History Main / BrokenAngel

That is the Broken Angel, a fantastic creature that has been crippled in their fantastic. This can take many forms: the eponymous [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]] with hurt wings, broken horned {{unicorn}}s, newly mortal [[OurElvesAreDifferent elves]] (or any other immortal being), magicless wizards, robots whose body is centimeters from going offline, etc. When played for drama, this is usually used to evoke deep sadness. This is a [[WhatMeasureIsANonUnique unique]], beautiful creature that has been cruelly torn asunder. Not even killed, but [[ToThePain left alive to suffer being flawed]] after having been perfect or at least "the way I was meant to be." As you can imagine, a ''lot'' of {{Fallen Hero}}es have this as a backstory.

That is the Broken Angel, a fantastic creature that has been crippled in their fantastic. This can take many forms: the eponymous [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]] with hurt wings, broken horned {{unicorn}}s, newly mortal [[OurElvesAreDifferent elves]] (or any other immortal being), magicless wizards, robots whose body is centimeters from going offline, etc. When played for drama, this is usually used to evoke deep sadness. This is a [[WhatMeasureIsANonUnique unique]], beautiful creature that has been cruelly torn asunder. Not even killed, but [[ToThePain left alive to suffer being flawed]] after having been perfect or at least "the way I was meant to be." As you can imagine, a ''lot'' of {{Fallen Hero}}es have this as a backstory.

Many fantasy creatures are ''[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment fantastic]].'' Whether a sphinx, dragon, or [[ClockworkCreature steam powered robot beetle]]; whether [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot practically human]], [[StarfishAliens incomprehensible]] or [[MadeOfEvil pure evil]], these creatures can elicit a sense of wonder and terror in any observer.

* Almost literal in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius.'' The [[WingedHumanoid Heron]] Rafiel was rendered permanently unable to fly due to trauma and exhaustion. He at least fared better than most of his people, [[EndangeredSpecies who fell victim to genocide. ]]

* Tempest Shadow from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'' is a unicorn with a broken horn that leaves her unable to control her magic. She serves the evil Storm King because she believes he can restore it.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

** It should be noted that in the short animation ''Gift Of The Night Fury'' that continues on from the film, Hiccup builds an automatic tail attachment, allowing Toothless to fly on his own once more. Near the end of the film, Toothless smashes the attachment, showing he ''prefers'' having Hiccup as a rider to flying on his own. However, by ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon2,'' Hiccup has apparently modified the fin to allow him to lock it in position so Toothless can continue flying on his own while Hiccup jumps from his back to try out his new wingsuit.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* [[http://theoryofeverythingcomics.com/god/DM/DM_14.htm This page]] of ''The Devil And The Monk''.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'', [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?order=chapters&id=309 Discodia]], [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=1090 Ariel]]. However technically these are shape shifters so such injuries do not require epic quests.

* The Mexican graphic novel ''Operación Bolivar'' by Edgar Clemens, stars a man who, being born with the ability of seeing and touching angels, works as an angel hunter, since their body parts are good for a very wide array of uses. In the story's introduction he narrates: "Killing angels may seem like a disgusting business. And it is. But an angel hunter was born for this only. We are marked beings. We can't escape fate." He also compares himself to "nothing but a filthy butcher."

* The Mexican graphic novel ''Operación Bolivar'' by Edgar Clemens, stars a man who, being born with the ability of seeing and touching angels, works as an angel hunter, since their body parts are good for a very wide array of uses. In the story's introduction he narrates: "Killing angels may seem like a disgusting business. And it is. But an angel hunter was born for this only. We are marked beings. We can't escape fate."

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': In "Skooled!", [[spoiler: Miss Heinous/Meteora breaks off Pony Head's horn to use in her plan to seize the Mewni throne]].

* In ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' ''Ascension'', the Hecatonchires is a once mighty precursor to the Olympians who betrayed his blood oath to Zeus and suffered greatly for it. The Furies sealed him in stone, hollowed him out to make a dungeon, and allow Megaera's pet insects to slowly devour him from the inside. [[AndIMustScream He's still alive too.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'' [[spoiler: the titular unicorn becomes this after she in transformed in to the human woman, Amalthea, after bumbling amateur magician Schmindreck uses WildMagic in a desperate attempt to rescue her from the Red Bull (the villain's PetMonstrosity that [[TheyHaveTheScent hunts and captures unicorns]]. Although saved from the fate of the rest of the unicorns and still extremely graceful and beautiful for a human, the transformation into any mortal being, let alone a human, is extremely horrific and traumatizing for her, especially at first, and presented as something that has trapped a being of an ethereal nature in the form of a decaying and ill-suited mortal body, with various psychological and spiritual consequences. Although she is eventually changed back, it is not until after falling in love, and she becomes a unique being as a consequence: the only unicorn to understand regret, which she will have to live with for eternity.]]

