History WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity / FanWorks

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1769554/1/Aftermath-A-Story-of-Blended-Clich%C3%A9s Aftermath: A Story of Blended Cliches]]'' has Ranma temporarily slipping into this with a combination of [[Franchise/SailorMoon Pluto's]] meddling and her coming into RealityWarper-level powers. Fortunately for her, [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes a cat]] manages to get her attention. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, [[ForWantOfANail not all versions of here were so fortunate to have caring friends and family]], as another version of her from a parallel dimension was a bit more permanent version of this trope.]]

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1769554/1/Aftermath-A-Story-of-Blended-Clich%C3%A9s Aftermath: A Story of Blended Cliches]]'' has [[Manga/RanmaOneHalf Ranma]] temporarily slipping into this with a combination of [[Franchise/SailorMoon Pluto's]] meddling and her coming into RealityWarper-level powers. Fortunately for her, [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes a cat]] manages to get her attention. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, [[ForWantOfANail not all versions of here were so fortunate to have caring friends and family]], as another version of her from a parallel dimension was a bit more permanent version of this trope.]]
* ''Fanfic/AnimorphsRedux'': Used for David, the former sixth Animorph, who receives enhanced morphing powers from Crayak that allow him to literally ''absorb'' other beings when acquiring them [[spoiler:(including Cassie)]], but at the cost of all the new memories he's absorbing in the process driving him insane.
* ''Fanfic/TheChangelingOfTheGuard'': [[spoiler:Turns out there's a ''very'' good reason that most [[ShapeShifting Change]][[BeePeople lings]] don't try to shapeshift into [[PhysicalGod Alicorns]]... this trope and total burnout are the results, as Idol learns the hard way]].

* ''Webcomic/DestinyIntertwined'': In the past, some dragons used forbidden magic to alter themselves and their innate elements in order to become more powerful. In so doing, they created the artificial elements of Poison, Shadow and Fear and became the first dark dragons. This did give them the power that they wanted, but such a fundamental alteration of one's self is a dangerous thing, and many of them gradually went insane as a result when they simply didn't die outright. Notably, this risk is only present for dragons who alter themselves in this manner -- any children they might have afterwards would naturally possess links to their parents' new elements and do not risk going insane.

* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': The Goddess, as if the self-given name wasn't a dead giveaway. She is an immensely powerful gestalt psyche that commands the alicorns of the Unity. Unfortunately, being a disharmonious merging of some of the early-war era's most powerful unicorns (including Twilight Sparkle and Trixie, the latter being the first victim and the most dominant persona) means that she's not at all mentally healthy. In ''[[Fanfic/FalloutEquestriaProjectHorizons Project Horizons]]'', we find that the Goddess likes to take every bad memory, every indication of a shortcoming or flaw, and shunt them into the head of Lacunae, an exiled alicorn whose position at Hoofington means she's not fully connected to the Unity and can be tuned out, which means that the Goddess won't grow and improve in any way, although Lacunae is becoming a better pony from it.
* ''Fanfic/IfICouldStartAgain'': Odin admits to Thor that this is why he went the extra mile to limit his abilities since childhood. He worried that his eldest son would turn out like Hela, who became TheCaligula and had to be imprisoned.

* Shamuhaza from ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'' is an EvilSorceror who [[spoiler:attempts to harness the power of the Eldritch Truth, and later [[EldritchTransformation turns into]] an EldritchAbomination himself, throwing away his rational thought entirely]]. Of course this happens. [[spoiler:Compare him with his {{foil}}, Kyril Sutherland -- a far more powerful EldritchAbomination [[HumanoidAbomination in human form]], yet with tons more experience and restraint.]]
* In the ''Fanfic/OneiroiSeries'', this fits [[SplitPersonalityTakeover Deirdre]] to a T. (though to be fair, she had a few screws loose before she got the Great Power).
-->'''Deirdre:''' You want me. And you hate it. I suppose it's only natural. I look a lot like [[spoiler:Vaarsuvius]], don't I?\\
'''[[spoiler:Redcloak]]:''' [[spoiler:Tia]], you've gone insane! Please lie down for a second. Take a deep breath. Calm down...\\
'''Deirdre:''' Of course I've gone insane! I'm infused with the magic from a being of pure chaos! But just because I'm insane doesn't mean I'm ''wrong...''
* Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Fourth Alicorn, in ''Fanfic/PinkAlert3''. Ten years of authority have transformed her into a paranoid and aggressive nervous wreck who is little more than a MadGod to Equestria's citizens. She owns a private [[MegaCorp evil corporation]], constantly accuses those around her of being Communists, is so magically unbalanced that she can psychically explode ponies' heads by sneezing too hard, and has a heated argument with an unconscious clone of herself floating in a biogel vat. And all that's just her introductory bonus chapter.

