 * Recommended by Spectral Time, User:Ten Four
 * Pairings:
 * Synopsis: Shirou is locked in combat with Gilgamesh at the climax of Unlimited Blade Works... or so it seems.
 * Comments: Just a one shot. The pairing is a bit odd, and only comes to the fore partway through for a nice Wham moment, but for all its borderline-Crackedness, the writer manages to make it work well, culminating in a frankly heartwarming conclusion. Part of the fun is figuring out exactly what happened to produce the circumstances of the fic. There is a lemon partway through (just look at the website it's hosted on) but, having skipped most of it, I still enjoyed it immensely.

 Into the Rain by Radiant Beam.
 * Recommended by Grant, User:Moczo, User:silvercover
 * Pairings:
 * Synopsis: Tohsaka Rin has always had a habit of ruining plans, including her own. However, even she couldn't have imagined how things would end that night in the rain, when she found Sakura instead of Shirou. ::HF-based, slight AU:
 * Comments: Only the first few chapters are complete, but thus far they are consistently excellent. The author has the characterization down perfectly, and has set up a plot that promises to be interesting, to say the least. An excellent beginning, with a lot of promise to stay excellent.
 * User:Moczo: Overall, an very well-written, touching fic with a great deal of potential. Two things worth noting: Additional chapters can be found on the AnimeSuki forums Fate/Stay Night fanfiction thread. And second, a note concerning the primary pairing in the story:
 * User:silvercover: I always wanted to read a  fic, and I wasn't disappointed. Theres also some hinting about Saber that might play an important point later. Shirou has the short end of the stick though.

 Steel and Cherry Blossoms by Elf. (The beginning is also available on FF.net)
 * Recommended by neothoron, Cherry_Lover
 * Pairings: Archer/Sakura, with a dash of Rider
 * Synopsis: A girl needing a hero, a fallen hero needing someone to save. After a wish making a seemingly perfect world not everyone is saved, nor is everyone happy.
 * Comments: This fanfic goes from an interesting (though slightly crack) idea, and executes that idea extremely well: the characters' psychology are thought through and consistent with canon; each of Archer's interactions with the other members of the cast is enjoyable in its own way. It also goes beyond the plot's apparent denouement (ie after ) to explore the Archer/Sakura relationship in all its awkwardness. Will probably feature a "mana recharge" scene at some point, but the story is excellent already without it. Also features the King of Heroes being kicked in the balls by Rider.
 * Cherry_Lover: I'm not sure exactly why this would be considered a "crack" pairing (Archer is the future version of the guy she loves, after all, and the premise of the fic is hardly unlikely), but other than that I agree entirely with this assessment.

Wiggling by Fatuous One
 * Recommended by DaRandomUsername
 * Pairings:
 * Synopsis: The worms.....they are hungry. They are ALWAYS HUNGRY.
 * Comments: Hey there everyone! Tired of good, old fashioned, happy pairings? Feel up for pushing out of your comfort zone more than you'd care to? Wanna REALLY squick yourself out? If you want something erotically disturbing, or disturbingly erotic, look no further than Wiggling. Heaven's Feel spoilers inbound.

 That Ever Illusive Utopia by Elf. (The beginning is also available on FF.net)
 * Recommended by Hymn of Ragnarok
 * Pairings: Archer/Saber, with a side of Shirou/Sakura and a touch of one-sided Archer/Rider
 * Synopsis: She was a king who gave everything to serve her people, he was a man who desperately wanted to save everyone. They thought they had failed both in life and in death, but together they may find that they had succeeded far better than they thought.
 * Comments: A very interesting take on a Post-HF story where Saber and Archer are resurrected alongside Shirou. Saber's recovery from the events of HF are very well done, and the budding relationship between Saber and Archer alternates between touching, d'awwww, and that lemon scent Elf is famous for. It's got action and drama as well, and the plot finally is coming to a head.

All From a Hospital Bed by Names Are Hard To Come Up With
 * Recommended by Gigle
 * Pairings: Shirou/
 * Synopsis: Shirou visits Ayako at the hospital in the middle of an alternate Heaven's Feel.
 * Comments: You slowly piece together the plot from each of Shirou's visits and it gradually gives a grim picture. An interesting exploration of someone who stays on the sidelines and has a decent ending.