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* In ''VisualNovel/{{Nightshade}}'':
** Chojiro hesitates to side with Enju, not because he doesn't have feelings for her, but because, if he did, [[spoiler: Koga would be destroyed if he did not kill her. Chojiro, having survived the loss of his first village, is terrified of losing his home again.]]
** Near the end of his route, Hanzo is torn between his love for Enju or completing his mission. [[spoiler: Ieyasu orders him to kill Enju to secure the position of Hideyori's guardian. Ultimately, Hanzo chooses to protect Enju from the rest of his clan. Thankfully, Ieyasu lets him off by only ordering ''proof'' of Enju's death (in the form of her bloodied sash), allowing her to live on in secret and spare Hanzo from defying his orders.]]
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* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'': in ''Ghosts of the Past'', Harry is repeatedly caught between trusting and being honest with Ron and Hermione, and obligations to keep secrets from them - in some cases, intensely personal secrets. These include hiding the fact that [[spoiler: the Winter Soldier a.k.a. Bucky Barnes is alive, since he gave Arthur Weasley a MercyKill in HYDRA's assault on the Ministry]] and that Hermione is actually adopted, and the biological daughter of [[ComicBook/ScarletWitch Wanda Maximoff]] and [[{{ComicBook/Hellblazer}} John Constantine]]. The former is secret for security reasons, the latter he figures out and keeps mum on at Wanda's request (since Wanda is his [[ParentalSubstitute godmother]]).This, combined with his tendencies to keep them on the sidelines for their own protection, and LockedOutOfTheLoop because he's not particularly eager to talk to anyone about whatever he's been through unless they were there, causes increasing friction, and both sides are profoundly unhappy about it.

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* In Literature/{{AncillaryJustice}}, the ship AI Justice of Torren [[spoiler: is made to kill one of its officers by TheEmperor Anaander Miaani, but immediately afterwards turns against him. At the end of the book the entire Radchaai empire faces one when it is revealed that Miaani has a SplitPersonality and is at war with himself.]]
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[AlienAmongUs Ax's]] entire character arc is built on this. He is an aristh, the Andalite equivalent of a cadet, and thus the only one of the Animorphs to have prior affiliations. Further, his culture places a very high value on loyalty and service, meaning that even when he learns the Andalite military is doing things that aren't entirely kosher, he is still obliged to support them. And yet, he comes to find himself caring for his human friends, who are at first simple allies of expedience but slowly grow into true companions. This is the main reason why David is referred to in-series as the SixthRanger rather than Ax - almost every book Ax has in the 54-book run is devoted to this conflict in some way, and it's not until he's given an ultimatum in the second-to-last book that he finally commits himself fully to the Animorphs.* This is a common theme in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.

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* In Literature/{{AncillaryJustice}}, ''Literature/AncillaryJustice'', the ship AI Justice of Torren [[spoiler: is made to kill one of its officers by TheEmperor Anaander Miaani, but immediately afterwards turns against him. At the end of the book the entire Radchaai empire faces one when it is revealed that Miaani has a SplitPersonality and is at war with himself.]]
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[AlienAmongUs Ax's]] entire character arc is built on this. He is an aristh, the Andalite equivalent of a cadet, and thus the only one of the Animorphs to have prior affiliations. Further, his culture places a very high value on loyalty and service, meaning that even when he learns the Andalite military is doing things that aren't entirely kosher, he is still obliged to support them. And yet, he comes to find himself caring for his human friends, who are at first simple allies of expedience but slowly grow into true companions. This is the main reason why David is referred to in-series as the SixthRanger rather than Ax - almost every book Ax has in the 54-book run is devoted to this conflict in some way, and it's not until he's given an ultimatum in the second-to-last book that he finally commits himself fully to the Animorphs.Animorphs.
* This is a common theme in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.

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* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' had this in the post recent chapters of his solo series. He has loyalty and friendship with Captain America & SHIELD agent, Emily Preston. But he sides with the former. [[spoiler: Cap, who has been Cosmic Cubed into a Hydra agent, sent Deadpool on a mission to assassinate Phil Coulson and prevent him from warning everyone about what's happening with him and Hydra. Coulson was a very close friend of Preston's and Wade felt guilty after completing the task. He asks Cap how he will ever explain things to Preston.]]
** [[spoiler: Later, Wade meets up with Preston to check on the family when a dark dome appears over Manhattan. She tells Deadpool to get in the car so they can find Coulson. Wade is completely torn. Preston wonders why Wade needed to see Coulson the other night, and Wade lies about the reason, and tells Preston he never found Coulson. When they get to his hide-out -which Wade burned down after killing Phil, he says it didn't look that way the other night he was there. He continues to play dumb while there, but Preston finds out the truth when she watches a surveillance video.]]



* ''ComicBook/SpiderManLifeStory'': Captain America voices this to Spider-Man when he meets him. He's a soldier and veteran of World War II and he's been asked to fight in the Vietnam War, whose causes he has doubts about, and yet at the same time real American troops are risking their lives for it. Cap tells Spidey that he plans to head to Vietnam and see with his own eyes and ears what's up. He has revealed to have become an independent agent defending civilians against war criminals from both sides, making him a "traitor" in the eyes of American troops.
-->'''Captain America:''' "I don't know if this war is right—but I do know that people are dying, and our country's name and ideology are tied to it."



* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' had this in the post recent chapters of his solo series. He has loyalty and friendship with Captain America & SHIELD agent, Emily Preston. But he sides with the former. [[spoiler: Cap, who has been Cosmic Cubed into a Hydra agent, sent Deadpool on a mission to assassinate Phil Coulson and prevent him from warning everyone about what's happening with him and Hydra. Coulson was a very close friend of Preston's and Wade felt guilty after completing the task. He asks Cap how he will ever explain things to Preston.]]
** [[spoiler: Later, Wade meets up with Preston to check on the family when a dark dome appears over Manhattan. She tells Deadpool to get in the car so they can find Coulson. Wade is completely torn. Preston wonders why Wade needed to see Coulson the other night, and Wade lies about the reason, and tells Preston he never found Coulson. When they get to his hide-out -which Wade burned down after killing Phil, he says it didn't look that way the other night he was there. He continues to play dumb while there, but Preston finds out the truth when she watches a surveillance video.]]



* ''ComicBook/SpiderManLifeStory'': Captain America voices this to Spider-Man when he meets him. He's a soldier and veteran of World War II and he's been asked to fight in the Vietnam War, whose causes he has doubts about, and yet at the same time real American troops are risking their lives for it. Cap tells Spidey that he plans to head to Vietnam and see with his own eyes and ears what's up. He has revealed to have become an independent agent defending civilians against war criminals from both sides, making him a "traitor" in the eyes of American troops.
-->'''Captain America:''' "I don't know if this war is right—but I do know that people are dying, and our country's name and ideology are tied to it."



* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Myra is loyal to the Resistance. Still, [[spoiler:she won't let them kill Vladimir and helps him escape from the cave.]]
* Lancelot is torn viciously between his place as Arthur's general and Guinevere's knight, to say the least of the romantic involvement. The original [[Creator/ChretienDeTroyes Chrétien]] version makes little of this, as Arthur is mostly an inept and impotent king, but from ''Literature/LeMorteDarthur'' onwards it tends to be one of the driving forces of the tragedy. ''Literature/IdyllsOfTheKing'' cranks it up to the point where the conflict inside him prematurely ages Lancelot, and the longest book of The Once and Future King is dedicated to Lancelot's story, at which this struggle is the focal point.
* Conflicts of loyalty play a huge part in the ''Literature/{{Nibelungenlied}}''. To point out the more important ones: In the matter of the murder of Siegfried, Gunther is torn between his obligation to protect the honour of his wife Brunhilde and those towards his vassal and brother-in-law Siegfried. Later, after the deed is done, Gunther and his brothers are torn between their feudal obligation to protect their vassal Hagen and their fraternal loyalty towards their sister Kriemhild; they opt for Hagen. Rüdiger of Bechlarn is visibly torn between the oaths he swore to his queen Kriemhild and to the Burgundians, one of whom is betrothed to Rüdiger's daughter. Kriemhild has to choose between her sisterly affections to her brothers (especially Giselher, the youngest) and to her loyalty to her dead husband Siegfried. She eventually opts for the latter, allowing Gernot and Giselher to die in battle and ordering Gunther to be executed. This is an interesting switch from earlier versions of the story (preserved e. g. in the Icelandic Atli-saga), she killed her second husband Atli (Etzel) in order to avenge her dead brothers.

to:

* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Myra is loyal to In Literature/{{AncillaryJustice}}, the Resistance. Still, [[spoiler:she won't let them ship AI Justice of Torren [[spoiler: is made to kill Vladimir one of its officers by TheEmperor Anaander Miaani, but immediately afterwards turns against him. At the end of the book the entire Radchaai empire faces one when it is revealed that Miaani has a SplitPersonality and helps him escape from the cave.is at war with himself.]]
* Lancelot ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[AlienAmongUs Ax's]] entire character arc is torn viciously built on this. He is an aristh, the Andalite equivalent of a cadet, and thus the only one of the Animorphs to have prior affiliations. Further, his culture places a very high value on loyalty and service, meaning that even when he learns the Andalite military is doing things that aren't entirely kosher, he is still obliged to support them. And yet, he comes to find himself caring for his human friends, who are at first simple allies of expedience but slowly grow into true companions. This is the main reason why David is referred to in-series as the SixthRanger rather than Ax - almost every book Ax has in the 54-book run is devoted to this conflict in some way, and it's not until he's given an ultimatum in the second-to-last book that he finally commits himself fully to the Animorphs.* This is a common theme in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.
** Throughout the story, Ned always chooses HonorBeforeReason, every time, no matter how much the other choice would help him. But at the end of the first book, he must choose
between his place as Arthur's general honor and Guinevere's knight, to say his family, the least one thing that matters to him more. [[spoiler:He finally decides against honor. It doesn't help.]]
** In order to gain the political support
of the romantic involvement. The original [[Creator/ChretienDeTroyes Chrétien]] version makes little of this, as Arthur is mostly an inept and impotent king, but Freys, Robb [[spoiler:vows to marry a daughter from ''Literature/LeMorteDarthur'' onwards it tends the Frey family. However, when he sleeps with a girl while he is pledged to be one the Frey daughter, he must choose to either keep his vow to marry the Frey daughter or protect the honor of the driving forces of girl. He chooses to protect the tragedy. ''Literature/IdyllsOfTheKing'' cranks it up girl's honor and breaks his oath to the point where Freys -- resulting in far-reaching consequences.]]
** Jaime Lannister is known across Westeros as
the [[TheOathbreaker Kingslayer]] for killing the king he swore to protect. He provides the page quote when he points out that the oaths about honoring your family and honoring your King are forced to be helplessly contradictory sooner or later. But once the readers get to know him, they learn that Jaime can actually be very loyal, if his loyalty is earned (or if [[FoolForLove you sleep with him enough]]). When he killed the king, he chose between his duty to his king and to his father and family. Also, the fact that choosing his family meant saving thousands of innocent lives is what tipped the balance for him. He also debates with a fellow Kingsguard whether their vow to protect the royal family extends to [[MaritalRapeLicense protecting the Queen from the King]].
** Brienne's level of HonorBeforeReason would confound even the Starks. She takes quite a number of vows, and it's always for a good cause. Protect Renly. Protect Lady Catelyn. Protect Jaime. Bring Sansa home. [[spoiler:Later, she is implied to take another vow: to kill Jaime.]] Not surprisingly, a few of her vows start to
conflict inside him prematurely ages Lancelot, and the longest book of The Once and Future King is dedicated to Lancelot's story, at which after a while.
** Jon Snow gets
this struggle is a few times. At first, it's always between the focal point.
* Conflicts of loyalty play
Watch and something else: his [[RelativeButton family]] he loves, the girl he loves, his home, his friends. In the first book, he has a huge part conversation with Maester Aemon about this conflict, who once faced the very same situation Jon does. Later, once [[spoiler:he becomes Lord Commander]], it's between his commitment not to interfere in the ''Literature/{{Nibelungenlied}}''. To point out the more important ones: In the matter affairs of the realm and his desire to protect innocents and right wrongs.
** Theon gets trapped between his adopted brother and his birth family.
** Stannis notes this early, describing the difficulty in choosing to side with his brother in the rebellion against the rightful king.
* Drives the plot of ''[[Literature/AssassinFantastic On My Honor]]'': the POVCharacter is a DoubleAgent, working as a trusted assassin under a queen while secretly remaining loyal to his homeland. This puts him in a tight spot when the queen sends him to
murder the current king of Siegfried, Gunther his country...
* ''Literature/TheAssassinsOfTamurin'': Lale
is torn between his obligation to protect the honour of his wife Brunhilde and those towards his vassal and brother-in-law Siegfried. Later, after the deed is done, Gunther and his brothers are torn between their feudal obligation to protect their vassal Hagen and their fraternal loyalty towards their sister Kriemhild; they opt for Hagen. Rüdiger of Bechlarn is visibly torn between the oaths he swore to his queen Kriemhild and to the Burgundians, one of whom is betrothed to Rüdiger's daughter. Kriemhild has to choose between her sisterly affections to her brothers (especially Giselher, the youngest) and to her loyalty to her dead husband Siegfried. She eventually opts {{Cult}} mother and her lover after she [[BecomingTheMask becomes the mask]].
* The ''Literature/BhagavadGita'' makes this at least Older Than Feudalism. Arjuna's family has usurped his crown with the only hope of getting it back being to fight them
for it, and he is stuck between two conflicting dharmas (duties): his duty to his family and his duty as a soldier and a king. Eventually, Krishna sorts him out and tells him that he should suck it up and fight the latter, allowing Gernot and Giselher to die in battle and ordering Gunther to be executed. This is an interesting switch from earlier versions of the story (preserved e. g. in the Icelandic Atli-saga), she killed her second husband Atli (Etzel) in order to avenge her dead brothers.battle.



* In the ''Literature/SixteenThirtyTwo'' series, Ruy Sanchez de Casador y Ortiz is torn between loyalty to his new American wife, and to Spain. [[spoiler:Ultimately, the wife wins.]]
* The ''Literature/BhagavadGita'' makes this at least Older Than Feudalism. Arjuna's family has usurped his crown with the only hope of getting it back being to fight them for it, and he is stuck between two conflicting dharmas (duties): his duty to his family and his duty as a soldier and a king. Eventually, Krishna sorts him out and tells him that he should suck it up and fight the battle.

to:

* In the ''Literature/SixteenThirtyTwo'' series, Ruy Sanchez de Casador y Ortiz is torn ''Literature/DaisyMiller'': Winterbourne must choose between loyalty to Daisy (Rome's local strange girl who has caught his new American wife, eye) and to Spain. [[spoiler:Ultimately, the wife wins.]]
* The ''Literature/BhagavadGita'' makes this at least Older Than Feudalism. Arjuna's family has usurped
approval of his crown with the only hope of getting it back peers (who scorn her for being a [[GoodBadGirl shameless flirt]]).
* In ''[[Literature/{{Dragonlance}} Brothers In Arms]]'' one of the commanders mentions that this is why he didn't want
to fight them be a knight. He feared the potential for it, his lord and he is stuck between two his god to demand conflicting dharmas (duties): his duty to his family and his duty as a soldier and a king. Eventually, Krishna sorts him out and tells him that he should suck it up and fight the battle.things of him.