* ''Fanfic/RedLightning'': Insanity is almost a requirement to have a superpower.
* ''Fanfic/SonicXDarkChaos'':
** Eric the Hedgehog is a non-evil example of this; [[spoiler:he was created by Maledict along with Sonic and Shadow to create an "Ultimate Weapon"]]. Unfortunately, an [[NoodleIncident unexplained accident]] turned him into a HumanoidAbomination at the cost of damaging his brain, turning him into a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} {{Manchild}} who [[AlmightyIdiot isn't aware of his own powers]].
** Poor, poor [[spoiler:Tsali]]. Being [[spoiler:forcibly turned into a Dark Chaos Energy-powered battle robot]] ''[[AxCrazy really]]'' didn't do good for his sanity.
** [[LovecraftianSuperpower Shroud Tails]], full stop. Although [[BodyHorror considering what happens]], insanity would probably be a step up.
* Kaguya Otsutsuki in the ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''/''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' story ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11217239/1/Spark-of-Creation Spark of Creation]]'' is shown to have been driven insane from eating the fruit of the Shinju as she spent the rest of her life with her mind connected to that of a [[EldritchAbomination Blind Eternity]].
* Zigzagged with archmages in ''Fanfic/TheWhiteMage''. It’s stated over and over that, while some archmages managed to keep their heads and went on to become revered figures in history, most are unable to handle the massive amount of power and go mad with it; played straight with Aaravos himself, who was one of the ones who fell to the corruption. Seemingly defied with Callum, who has become a bit short tempered with his raise in power, but doesn’t appear to be near going insane with it.
* ''Fanfic/WhiteSheepRWBY'': At one point, Jaune mentions that all powerful huntsmen are insane, mostly in small ways but still definitely noticeable. At first his friends have no idea what he's talking about, but as he lists off all the huntsmen he knows, they realize they can't think of a ''single'' counterexample.

* Odin admits to Thor in ''Fanfic/IfICouldStartAgain'' that this is why he went the extra mile to limit his abilities since childhood. He worried that his eldest son would turn out like Hela, who became TheCaligula and had to be imprisoned.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has Gravemoss, who gets hold of [[TomeOfEldritchLore the Darkhold]] and is completely nuts. However, it is quite clear that [[OmnicidalManiac he was pretty mad to begin with]], so it doesn't make all that much difference to his sanity. [[TookALevelInBadass To his capabilities, however...]]
** The power of the Phoenix is [[TheUnfettered insanely volatile]] by nature, which is why She needs to act through Hosts in the first place - their conscience and rationality acts as a RestrainingBolt. However, her power tends to have a corrosive effect on the sanity of those who aren't totally emotionally balanced and in control; the power of the Phoenix magnifies emotions and is magnified by strong emotion in turn. In other words, you've got a vicious circle where the ''start'' is an insane RealityWarper who can make the Laws of Nature sit down and shut up, one who gets ''even more powerful'' [[SanitySlippage the madder they get,]] and the end is a nigh-omnipotent HumanoidAbomination [[OmnicidalManiac that wants to burn]] ''[[OmnicidalManiac everything]]''. For context, the last time a Host went mad and became the Dark Phoenix [[spoiler: (Surtur)]], ''[[OmnicidalManiac they wiped out a galaxy]]''. Needless to say, there's a good reason why a) the Phoenix is so incredibly picky with Her hosts, b) doesn't usually stick around, c) is universally regarded by gods and demons alike as TheDreaded.
** However, as noted above, the insanity part isn't an inevitable result, with it being pointed out that a sufficiently sane host - not one who suppresses their emotions, someone who accepts them, but isn't controlled by them - is perfectly capable of controlling the power of the Phoenix. But if they slip...

* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': The Goddess, as if the self-given name wasn't a dead giveaway. She is an immensely powerful gestalt psyche that commands the alicorns of the Unity. Unfortunately, being a disharmonious merging of some of the early-war era's most powerful unicorns (including Twilight Sparkle and Trixie, the latter being the first victim and the most dominant persona) means that she's not at all mentally healthy.\\\
In ''[[Fanfic/FalloutEquestriaProjectHorizons Project Horizons]]'', we find that the Goddess likes to take every bad memory, every indication of a shortcoming or flaw, and shunt them into the head of Lacunae, an exiled alicorn whose position at Hoofington means she's not fully connected to the Unity and can be tuned out. Which means that the Goddess won't grow and improve in any way, although Lacunae is becoming a better pony from it.

