History WhatCouldHaveBeen / FanWorks

* ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'': Or rather What Once Was. In the original published version of Chapter 23, [[VillainProtagonist Shendu]] savagely beat David to the point the latter had to be hospitalized, and his confession to Valerie about [[PosthumousCharacter Lo Mei]]'s fate 900 years ago revealed that he raped her out of spite when her family rebelled against him. Both these events were edited out by the author because the original version was considered by many commenters a MoralEventHorizon.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen/CVGWJames

[[AC:Crossover]]

* ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'' has had several examples of this, per WordOfGod:
** Season 1
*** Episode 4's chase across the city was supposed to include a trip to the Mall and an appearance by Slab Rankle. But because the writing of the chapter had dragged on so long, the author decided to cut that bit out and just [[WrapItUp wrap up the chapter]].
*** Similarly, Episode 5 was going to have several more {{Death Trap}}s in the SEN library, but the author couldn't make them fit, so cut them.
*** Steve and Viera weren't originally going to be siblings. However, making them brother and sister made it easier to bring them both into the story at the same time.
*** In Episode 7, the automated emergency teleport off of the Meekrob ship was a last minute addition by the author, after he realized that the AlienGeometries he'd given the ship meant that no one would be able to just run out in time to [[spoiler: escape the SelfDestructMechanism]].
*** Episode 9 was originally going to be about a spell going wrong and trapping all the main characters in their worst nightmares and having to team up to escape. Instead, the author decided to go with a lighter DreamWalker angle. Also, even after the change, it was supposed to focus on Viera, but was switched to Dib when the author decided having two chapters in a row focused on her would be too much.
*** In Episode 11, it was originally going to be Viera's [[PlayingWithFire Eye of Fire]] amulet that was sacrificed to [[spoiler: destroy the [[ManEatingPlant Central Root]]]]. But at the last minute, the author decided that it worked too well as a WeaponOfChoice for her to throw it away, so destroyed Dib's {{BFG}} instead.
*** Episode 12 was originally titled "Norlock vs the Knock Offs", until the author realized that he spent more time fighting Slab Rankle than the ''Twilight'' parody's cast. So it was changed to "Norlock vs the Mall".
*** Episode 15 wasn't even part of the author's original plan for the story, but was suggested by a friend. The author liked the idea and included it, but altered it quite a bit in order to remove a lot of M-rated content. Also, Norlock's role in the chapter (his presence in the daylight being justified by a weak HandWave) was removed and replaced by [[spoiler: Squidman]].
*** Episode 18 was originally going to be about Team Save Earth and Zim's group having misadventures at a generic [=ComicCon=] knock-off, until the author decided that having them do so at that point would kill the momentum of the StoryArc, so it was shifted to Gaz instead. And that resulted in the convention being shifted to be specifically about video games, which inspired the idea of bringing in Iggins.
*** In Episode 19, the author apparently juggled around which group would retrieve the [[MacGuffin Meekrob crystal]] and how the other groups would get its information anyway. Most of the scenarios thought up had to be discarded because they involved Skoodge betraying Zim to Tak and Tenn, which wouldn't have worked due to the CharacterDevelopment that had happened in the process of writing the story.
*** [[LostSuperweapon Project Domination]] was originally going to be a [[RealityWarper reality warping device]], but the author felt that was too much of a game breaker, so just made it a really powerful WaveMotionGun.
** Season 2:
*** Instead of [[spoiler: [[NotQuiteDead ending up in a coma]]]] at the end of his first appearance, [[BloodKnight Havok]] was supposed to become Zim's [[PsychoForHire hired muscle]]. However, this was originally planned during the period where Skoodge's above-mentioned betrayal was meant to still happen and leave Zim understaffed compared to the other factions. Between that not happening, and the author being given permission by the creator of [[PsychoSupporter Nyx]] and [[BattleButler Ying]] to use them in the series, Havok seemed less necessary in that role and was given a different outcome.
*** Episode 8 was originally going to actually show Nyx and Gaz arriving on Arcadikon and enjoying the purpose of their trip. However, the chapter ran long, so the author decided to wrap things up after the sequence on Foodcourtia and simply say that things went smoothly once they got to Arcadikon.
*** Episode 9's FanConvention — already a reworking of the original idea from Season 1 Episode 18 — was originally going to be sci-fi themed, before being shifted to fantasy instead.

* ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'' has had several examples of this, per WordOfGod:
** Season 1
*** Episode 4's chase across the city was supposed to include a trip to the Mall and an appearance by Slab Rankle. But because the writing of the chapter had dragged on so long, the author decided to cut that bit out and just [[WrapItUp wrap up the chapter]].
*** Similarly, Episode 5 was going to have several more {{Death Trap}}s in the SEN library, but the author couldn't make them fit, so cut them.
*** Steve and Viera weren't originally going to be siblings. However, making them brother and sister made it easier to bring them both into the story at the same time.
*** In Episode 7, the automated emergency teleport off of the Meekrob ship was a last minute addition by the author, after he realized that the AlienGeometries he'd given the ship meant that no one would be able to just run out in time to [[spoiler: escape the SelfDestructMechanism]].
*** Episode 9 was originally going to be about a spell going wrong and trapping all the main characters in their worst nightmares and having to team up to escape. Instead, the author decided to go with a lighter DreamWalker angle. Also, even after the change, it was supposed to focus on Viera, but was switched to Dib when the author decided having two chapters in a row focused on her would be too much.
*** In Episode 11, it was originally going to be Viera's [[PlayingWithFire Eye of Fire]] amulet that was sacrificed to [[spoiler: destroy the [[ManEatingPlant Central Root]]]]. But at the last minute, the author decided that it worked too well as a WeaponOfChoice for her to throw it away, so destroyed Dib's {{BFG}} instead.
*** Episode 12 was originally titled "Norlock vs the Knock Offs", until the author realized that he spent more time fighting Slab Rankle than the ''Twilight'' parody's cast. So it was changed to "Norlock vs the Mall".
*** Episode 15 wasn't even part of the author's original plan for the story, but was suggested by a friend. The author liked the idea and included it, but altered it quite a bit in order to remove a lot of M-rated content. Also, Norlock's role in the chapter (his presence in the daylight being justified by a weak HandWave) was removed and replaced by [[spoiler: Squidman]].
*** Episode 18 was originally going to be about Team Save Earth and Zim's group having misadventures at a generic [=ComicCon=] knock-off, until the author decided that having them do so at that point would kill the momentum of the StoryArc, so it was shifted to Gaz instead. And that resulted in the convention being shifted to be specifically about video games, which inspired the idea of bringing in Iggins.
*** In Episode 19, the author apparently juggled around which group would retrieve the [[MacGuffin Meekrob crystal]] and how the other groups would get its information anyway. Most of the scenarios thought up had to be discarded because they involved Skoodge betraying Zim to Tak and Tenn, which wouldn't have worked due to the CharacterDevelopment that had happened in the process of writing the story.
*** [[LostSuperweapon Project Domination]] was originally going to be a [[RealityWarper reality warping device]], but the author felt that was too much of a game breaker, so just made it a really powerful WaveMotionGun.
** Season 2:
*** Instead of [[spoiler: [[NotQuiteDead ending up in a coma]]]] at the end of his first appearance, [[BloodKnight Havok]] was supposed to become Zim's [[PsychoForHire hired muscle]]. However, this was originally planned during the period where Skoodge's above-mentioned betrayal was meant to still happen and leave Zim understaffed compared to the other factions. Between that not happening, and the author being given permission by the creator of [[PsychoSupporter Nyx]] and [[BattleButler Ying]] to use them in the series, Havok seemed less necessary in that role and was given a different outcome.
*** Episode 8 was originally going to actually show Nyx and Gaz arriving on Arcadikon and enjoying the purpose of their trip. However, the chapter ran long, so the author decided to wrap things up after the sequence on Foodcourtia and simply say that things went smoothly once they got to Arcadikon.
** Episode 9's FanConvention — already a reworking of the original idea from Season 1 Episode 18 — was originally going to be sci-fi themed, before being shifted to fantasy instead.