* In the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series, many of the Havenite characters experience this between the first and second revolution, when they're forced to deal with the conflict between their duty and honor, the loyalty to their nation, and the demands of serving an increasingly sociopathic dictatorship.
* At the end of ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'', Vimes is briefly torn between his loyalty to the law and his loyalty to the Patrician. He picks, as the Patrician knew he would, the law. Anything else wouldn't be Sam Vimes.
* ''Literature/LesMiserables'': Conflicting Loyalties are build up in a majority of characters (including, but not limited to: Cosette, Jean, Eponine, and Gillenormand). But special notice should be given to Marius and [[spoiler:Javert]]; Marius, because it's his position in the novel, and [[spoiler:Javert]] because of the twist. Conflicting Loyalties are a central theme of the novel.
* Brother Aiden in the second ''Literature/TheMonkAndTheViking'' story has conflicting loyalties between the Viking he loves, the monks he grew up with, and his mother who the monks mistreated.
* In ''Literature/MySisterTheSerialKiller'' Korede is fiercely protective of Ayoola, her younger sister. She is also worried for Tade, Ayoola’s newest boyfriend, as Ayoola has killed her last three suitors. It doesn’t help that Korede had unrequited feelings for Tade before he met and became infatuated with Ayoola.
* Conflicts of loyalty play a huge part in the ''Literature/{{Nibelungenlied}}''. To point out the more important ones: In the matter of the murder of Siegfried, Gunther is torn between his obligation to protect the honour of his wife Brunhilde and those towards his vassal and brother-in-law Siegfried. Later, after the deed is done, Gunther and his brothers are torn between their feudal obligation to protect their vassal Hagen and their fraternal loyalty towards their sister Kriemhild; they opt for Hagen. Rüdiger of Bechlarn is visibly torn between the oaths he swore to his queen Kriemhild and to the Burgundians, one of whom is betrothed to Rüdiger's daughter. Kriemhild has to choose between her sisterly affections to her brothers (especially Giselher, the youngest) and to her loyalty to her dead husband Siegfried. She eventually opts for the latter, allowing Gernot and Giselher to die in battle and ordering Gunther to be executed. This is an interesting switch from earlier versions of the story (preserved e. g. in the Icelandic Atli-saga), she killed her second husband Atli (Etzel) in order to avenge her dead brothers.
* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Myra is loyal to the Resistance. Still, [[spoiler:she won't let them kill Vladimir and helps him escape from the cave.]]
* In the third book of ''Literature/TheQueensThief'' series, Costis finds his loyalty torn between his queen and king. He wonders what he would do if they should ever go against each other.
* In the Literature/RachelPengNovels, set in the Webcomic/AGirlAndHerFed universe, Rachel repeatedly has to choose between protecting OACET and obeying the law--and while she tries very hard to make everyone think the law comes first, more often than not OACET wins out.
* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': ''Defender of the Crown'' forces Isengrim to choose between [[spoiler: his friendship with Reynard (who is rapidly approaching the MoralEventHorizon) and his own notions of right and wrong.]]
* In the ''Literature/SixteenThirtyTwo'' series, Ruy Sanchez de Casador y Ortiz is torn between loyalty to his new American wife, and to Spain. [[spoiler:Ultimately, the wife wins.]]
* Mickey from ''Literature/SurvivorDogs'' is considered this because he still cares for his old owners despite being a stray now. He's supposed to stay loyal to his pack and only care for other dogs, not humans, but Mickey is too attached to humans after having grown up a pet. He especially misses "his boy".
* A major theme of ''[[Literature/TalesOfTheBranionRealm]]'' novel ''The Stone Prince]]'', in which a great deal of bloodshed is caused by characters torn between love and duty.



* ''Literature/TheAssassinsOfTamurin'': Lale is torn between loyalty to her {{Cult}} mother and her lover after she [[BecomingTheMask becomes the mask]].
* Sebastian in ''Literature/TheGardellaVampireChronicles'', whose behavior is ambiguous because [[spoiler: (a) he comes from the Gardella vampire slayer line, and yet (b) has a relative who is a vampire that he is very close to.]]

to:

* ''Literature/TheAssassinsOfTamurin'': Lale is torn ''Literature/TreegatesRaiders'': At the [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution Battle of Cowpens]] , upon seeing some highlanders advance one of the title character's men shouts, "Go to the other end of the line, there are Frasers here", thus showing a conflict on both sides between loyalty to her {{Cult}} mother military duty and her lover tribal ties.
* ''Literature/{{Waltharius}}'': Hagen's old friendship to Walther conflicts with his duty as a retainer of his king Gunther, who wants Walther to surrender his gold and his fiancé Hiltgunt to him, and, when Walther predictably refuses these conditions, orders his champions to engage Walther in life-and-death combat. Hagen first tries to talk Gunther out of his plan and advises him to accept a compromise; when Gunther in turn accuses him of cowardice, Hagen refuses all orders and stands by as his companions fight with Walther. Only
after she [[BecomingTheMask becomes Walther has killed eleven Frankish champions including Hagen's own nephew Patavrid, Gunther apologizes and implores Hagen that the mask]].
* Sebastian in ''Literature/TheGardellaVampireChronicles'', whose behavior is ambiguous because [[spoiler: (a) he comes
Franks will never recover from the Gardella vampire slayer line, shame if they let Walther get away unpunished. With the new state of affairs, Hagen is concerned that his own honor as a warrior could be compromised if he continues to do nothing, and yet (b) has a relative finally agrees to fight Walther.
* In ''Literature/WarOfTheSpiderQueen'', half-demon BloodKnight isn't partial about
who is a vampire that giving him orders as long as he can brutally tear someone to shreds. He is ordered by his mother, the high priestess of Menzoberanzan, to accompany his aunt Quenthel on her quest and follow her orders without question. However, when Quenthel starts to eat herself up with doubt and loses her faith in the Spider Goddess, he is very close to.conflicted between his loyalty and his belief that AsskickingEqualsAuthority, which is the foundation for their races entire society. Danifae however, who as a slave is nominally the groups lowest ranking member, proves herself to be a [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]] who plays the game of lying, betraying, and instilling fear like no-one else. [[spoiler:When Jegrred finally switches his loyalty, Quenthel helplessly resigns and doesn't try to stop them, but when she gets all her powers back, she sacrifices him for punishment.]]



* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[AlienAmongUs Ax's]] entire character arc is built on this. He is an aristh, the Andalite equivalent of a cadet, and thus the only one of the Animorphs to have prior affiliations. Further, his culture places a very high value on loyalty and service, meaning that even when he learns the Andalite military is doing things that aren't entirely kosher, he is still obliged to support them. And yet, he comes to find himself caring for his human friends, who are at first simple allies of expedience but slowly grow into true companions. This is the mean reason why David is referred to in-series as the SixthRanger rather than Ax - almost every book Ax has in the 54-book run is devoted to this conflict in some way, and it's not until he's given an ultimatum in the second-to-last book that he finally commits himself fully to the Animorphs.
* ''Literature/DaisyMiller'': Winterbourne must choose between Daisy (Rome's local strange girl who has caught his eye) and the approval of his peers (who scorn her for being a [[GoodBadGirl shameless flirt]]).
* ''Literature/TreegatesRaiders'': At the [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution Battle of Cowpens]] , upon seeing some highlanders advance one of the title character's men shouts, "Go to the other end of the line, there are Frasers here", thus showing a conflict on both sides between military duty and tribal ties.
* In ''[[Literature/{{Dragonlance}} Brothers In Arms]]'' one of the commanders mentions that this is why he didn't want to be a knight. He feared the potential for his lord and his god to demand conflicting things of him.
* In ''Literature/WarOfTheSpiderQueen'', half-demon BloodKnight isn't partial about who is giving him orders as long as he can brutally tear someone to shreds. He is ordered by his mother, the high priestess of Menzoberanzan, to accompany his aunt Quenthel on her quest and follow her orders without question. However, when Quenthel starts to eat herself up with doubt and loses her faith in the Spider Goddess, he is conflicted between his loyalty and his belief that AsskickingEqualsAuthority, which is the foundation for their races entire society. Danifae however, who as a slave is nominally the groups lowest ranking member, proves herself to be a [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]] who plays the game of lying, betraying, and instilling fear like no-one else. [[spoiler:When Jegrred finally switches his loyalty, Quenthel helplessly resigns and doesn't try to stop them, but when she gets all her powers back, she sacrifices him for punishment.]]
* Drives the plot of ''[[Literature/AssassinFantastic On My Honor]]'': the POVCharacter is a DoubleAgent, working as a trusted assassin under a queen while secretly remaining loyal to his homeland. This puts him in a tight spot when the queen sends him to murder the current king of his country...