* In the ''Fanfic/OneiroiSeries'' (for ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''), this fits [[SplitPersonalityTakeover Deirdre]] to a T. (Though to be fair, she had a few screws loose before she got the Great Power...)
--> '''Deirdre:''' You want me. And you hate it. I suppose it's only natural. I look a lot like [[spoiler:Vaarsuvius,]] don't I?\\
[[spoiler:'''Redcloak [[ElectraComplex (her father)]]:''']] [[spoiler:Tia]], you've gone insane! Please lie down for a second. Take a deep breath. Calm down...\\

* The ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'':
** Ponies who's hearts call the Spirits of Dark Magic and become [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nightmares]] gain near god-like power, but there's also no such thing as a ''sane'' Nightmare.

* ''Fanfic/RedLightning'': Insanity is almost a requirement to have a superpower.
* Fanfic/TheInfiniteLoops is about a bunch of fictional characters reliving their stories over and over again. They gain incredible powers and also incredible neuroseses. In fact, this trope is referenced by name.
* Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Fourth Alicorn, in ''Fanfic/PinkAlert3''. Ten years of authority have transformed her into a paranoid and aggressive nervous wreck who is little more than a MadGod to Equestria's citizens. She owns a private [[MegaCorp evil corporation]], constantly accuses those around her of being Communists, is so magically unbalanced that she can psychically explode ponies' heads by sneezing too hard, and has a heated argument with an unconscious clone of herself floating in a biogel vat. And all that's just her introductory bonus chapter.
* ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse:'' During ''Elements of Insanity'', [[spoiler:Lemonhearts]] tries becoming the new God of Chaos. She manages to become a full blown RealityWarper, then gets a visit from Discord warning her that if she wants all that power, she'll have to deal with the insanity that comes with it.
* In ''Fanfic/SonicXDarkChaos'', Eric the Hedgehog is a non-evil example of this; [[spoiler: he was created by Maledict along with Sonic and Shadow to create an "Ultimate Weapon"]]. Unfortunately, an [[NoodleIncident unexplained accident]] turned him into a HumanoidAbomination at the cost of damaging his brain, turning him into a CloudCuckoolander ManChild who [[AlmightyIdiot isn't aware of his own powers]].
** Poor, poor [[spoiler: Tsali]]. Being [[spoiler: forcibly turned into a Dark Chaos Energy-powered battle robot]] ''[[AxCrazy really]]'' didn't do good for his sanity.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1769554/1/Aftermath-A-Story-of-Blended-Clich%C3%A9s Aftermath: A Story of Blended Cliches]]'' has [[Manga/RanmaOneHalf Ranma]] temporarily slipping into this with a combination of [[Franchise/SailorMoon Pluto's]] meddling and her coming into RealityWarper-level powers. Fortunately for her, [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes a cat]] manages to get her attention. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, [[ForWantOfANail not all versions of here were so fortunate to have caring friends and family]], as another version of her from a parallel dimension was a bit more permanent version of this trope.]]
* ''Fanfic/WhiteSheepRWBY'': Jaune at one point mentions that all powerful huntsmen are insane, mostly in small ways but still definitely noticeable. At first his friends have no idea what he's talking about, but as he lists off all the huntsmen he knows, they realize they can't think of a ''single'' counter-example.
* Ziggzagged with archmages in ''Fanfic/TheWhiteMage''. It’s stated over and over that, while some archmages managed to keep their heads and went on to become revered figures in history, most are unable to handle the massive amount of power and go mad with it; played straight with Aaravos himself, who was one of the ones who fell to the corruption. Seemingly defied with Callum, who has become a bit short tempered with his raise in power, but doesn’t appear to be near going insane with it.

[[spoiler:'''Redcloak [[OedipusComplex (her father)]]:''']] [[spoiler:Tia]], you've gone insane! Please lie down for a second. Take a deep breath. Calm down...\\

[[spoiler:'''Redcloak [[ElectraComplex (her father)]]:''']] [[spoiler:Tia]], you've gone insane! Please lie down for a second. Take a deep breath. Calm down...\\

[[spoiler:'''Redcloak [[OedipusComplex (her father)]]:''']] [[spoiler:Tia]], you've gone insane! Please lie down for a second. Take a deep breath. Calm down...\\

* Shamuhaza from ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'' is an EvilSorceror who [[spoiler:attempts to harness the power of the Eldritch Truth, and later [[EldritchTransformation turns into]] an EldritchAbomination himself]]. Of course this happens. [[spoiler:Compare him with his {{foil}}, Kyril Sutherland -- a far more powerful EldritchAbomination [[HumanoidAbomination in human form]], yet with tons more experience and restraint.]]

