History HeWhoFightsMonsters / FanWorks

* Light Yagami ([[spoiler:the [[MemoryGambit innocent amnesiac]] version]]) in ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/637309/chapters/1154622 The Better to Kill You With, My Dear]]'' begins with high ideals and moral principals but he slowly begins JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope once [[ChronicVillainy again]] after [[spoiler: L's kidnapping]] and [[FromBadToWorse it gets worse]] when they [[spoiler: retrieve L only to find what Beyond has done to him.]] In his despair and desperation he changes his mind about making use of Watari's "[[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique enhanced interrogation techniques]]." This coupled with his growing obsession and codependence on L is [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil slowly turning him into a monster even more twisted]] than [[EvilMeScaresMe Kira]] ever was.

* In a ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' fan fiction [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3170897/1/Zero-2-Crisis-on-Infinite-Digiworlds Zero 2: Crisis on Infinite Digiworlds]], one of the universe Davis travelled is a world where Kari is the only Digidestined left after taking down Davis's corrupt self Darkheart along with the absorbed Digidestined. Believing that darkness is evil and light is good, Kari began to systematically build hi-tokyo upon the old Tokyo, create a world where every single aspect of the people's life is controlled by the Queen of Light, unable to control any aspect of life, and completely seal any access to the Digital World in hopes to create a utopia where darkness and war will never happen. Unfortunately, this ended up completely stripping off humanity any of their free will, and judging from how her response when the old Tokyo is filled with Digimons hiding people that have not been purified be her light is to immediately purge them, this universe of Kari has become no better than the darkness she tries to extinguish and Azulongmon's claims that even light can corrupt is not exactly wrong.

** As [[Fanfic/{{Kage}} the original story]] hinted would happen, many of the rebels have turned to {{Knight Templar}}hood and are exacting single-minded revenge on anyone they believe to be Phobos' servants or monsters. Several characters, including the more reasonable rebels, lampshade that their inability to let go of the past grudges is making them act no better than Phobos and his minions.
** Vera Bexley is so utterly convinced the Mogriffs are monsters and has dedicated herself to [[YouKilledMyFather avenging her grandfather's death at their claws]] that she ends up [[spoiler: [[RogueAgent defying her military superiors and Elyon's direct orders to go on a renegade mission]], lying to and endangering her closest friends by tricking them into joining her, abandoning them when they refuse to continue her senseless campaign anymore, and [[WouldHurtAChild threatening an innocent hatchling's life]]]] while losing her conscience in the process. By the time of Chapter 28, she's been [[WhatTheHellHero told off]] for her MoralMyopia not just by Jade, Metalbeak, Windblade and Ymir, but also by Amelia and Tinsley.
** When Jade prevents Metalbeak from recklessly hunting down the Nest Butcher's descendant at the cost of leaving his clan (his mate and infant son included) unprotected, she [[DiscussedTrope warns him not to let his anger and thirst for revenge risk him losing them.]] [[spoiler: He later reminds her of those words when she's furious enough with Vera to risk the entire Stone Nest being pulled to the Shadow Realm. When she restrains herself and apologizes, he remarks that letting one's wrath, no matter how righteous, dictate one's actions isn't worth becoming just like Vera. Taking the Nest Butcher's appearance while saying that adds to the irony, not that Vera appreciates it.]]

* ''Fanfic/ShadowsOverMeridian'': As [[Fanfic/{{Kage}} the original story]] hinted would happen, many of the rebels have turned to {{Knight Templar}}hood and are exacting single-minded revenge on anyone they believe to be Phobos' servants or monsters. Several characters, including the more reasonable rebels, lampshade that their inability to let go of the past grudges is making them act no better than Phobos and his minions.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': By the time the story reached the Rebel Scum Arc, a major point of [[DiscussedTrope discussion]] is whether Kyril's morally questionable methods in the war effort, such as [[TakeNoPrisoners executing prisoners who surrendered beforehand]], and quelling the rebellion in Ken by force, makes him no different than the Black Dogs he is fighting against. Particularly, [[HonorBeforeReason Claudia]] believes that not only does he play this trope straight, his actions would risk tarnishing Celestine's reputation as TheHighQueen. Even those who back Kyril's approach, like Alicia and Lily, have admitted that they would not defend his actions. Nonetheless, the narrative makes it clear why this trope [[SubvertedTrope will never happen]] to Kyril. Unlike the Black Dogs, Kyril and his followers have never raped, enslaved, or experimented on innocent bystanders. Instead, his objectives are to MakeAnExampleOfThem and to [[ShootTheDog swiftly prevent the escalating war from continuing to devastate the populace]], however questionable those methods may be. Furthermore, Kyril knows all too well what this trope entails during his DarkAndTroubledPast, having witnessed his fellow Hunters gradually and literally becoming as [[AxCrazy bloodthirsty]] as the beasts they hunt. His conclusion? In face of an uncompromising threat, ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption, because the people who suffer because of said threat are the ones that matter. For a last touch of {{irony}}, [[spoiler:Kyril Sutherland WasOnceAMan who [[EldritchTransformation was transformed into an eldritch entity]], yet demonstrates such self-discipline that no inhuman being can ever reach]].

