What’s your favorite explanation for fantasy worlds being "real"?

[PancakesWitch]

Thanks for your comment! I see where the confusion might come from, so let me clarify. My question is about stories where a fictional “reality” (like a fictional version of our world) exists alongside fantasy worlds that are “real” within that story’s universe. For example, imagine a story where a character lives in a world like ours, but the Naruto and One Piece universes are also real places they can visit. These fantasy worlds are treated as fiction in the story’s “reality,” just like they are in our world, but they still exist as actual universes. I’m curious about what explanations people like for why those fantasy worlds are real in the story.

I get that not every story needs to explain this—sometimes the trope just is, and that’s fine! But some readers, like me, enjoy when authors provide a reason, like “stories create real worlds” or “infinite universes include every fantasy world.” It’s a fun meta-level discussion for those who are into it. Do you prefer stories that leave these things unexplained, or is there another angle I’m missing? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

your question was simply too specific to a certain genre (mostly fanfics) rather than a general question

 

[Rezcore]

There is the theory I have. That original fiction doesn't exists, writers simply record what they saw in visions they mistook as inspiration.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

Oh wow! That’s so true! that's how I’d describe. I don’t make things up, scenes just surface out of nowhere. Or a character appears, and they start living, and I just observe. You're absolutely right, at least that’s how it is for me.

 

[Lysander_Works]

Parallel Worlds or Enclosed Space

 

[ChillCore]

I have two favorites so far, one from a manhua (or manhwa?), and the other from a story I read on reddit several years ago.

The first explanation is that traveling from one world to the other requires some form a spell. Most if not all worlds have enough mana for the spell to be cast, but the actual world is so over saturated with mana that spells just don't work. (Although I think that was used to explain why the main character's attempts to fight enemies with mundane things was so broken, ie. he used a lighter to make a small flame that I think turned into a concentrated fire beam.)

The other is that, again, all worlds need mana for a spell to work, except mana comes from that world's god.... and the original world's god is dead. With no god, you have no mana in your world and you can't use a spell to travel to another world.

 

[beast_regards]

The DC and Marvels were never stopped by this.

Both produced crossover between their respective multiverse, along with the few other ones, and making sense wasn't too high on their priority list. Making money was.

Shueisha wouldn't be stopped either, but unfortunately for them, the Naruto and One Piece are still property of their respective author along with the company itself, so until the authors themselves green light this no crossover is going to happen.

As for you writing the crossover yourself...

...well. We aren't going to have a discussion about fan-fics again?