* Brother Aiden in the second ''Literature/TheMonkAndTheViking'' story has conflicting loyalties between the Viking he loves, the monks he grew up with, and his mother who the monks mistreated.
* This is a common theme in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.
** Throughout the story, Ned always chooses HonorBeforeReason, every time, no matter how much the other choice would help him. But at the end of the first book, he must choose between his honor and his family, the one thing that matters to him more. [[spoiler:He finally decides against honor. It doesn't help.]]
** In order to gain the political support of the Freys, Robb [[spoiler:vows to marry a daughter from the Frey family. However, when he sleeps with a girl while he is pledged to the Frey daughter, he must choose to either keep his vow to marry the Frey daughter or protect the honor of the girl. He chooses to protect the girl's honor and breaks his oath to the Freys -- resulting in far-reaching consequences.]]
** Jaime Lannister is known across Westeros as the [[TheOathbreaker Kingslayer]] for killing the king he swore to protect. He provides the page quote when he points out that the oaths about honoring your family and honoring your King are forced to be helplessly contradictory sooner or later. But once the readers get to know him, they learn that Jaime can actually be very loyal, if his loyalty is earned (or if [[FoolForLove you sleep with him enough]]). When he killed the king, he chose between his duty to his king and to his father and family. Also, the fact that choosing his family meant saving thousands of innocent lives is what tipped the balance for him. He also debates with a fellow Kingsguard whether their vow to protect the royal family extends to [[MaritalRapeLicense protecting the Queen from the King]].
** Brienne's level of HonorBeforeReason would confound even the Starks. She takes quite a number of vows, and it's always for a good cause. Protect Renly. Protect Lady Catelyn. Protect Jaime. Bring Sansa home. [[spoiler:Later, she is implied to take another vow: to kill Jaime.]] Not surprisingly, a few of her vows start to conflict after a while.
** Jon Snow gets this a few times. At first, it's always between the Watch and something else: his [[RelativeButton family]] he loves, the girl he loves, his home, his friends. In the first book, he has a conversation with Maester Aemon about this conflict, who once faced the very same situation Jon does. Later, once [[spoiler:he becomes Lord Commander]], it's between his commitment not to interfere in the affairs of the realm and his desire to protect innocents and right wrongs.
** Theon gets trapped between his adopted brother and his birth family.
** Stannis notes this early, describing the difficulty in choosing to side with his brother in the rebellion against the rightful king.
* ''Literature/LesMiserables'': Conflicting Loyalties are build up in a majority of characters (including, but not limited to: Cosette, Jean, Eponine, and Gillenormand). But special notice should be given to Marius and [[spoiler:Javert]]; Marius, because it's his position in the novel, and [[spoiler:Javert]] because of the twist. Conflicting Loyalties are a central theme of the novel.

to:

* Brother Aiden Kaladin ends up facing this in ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'', when his vow to the second ''Literature/TheMonkAndTheViking'' story king he has conflicting loyalties between sworn to protect conflicts with the Viking vows he loves, has made to his men, which include a man who hates the monks king. [[spoiler:The conflict places him in a situation where he grew up with, and his mother who the monks mistreated.
* This is a common theme in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.
** Throughout the story, Ned always chooses HonorBeforeReason, every time,
can't act honorably no matter how much the other choice would help him. But at the end of the first book, what he must choose between does, which kills his honor and honorspren (And with it his family, the one thing that matters to him more. [[spoiler:He finally decides against honor. It doesn't help.Windrunner powers) until he finds a way out of it.]]
** In order to gain the political support of the Freys, Robb [[spoiler:vows to marry a daughter * Sebastian in ''Literature/TheGardellaVampireChronicles'', whose behavior is ambiguous because [[spoiler: (a) he comes from the Frey family. However, when he sleeps with Gardella vampire slayer line, and yet (b) has a girl while relative who is a vampire that he is pledged to the Frey daughter, he must choose to either keep his vow to marry the Frey daughter or protect the honor of the girl. He chooses to protect the girl's honor and breaks his oath to the Freys -- resulting in far-reaching consequences.]]
** Jaime Lannister is known across Westeros as the [[TheOathbreaker Kingslayer]] for killing the king he swore to protect. He provides the page quote when he points out that the oaths about honoring your family and honoring your King are forced to be helplessly contradictory sooner or later. But once the readers get to know him, they learn that Jaime can actually be
very loyal, if his loyalty is earned (or if [[FoolForLove you sleep with him enough]]). When he killed the king, he chose between his duty to his king and to his father and family. Also, the fact that choosing his family meant saving thousands of innocent lives is what tipped the balance for him. He also debates with a fellow Kingsguard whether their vow to protect the royal family extends to [[MaritalRapeLicense protecting the Queen from the King]].
** Brienne's level of HonorBeforeReason would confound even the Starks. She takes quite a number of vows, and it's always for a good cause. Protect Renly. Protect Lady Catelyn. Protect Jaime. Bring Sansa home. [[spoiler:Later, she is implied to take another vow: to kill Jaime.]] Not surprisingly, a few of her vows start to conflict after a while.
** Jon Snow gets this a few times. At first, it's always between the Watch and something else: his [[RelativeButton family]] he loves, the girl he loves, his home, his friends. In the first book, he has a conversation with Maester Aemon about this conflict, who once faced the very same situation Jon does. Later, once [[spoiler:he becomes Lord Commander]], it's between his commitment not to interfere in the affairs of the realm and his desire to protect innocents and right wrongs.
** Theon gets trapped between his adopted brother and his birth family.
** Stannis notes this early, describing the difficulty in choosing to side with his brother in the rebellion against the rightful king.
* ''Literature/LesMiserables'': Conflicting Loyalties are build up in a majority of characters (including, but not limited to: Cosette, Jean, Eponine, and Gillenormand). But special notice should be given to Marius and [[spoiler:Javert]]; Marius, because it's his position in the novel, and [[spoiler:Javert]] because of the twist. Conflicting Loyalties are a central theme of the novel.
close to.]]



* In ''Literature/MySisterTheSerialKiller'' Korede is fiercely protective of Ayoola, her younger sister. She is also worried for Tade, Ayoola’s newest boyfriend, as Ayoola has killed her last three suitors. It doesn’t help that Korede had unrequited feelings for Tade before he met and became infatuated with Ayoola.
* A major theme of ''[[Literature/TalesOfTheBranionRealm The Stone Prince]]'', in which a great deal of bloodshed is caused by characters torn between love and duty.
* In the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series, many of the Havenite characters experience this between the first and second revolution, when they're forced to deal with the conflict between their duty and honor, the loyalty to their nation, and the demands of serving an increasingly sociopathic dictatorship.
* In the third book of ''Literature/TheQueensThief'' series, Costis finds his loyalty torn between his queen and king. He wonders what he would do if they should ever go against each other.
* At the end of ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'', Vimes is briefly torn between his loyalty to the law and his loyalty to the Patrician. He picks, as the Patrician knew he would, the law. Anything else wouldn't be Sam Vimes.
* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': ''Defender of the Crown'' forces Isengrim to choose between [[spoiler: his friendship with Reynard (who is rapidly approaching the MoralEventHorizon) and his own notions of right and wrong.]]
* Kaladin ends up facing this in ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'', when his vow to the king he has sworn to protect conflicts with the vows he has made to his men, which include a man who hates the king. [[spoiler:The conflict places him in a situation where he can't act honorably no matter what he does, which kills his honorspren (And with it his Windrunner powers) until he finds a way out of it.]]
* In Literature/{{AncillaryJustice}}, the ship AI Justice of Torren [[spoiler: is made to kill one of its officers by TheEmperor Anaander Miaani, but immediately afterwards turns against him. At the end of the book the entire Radchaai empire faces one when it is revealed that Miaani has a SplitPersonality and is at war with himself.]]
* In the Literature/RachelPengNovels, set in the Webcomic/AGirlAndHerFed universe, Rachel repeatedly has to choose between protecting OACET and obeying the law--and while she tries very hard to make everyone think the law comes first, more often than not OACET wins out.
* ''Literature/{{Waltharius}}'': Hagen's old friendship to Walther conflicts with his duty as a retainer of his king Gunther, who wants Walther to surrender his gold and his fiancé Hiltgunt to him, and, when Walther predictably refuses these conditions, orders his champions to engage Walther in life-and-death combat. Hagen first tries to talk Gunther out of his plan and advises him to accept a compromise; when Gunther in turn accuses him of cowardice, Hagen refuses all orders and stands by as his companions fight with Walther. Only after Walther has killed eleven Frankish champions including Hagen's own nephew Patavrid, Gunther apologizes and implores Hagen that the Franks will never recover from the shame if they let Walther get away unpunished. With the new state of affairs, Hagen is concerned that his own honor as a warrior could be compromised if he continues to do nothing, and finally agrees to fight Walther.