* ''[[Fanfic/TheShroudedPath Those Who Fight Monsters]]'': This is a m ajor theme.
* At the end of ''Fanfic/WhiteDevilOfTheMoon'', it's implied that [[spoiler:Luna]] might take this path after [[spoiler:[[ScrewDestiny Nanoha decides to not resume her past duties as Princess Serenity and revive the Moon Kingdom]].]]

** Li Mei goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge after [[DespairEventHorizon Raiden ordered Hotaru to destroy her village of Sun Do.]]

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': By the time the story reached the Rebel Scum Arc, a major point of [[DiscussedTrope discussion]] is whether Kyril's morally questionable methods in the war effort, such as [[TakeNoPrisoners executing prisoners who surrendered beforehand]], and quelling the rebellion in Ken by force, makes him no different than the Black Dogs he is fighting against. Particularly, [[HonorBeforeReason Claudia]] believes that not only does he play this trope straight, his actions would risk tarnishing Celestine's reputation as TheHighQueen. Even those who back Kyril's approach, like Alicia and Lily, have admitted that they would not defend his actions. Nonetheless, the narrative makes it clear why this trope [[SubvertedTrope will never happen]] to Kyril. Unlike the Black Dogs, Kyril and his followers have never raped, enslaved, or experimented on innocent bystanders. Instead, his objectives are to MakeAnExampleOfThem and to [[ShootTheDog swiftly prevent the escalating war from continuing to devastate the populace]], however questionable those methods may be. Furthermore, Kyril knows all too well what this trope entails during his DarkAndTroubledPast, having witnessed his fellow Hunters gradually and literally becoming as [[AxCrazy bloodthirsty]] as the beasts they hunt. His conclusion? In face of an uncompromising threat, ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption, because the people who suffer because of said threat are the ones that matter. For a last touch of {{irony}}, [[spoiler:Kyril Sutherland WasOnceAMan who [[EldritchTransformation transformed into an eldritch entity]], yet demonstrates such self-discipline that no inhuman being can ever reach]].

* ''Fanfic/KimiNoNaIowa'': The abyssals want to genocide Japan as punishment for its war crimes, which took the lives of 30 million, as well as the USA for [[TheOathBreaker Breaking the Oath]] to do just that the previous time, and any other country who suffered under Japan previously but refuses to fight them now as [[TheQuisling Quislings]] to be similarly executed. To this end, they have killed millions themselves, and the accomplishment of their goals would see 3 billion dead, a hundred times what Japan did. The supreme commander [[EvenEvilHasStandards explicitly warns her cadre against]] indulging in the same cruelty and sadism as the Japanese lest they become alike and void their cause, but that's not going to be much reassurance to the dead.

