AUs and Timelines
"We've run out of time."
This page may contain disturbing content. Reader discretion advised!
"It's kind of how we pass the time."
This page is about fanon. Do not consider the subject of this page canon.
Alternate Universes, or AUs, take characters out of their setting and put them in new ones, or fundamentally change the rules of the established universe. Classics include Coffee Shop, High School, Soulmates, Omegaverse, and Modern; though more exist. An Alternate Timeline is similar to an AU, but does not change the setting or fundamental rules; rather, the events that happen while expanding upon the pre-established setting.
In a nutshell, if you want to see the characters in new contexts, look for AUs. If you want to see the setting tell new stories, look for ATs.
Standard AUs
These AUs are seen across fandoms of all kinds. Their concepts are simple: dealing with settings, periods, and conflicts that can inspire writer and visual artist alike.
| Type | Description | Known Fics |
|---|---|---|
| High School | Says it right on the tin: the characters are placed into a (usually United States) high school environment. Sometimes the characters are students, other times teachers. | Aestas |
| Dance | In which one or more characters are professional dancers. Ballet dominates this area, but other instances like freestyle and tap are also seen. | Ballet Makes Fools of Us All |
| Corporate/Office | In which the characters are part of a professional corporate environment. | Down then Left |
| 1970s | Rather than being set in the mid-2000s, the series is set sometime in the 1970s. | Oh My Moon |
Alternate Timelines
Unlike AUs, which change fundamental rules of the universe, ATs add onto what is already there.
| Type | Description | Known Fics |
|---|---|---|
| The Heavenverse | An alternate timeline for the three years between the events of SotT and the return of the tablet. In this case, Jed and Octavius die in Pompeii and undergo a spiritual journey. The character Psychopomp, the embodiment of death, is essential to this setting, as it is one that deals with death and rebirth. Originally written by HungryOnMain in late 2022. | i'm afraid i'll go to heaven |
| The H.O.M.E. | The "Hall of Miniature Environments" is a key setting in the universe of Any Weather. In this case, the third floor of the AMNH has been converted into a large diorama hall, filled with thousands of miniatures by miniature artists from around New York. Canonically, it contains The Old West, Rome, The Age of Sail, Egypt, Prohibition New York, Mesopotamia, the Maya Civilization, The Great Wall of China, Greece, and the French Revolution. In later installments, the area has been expanded to include other dioramas, such as the Mexican Revolution. | Any Weather, Against the World |
Fandom Originals
These fics are exclusive to the NatM fandom. They are extremely dependent on the characters present or scenes from the films, and include ATs and AUs.
| Type | Description | Known Fics |
|---|---|---|
| Hourglass Fic | One of the oldest fandom staples, an Hourglass Fic focuses on Jed's experience in the hourglass during NatM 2. Sometimes he gets out, sometimes he doesn't. ...Usually, he doesn't. | i'm leaving, i'm closing my eyes, Sandfall, In this Shirt, Too Late, The Glass Shard, How Can I Help You Say Goodbye?, The sands trickle down to Elysium |
| Levy Elementary | A setting invented by @thedoormann where the exhibits are all children in elementary school. All the character conflicts are reimagined as childhood fights and scenes. It's sugar-sweet and a breath of fresh air. Active from August 2015 to April 2016. | Levy Elementary's Original Blog |