* Mickey from ''Literature/SurvivorDogs'' is considered this because he still cares for his old owners despite being a stray now. He's supposed to stay loyal to his pack and only care for other dogs, not humans, but Mickey is too attached to humans after having grown up a pet. He especially misses "his boy".


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* Lancelot of ''Myth/ArthurianLegend'' is torn viciously between his place as Arthur's general and Guinevere's knight, to say the least of the romantic involvement. The original [[Creator/ChretienDeTroyes Chrétien]] version makes little of this, as Arthur is mostly an inept and impotent king, but from ''Literature/LeMorteDarthur'' onwards it tends to be one of the driving forces of the tragedy. ''Literature/IdyllsOfTheKing'' cranks it up to the point where the conflict inside him prematurely ages Lancelot, and the longest book of The Once and Future King is dedicated to Lancelot's story, at which this struggle is the focal point.

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* ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys'': After getting a taste of what [[GoodFeelsGood being good feels like]], gang leader Mr. Wolf gradually finds himself conflicted on whether to stay evil with his CriminalFoundFamily or abandon his villainy and become a model citizen, leaving his friends behind in the process. This comes to a head at the charity gala where Wolf either has to go through with stealing the Golden Dolphin trophy as planned or let it go and get the pardon they were promised. [[spoiler:Wolf chooses not to go through the heist, triggering a nasty falling out with his friends after the gang is [[FrameUp framed and arrested for a crime they didn't commit]]. They eventually reconcile when the rest of the gang realizes Wolf was right about them becoming more than just scary villains.]]



* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid'', Sebastian is conflicted with obeying King Triton's orders to keep his daughter Ariel away from the surface and out of trouble, and helping Ariel realize her dreams and be with Eric. He ultimately chooses the latter, especially after seeing just how far Triton was willing to go to keep Ariel from the human world.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid'': Sebastian is conflicted with obeying King Triton's orders to keep his daughter Ariel away from the surface and out of trouble, and helping Ariel realize her dreams and be with Eric. He ultimately chooses the latter, especially after seeing just how far Triton was willing to go to keep Ariel from the human world.
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** [[spoiler: Zecora experiences this during the trial. Her Zanpakuto is said to be impossible to fool, so despite knowing that Celestia and Luna would never betray Soul Society, she still casts the deciding vote against them. Though considering she was really Chrysalis at the time, this was subverted since she was just playing a role.]]
** [[spoiler:When evidence all but mounts that the "treason" has been a bunch of hogwash and nothing more than manipulation, both Blueblood and Troubleshoes falter, but their loyalty to Platinum and Soul Society's laws respectively and lack of hard evidence lead them to siding with Hurricane (who himself honestly couldn't have cared if Celestia and Luna really were traitors and saw this as an opportunity to get Soul Society back on the offensive in the spirit war) against Sweet Cider, Cheese Sandwich, Daring Do, and Amore.]]

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** [[spoiler: Zecora experiences this during the trial. Her Zanpakuto is said to be impossible to fool, so despite knowing that Celestia and Luna would never betray Soul Society, she still casts the deciding vote against them. Though considering she was really Chrysalis at the time, this was subverted since she was just playing a role.role and fully in on Starlight Glimmer's scheme.]]
** [[spoiler:When evidence all but mounts that the "treason" has been a bunch of hogwash and nothing more than manipulation, both Blueblood and Troubleshoes falter, but their loyalty to Platinum (the only Captain who was completely in on Starlight's scheme) and Soul Society's laws respectively and lack of hard evidence lead them to siding with Hurricane (who himself honestly couldn't have cared if Celestia and Luna really were traitors and saw this as an opportunity to get Soul Society back on the offensive in the spirit war) against Sweet Cider, Cheese Sandwich, Daring Do, and Amore.]]
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* Raubahn in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' is the leader of Ul'dah, but is a native to Ala Mhigo, a city state that was taken over by TheEmpire. In ''Stormblood'', Ala Mhigo is freed, which makes Raubahn happy since his homeland can now start anew. As much as he wants to return to his homeland, he feels that he has to stay behind in Ul'dah to serve and protect Nanamo like he had sworn to do. [[spoiler: Nanamo can sense Raubahn's inner turmoil and she makes the decision for him by effectively firing him from his role, which would allow him to stay in Ala Mhigo.]]
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* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':

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* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':''Franchise/Warhammer40000'':

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* In Creator/DanAbnett's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} ''Literature/HorusHeresy'' novel ''Horus Rising'', Loken's distaste for lodges springs from the conflicting loyalties and secrecy entailed.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' [[AlienAmongUs Ax's]] entire character arc is built on this. He is an aristh, the Andalite equivalent of a cadet, and thus the only one of the Animorphs to have prior affiliations. Further, his culture places a very high value on loyalty and service, meaning that even when he learns the Andalite military is doing things that aren't entirely kosher, he is still obliged to support them. And yet, he comes to find himself caring for his human friends, who are at first simple allies of expedience but slowly grow into true companions. This is the mean reason why David is referred to in-series as the SixthRanger rather than Ax - almost every book Ax has in the 54-book run is devoted to this conflict in some way, and it's not until he's given an ultimatum in the second-to-last book that he finally commits himself fully to the Animorphs.

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* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
** ''Literature/BloodAngels'':
In Creator/DanAbnett's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} ''Literature/HorusHeresy'' novel ''Deus Encarmine'', Rafen realizes that his brother's transformation is a danger to the Chapter, despite [[IGaveMyWord the oath he swore]] to their father.
--->''My brother is lost to me, and I am caught between [[ThickerThanWater the ties of blood to my family]] and [[FireForgedFriends my duty to the Chapter]]. . . ''
** ''Literature/HorusHeresy'': In
''Horus Rising'', Loken's distaste for lodges springs from the conflicting loyalties and secrecy entailed.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[AlienAmongUs Ax's]] entire character arc is built on this. He is an aristh, the Andalite equivalent of a cadet, and thus the only one of the Animorphs to have prior affiliations. Further, his culture places a very high value on loyalty and service, meaning that even when he learns the Andalite military is doing things that aren't entirely kosher, he is still obliged to support them. And yet, he comes to find himself caring for his human friends, who are at first simple allies of expedience but slowly grow into true companions. This is the mean reason why David is referred to in-series as the SixthRanger rather than Ax - almost every book Ax has in the 54-book run is devoted to this conflict in some way, and it's not until he's given an ultimatum in the second-to-last book that he finally commits himself fully to the Animorphs.