* By the time ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'' reaches the Rebel Scum Arc, a major point of [[DiscussedTrope discussion]] is whether Kyril's morally questionable methods in the war effort, such as [[TakeNoPrisoners executing prisoners who surrendered beforehand]], and quelling the rebellion in Ken by force, makes him no different than the Black Dogs he is fighting against. In [[HonorBeforeReason Claudia's]] perspective, not only does Kyril play this trope straight, his actions would risk tarnishing Celestine's reputation as TheHighQueen. Even those who back Kyril's approach, like Alicia and Lily, have admitted that they would not defend his actions. [[DefiedTrope Nevertheless]], these methods are [[NecessarilyEvil necessary]], however questionable they may be, [[ShootTheDog in order to swiftly prevent]] [[WarIsHell the escalating war from continuing to devastate the populace]].
** In terms of Kyril himself, the notion of "increasing moral ambiguity equals the enemies one has fought" is further [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]. Kyril Sutherland, like any other ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' PlayerCharacter, has witnessed this trope occur countless times, how many a [[HunterOfMonsters hunter]] goes down the deep end while hunting beasts in Yharnam, [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil gradually]] and [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie literally]] becoming as bloodthirsty as the beasts they hunt. The intoxicating effect of the Old Blood, which is used by every hunter to heal and strengthen oneself, exacerbates the process further. Nonetheless, if Kyril wants any slight chance of survival (or rather, '''NOT''' [[ResurrectiveImmortality dying]] [[PrepareToDie again]] [[ImmortalityHurts and]] [[FateWorseThanDeath again]]), escaping the nightmare, and [[MythologyGag transcending the Hunt]], [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption blood has to be shed]], and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo it is necessary for him]] to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame be as brutal as his enemies]]. Fast-forward to the [[WarIsHell war against the Black Dogs]], Kyril and his compatriots have seen how far his enemies would go to make their [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Sex]] [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil Empire]] come true, including but not limited to: their RapePillageAndBurn tendencies; [[TheyWouldCutYouUp sacrificing]] InnocentBystanders to [[ForScience seek the Eldritch Truth]]; and instigating riots to destabilise the regime. Kyril, who understands the importance of committing [[NecessarilyEvil necessary evils]] to protect the people of Eostia from a far worse outcome, would decide that [[MightMakesRight crushing his enemies absolutely is the best course of action]].

** The trope is also referenced in respect to Peter Wisdom [[spoiler: a.k.a. Regulus Black]], who is ruthless, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]] and downright vicious in terms of how he deals with supernatural evil and in acquiring allies to do so with, [[TheUnfettered stopping at nothing to achieve his aim, even - especially - considering his own life meaningless, reckoning that he should have died a long time ago and that anything after that is a bonus]]. At one point, Sean Cassidy, [[BewareTheNiceOnes not an easily shocked man]], takes a step back after looking in his eyes and seeing 'a man who had gazed into the void and made damn sure that it had blinked first.' Those who first meet him think he's very like his mentor, Nick Fury. Those who know him for longer realise that this is true, but all the knobs are dialled UpToEleven. Fury has limits. [[TheUnfettered Wisdom doesn't.]] He has the tattered remnants of a conscience, but it won't stop him from doing... anything, really.

* In ''FanFic/LowLight'' L realizes he's become this when he [[spoiler: kills Misa with the Death Note.]]

* ''[[FanFic/KingdomHearts3FinalStand Kingdom Hearts 4: New Light]]'': Patria seems to be approaching this territory. There have been mentions of her having mass amounts of inner darkness, along with her suggestion to use a JackBauerInterrogationTechnique, and her HairTriggerTemper and preference for violence as a solution. On top of it all, both Diaval and Pith, the latter her ''own brother'', have made a NotSoDifferentRemark from Maleficent.

* Discussed in ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse''. Luna doesn't dare take drastic action to curb the rampancy of the [[DecadentCourt Night Court]] out of fear that she will become a tyrant little better than them. Trixie calls her out on her FatalFlaw of irrational fear ''At the Grand Galloping Gala'', being told that YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre and that the willingness to [[IDidWhatIHadToDo Do What Has To Be Done]] would in no way make her a monster. On the other hand, Trixie's willingness to put action to word resulted in a BrokenBase, with some readers thinking that she has become as lawbreaking as the nobles.

* In ''Film/TheHobbit'' fanfic ''The Monstrous Company of Thorin Oakenshield'', Thorin set out to [[spoiler: create a society better than the patriarchal one the Company, who are all female in this fanfic, have fled from.]] Some readers have commented that Thorin is rather close to becoming the monster, as [[spoiler: males are only allowed into reconquered Erebor if they agree to be followed by armed (female) guards all the time.]] As of 2016 the fanfic is not yet completed, so it remains to be seen whether this will lead to becoming a monster, or stop at some point.
* In ''FanFic/{{Respect}}'', [[spoiler:this happens to [[Anime/SmilePrettyCure Yayoi]] [[ShrinkingViolet Kise]]. She makes a contract with [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Kyubey]] to stop bullies from tormenting her... and ends as a berserk supervillain, responsible for turning her home into a GhostTown.]]