%%* Shinji Ikari in ''Fanfic/PointsOfFamiliarity''.

* ''Fanfic/InnerDemons'': When [[TheDragon Trixie]] invokes the [[ShockAndAwe Storm Avatar]] spell during the Battle of Fillydelphia, it drives her completely around the bend, at least until the protagonists beat her unconscious and break the spell. According to [[MrExposition Lezard]], this happens to [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique anyone who uses the spell]].
* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': The Goddess, as if the self-given name wasn't a dead giveaway. She is an immensely powerful gestalt psyche that commands the alicorns of the Unity. Unfortunately, being a disharmonious merging of some of the early-war era's most powerful unicorns (including Twilight Sparkle and Trixie, the latter being the first victim and the most dominant persona) means that she's not at all mentally healthy.\\\
In ''[[Fanfic/FalloutEquestriaProjectHorizons Project Horizons]]'', we find that the Goddess likes to take every bad memory, every indication of a shortcoming or flaw, and shunt them into the head of Lacunae, an exiled alicorn whose position at Hoofington means she's not fully connected to the Unity and can be tuned out. Which means that the Goddess won't grow and improve in any way, although Lacunae is becoming a better pony from it.
* ''Fanfic/AnimorphsRedux'': Used for David, the former sixth Animorph, who receives enhanced morphing powers from Crayak that allow him to literally ''absorb'' other beings when acquiring them [[spoiler:(including Cassie)]], but at the cost of all the new memories he's absorbing in the process driving him insane.
* ''Fanfic/TheChangelingOfTheGuard'': [[spoiler:Turns out there's a ''very'' good reason that most [[ShapeShifting Change]][[BeePeople lings]] don't try to shapeshift into [[PhysicalGod Alicorns]]... this trope and total burnout are the results, as Idol learns the hard way]].

* ''Fanfic/TheEquestrianWindMage'':
** It's explained that the reason Vaati become an outright villain (rather than selfish and neutral) is because the surge of power from when he was first released from the Four Sword went to his head. He's worked hard at getting back to normal.
** When [[VideoGame/StoryOfTheBlanks Grey Hoof]] [[VillainTeamUp allies with]] [[ArcVillain Ganondorf]], the latter grants him a power up in the form of changing him into an alicorn called Nightmare Grave, which [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide renders him even more unstable than he already was]].

* The ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'':
** Ponies who's hearts call the Spirits of Dark Magic and become [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nightmares]] gain near god-like power, but there's also no such thing as a ''sane'' Nightmare.
** Dark Magic in general tends to cause it's user to lose it. The reason for this is that it runs on negative emotions that by nature are hard to control. However, should somepony be able to control those emotions, [[DarkIsNotEvil dark magic is no more difficult to control than any other]]. [[spoiler:Sweetie Belle managed this.]]
** Alicorns are an aversion: you only become an Alicorn if you're ''ready'' for the power, as being ready is ''why'' you become one [[spoiler:not being ready means you stop half way and become a Nightmare]].

* ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse:'' During ''Elements of Insanity'', [[spoiler:Lemonhearts]] tries becoming the new God of Chaos. She manages to become a full blown RealityWarper, then gets a visit from Discord warning her that if she wants all that power, she'll have to deal with the insanity that comes with it.
* ''Fanfic/WhiteSheepRWBY'': Jaune at one point mentions that all powerful huntsmen are insane, mostly in small ways but still definitely noticeable. At first his friends have no idea what he's talking about, but as he lists off all the huntsmen he knows, they realize they can't think of a ''single'' counter-example.
* Odin admits to Thor in ''Fanfic/IfICouldStartAgain'' that this is why he went the extra mile to limit his abilities since childhood. He worried that his eldest son would turn out like Hela, who became TheCaligula and had to be imprisoned.
* Ziggzagged with archmages in ''Fanfic/TheWhiteMage''. It’s stated over and over that, while some archmages managed to keep their heads and went on to become revered figures in history, most are unable to handle the massive amount of power and go mad with it; played straight with Aaravos himself, who was one of the ones who fell to the corruption. Seemingly defied with Callum, who has become a bit short tempered with his raise in power, but doesn’t appear to be near going insane with it.