** And when she eventually ''is'' turned back, she remains a more figurative example; Unicorns are stated to be pure, immortal beings and, by their very nature, untouched by emotions like regret, longing, or grief. But her experience as a human being (who fell in love) has left Amalthea capable of these feelings. And now she will have to feel them ''forever''

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'' [[Spoiler: the titular unicorn becomes this after she in transformed in to the human woman, Amalthea, after bumbling amateur magician Schmindreck uses WildMagic in a desperate attempt to rescue her from the Red Bull (the villain's PetMonstrosity that [[TheyHaveTheScent hunts and captures unicorns]]. Although saved from the fate of the rest of the unicorns and still extremely graceful and beautiful for a human, the transformation into any mortal being, let alone a human, is extremely horrific and traumatizing at first, and presented as something that has trapped a being of an ethereal nature in the form of a mortal life form, with various psychological and spiritual consequences. Although she is eventually changed back, it is not until after falling in love, and she becomes a unique being as a consequence: the only unicorn to understand regret, which she will have to live with for eternity.]]
** Inverted in Mommy Fortuna's menagerie of "mystical beings", which are actually mostly fakes, being pitiful animals that she casts {{glamour}}s on, so that they appear as legendary beasts to those who want to see as much. The only real fantastic creatures in the caravan are the unicorn and the Harpy, who [[Spoiler:[[ItsPersonal has mommy Fortuna's number]]]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'' Amalthea becomes one after being transformed into a human. Rather than being pleased that her life is no longer in danger (as the antagonist is seeking a unicorn, not a human girl), she's tormented by the feeling that her mortal body is dying around her, cell by cell, and begs to be changed back.

** There's also the [[spoiler:Forest God]] in ''Anime/MononokeHime'', appearing as [[spoiler:spritely and other-worldy stag with a vaguely anthropomorphic face that spreads life and fertility in its wake--basically a combination of a unicorn-like creature, a {{youkai}} and a {{primordial}} god. Until some fool cuts off it's head, that is, at which point the body becomes a EldritchAbomination, mindlessly showering decay and destruction on epic scale until it is reunited with its head.]]

** It should be noted that in the short animation ''Gift Of The Night Fury'' that continues on from the film, Hiccup builds an automatic tail attachment, allowing Toothless to fly on his own once more. Near the end of the film, Toothless smashes the attachment, resulting in a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} when you realize that he ''prefers'' having Hiccup as a rider to flying on his own. However, by ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon2,'' Hiccup has apparently modified the fin to allow him to lock it in position so Toothless can continue flying on his own while Hiccup jumps from his back to try out his new wingsuit.

* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'' is recognizable for having two neatly sawed off horn stumps on his forehead. Though in a subversion of this trope, he cut them off ''himself'' for (at first) the practical reason of helping him fit in with humans. And later on when he learned his longstanding fate as an ApocalypseMaiden and TheAntichrist, he now cuts them off as a sign of [[TheAntiAntichrist rejecting said fate]]. Fate being persistent though, they tend to grow back if he ever gets exposed to infernal energy or starts to doubt or become convinced of ending the world.

* The Ah! My Goddess fic, "Ah! Archfall!" is basically focused on this, when less than perfect human ends up as Master of an Archangel (following the assassination of her Mistress)whilst trying to maintain a relationship with the Valkyrie Lind, who has been banished for failing to recover said angel.

* At least one of the {{Alternate Ending}}s to the infamous ''Fanfic/{{Cupcakes}}'' has this [[spoiler:happen to Rainbow Dash. She's saved, but her wings are not.]]

* The elves in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' universe were once immortal beings of great magical power, before the [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters humans showed up, caused them to lose their immortality, and demolished their civilization]]. The elves ran off and made a new home for themselves, and the humans came and destroyed that one too. Today the elves are either enslaved or forced to remain on the run, their civilization regressed to its most primitive, gradually losing their magic, and have lost all knowledge of their history and language. ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition'' sheds some more light on the situation. Turns out [[spoiler:only the elven nobility had immortality and powerful magic. The lower caste elves were slaves who had no immortality and no more magical potential than other mortals. Modern day elves may actually be descendants of those slaves, meaning they aren't broken at all. All things considered, their situation has arguably ''improved''.]]