* ''FanFic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'':

* As the title would suggest, this is a major theme in ''[[Fanfic/TheShroudedPath Those Who Fight Monsters]]''.

* ''FanFic/TotalShuffledIslandSeries'' based on ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' featured a theme of identity in its last installment. WordOfGod says that this trope was Leshawna's arc, and she would realize that she and Heather were alike, because although they had opposing points of view, Leshawna acted almost as sneaky and manipulative as Heather.

* An aversion in {{FanFic/Nosflutteratu}}'s Garlic Flank Stake, who appears at first to be the typical "all vampires are evil and must die" vampire hunter but quickly changes her tune when she learns the vampire in question is [[IncorruptiblePurePureness Fluttershy]].
* ''Fanfic/TheOpenDoor'': To defeat the C'tan and Necrons, who plan to destroy all other life in the galaxy, [=NewChaos=] become TheUnfettered and do some very questionable things.
* ''Fanfic/MortalKombatDesperation'' takes place after Shinnok's defeat at the end of ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX''. The prologue references the Nietzsche quote, and is a central theme in this fanfic's plot. After he CameBackWrong, Raiden is so blinded by rage and vengeance that he becomes just as cold-blooded and homicidal as Shinnok and Shao Kahn, to the point of alienating his ex-allies and refusing to reconsider his invasion of Outworld. [[MoralEventHorizon Ordering the destruction of Li Mei's village (women, children and elderly included) places him into evil territory for good.]]

* ''FanFic/{{Fade}}'': With his own Death Note and (incomplete) knowledge of events, L seeks to stop Kira by any means necessary. By the story's midpoint, L has effectively ''become'' the Kira he sought to stop. Light, meanwhile, subverts this -- while still a SerialKiller, he is nowhere near as bad as L.

* ''Fanfic/AMinorMiscalculation'' presents [[SparedByTheAdaptation Isshin Matoi]] (who survived as Nui went to the wrong house when trying to assassinate him) as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiHero rather than the solemn [[TheAtoner atoner]] he was in canon. Over the course of the war, he gradually becomes so driven to kill Ragyo, wipe out the Life Fibers, and protect Ryuko that he's willing to sacrifice anyone to do it. [[spoiler: And then TheReveal comes in Chapter 23 that the only reason he survived is that he intentionally misdirected Nui into hitting the Mankanshoku household, ''knowing full well this would potentially result in the entire family dying''.]]

* ''Fanfic/AMinorMiscalculation'' presents [[SparedByTheAdaptation Isshin Matoi]] as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiHero rather than the solemn [[TheAtoner atoner]] he was in canon. Over the course of the war, he gradually becomes so driven to kill Ragyo, wipe out the Life Fibers, and protect Ryuko that he's willing to sacrifice anyone to do it. [[spoiler: And then TheReveal in Chapter 23 sends him into full VillainProtagonist territory.]]

** In terms of Kyril himself, the notion of "increasing moral ambiguity equals the enemies one has fought" is further [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]. Kyril Sutherland, like any other ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' PlayerCharacter, has witnessed this trope occur countless times, how many a [[HunterOfMonsters hunter]] goes down the deep end while hunting beasts in Yharnam, [[SlowlySlippingToEvil gradually]] and [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie literally]] becoming as bloodthirsty as the beasts they hunt. The intoxicating effect of the Old Blood, which is used by every hunter to heal and strengthen oneself, exacerbates the process further. Nonetheless, if Kyril wants any slight chance of survival (or rather, '''NOT''' [[ResurrectiveImmortality dying]] [[PrepareToDie again]] [[ImmortalityHurts and]] [[FateWorseThanDeath again]]), escaping the nightmare, and [[MythologyGag transcending the Hunt]], [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption blood has to be shed]], and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo it is necessary for him]] to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame be as brutal as his enemies]]. Fast-forward to the [[WarIsHell war against the Black Dogs]], Kyril and his compatriots have seen how far his enemies would go to make their [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Sex]] [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil Empire]] come true, including but not limited to: their RapePillageAndBurn tendencies; [[TheyWouldCutYouUp sacrificing]] InnocentBystanders to [[ForScience seek the Eldritch Truth]]; and instigating riots to destabilise the regime. Kyril, who understands the importance of committing [[NecessarilyEvil necessary evils]] to protect the people of Eostia from a far worse outcome, would decide that [[MightMakesRight crushing his enemies absolutely is the best course of action]].