* In the juvenile novel ''Treegate's Raiders'' by Leonard Wibberley, at the [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution Battle of Cowpens]] , upon seeing some highlanders advance one of the title character's men shouts, "Go to the other end of the line, there are Frasers here", thus showing a conflict on both sides between military duty and tribal ties.
* In Creator/JamesSwallow's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/BloodAngels novel ''Deus Encarmine'', Rafen realizes that his brother's transformation is a danger to the Chapter, despite [[IGaveMyWord the oath he swore]] to their father.
-->''My brother is lost to me, and I am caught between [[ThickerThanWater the ties of blood to my family]] and [[FireForgedFriends my duty to the Chapter]]. . . ''

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* In the juvenile novel ''Treegate's Raiders'' by Leonard Wibberley, at ''Literature/TreegatesRaiders'': At the [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution Battle of Cowpens]] , upon seeing some highlanders advance one of the title character's men shouts, "Go to the other end of the line, there are Frasers here", thus showing a conflict on both sides between military duty and tribal ties.
* In Creator/JamesSwallow's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/BloodAngels novel ''Deus Encarmine'', Rafen realizes that his brother's transformation is a danger to the Chapter, despite [[IGaveMyWord the oath he swore]] to their father.
-->''My brother is lost to me, and I am caught between [[ThickerThanWater the ties of blood to my family]] and [[FireForgedFriends my duty to the Chapter]]. . . ''
ties.



[[folder:Tableto Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/InNomine'': Due to the Geas system, Lilim tend to face this on a routine basis, with favors called in that require them to betray existing loyalties. Their sisters understand that this happens, their other employers are far less understanding. With that said, ''deliberately'' setting a Lilim up so that she'll suffer dissonance from rival Geasa pulling her both ways is considered abuse, and Lilith won't be happy with the one involved.
[[/folder]]



* The ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series has Axel. Although he apparently suffers from ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and has no issues with being a DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent when necessary, he's shown some capacity to be conflicted in which side to stick with:

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* The ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series has Axel. Although he apparently suffers from ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and has no issues with being a DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent when necessary, he's shown some capacity to be conflicted in which side to stick with:
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* In ''Franchise/StarWars Episode III: Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Anakin Skywalker falls to TheDarkSide when circumstances force him to choose between his loyalty to the Jedi and the need to save Padme, which Palpatine promises he would be able to do. [[TragicMistake He chooses Padmé]]. He ''finally'' makes the right decision in ''Star Wars Episode VI: Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.

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* In ''Franchise/StarWars Episode III: Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Anakin Skywalker falls to TheDarkSide when circumstances force him to choose between his loyalty to the Jedi and the need to save Padme, Padmé, which Palpatine promises he would be able to do. [[TragicMistake He chooses Padmé]]. He ''finally'' makes the right decision in ''Star Wars Episode VI: Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.



* Vincento in ''Film/HussarBallad'' finds himself facing a choice of either exposing a Russian spy and sending a FriendlyEnemy to his death, or covering for him and betraying his own vow to his army and country. He chooses the latter, [[spoiler:saving the hero(ine)'s life, but the defection ends tragically for him as he is shot by the French]].

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* Vincento in ''Film/HussarBallad'' finds himself facing a choice of either exposing a Russian spy and sending a FriendlyEnemy to his death, death or covering for him and betraying his own vow to his army and country. He chooses the latter, [[spoiler:saving [[spoiler: saving the hero(ine)'s life, but the defection ends tragically for him him, as he is shot by the French]].



*** He faces this dilemma again in Season 4 on his return to King's Landing when he must choose between his brother and the rest of his family when Joffrey dies and Tyrion is arrested and Sansa is suspected and between protecting Sansa - an oath he swore to Catelyn Stark which is complicated by her death and a changed political landscape - and pleasing Cersei. Jaime had also made the decision to honour his Kingsguard vows as best as possible but this is no easy task. He eventually decides to go against his family in secret, giving Brienne help to rescue Sansa, and working with Varys to rescue Tyrion.

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*** He faces this dilemma again in Season 4 on his return to King's Landing when he must choose between his brother and the rest of his family when Joffrey dies and Tyrion is arrested and Sansa is suspected and also between protecting Sansa - an oath he swore to Catelyn Stark Stark, which is complicated by her death and a changed political landscape - and pleasing Cersei. Jaime had also made the decision to honour his Kingsguard vows as best as possible possible, but this is no easy task. He eventually decides to go against his family in secret, giving Brienne help to rescue Sansa, and working with Varys to rescue Tyrion.



** Jon Snow is constantly caught between his duty to Night's Watch and family, justice, and love. First he wants to go to war beside his family but he doesn't want to leave the Watch after swearing to serve, then the needs of the Watch require he overlook the crimes of Craster, then he falls in love with a wildling. He is also conflicted between the Watch's purpose and protecting the soft and unreliable Sam. Jon's very conflicted.

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** Jon Snow is constantly caught between his duty to Night's Watch and family, justice, and love. First First, he wants to go to war beside his family family, but he doesn't want to leave the Watch after swearing to serve, then the needs of the Watch require he overlook the crimes of Craster, then he falls in love with a wildling.Wildling. He is also conflicted between the Watch's purpose and protecting the soft and unreliable Sam. Jon's very conflicted.



** After the invasion of Westeros doesn't go quite as planned, Daenerys accuses Tyrion of deliberately pulling his punches because he doesn't want to kill his family. The truth is more complicated. Tyrion wants Jaime to live (being the only Lannister left who ever actually loved Tyrion), but doesn't give a damn about Cersei, who would kill him on the spot. However, in the Season 7 finale Cersei doesn't have him killed, and he instinctively gives her a goblet of wine to share.

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** After the invasion of Westeros doesn't go quite as planned, Daenerys accuses Tyrion of deliberately pulling his punches because he doesn't want to kill his family. The truth is more complicated. Tyrion wants Jaime to live (being the only Lannister left who ever actually loved Tyrion), but he doesn't give a damn about Cersei, who would kill him on the spot. However, in the Season 7 finale Cersei doesn't have him killed, and he instinctively gives her a goblet of wine to share.



** Also between [[spoiler:Davis and Clark, especially when Davis asks her to [[MercyKill kill]] him and Clark asks her not to. Also when she runs away with a resurrected Davis in an effort to stop them from killing each other. There is nothing that could BreakTheCutie as brutally as being caught between [[PhysicalGod Superman]] [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny and]] [[InvincibleVillain Doomsday]].]]

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** Also between [[spoiler:Davis [[spoiler: Davis and Clark, especially when Davis asks her to [[MercyKill kill]] him and Clark asks her not to. Also when she runs away with a resurrected Davis in an effort to stop them from killing each other. There is nothing that could BreakTheCutie as brutally as being caught between [[PhysicalGod Superman]] [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny and]] [[InvincibleVillain Doomsday]].]]



* ''Theatre/WesterosAnAmericanMusical'': In "Robb Stark", Theon ends up needing to choose between his loyalty to his birth family and his loyalty to his best friend, who his part of a rival family who pratically raised him while holding him hostage.

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* ''Theatre/WesterosAnAmericanMusical'': In "Robb Stark", Theon ends up needing to choose between his loyalty to his birth family and his loyalty to his best friend, who his is part of a rival family who pratically practically raised him while holding him hostage.
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* The ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic II'' expansion ''The Price of Loyalty'' had this in one of its campaigns. Interestingly it ''isn't'' the eponymous campaign, but in [[spoiler: "Voyage Home"]], where the final scenario is a war between the protagonist's sister (whom he is close to) and his king (who has been nothing but honourable and just, giving him no reason to rebel), with the protagonist forced to choose which side to fight on.

