History CerebusSyndrome / FanWorks

* ''Roleplay/DarkWorldRolePlay'' (''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''): Once KnightOfCerebus [[spoiler: Gaster, of all people, enters the fray, the plot threads take a noticeably darker turn. Ever since TheHeavy Polly decides to bring him to the mortal plane, she commits all kinds of atrocities by pursuing that goal. After she succeeds, well, let's say he doesn't share Polly's restrain when it comes to hurting innocent people.

* ''Fanfic/ACaseStudyInTheSturdinessOfTheRookie9'' initially plays its concept for humor, showing how the Rookie 9 adapt to [[ForWantOfANail being assigned to different teams]]. Then the Chuunin Exams begin, and Team 7 demonstrate just what Kakashi has [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unintentionally taught them]] by [[spoiler:having Chouji lure Ino and her team into a trap]]. The story proceeds to deconstruct many of its own elements, and its title becomes a little too meaningful when [[spoiler:poor Kiba]] completely and utterly ''[[BreakTheCutie breaks]]''.

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqjNrb64sBg Dawn of Shimmer]]'', an installment in the [[MindScrew ridiculous]] ''WebAnimation/{{EQUESTRIA GIRLS}}'' parodies, while still being [[WidgetSeries incredibly silly]], is more dramatic than the other episodes. It basically involves Sunset Shimmer, the villain of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls the official movie]], showing up and causing trouble. [[spoiler[[BewareTheSillyOnes Discord]] winds up [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing himself]] to stop her. Fluttershy pays a visit to his grave and gives him a tearful send-off, [[MoodWhiplash and then]] gets crushed by a giant [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Jigglypuff]]. And there's a subplot about Queen Chrysalis being TheDragon to Creator/LaurenFaust and plotting to take down Creator/{{Hasbro}}.]] This from a series where a regular episode involves apples shooting lasers and a cutout of Creator/NicolasCage [[ButtMonkey getting screwed over]].

[[AC:''Franchise/TeenTitans'']]

[[AC:''Literature/{{Twilight}}'']]

* ''FanFic/TheNuptialverse'': The first story, ''Post Nuptials'', is a SugarWiki/{{WAFF}} about the Mane Six dealing with the {{Guilt Complex}}es that resulted from not believing Twilight about the impostor Princess Cadence and their friendships coming out stronger for it. Then ''Families'' comes out and, on top of having to still deal with Spike's guilt and Pinkie's personal problems with her family, they also have to deal with a conspiracy to discredit and usurp Princess Celestia [[spoiler: one member of which happens to be Scootaloo's [[AbusiveParents total monster of a father]]]]. And that's not even mentioning the side story ''[[VillainEpisode Metamorphosis]]'', which explores Queen Chrysalis' ''[[DarkerAndEdgier incredibly dark]]'' StartOfDarkness.

* ''FanFic/NineKnackeredSouls'' started as the ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' cast thrown into the wonderful SugarBowl [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic world of ponies]], and trying and failing to fit in. [[spoiler:Then Maine appears....]]

** The short lived AlternateUniverse spinoff ''Tokimeki Splatoon'', which crossed ''{{VideoGame/Splatoon}}'' with ''PokéLive!'' especially upped the stakes more so than even the main series' Side Stories and Special Stories as well as the drama.

* ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' is mostly comedy, but [[DownplayedTrope it gets a fair amount more adventurous with each passing season.]] The {{Season Finale}}s are quite dramatic, however. Taken UpToEleven in the SeriesFinale, ''Black Rain'', with an [[spoiler:open that could pass for a slasher film]], and [[spoiler:Dr. Thunderstorm and Shadow possibly ''die'' at the end]]. Oh, and [[spoiler:Slender Man appears. And he's a good guy]].

* The ''FanFic/TamersForeverSeries''. To give the man due credit, though, he never completely abandons the humour; in fact, several scenes from later books are absolutely ''hilarious''. The drama is taken UpToEleven during ''Silent Sorrow''. The author says it best:

* ''Fanfic/CindersAndAshesTheChroniclesOfKamenRiderDante'' starts off as a rather standard ''Franchise/KamenRider'' SelfInsertFic where an OriginalCharacter, Hoshi, becomes a Kamen Rider and makes friends with the heroes (in this case, the cast of ''Anime/ReCREATORS''). However, once Hoshi is tasked to eliminate a demon known as Jorougumo, things slowly begin to take a turn, starting with Hoshi confiding in one of the characters that he attempted suicide over the loss of his friend before snowballing into more serious plots centered around said loss. This is made worse with the arrival of Re:Shocker and the Kaizo-Majin, as their presence causes the plot of Re:CREATORS to go OffTheRails.