** In terms of Kyril himself, the notion of "increasing moral ambiguity equals the enemies one has fought" is further [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]. Kyril Sutherland, like any other ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' PlayerCharacter, has witnessed this trope occur countless times, how many a [[HunterOfMonsters hunter]] goes down the deep end while hunting beasts in Yharnam, gradually and literally becoming as bloodthirsty as the beasts they hunt. The intoxicating effect of the Old Blood, which is used by every hunter to heal and strengthen oneself, exacerbates the process further. Nonetheless, if Kyril wants any slight chance of survival (or rather, '''NOT''' [[ResurrectiveImmortality dying]] [[PrepareToDie again]] [[ImmortalityHurts and]] [[FateWorseThanDeath again]]), escaping the nightmare, and [[MythologyGag transcending the Hunt]], [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption blood has to be shed]], and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo it is necessary for him]] to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame be as brutal as his enemies]]. Fast-forward to the [[WarIsHell war against the Black Dogs]], Kyril and his compatriots have seen how far his enemies would go to make their [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Sex]] [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil Empire]] come true, including but not limited to: their RapePillageAndBurn tendencies; [[TheyWouldCutYouUp sacrificing]] InnocentBystanders to [[ForScience seek the Eldritch Truth]]; and instigating riots to destabilise the regime. Kyril, who understands the importance of committing [[NecessarilyEvil necessary evils]] to protect the people of Eostia from a far worse outcome, would decide that [[MightMakesRight crushing his enemies absolutely is the best course of action]].

** In terms of Kyril himself, this trope is further [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]. Kyril Sutherland, like any other ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' PlayerCharacter, has witnessed this trope occur countless times, how many a [[HunterOfMonsters hunter]] goes down the deep end while hunting beasts in Yharnam, gradually and literally becoming as bloodthirsty as the beasts they hunt. The intoxicating effect of the Old Blood, which is used by every hunter to heal and strengthen oneself, exacerbates the process further. Nonetheless, if Kyril wants any slight chance of survival (or rather, '''NOT''' [[ResurrectiveImmortality dying]] [[PrepareToDie again]] [[WhoWantsToLiveForever and]] [[FateWorseThanDeath again]]), escaping the nightmare, and [[MythologyGag transcending the Hunt]], [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption blood has to be shed]], and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo it is necessary for him]] to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame be as brutal as his enemies]]. Fast-forward to the [[WarIsHell war against the Black Dogs]], Kyril and his compatriots have seen how far his enemies would go to make their [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Sex]] [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil Empire]] come true, including but not limited to: their RapePillageAndBurn tendencies; [[TheyWouldCutYouUp sacrificing]] InnocentBystanders to [[ForScience seek the Eldritch Truth]]; and instigating riots to destabilise the regime. Kyril, who understands the importance of committing [[NecessarilyEvil necessary evils]] to protect the people of Eostia from a far worse outcome, would decide that [[MightMakesRight crushing his enemies absolutely is the best course of action]].

* Not only the theme but the name of ''Fanfic/HeWhoFightsMonsters'', a ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'' story where Tsukune never meets Moka or the others. To keep anyone from finding out that he's human (and thus stay alive), he's eaten bugs, made several [[ImprovisedWeapon Improvised Weapons]], and [[spoiler: killed 5 students, ''including Inner Moka'']]. "When your life's on the line, there's nothing that you won't do to survive."