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* The ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic II'' expansion ''The Price of Loyalty'' had this in one of its campaigns. Interestingly it ''isn't'' the eponymous campaign, but in [[spoiler: "Voyage Home"]], where the final scenario is a war between the protagonist's sister (whom he is close to) and his king (who has been nothing but honourable and just, treated the protagonist honorably during his years of service, giving him no reason to rebel), with the protagonist forced to choose which side to fight on.
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* In ''Fanfic/AllMixedUp'', when Carlos sees Otto and Oscar up against Mariana Mag, he becomes torn on whose side to take -- the side of the agents he barely knows, or the side of the woman who was his OnlyFriend and vice versa for so long. He doesn't get to make his decision until Mariana uses a StunGun on Otto to wound him and leave him unable to fight back, at which point he gets in between them and tries to stop the ex-agent from anagramming him.

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* In ''Fanfic/AllMixedUp'', when Carlos sees Otto and Oscar up against Mariana Mag, he becomes torn on whose side to take -- the side of the agents he barely knows, or the side of the woman who was his OnlyFriend and vice versa for so long. He doesn't get to make his decision until Mariana uses a StunGun [[TheParalzyer stun gun]] on Otto to wound him and leave him unable to fight back, at which point he gets in between them and tries to stop the ex-agent from anagramming him.
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** Jimmy Olsen suffers from this in ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #8: "The Betrayal of Superman"'' when he agrees to take on a missing persons case for a sick friend, only to find that the "missing person" is Supes' other persona -- does he keep his pal's SecretIdentity secure or keep his promise to his other friend? Fortunately, he manages to TakeAThirdOption.

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** Jimmy Olsen suffers from this in ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen ''ComicBook/SupermansPalJimmyOlsen #8: "The Betrayal of Superman"'' when he agrees to take on a missing persons case for a sick friend, only to find that the "missing person" is Supes' other persona -- does he keep his pal's SecretIdentity secure or keep his promise to his other friend? Fortunately, he manages to TakeAThirdOption.TakeAThirdOption by working with Superman.



* ''ComicBook/UltimateWolverine'': There is a standing order to turn all mutants over to the authorities. Jimmy made all the way to his parents house to see them from afar, but he knows that if took one step further and actually made his presence known to them, they would have to do that. They wouldn't, he's their son, but the old James Hudson is a cop. Also, what if there is surveillance at their house, and the authorities discovered that they met him and did not call anyone? Trying to keep them out of trouble, he left.

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* ''ComicBook/UltimateWolverine'': There is a standing order to turn all mutants over to the authorities. Jimmy made all the way to his parents parents' house to see them from afar, but he knows that if took one step further and actually made his presence known to them, they would have to do that. They wouldn't, he's their son, but the old James Hudson is a cop. Also, what if there is surveillance at their house, and the authorities discovered that they met him and did not call anyone? Trying to keep them out of trouble, he left.



** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Diana's loyalty to her family and people and her loyalty to her oath to protect innocents the world over come into conflict during ''ComicBook/TheContest''. In the end despite loosing and no longer being the champion she chooses to leave to uphold her oath to protect people anyway against her mother's orders.

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** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Diana's loyalty to her family and people and her loyalty to her oath to protect innocents the world over come into conflict during ''ComicBook/TheContest''. In the end despite loosing losing and no longer being the champion champion, she chooses to leave to uphold her oath to protect people anyway against her mother's orders.
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* In ''Fanfic/AllMixedUp'', when Carlos sees Otto and Oscar up against Mariana Mag, he becomes torn on whose side to take -- the side of the agents he barely knows, or the side of the woman who was his OnlyFriend and vice versa for so long. He doesn't get to make his decision until Mariana uses a StunGun on Otto to wound him and leave him unable to fight back, at which point he gets in between them and tries to stop the ex-agent from anagramming him.
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* In ''Literature/MySisterTheSerialKiller'' Korede is fiercely protective of Ayoola, her younger sister. She is also worried for Tade, Ayoola’s newest boyfriend, as Ayoola has killed her last three suitors. It doesn’t help that Korede had unrequited feelings for Tade before he met and became infatuated with Ayoola.
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* ''Literature/ChrysalisRinoZ'': Morrelia is deeply committed to protecting humanity and other surface races from the monsters of the Dungeon. Having spent several months with the Colony, though, and watched the ants repeatedly protect their surface allies, she no longer really considers the ants to be monsters, but a peaceful people deserving protection. Unfortunately, having joined the Abyssal Legion in order to better fight against the monsters, she's obliged to take up arms when the Legion decides that the Colony is an unacceptable threat, leaving her torn and uncertain about what is the right thing to do. [[spoiler:She eventually allows herself to be captured by the Colony and used as a bargaining chip, causing the Legion's assault to fail, and she then pursues a leadership role so that she'll be able to influence future decisions and avoid being caught in the same dilemma.]]
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* A major part of the second-season arc of ''LightNovel/SaiunkokuMonogatari'' centers around Ran Shuuei being caught in a conflict of loyalty -- between his loyalty to his Emperor (who has shown him absolute trust) and his {{Big Screwed Up|Family}} [[TheClan Clan]], the Rans, who dislike the emperor and only care about their own people and lands. Getting it resolved takes a lot of work (and, ultimately, intentionally getting himself disowned so that he can freely swear his unconditional loyalty to Ryuuki).

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* A major part of the second-season arc of ''LightNovel/SaiunkokuMonogatari'' ''LightNovel/TheStoryOfSaiunkoku'' centers around Ran Shuuei being caught in a conflict of loyalty -- between his loyalty to his Emperor (who has shown him absolute trust) and his {{Big Screwed Up|Family}} [[TheClan Clan]], the Rans, who dislike the emperor and only care about their own people and lands. Getting it resolved takes a lot of work (and, ultimately, intentionally getting himself disowned so that he can freely swear his unconditional loyalty to Ryuuki).
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** ''Rainbow Falls'' has a decidedly less sadistic version where Rainbow Dash is forced to choose between her loyalty to her friends and the Ponyville Team (which, to not mince words, ''sucks''), and her loyalty to the Wonderbolts and their team.

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** ''Rainbow Falls'' has a decidedly less sadistic version where Rainbow Dash is forced to choose between her loyalty to her friends and the Ponyville Team (which, to not mince words, ''sucks''), and her loyalty to the Wonderbolts and their team. This turns out to be her SecretTestOfCharacter which in turn bestows her the Loyalty key to the Tree of Harmony chest.
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** Finally in "Episode 13", the season finale, [[spoiler:Six]] does incapacitate the rest of the crew and bring them into custody after their heist of a white hole bomb unintendedly led to the destruction of an inhabited planet a few episodes ago, deciding that they're too dangerous to go free. In the Season 2 premiere "Welcome to Your New Home", he begins to have doubts after learning the Galactic Authority had known in advance about the bombing of a space station by terrorists in one of his previous undercover missions but had wanted it to happen for propaganda purposes, and in the next episode "Kill Them All", he finally helps the crew escape prison after learning that [[spoiler:One]] has been whacked and the rest of them are surely next.

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** Finally in "Episode 13", the season finale, [[spoiler:Six]] does incapacitate the rest of the crew and bring them into custody after their heist of what turned out to be a white hole bomb unintendedly led to the destruction of an inhabited planet a few episodes ago, deciding that they're too dangerous to go free. In the Season 2 premiere "Welcome to Your New Home", he begins to have doubts after learning the Galactic Authority had known in advance about the bombing of a space station by terrorists in one of his previous undercover missions but had wanted it to happen for propaganda purposes, and in the next episode "Kill Them All", he finally helps the crew escape prison after learning that [[spoiler:One]] has been whacked and the rest of them are surely next.