* ''[[WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC Marvel/DC: After Hours]]'' has this in a big way. What started off as an uber-topical superhero satire slowly started to become a kind of uber-fanfic, placing the gamut of comic book characters in a world with very flexible rules. The first series only even begins to have a plot at episode three, the second series consists of five 20-minute episodes, and is so plot-centric that the jokes start to become slightly forced (most of them come from the Green Goblin being on tranquilizers, and then ''pretending'' to be on tranquilizers) it remains to be seen how long the creators can keep up the game before they run out of plot. They still do intermittent comedic side-series as well, which have thus far retained the comedic element completely. It seems to be the method [=RandomGuy=] is adopting. Start off a new series with comedy and delve into darker elements by the finale, rise and repeat. Lampshaded in the teaser for Season3 -- "Zero Hour". Season 2 is explicitly a {{Deconstruction}} of DarkerAndEdgier.

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* ''Fanfic/FreakinGensokyo'' began with [[SelfInsert Brad]] romping around the Scarlet Devil Mansion, getting into fights, stealing end tables and beating up fairies, all in good fun of course. Now his best friend from the Outside World is [[spoiler:murdering people and keeping child prostitutes]], and as of Chapter 94 some figures from Gensokyo's past are coming into the fold.
** An early example appears in Chapter 38, where Brad and Marisa almost [[spoiler:die of hypothermia thanks to the former's antics]].
* ''Fanfic/AsDreamsAreMadeOn'' starts with a fictionalized version of the author landing in [[Literature/{{Twilight}} Bella Swan's]] body on the day she arrives in Forks, arranging a meeting with Alice Cullen, and inadvertently triggering LoveAtFirstSight. The author admits she started it as a lark, and the early chapters aren't too serious, though more serious elements are gradually introduced as the protagonist (referred to out of text as Cass/Bella or CB) begins to open up to Alice and other characters. Around midway through the story, however, the stakes do rise considerably, as CB's power is revealed to be dangerous to her health (and even causes brain damage), and later on [[spoiler: CB's best friend from her original Earth makes herself known, it's revealed that she and CB come from an alternate 2025 and ''not'' 2015 as CB originally thought, CB's original Earth has been destroyed, magic is in play, and there are implications that CB herself may have become some kind of EldritchAbomination in waiting.]] And that's just the first volume in an expected trilogy, plus side stories.
* While ''FanFic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'' starts out relatively light-hearted, similar to the anime, each subsequent act gets DarkerAndEdgier, featuring such things as rape, ColdBloodedTorture, terrorism, and war. WordOfGod [[https://www.deviantart.com/journals/d903zcc confirms]] that Act VII will be the darkest yet, and that unlike the previous acts where DeathIsCheap for Tsukune and the gang, AllDeathsFinal will be in full effect.
* ''Not Your Enemy'' is the latest ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' fanfic series created by the same person who did the [[WebAnimation/{{HappyTreeFriends}} HTF]] + MLP Creepypasta ''series'', It serves as a ''FanSequel'' to the original series and the Netflix [[WesternAnimation/{{InvaderZimEnterTheFlorpus}} movie]]. When [[BreakTheHaughty Zim]] finds out that his [[UngratefulBastard Tallests Red and Purple]] told him that his mission was all [[WasItAllaLie a lie to exile him from the Irken Empire]] and that [[BreakTheCutie GIR]] was not advanced, but made out of spare parts and garbage. When Zim tries committing suicide by jumping into water, [[AscendedExtra Zita]] rescues him from drowning and she and [[TheRival Dib]] [[WellDoneSonGuy Membrane]] comfort him. When Zim and GIR confront the Tallests, they began [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown fighting]] them damn well. [[spoiler:Sadly, GIR was put down by the Tallests, and [[FateWorseThanDeath using a device to erase all of his data from his body.]] Thus, causing Zim to [[RageBreakingPoint snap]] after thinking that GIR is dead. It gets even more shocking as Zim kills the Almighty Tallests by [[MultipleGunshotDeath shooting lasers at them repeatedly]]]]. There’s also an [[OriginalCharacter original character]] named [[TheWoobie Syss]], who lost her SIR named [[UndyingLoyalty Eros]] in the Florpus.
* ''Fanfic/ThePortal'' starts out relatively light-hearted with the main character adapting to his new life as a dragon, enrolling in a Dragon Academy, and meeting his new girlfriend, Storm. However, once the Dark Ones come into the story, things take a much darker turn.


* The ''Fanfic/AvantasiaProtagAU'' series definitely. It starts out just being episodic one-shot chapters of the main characters being roommates and dealing with each other's idiosyncrasies in a pretty lighthearted way, then becomes progressively darker and more serious. Some of this is because canon demons and villains start appearing and some is due to the characters' canon personality quirks and experiences being taken to logical results, for example Scarecrow's canon ambiguous mental health issues get explained and lead to problems and Aaron's obsession with time starts becoming less lighthearted and more concerning. Each turn towards greater darkness seems like the worst it can get until the next. The series got a timeline after about 15 or 20 chapters to organize the events into chronological order since it started building on itself (plus the individual chapter collections and longer multi-chapter fics are published out of order, although the bulk are progressively later in the timeline). It's important to note though that the darkness and seriousness are in the events that happen and not the main characters' relationships with each other, as they bond closer together as a family instead of just roommates and stick together no matter what's thrown at them.

