Vigilantia

I first came to Beast's Lair because I had an idea for a fanfic. It was an awesome idea but I had one massive problem: I didn't know if it would fit with canon. My view on fiction canon is the same as my view on physics/historical accuracy in films; best as you can but ignore the microscopic details. This was all over a year ago. (Man, has it really been that long?)

I first went to the Questions thread to get started. However, questions soon ballooned into more questions and even more as I wondered how my original idea would work if we included Tsukihime, Mahoyo, F/HA, Complete Materials, etc.

Eventually, my fire dimmed and thanks to life, my snail-like writing pace, and procrastination my fic never got finished.

But I've learned this: fuck canon. Oh sure, you have to make sure it fits in to appease 95% of the fanbase but issues that would only concern a forumite with a Doctorate in Nasuversology should be ignored. Most of the time border-line "maybe" cases can be handwaved with a semiplausable excuse. Many issues aren't even well known or have half the fan base arguing one side and the other half arguing the other side. Nothing is canon in the damned Nasuverse because even Nasu doesn't know. (i.e. how exactly does Caster end up kill Kuzuki in HF? Not even Nasu knows. Damn mushroom threw it in without an explanation in his mind.)

How did Ciel end up as Caster in the 5th war? Fuck should I know. Make up something about her time as Roa and pull a Fate/Zero!Caster or Fate/Extra. Most people rarely look into the deep details. The Story and lore is liquid and fans will believe something as long as there's a decent excuse at the ready. What's that I hear? Saber can't have a baby with Shirou because she's a Servant? Bang canon in the ass. Your story, your enjoyment and the reader's enjoyment is more important.

Don't sweat the details and write something. Use the excuse of Artistic Integrity to write a Fan Fic "worthy of Mordor". Else you'll end up with a dead fic and too many unanswered questions.