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* ''Series/DarkMatter'': Crewmember [[spoiler:Six]] is hit with this bigtime in the last few episodes of Season 1. Aside from Five, the MysteriousWaif, the ''Raza'' crew are all criminal mercenaries with extensive rapsheets including everything from piracy to mass murder, but a mindwipe at the start of the series while they were in stasis for a long journey to their next target caused them all to lose their memories. Hence [[YouAreNumberSix adopting numbers as names]] and [[ThatManIsDead rejecting their old ones]] after learning what kind of people they were. During "Episode 8", [[spoiler:Six]] learns offscreen from a colleague that he actually wasn't a criminal at all, but an undercover cop with a mission to sabotage the ''Raza'' and deliver the crew to justice. Which their original selves arguably would have richly deserved. But now, thanks to the mindwipe, he genuinely thinks of them all as friends/FamilyOfChoice, knows they're trying to be better people, and is very reluctant to fulfill his original mission. Finally in "Episode 13", the season finale, [[spoiler:Six]] does incapacitate the rest of the crew and bring them into custody after their heist of a white hole bomb unintendedly led to the destruction of an inhabited planet a few episodes ago, deciding that they're too dangerous to go free. In the Season 2 premiere "Welcome to Your New Home", he begins to have doubts after learning the Galactic Authority had known in advance about the bombing of a space station by terrorists in one of his previous undercover missions but had wanted it to happen for propaganda purposes, and in the next episode "Kill Them All", he finally helps the crew escape prison after learning that [[spoiler:One]] has been whacked and the rest of them are surely next.

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* ''Series/DarkMatter'': Crewmember [[spoiler:Six]] is hit with this bigtime in the last few episodes of Season 1. Aside from Five, the MysteriousWaif, the ''Raza'' crew are all criminal mercenaries with extensive rapsheets including everything from piracy to mass murder, but a mindwipe at the start of the series while they were in stasis for a long journey to their next target caused them all to lose their memories. Hence [[YouAreNumberSix adopting numbers as names]] and [[ThatManIsDead rejecting their old ones]] after learning what kind of people they were. During "Episode 8", [[spoiler:Six]] learns offscreen from a colleague that he actually wasn't a criminal at all, but an undercover cop with a mission to sabotage the ''Raza'' and deliver the crew to justice. Which their original selves arguably would have richly deserved. But now, thanks to the mindwipe, he genuinely thinks of them all as friends/FamilyOfChoice, knows they're trying to be better people, and is very reluctant to fulfill his original mission.
**
Finally in "Episode 13", the season finale, [[spoiler:Six]] does incapacitate the rest of the crew and bring them into custody after their heist of a white hole bomb unintendedly led to the destruction of an inhabited planet a few episodes ago, deciding that they're too dangerous to go free. In the Season 2 premiere "Welcome to Your New Home", he begins to have doubts after learning the Galactic Authority had known in advance about the bombing of a space station by terrorists in one of his previous undercover missions but had wanted it to happen for propaganda purposes, and in the next episode "Kill Them All", he finally helps the crew escape prison after learning that [[spoiler:One]] has been whacked and the rest of them are surely next.
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* ''Series/DarkMatter'': Crewmember [[spoiler:Six]] is hit with this bigtime in the last few episodes of Season 1. Aside from Five, the MysteriousWaif, the ''Raza'' crew are all criminal mercenaries with extensive rapsheets including everything from piracy to mass murder, but a mindwipe at the start of the series while they were in stasis for a long journey to their next target caused them all to lose their memories. Hence [[YouAreNumberSix adopting numbers as names]] and [[ThatManIsDead rejecting their old ones]] after learning what kind of people they were. During "Episode 8", [[spoiler:Six]] learns offscreen from a colleague that he actually wasn't a criminal at all, but an undercover cop with a mission to sabotage the ''Raza'' and deliver the crew to justice. Which their original selves arguably would have richly deserved. But now, thanks to the mindwipe, he genuinely thinks of them all as friends/FamilyOfChoice, knows they're trying to be better people, and is very reluctant to fulfill his original mission. Finally in "Episode 13", the season finale, [[spoiler:Six]] does incapacitate the rest of the crew and bring them into custody after their heist of a white hole bomb unintendedly led to the destruction of an inhabited planet a few episodes ago, deciding that they're too dangerous to go free. In the Season 2 premiere "Welcome to Your New Home", he begins to have doubts after learning the Galactic Authority had known in advance about the bombing of a space station by terrorists in one of his previous undercover missions but had wanted it to happen for propaganda purposes, and in the next episode "Kill Them All", he finally helps the crew escape prison after learning that [[spoiler:One]] has been whacked and the rest of them are surely next.
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* This is ultimately Giygas's undoing in ''[[VideoGame/Mother1 Earthbound Zero]]''. He's sort of a subverted ''{{Superman}}'', sent to our world as an infant in the hopes that he would grow to conquer it, but he still feels love for the human couple who raised him. [[spoiler:Playing a music box tune that was his childhood lullaby]] is enough to get him to back down.

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* This is ultimately Giygas's undoing in ''[[VideoGame/Mother1 Earthbound Zero]]''. He's sort of a subverted ''{{Superman}}'', ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'', sent to our world as an infant in the hopes that he would grow to conquer it, but he still feels love for the human couple who raised him. [[spoiler:Playing a music box tune that was his childhood lullaby]] is enough to get him to back down.
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* In ''Fanfic/RiverOfStars'', Sha Gojyo desperately wants to stay part of Stargate Command, as remembering he was an Air Force captain helped him to withstand two years stranded on a DeathWorld, but on the other hand he cannot bear the idea of leaving the friends he made after becoming a bodyguard to Sanzo. When General Hammond realizes how much it's eating the guy inside, he quickly solves the dilemma by naming the captain a Terran liaison to Shangri-La -- and Sha Gojyo is so relieved he almost bursts into tears.
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* ''Series/Foundation2021'': Demerzel is utterly loyal to the Empire [[spoiler: due to her [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot programming]]]], and is also a devout follower of Luminism. When the religion starts leaning towards radical beliefs that put it in opposition to the Empire's ruling genetic dynasty, she finds herself torn.
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* Mortelli from ''DaughterForDessert'' is a police officer who is sworn to uphold the law, but also is a friend and regular customer of the protagonist's. [[spoiler:He ends up putting his loyalty to his friend first.]]

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* Mortelli from ''DaughterForDessert'' ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'' is a police officer who is sworn to uphold the law, but also is a friend and regular customer of the protagonist's. [[spoiler:He ends up putting his loyalty to his friend first.]]
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* Mortelli from ''DaughterForDessert'' is a police officer who is sworn to uphold the law, but also is a friend and regular customer of the protagonist's. [[spoiler:He ends up putting his loyalty to his friend first.]]

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** Wesley had this big time in season 3, during the baby Connor storyline. He was struggling over whether to stay loyal to the team and Angel or help the baby even if made the team hate him-which is ultimately what happened. Lampshaded in That Old Gang of Mine. Wes was addressing his speech to Gunn, but it's really easy to tell it was being pointed at Wes himself as well.
** And Gunn, between his own vamp hunting team and Angel's group, in the same episode.

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** Gunn, between his old vamp hunting team and Angel's group, in "That Old Gang of Mine".
** Wesley had this big time in season Season 3, during the baby Connor storyline. He was struggling over whether to stay loyal to the team and Angel or help the baby even if made the team hate him-which him - which is ultimately what happened. Lampshaded Foreshadowed in That "That Old Gang of Mine. Mine". Wes was addressing his speech to Gunn, but it's really easy to tell it was being pointed at Wes himself as well.
** And Gunn, between his own vamp hunting team and Angel's group, in the same episode.
well.
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* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', An issue for [[AntiVillain Fuschia]], Baby Blue, and {{Tome|OfEldritchLore}}y. [[spoiler:Or rather, [[HighHeelFaceTurn it WAS an issue for Fuschia]].]]
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* The whole concept of ''Series/TheOtherKingdom'' is how Astral's emotionally torn apart over whether she should stay in her magical kingdom of Athenia to be their newest queen, or stay in the human world to live as an "other" forever. Part of the show's central conflict is how she'd have to make a choice after 90 days.
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* ''Fanfic/ChasingDragons'': Barristan is very disturbed by how the Targaryen [[GovernmentInExile court-in-exile]] has descended into enforcing slavery for its Volantene allies, seeing it as ungodly and a violation of his vow to protect the innocent... but at the same time he can't bring himself to break his ''other'' vow to obey his king without question.

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