* While the story was never [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/1/racer-and-the-geek/predawn all that lighthearted]] to begin with, ''FanFic/RacerAndTheGeek'' has definitely [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/racer-and-the-geek been going this way]], starting from about chapter 3 with the introduction of gunponies, but with some fairly meaningful {{foreshadowing}} showing up in [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/2/racer-and-the-geek/midday chapter 2.]] Considering [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/kalash93 who the author is,]] this is not unexpected.

* ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfTime'' is a Series/DoctorWho[=/=]Literature/SherlockHolmes {{Crossover}} that goes from typical Doctor Who adventure and angst to DarkerAndEdgier in the three-part finale, helped along by a definite KnightOfCerebus, [[spoiler:Professor Moriarty]]. Holmes himself [[spoiler:does a FaceHeelTurn]].
* ''Fanfic/MyLittleAlicorn'' starts out as a quirky comedy about Celestia being turned into a filly and Twilight and Luna having to put up with her antics while they also struggle to effectively rule the country until they can turn Celestia back to normal. Eventually though, things get ''much'' more serious and dark as we're shown how ''no one'' has forgiven Luna for her crimes as Nightmare Moon, we see just how self serving and manipulative the Canterlot nobility is, Blueblood becomes [[SanitySlippage increasingly violent and deranged]] as he becomes obsessed with getting revenge on the Mane Six for the events of ''The Best Night Ever'', and we get a firsthand look at how dark and graphic [[spoiler:Discord's reign over Equestria, and the war to topple him]] was. And this is all ''before'' [[spoiler:the appearance of an AxCrazy sorcerer who has murdered literally ''millions'' in his quest for immortality.]]
* ''Fanfic/GettingBackOnYourHooves'' begins as a SliceOfLife fic dealing with Trixie...well, trying to get back on her hooves with assistance of the mane six. While some serious moments, its still comical and Trixie's mess ups are presented comically. Then the Cutie Mark Crusaders decide to try and find a camping spot in the Everfree Forest, forcing Trixie and Fluttershy to go on a dangerous adventure to save them...and ''then'' [[BigBad Checker]] [[KnightOfCerebus Monarch]] enters the story and pushes the plot in a direction more in tune with the two-parters of the actual series.
* ''FanFic/TheNuptialverse'': The first story, ''Post Nuptials'', is a SugarWiki/{{WAFF}} about the Mane Six dealing with the {{Guilt Complex}}es that resulted from not believing Twilight about the impostor Princess Cadence and their friendships coming out stronger for it. Then ''Families'' comes out and, on top of having to still deal with Spike's guilt and Pinkie's personal problems with her family, they also have to deal with a conspiracy to discredit and usurp Princess Celestia [[spoiler: one member of which happens to be Scootaloo's [[AbusiveParents total monster of a father]]]]. And that's not even mentioning the side story ''[[VillainEpisode Metamorphosis]]'', which explores Queen Chrysalis' ''[[DarkerAndEdgier incredibly dark]]'' StartOfDarkness.
* The MLP fanfic ''Trixie has a Problem'', by the author of ''Blog/AskTwixieGenies'', starts out as a comedic SliceOfLife fic where Trixie is accidentally turned into a human, and the hijinks that ensue as Twilight struggles to cure her. [[spoiler:Then Human Trixie is kidnapped by the Apple Family, who in this story turn out to be ''cannibals''.]] And then comes chapter 6, where [[spoiler:''Applejack '''murders''' Twilight'' just because she tried to save Trixie.]]
* The ''Blog/AskAPony'' blog ''Blog/AskJappleack'' started off with SurrealHumour, BlackComedy, CrossesTheLineTwice, and the likes. But after [[spoiler:Applebloom dies]], and Jappleack is asked "What's the point of growing apples?", Jappleack goes through a bit of an existential crisis. Much drama follows. Not to mention what happens with the [[WebAnimation/PonyDotMov .MOV series]], which started as a BlackComedy parody bordering ToiletHumour starring Applejack (Jappleack in the series). After [[spoiler: a Kaiju version of Discord is unleashed in the world]], it becomes an [[MythArc arc-driven story]], [[spoiler: Killing main characters, such as Apple Bloom and Rainbow Dash]] and transforming its universe into a CrapsackWorld.
* The FanFic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9308523/1/Sonic-Evil-Reborn-Zero Sonic Evil Reborn Zero]]''. Already a DeconstructionFic, the story makes a sharp turn southward at the start of the second arc when Sonic abruptly, for seemingly no reason, turns towards the dark side to join Eggman and Wikke (it's so abrupt even Eggman isn't prepared) and, immediately after, goes on a genocidal rampage through Station Square. Before this, it had been [[CerebusRollercoaster like a darker Sonic Adventure]] , with some chapters dedicated solely towards comedy and others towards drama, but this was the turning point where it remained dark. Amy's misery makes it worse.
* When Innortal published his first time loop stories, the characters were just screwing around with their canon. Then Saphroneth came along and started his ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' loops, not only [[TropeCodifier codifying]] the [[FanFic/TheInfiniteLoops Infinite Loops setting]] but [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructing]] parts of the premise, though the plot was still mostly the characters screwing around. The Mega Man loops open with their reboot being represented as a garbled datastream and an entire reality being [[RetGone obliterated,]] necessitating a three-way anchorship and traumatizing Rock, Roll, and Blues.
* In ''FanFic/MegaManDefenderOfTheHumanRace'', post episode 5, the characters' morale and the tone of events in the story have taken an increasingly dark turn. This is best exemplified by the episode 10 epilogue, which is a nonstop string of tragic events. Episode 11 is the darkest one yet, but has hopeful moments that become most prominent in chapter 11.
* Happens across the entirety of the ''FanFic/MassVexations'' trilogy. The first two parts are a relatively lighthearted romp through the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, with a sense of humor that wasn't afraid to tap into MediumAwareness at some points. [[spoiler:The third fic ends with a Class X-2 ApocalypseHow over Earth.]]