** For some reason, this trope is common in FanFiction of {{Works}} that include angels/angel-like characters.

--> "What have you done to me? I'm a unicorn...I'm a unicorn!"
--> "But I'm afraid of this human body. More than I was of the red bull...''afraid.'' "

* The muses from ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', the delicate creations of the greatest spark of the time. Most of them are destroyed or damaged while sparks tried to reverse engineer them. Known examples are [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051107 Tinka]], studied by Tarvek, and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100120 Otilia]], found beneath Castle Heterodyne. She manages to cause some trouble in her "broken" state though.

* One ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' fits the trope: [[spoiler:Necrozma. As shown in ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'', it used to be a deity-like Pokémon called the "Blinding One", willingly sharing its light with all of [[TheMultiverse Ultra Space]] (light which would come to be known as Z-Power and fuel the Z-Moves still used today). Then the ancient humans of Ultra Megalopolis tried to control it, only to end up crippling it and destroying its ability to generate light. Whereas the Blinding One was a brilliant dragon made of golden light, now Necrozma is just a pitch black prism creature haphazardly made from its original form's armor and bones, left in a constant state of pain and hunger that can never be sated. While Necrozma can temporarily regain its true form with the player's help, it isn't a permanent solution, and Necrozma will be dependent on Nebby and the player to share their light and ease its pain.]]

* In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', Illyria finds that her time has passed and her armies are dead. She comments bitterly that in her new body she'd be seen as nothing but food to the rest of her kind.
** The Ethros demon from first season also ends up as this--having corrupted and consumed human souls for millennia, it begs for death after trying to possess a [[EnfantTerrible child]] who turned out to be EvilerThanThou.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** In the episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E2TheBeastBelow "The Beast Below"]], the [[SpaceWhale Star Whale]].
** Many episodes show the Doctor as a broken veteran of the Time War, and the last of his race. In the [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E4TheGirlInTheFireplace "The Girl in the Fireplace"]], Reinette calls him her Lonely Angel.

* In the ''Series/MastersOfHorror'' episode "Cigarette Burns", the main character encounters a pale, gaunt, vaguely male figure with healed stumps at its shoulder blades kept by a deranged art collector. It is strongly implied that this was the angel that was mutilated in ''La fin absolue du monde'', the short film that the protagonist seeks. As revealed by the SnuffFilm director Dalibor, the sheer sacrilege of this act was the key to the late Bakovic's success and turned his film into a madness-inducing ArtifactOfDeath.

[[folder:Theater]]

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'', [[CloudCuckoolander Gogo Dodo]] asks Buster, Babs, and Plucky to rescue his friends from a CircusOfFear. Said friends include a Dragon, a Pegasus, and a Sphynx. The poor creatures are being magically tortured to perform and there's a risk they will disappear forever if they don't return to Wackyland in time.

* In ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' the Trix destroy the wings of a fairy to distract Musa from their getaway from Alfea's library; they'd set the library on fire, which forces her to save her friend instead of chasing down the bad guys. [[spoiler: This bites them in the ass, as the fairy in question was from Musa's homeworld, and rescuing her let Musa acquire her Enchantix form, which conveniently gives her the power to repair her wings instantly.]]

-->'''Pegasus:''' Who are you?
-->'''Griffon:''' Honeyflake, apparently.

* One ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' fits the trope: [[spoiler:Necrozma from VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon used to be a deity-like Pokemon called The Blinding One, until the humans of Ultra Megalopolis in ages past tried to control it, only to end up breaking it. Where Necrozma was a brilliant light dragon (as seen in its Ultra form), now it's just a pitch black prism thing that is in constant state of pain and hunger.]]

* ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen'' claims that the ''entire freaking Creation'' has gotten this treatment from {{God}} during the War of Wrath. The modern [[TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness World of Darkness]] has very little to do with the wonders of the young Creation before the Fall, because in [[LittleMissAlmighty Her]] fury at the rebellious angels, God smashed the world they created under Her supervision and its current state is a long-term result of the damage sustained back then. (The game also offers a counter-perspective, that she was acting to ''save'' the world at the Fall - but even so, the damage had been done.)