* According to both Emman and Marcos via Messenger, the reasons why the first attempt to cross paths with ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' and ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' (especially with ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'') got scrapped because Emman wanted to use ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'', of all things instead. The reason is if the thing became real, then Emman wanted to insert influences from media that [[GrowingWithTheAudience the target audience who are now in their High School, College and University years]] for ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'' and ''WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie'' would be more familiar with media that's both old and aimed at an older audience, such as ''Series/MiamiVice'' (in which had tons of elements that would feel out of place in a MagicalGirl show, such as both Criminals and Policemen dressed up like Gentlemen in Colored suits while at the same time, acting more dangerous to each other), ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' (not only he made a Furry Expy of Kenshiro, but also his proposed SequelSeries and Video Game sequel are confirmed to take Influences from this franchise), ''Film/Scarface1983'' (complete with a more tamer version of the [[SignatureScene SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!!!!!]] scene where the Blood and Swearing are omitted) and such, in which Toei Animation would be very afraid to frighten young girls with a Tony Montana Expy (even if they {{Bowdlerize}} to an Expy of [[{{Badbutt}} this man]] (namely because thanks to Japan's more stricter Censorship laws in which they would definitely disallow more brutal and bloodier moments (especially for young MagicalGirl(s) like Chibiusa and Emman said that Sailor Moon is too Idealistic, Feminine and LighterAndSofter to have some elements from Scarface being implemented, albeit in a more tamer way) like having a Tony Montana Expy planning to defeat Chibiusa/Sailor Chibi-Moon as Toei is very afraid to make younger girls feel sad, even though Sailor Moon Crystal also appeals to Young Adult Women as well), Emman would [[CreatorBacklash become really unhappy]] of the thing that Toei's employees did to make it more fitting for a MagicalGirlWarrior show (although the Irony would be an Expy of Tony's defeat would be more humorous and comedic than his defeat in his 1983 appearance) whereas he with Disney while using one of their franchises focusing on a WorldOfFunnyAnimals on the other hand, would be the opposite, given the fact that he intends his Goof Troop game to be a [[GenreThrowback throwback to the 1980s in General while taking inspiration from the 3D Universe era of Grand Theft Auto games such as San Andreas and Vice City]] and as well as the late Michael Joseph Jackson). However, it got [[RefittedForSequel refitted]] like twice (with the second being his version of the Three-part Gravity Falls GrandFinale, the Weirdmageddon Trilogy).

* WhatCouldHaveBeen/PrehistoricEarth
* WhatCouldHaveBeen/PrehistoricParkReimagined
* WhatCouldHaveBeen/RandomDramaSeries
* WhatCouldHaveBeen/SuperRWBYSisters
* WhatCouldHaveBeen/TheWalkingDeadRealMonsters

** Taking it UpToEleven, the sequel is over a ''million'' words long and scheduled for a split, simply because it's ''that long''. [[Creator/NimbusLlewelyn the author]] has also casually mentioned at least three ''volumes'' and over a dozen sequels planned and partially written - with all that, along with spinoffs, prequels and the odd AU, things have changed considerably. Revealed examples include:

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' probably has quite a few of these, since the author has cheerfully admitted that he's adding/removing characters and chopping and changing things all the time. The only one that has been revealed is that the story was originally intended to be about 100,000 - 150,000 words, cover all seven books, then end with a Harry/Sif ship. Needless to say, with [[DoorStopper the first book]] being over 800,000 words long, making it longer than ''[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy]]'', the sequel being over 750,000 words long after 51 chapters and [[Creator/NimbusLlewelyn the author]] casually mentioning at least three ''volumes'' and over a dozen sequels planned and partially written, along with spinoffs, prequels and the odd AU, things have changed considerably. Revealed examples include:
** After the Harry/Sif idea was chucked (very early on), it was going to ship Harry/Ginny, something repeated with increasingly less conviction as time went by, before the author finally mentioned somewhat cryptically that he'd 'managed to write himself out of a corner' on that particular score.
** Vague mention was also made of Harry/Gwen Stacy, but that also seems to have been shoved firmly aside, in relation to a significant chunk of the later fic (as in, 200,000 words of story, notes, and ideas) being outright deleted, including TheReveal that chief MagnificentBastard Doctor Strange was, in fact, a future version of Harry. Why this was discarded isn't entirely clear, but WordOfGod claims that it got too complicated and outright depressing to write - which considering that this is a writer famous for his ComplexityAddiction, is really saying something.