* In ''FanFic/CrownsOfTheKingdom'', the cartoony pratfall type gags taper off as the plot heats up.
* ''FanFic/SonicXDarkChaos'' starts a lot like the original third season of Sonic X. [[DarkerAndEdgier It doesn't take long]] before the heroes realize [[CrapsackWorld just how messed up the galaxy really is]]. And then there's [[WhamEpisode Episode 74]]...
* ''FanFic/TheDearSweetieBelleContinuity'' starts out with some family drama but is overall quite optimistic- up until [[Series/DoctorWho Time Turner]] cameos in ''Morning Glory'' to deliver sudden {{Foreshadowing}}, cemented by the very end of ''Phases of the Moon'' ([[AnachronicOrder which takes place first anyway]]). If one reads in publication order, the ending of "The Sin of Envy" has this effect as well, but it is meant to be part of a relatively self-contained arc (and also takes place after the other moments).
* ''FanFic/ConstantTemptation'' is a lighthearted, fluffy RomanticComedy until [[SerialKiller Beyond Birthday]] shows up.
* ''WebAnimation/MyLittlePortal'' is exactly what it sounds like: a fusion of its [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic name]][[VideoGame/{{Portal}} sakes]], with Twilight Sparkle and various personality cores based on her friends traversing a test course. Sounds like silly fun, right? Aside from occasional dark hints of BackStory and a slightly sinister atmosphere (much like ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'', at that), it is... for just about four episodes, until we learn just how everypony got there: [[spoiler:Canterlot was sacked by the changelings a decade before and Celestia and Luna were killed, which we get to see in gory detail, and the amnesiac Twilight is expected to be rehabilitated and lead LaResistance]].
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5789061/1/Hear-my-Song Hear my Song!]]'' used to be a lighthearted fluffy fic. Then, it started to take the focus off Miku and Luka and [[EnsembleCast onto other characters]]. Though there were a lot of dark points, pretty much everything involving Haku counting as one, things didn't get ''really'' dark until [[KnightOfCerebus IA and Yukari]] entered the plot. And at that point, things went to hell.
* ''Fanfic/StarWarsLightInDarkTime'' started out as a lighthearted TrollFic with some CrackFic elements; however, starting from chapter 3 onward, the series takes a more serious turn, introducing dangerous villains, serious deaths, and a cohesive plot.
* ''Fanfic/TheLegendOfCynderSeries'' starts off as mostly a comedy, with the focus being 'what would happen if Cynder replaced Spyro?' as well as generally poking fun at the FridgeLogic and [[Headscratchers/HomePage Headscratchers]] the original series presents. (Cynder [[WhatTheHellHero calling out the guardians]] for sending a [[KidHero kid dragon]] to dangerous places while they wait behind, Cynder [[DungeonBypass flying over most enemies and tough areas instead of fighting them]], and in general finding ways to cheese a lot of the bosses in the series by fighting them in ways they weren't intended to.) All this continued until Cynder reached Boyzitbig, where the series experiences a WhamEpisode where [[spoiler: Cynder watches as a pregnant mole is killed in front of her, and she couldn't do anything to save her.]] Though the series is still not above poking fun at FridgeLogic and Headscratchers, the story in general gets a lot more serious since then, and doesn't gloss over the fact that the characters are in a war in which they're slowly losing ground...
* The ''My Little Pony'' fanfiction ''The Lost Element'' starts off as a SliceOfLife story wherein the main character gets transported to Equestria and has to deal with being the first human to exist there. While the story does take a temporary dark turn when [[spoiler: Diamond Tiara tricks James into hiding in the Everfree Forest in fear of having broken an outdated law that prevented sexual intercourse between a human and pony, and he in turn discovers Sunny Town, where the ponies turn into zombies at nighttime]], it goes back to the usual lighthearted plotline of the first few chapters. The story takes another trip into the darkness with the discovery that [[spoiler:the ponies at Sunny Town murdered a filly for having a cutie mark, before dumping her corpse into an abandoned house and being cursed by Princess Luna to roam the night for all eternity until they atoned for their sins]], as well as the return of [[spoiler: ightmare Moon]], which sets off a story arc involving the serious injury of several characters. The story ONCE AGAIN goes back to the regularly scheduled daily life observation, until things go to utter crap with the return of Discord, which leads to [[spoiler:James witnessing all his friends turning away from him, and him even being dumped by Fluttershy. This causes him to slip into [[HeroicBSOD a grief induced madness]] that causes him to trick Discord into a fight to the death where James [[CurbStompBattle beats the crap out of Discord]], tears off his wings, eats them, dismembers him, tears the Elements of Harmony out of his chest, and finally kills him. To make it worse, all of James's friends get to watch as all this happens, including Rainbow Dash, who wasn't corrupted by Discord]].
** To make it worse, the author then immediately put the story on hiatus so he could write an EVEN MORE depressing story where James gets killed in the battle with Discord and the Mane 6 have to deal with the repercussions, opting to finish this story before continuing the main one.
* ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'' starts off as a frequently hilarious fic about a brilliant Ravenclaw Harry who plans to overturn the Wizarding World through the application of Reason and Science! The laughs have been few and far between since [[spoiler:Hermione was brutally killed by Mountain Troll, thereby triggering a prophecy suggesting that Harry will destroy the world that has even Voldemort himself in a panic]].
* While it was never light per se, ''Fanfic/YoungJusticeDarknessFalls'' takes a sharp turn into danger and darkness on chapter 40, which has [[spoiler:the partial destruction of Watchtower]] by the forces of Apokalips and the scattering of several team members.