** In terms of Kyril himself, this trope is further [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]. Kyril Sutherland, like any other ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' PlayerCharacter, has witnessed countless times how many a [[HunterOfMonsters hunter]] goes down the deep end while hunting beasts in Yharnam, gradually and literally becoming as bloodthirsty as the beasts they hunt. The intoxicating effect of the Old Blood, which is used by every hunter to heal and strengthen oneself, exacerbates the process further. Nonetheless, if Kyril wants any slight chance of survival (or rather, '''NOT''' [[ResurrectiveImmortality dying]] [[PrepareToDie again]] [[WhoWantsToLiveForever and]] [[FateWorseThanDeath again]]), escaping the nightmare, and [[MythologyGag transcending the Hunt]], [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption blood has to be shed]], and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo it is necessary for him]] to [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame be as brutal as his enemies]]. Fast-forward to the [[WarIsHell war against the Black Dogs]], Kyril and his compatriots have seen how far his enemies would go to make their [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitions]] of a [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Sex]] [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil Empire]] come true, including but not limited to: their RapePillageAndBurn tendencies; [[TheyWouldCutYouUp sacrificing]] InnocentBystanders to [[ForScience seek the Eldritch Truth]]; and instigating riots to destabilise the regime. Kyril, who understands the importance of committing [[NecessarilyEvil necessary evils]] to protect the people of Eostia from a far worse outcome, would decide that [[MightMakesRight crushing his enemies absolutely is the best course of action]].

* ''[[FanFic/KingdomHearts3FinalStand Kingdom Hearts 4: New Light]]'': Patria seems to be approaching this territory. There have been mentions of her having mass amounts of inner darkness, along with her suggestion to use a JackBauerInterrogationTechnique, and her HairTriggerTemper and preference for violence as a solution. On top of it all, both Diaval and Pith, the latter her ''own brother'', have declared her to be NotSoDifferent from Maleficent.
* ''FanFic/MLPNextGenerationKnowFear'': It's been noted both in-universe and out that the more Starburst uses her [[Franchise/GreenLantern Fear ring]], the more she becomes like the [[BloodKnight griffons]] she's fighting. [[spoiler: Which she comes to realize herself when [[TheEmperor Emperor Stratus]] gives her a NotSoDifferent speech when she's about to kill him in cold blood. She decides she's better than this and doesn't kill him... at which point [[TheStarscream Nox/Shadow Wing]] ''does'', in order to make Stratus a martyr and to frame Star.]]

** In [[BadFuture Dark World]], we have [[spoiler:the Nameless Passenger, AKA, Nightmare Paradox. A potential future version and SuperpoweredEvilSide of Twilight, she went Nightmare to get revenge on Discord for his crimes, but ended up turning the Dark World into a GroundhogDayLoop and erasing it and everyone in it over and over again for the sake of punishing Discord. Even after Discord had a HeelRealization, she ''forces'' him to remain an EvilOverlord so she can keep punishing him. Most notably, she makes it a point that his [[DaddysLittleVillain daughter Fluttercruel]] ''always'' dies because [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes she's the only reason he still tries anymore]]. It's been pointed out inuniverse she's become NotSoDifferent than Discord himself, which is one of her {{Berserk Button}}s and the characters consider her even ''worse'' than him.]]

* ''FanFic/TotalShuffledIslandSeries'' based on ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' featured a theme of identity in its last installment. WordOfGod says that this trope was Leshawna's arc, and she would realize that she and Heather were NotSoDifferent, because although they had opposing points of view, Leshawna acted almost as sneaky and manipulative as Heather.

* ''Fanfic/KimiNoNaIowa'': The abyssals want to genocide Japan as punishment for its war crimes, which took the lives of 30 million, as well as the USA for [[TheOathBreaker Breaking the Oath]] to do just that the previous time, and any other country who suffered under Japan previously but refuses to fight them now as [[TheQuisling Quislings]] to be similarly executed. To this end, they have killed millions themselves, and the accomplishment of their goals would see 3 billion dead, a hundred times what Japan did. The supreme commander [[EvenEvilHasStandards explicitly warns her cadre against]] indulging in the same cruelty and sadism as the Japanese lest they become NotSoDifferent and void their cause, but that's not going to be much reassurance to the dead.

* Not only the theme but the name of ''Fanfic/HeWhoFightsMonsters'', a ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' story where Tsukune never meets Moka or the others. To keep anyone from finding out that he's human (and thus stay alive), he's eaten bugs, made several [[ImprovisedWeapon Improvised Weapons]], and [[spoiler: killed 5 students, ''including Inner Moka'']]. "When your life's on the line, there's nothing that you won't do to survive."

* ''Fanfic/ATwelveStepsProgramToOmnipotence'':