* ''Fanfic/{{Kage}}'': Creator/{{chaotic9}} is that originally the story was going to be set in the first season rather than the second, with Jade becoming Phobos' minion. However, the author decided that it would be too OOC for Jade to willingly serve an EvilOverlord, so scrapped that idea and started over.

* ''Fanfic/{{Kage}}'': WordOfGod is that originally the story was going to be set in the first season rather than the second, with Jade becoming Phobos' minion. However, the author decided that it would be too OOC for Jade to willingly serve an EvilOverlord, so scrapped that idea and started over.

** According to WordOfGod, [[GeneralRipper General-Admiral Makarov]] was originally only going to be in the Shining Armor Arc for ''half a chapter'', but somehow spun out to be BigBad of a whole saga. Reviewers have commented that he seems to have done his job as a {{Parody|Sue}} BlackHoleSue a little ''too'' well.

[[AC:''VisualNovel/FatestayNight'']]

* According to both Emman and Marcos via Messenger, the reasons why the first attempt to cross paths with ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' and ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' (especially with ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'') got scrapped because Emman wanted to use ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'', of all things instead. The reason is if the thing became real, then Emman wanted to insert influences from media that [[GrowingWithTheAudience the target audience who are now in their High School, College and University years]] for ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'' and ''WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie'' would be more familiar with media that's both old and aimed at an older audience, such as ''Series/MiamiVice'' (in which had tons of elements that would feel out of place in a MagicalGirl show, such as both Criminals and Policemen dressed up like Gentlemen in Colored suits while at the same time, acting more dangerous to each other), ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' (not only he made a Furry Expy of Kenshiro, but also his proposed SequelSeries and Video Game sequel are confirmed to take Influences from this franchise), ''Film/Scarface1983'' (complete with a more tamer version of the [[SignatureScene SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!!!!!]] scene where the Blood and Swearing are omitted) and such, in which Toei Animation would be very afraid to frighten young girls with a Tony Montana Expy (even if they {{Bowlderize}} to an Expy of [[{{Badbutt}} this man]] (namely because thanks to Japan's more stricter Censorship laws in which they would definitely disallow more brutal and bloodier moments (especially for young MagicalGirl(s) like Chibiusa and Emman said that Sailor Moon is too Idealistic, Feminine and LighterAndSofter to have some elements from Scarface being implemented, albeit in a more tamer way) like having a Tony Montana Expy planning to defeat Chibiusa/Sailor Chibi-Moon as Toei is very afraid to make younger girls feel sad, even though Sailor Moon Crystal also appeals to Young Adult Women as well), Emman would [[CreatorBacklash become really unhappy]] of the thing that Toei's employees did to make it more fitting for a MagicalGirlWarrior show (although the Irony would be an Expy of Tony's defeat would be more humorous and comedic than his defeat in his 1983 appearance) whereas he with Disney while using one of their franchises focusing on a WorldOfFunnyAnimals on the other hand, would be the opposite, given the fact that he intends his Goof Troop game to be a [[GenreThrowback throwback to the 1980s in General while taking inspiration from the 3D Universe era of Grand Theft Auto games such as San Andreas and Vice City]] and as well as the late Michael Joseph Jackson). However, it got [[RefittedForSequel refitted]] like twice (with the second being his version of the Three-part Gravity Falls GrandFinale, the Weirdmageddon Trilogy).