* ''Fanfic/TheDemesneOfTheReluctantTwilightSparkle'' is in large part a SliceOfLife story dealing with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Twilight's (increasingly less) reluctant sudden sovereignty over Ponyville and the surrounding lands]], courtesy of disused laws and a gift from Luna. Then it turns out that [[spoiler:so many nobles now know that ''they'' have claims to their own demesnes that they threaten to plunge Equestria into civil war]].
* ''Fanfic/TheEquestrianWindMage'' starts out with a relatively lighthearted first season as Vaati adjusts to life in Equestria. Then Dethl shows up, and his presence reveals that Equestria has caught the eye of none other than [[GodOfEvil Majora himself]], who now intends to bring Equestria under his dominion, by any means necessary.
* ''Fanfic/IAgainstIMeAgainstYou'' starts with Twilight Sparkle's hapless adventures with Church and the other Blood Gulch boys, but gets progressively darker as more of Equestria's connection to Project Freelancer is revealed.
* ''Fanfic/{{Intercom}}'' starts out as a comedic and very heartwarming story revolving around Riley meeting her emotions. However, it begins to turn into a TearJerker drama when the story starts focusing more on Riley's major concerns of HearingVoices and a LossOfIdentity.
* ''Fanfic/TheRacketRotterChronicles'' starts off as a collection of light-hearted vignettes about two pre-made characters from ''VideoGame/TheSims3'', until the resident KnightOfCerebus is introduced. Then the story takes a turn into a downright gory string of deaths and torture.
* The ''[[Fanfic/{{Cinderjuice}} Contractually Obligated Chaos]]'' series has taken this route. The original story, which was supposed to be the ''only'' story, is quirky and bears strong resemblance to an episode of the [[WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}} cartoon]] which inspired it. When it was expanded into a series, it kept some of the lighthearted elements of the first installment but also became darker and more serious, particularly with regards to the {{Arc Villain}}s.
* The MLP FanFic ''FanFic/WhenAPonyCalls'' starts out as a very lighthearted story, about a WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic fan named Soren, (Not the character from the show) accidentally switching bodies with Lyra. Cue lots of slapstick, awkward situations, and Soren and his parents trying to - [[AngstWhatAngst surprisingly casually]] - adjust to the situation for the time being. Then Soren gets bitten by his own dog and almost dies thanks to his/her uncontrollable magic. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, as we later find out [[spoiler: a natural memory implant in Lyra's horn is slowly over riding Soren's memories, the magical environment of Equestria is slowly morphing his original body into a pony, the combined pressure of the above is starting to [[SanitySlippage drive him/her insane]]. This leads to Twilight putting a spell on him/her, to keep him from hurting himself, which leads to him being unable to save a child, and he comes within inches of killing Twilight, because of the above. Ultimately leading to a BittersweetEnding, where Soren has to start his life anew in Equestria, as Silver Script.]]
* ''[[WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC Marvel/DC: After Hours]]'' has this in a big way. What started off as an uber-topical superhero satire slowly started to become a kind of uber-fanfic, placing the gamut of comic book characters in a world with very flexible rules. The first series only even begins to have a plot at episode three, the second series consists of five 20-minute episodes, and is so plot-centric that the jokes start to become slightly forced (most of them come from the Green Goblin being on tranquilizers, and then ''pretending'' to be on tranquilizers) it remains to be seen how long the creators can keep up the game before they run out of plot. They still do intermittent comedic side-series as well, which have thus far retained the comedic element completely. It seems to be the method [=RandomGuy=] is adopting. Start off a new series with comedy and delve into darker elements by the finale, rise and repeat. Lampshaded in the teaser for Season3 -- "Zero Hour". Season 2 is explicitly a {{Deconstruction}} of DarkerAndEdgier.
* "Sweetie's Big Race" from ''WebVideo/FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' is a cute song about Sweetie Belle racing and hanging out with Applejack. The last 20 seconds is about existentialism. It's justified in-series because Sweetie couldn't rhyme anymore.
* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqjNrb64sBg Dawn of Shimmer]]'', an installment in the [[MindScrew ridiculous]] ''WebAnimation/{{EQUESTRIA GIRLS}}'' parodies, while still being [[WidgetSeries incredibly silly]], is more dramatic than the other episodes. It basically involves Sunset Shimmer, the villain of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls the official movie]], showing up and causing trouble. [[spoiler[[BewareTheSillyOnes Discord]] winds up [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing himself]] to stop her. Fluttershy pays a visit to his grave and gives him a tearful send-off, [[MoodWhiplash and then]] gets crushed by a giant [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Jigglypuff]]. And there's a subplot about Queen Chrysalis being TheDragon to Creator/LaurenFaust and plotting to take down Creator/{{Hasbro}}.]] This from a series where a regular episode involves apples shooting lasers and a cutout of Creator/NicolasCage [[ButtMonkey getting screwed over]].
* ''Blog/ThePredespairKids'' begins with many of the ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' characters enjoying their lives at Hope's Peak Academy. Even before veering away into an AlternateUniverse with [[spoiler:Mukuro's HeelFaceTurn]], it was inevitable that those happy times were going to end. That's when the 1000th page update occurs, with [[spoiler:Mahiru, Ibuki, and Mikan discovering Hiyoko's body in the gym]].
* ''FanFic/MyLittleAnimaniacs'' is about [[HilarityEnsues hilarity ensuing]] after Twilight summons the Animaniacs to Ponyville. It gets more serious in the second half when it introduces [[spoiler:a monster that's kidnapping everyone]].

* ''Fanfic/TokimekiPokeLiveAndTwinbee'' started out as a series that only had lighthearted one shot SliceOfLife stories until the "Ideal Hero" Side Story arc (Itself an adaptation of "The King Returns" from ''WebAnimation/PokemonGenerations''.) was written, which finally gave the ''PokéLive!'' series it's own brand of Shonen-like action/adventure stories which also up the stakes as well in addition to the Special Stories on occasion revealing terrifying bits of lore for the series as well as the crossover arcs also upping the stakes just like the Side Story arcs do!
** The short lived AlternateUniverse spinoff ''Tokimeki Splatoon'', which crossed ''{{VideoGame/Splatoon}}'' with ''PokéLive!'' especially upped the stakes more so than even the main series' Side Stories and Special Stories as well as the drama.
* ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfRemnant'': Considering the premise, this story has a surprising amount of funny and lighthearted moments, with stories including the Claimed attending a party and [[spoiler:Emerald going on a date with Neopolitan]] - all of which goes to hell when [[spoiler:Kali attempts to assassinate Jaune]].
* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'': Most of Chloe's adventures on the Train in Act 1 are relatively low-stakes; most of her more dangerous trials are covered in {{Flashback}}s, while most of the Cars we see are more pleasant and enjoyable. Most of the drama and angst stems from her strained and shattered relationships with Goh, Ash and her father, along with disturbing revelations about how badly she was bullied by her classmates. Act 2 sees her and her companions starting to hunt for the Apex in earnest, raises questions about what happens to passengers who die on the Train, and extends the {{Crossover}} to ''Franchise/SilentHill'' through the Fog Car, with [[VideoGame/SilentHill4 Walter]] scheming to enact some sort of ritual using several passengers. Meanwhile, back in Vermillion, Goh's going through SanitySlippage, and [[spoiler:the Unown get unleashed by Parker]]. Then while Act 3 has the Pokémon world slowly trying to recover form the fall out, on the Infinity Train, Chloe has finally entered Silent Hill and must confront its monsters, the Apex and [[spoiler:rescue the three Pokémon Trainers that were being used for Walter's plans.]]

* ''Fanfic/BecomingATrueInvader'' starts out very silly and nonsensical, but gets darker and more serious as time goes by.

* ''Fanfic/MisadventuresOfTheBabyBatbros'' started out as a lighthearted tale about Tim's joining the Batclan earlier with some dark elements because it's set in [[WretchedHive Gotham]]. Then Jason [[DoomedByCanon dies]] offscreen and it's notable that ''Red Rising'' is the darkest entry in the series, as it deals with the fallout of his death and Tim's attempt to prevent Batman from falling apart.
* ''Fanfic/BabysitterFromHeaven'' was a story that started as fluff about the younger Loud siblings forming a friendship with [[AscendedExtra Carol Pingrey]], before quickly becoming more dramatic during the climax. Then a sequel known as ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12801893/1/Out-of-the-Way Out of the Way]]'' shows that Lori had crossed the DespairEventHorizon because of her actions in that earlier fic's climax.
* The tone of ''Fanfic/RubyAndNora'' was already pretty shaky, with the first two stories having their own KnightOfCerebus, but when Father Scorch [[spoiler: killed Ren]] things got even more devastating.
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9644493/1/Zenith-Darkness-Reverie Zenith, Darkness, Reverie]]'', a ''Manga/DeathNote'' fanfiction, commences with a rock-climbing, Redditing nightcore fan locating a Death Note. It's destined to become a relatively light, humorous fanfic, of course. By chapter five (or approximately there), the protagonist is soliloquizing about obliterating humanity. By chapter fourteen, she has [[spoiler: committed over one thousand murders.]]
* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'': This story starts off as a dramatic but mostly romantic tale with bits of lighthearted comedy. In the chapter 4 the story begins turning darker when it is revealed [[spoiler:Gendo has designs upon Asuka and her baby.]] From that point the dramatic, dark elements increase and overtook the comedic ones.
* ''Fanfic/TheLionKingAdventures'' starts off as a cute, comedic adventure series featuring Simba and Nala starting a romance as cubs. However, it evolves into a dark, gritty drama, [[spoiler: rife with character deaths and tragedy.]]
* While the story was never [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/1/racer-and-the-geek/predawn all that lighthearted]] to begin with, ''FanFic/RacerAndTheGeek'' has definitely [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/racer-and-the-geek been going this way,]] starting from about chapter 3 with the introduction of gunponies, but with some fairly meaningful {{foreshadowing}} showing up in [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/2/racer-and-the-geek/midday chapter 2.]] Considering [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/kalash93 who the author is,]] this is not unexpected.
* ''Fanfic/{{Pedestal}}'' started out as a lighthearted fic about the narrator's Franchise/{{Pokemon}} journey. Halfway though, things suddenly get [[DarkerAndEdgier much, much worse.]]
* The ''FanFic/TamersForeverSeries''. To give the man due credit, though, he never completely abandons the humour; in fact, several scenes from later books are absolutely ''hilarious''. The drama is taken UpToEleven during ''Silent Sorrow''. The author says it best:
-->''"When 'Tamers Forever' was originally conceived, it was supposed to be a ten-story series mainly concerning a Takato/Rika relationship. It was supposed to be more of a romantic comedy, however, I realized my strong point wasn't comedy, as I unconsciously deepened and filled the plot with questions and secrets."''
* ''Fanfic/NewTamaran'' has more mature content that its [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans parent show]], but it still begins as a fairly light-hearted superhero story. Then a certain someone shows up at the wedding...
* ''FanFic/NineKnackeredSouls'' started as the ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' cast thrown into the wonderful SugarBowl [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic world of ponies]], and trying and failing to fit in. [[spoiler:Then Maine appears....]]

* ''FanFic/ClashOfTheElements'' Part 1 starts out with a little bit of humor and some of the light-heartedness you'd come to expect from a Mario game, but as time goes on and more details get revealed, everything starts becoming rather grim, culminating in the final battle [[spoiler: where everything pretty much goes to hell]] and even when things are resolved it is a rather Bittersweet conclusion...
* ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' is mostly comedy, but [[DownplayedTrope it gets a fair amount more adventurous with each passing season.]] The {{Season Finale}}s are quite dramatic, however. Taken UpToEleven in the SeriesFinale, ''Black Rain'', with an [[spoiler:open that could pass for a slasher film]], and [[spoiler: Dr. Thunderstorm and Shadow possibly ''die'' at the end]]. Oh, and [[spoiler: Slender Man appears. And he's a good guy]].
* ''Fanfic/GodSaveTheEsteem'' begins by exploring the quirks of having WesternAnimation/{{Daria}} be raised by punks instead of yuppies. By the end, her father has nearly died, Daria has nearly been killed, a friend is in psychiatric treatment, [[spoiler:the school has been shut down for good thanks to a prank that Daria pulled on the cheerleaders,]] and martial law is declared, culminating in an epic battle of punks vs. police (with the National Guard preparing to move in).
* ''FanFic/TheIntercontinentalUnionOfDisgustingCharacters'' is a series about exploiting the loopholes in the 1st Edition ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons AD&D]]'' rules. But by the middle of ''The Sick Kids'', well... just try reading the final moments of Sick Sword's life without getting a lump in your throat. (Or the funeral for [[spoiler:Ringman]] in ''The Intercontinental Proliferation of Disgusting Characters''.)

* The MLP FanFic ''FanFic/WhenAPonyCalls'' starts out as a very lighthearted story, about a MyLittlePony:FriendshipIsMagic fan named Soren, (Not the character from the show) accidentally switching bodies with Lyra. Cue lots of slapstick, awkward situations, and Soren and his parents trying to - [[AngstWhatAngst surprisingly casually]] - adjust to the situation for the time being. Then Soren gets bitten by his own dog and almost dies thanks to his/her uncontrollable magic. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, as we later find out [[spoiler: a natural memory implant in Lyra's horn is slowly over riding Soren's memories, the magical environment of Equestria is slowly morphing his original body into a pony, the combined pressure of the above is starting to [[SanitySlippage drive him/her insane]]. This leads to Twilight putting a spell on him/her, to keep him from hurting himself, which leads to him being unable to save a child, and he comes within inches of killing Twilight, because of the above. Ultimately leading to a BittersweetEnding, where Soren has to start his life anew in Equestria, as Silver Script.]]

* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'': Most of Chloe's adventures on the Train in Act 1 are relatively low-stakes; most of her more dangerous trials are covered in {{Flashback}}s, while most of the Cars we see are more pleasant and enjoyable. Most of the drama and angst stems from her strained and shattered relationships with Goh, Ash and her father, along with disturbing revelations about how badly she was bullied by her classmates. Act 2 sees her and her companions starting to hunt for the Apex in earnest, raises questions about what happens to passengers who die on the Train, and extends the {{Crossover}} to ''Franchise/SilentHill'' through the Fog Car, with [[VideoGame/SilentHill4 Walter]] scheming to enact some sort of ritual using several passengers. Meanwhile, back in Vermillion, Goh's going through SanitySlippage, and [[spoiler:the Unown get unleashed by Parker]].

* FanFic/TheNuptialverse: The first story, ''Post Nuptials'', is a SugarWiki/{{WAFF}} about the Mane Six dealing with the {{Guilt Complex}}es that resulted from not believing Twilight about the impostor Princess Cadence and their friendships coming out stronger for it. Then ''Families'' comes out and, on top of having to still deal with Spike's guilt and Pinkie's personal problems with her family, they also have to deal with a conspiracy to discredit and usurp Princess Celestia [[spoiler: one member of which happens to be Scootaloo's [[AbusiveParents total monster of a father]]]]. And that's not even mentioning the side story ''[[VillainEpisode Metamorphosis]]'', which explores Queen Chrysalis' ''[[DarkerAndEdgier incredibly dark]]'' StartOfDarkness.

* When Innortal published his first time loop stories, the characters were just screwing around with their cannon. Then Saphroneth came along and started his ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' loops, not only [[TropeCodifier codifying]] the [[FanFic/TheInfiniteLoops Infinite Loops setting]] but [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructing]] parts of the premise, though the plot was still mostly the characters screwing around. The Mega Man loops open with their reboot being represented as a garbled datastream and an entire reality being [[RetGone obliterated,]] necessitating a three-way anchorship and traumatizing Rock, Roll, and Blues.

* FanFic/TheDearSweetieBelleContinuity starts out with some family drama but is overall quite optimistic- up until [[Series/DoctorWho Time Turner]] cameos in ''Morning Glory'' to deliver sudden {{Foreshadowing}}, cemented by the very end of ''Phases of the Moon'' ([[AnachronicOrder which takes place first anyway]]). If one reads in publication order, the ending of "The Sin of Envy" has this effect as well, but it is meant to be part of a relatively self-contained arc (and also takes place after the other moments).

* [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5789061/1/Hear-my-Song Hear my Song!]] used to be a lighthearted fluffy fic. Then, it started to take the focus off Miku and Luka and [[EnsembleCast onto other characters.]] Though there were a lot of dark points, pretty much everything involving Haku counting as one, things didn't get ''really'' dark until [[KnightOfCerebus IA and Yukari]] entered the plot. And at that point, things went to hell.
* Fanfic/StarWarsLightInDarkTime started out as a lighthearted TrollFic with some CrackFic elements; however, starting from chapter 3 onward, the series takes a more serious turn, introducing dangerous villains, serious deaths, and a cohesive plot.

* The ''My Little Pony'' fanfiction ''The Lost Element'' starts off as a SliceOfLife story wherein the main character gets transported to Equestria and has to deal with being the first human to exist there. While the story does take a temporary dark turn when [[spoiler: Diamond Tiara tricks James into hiding in the Everfree Forest in fear of having broken an outdated law that prevented sexual intercourse between a human and pony, and he in turn discovers Sunny Town, where the ponies turn into zombies at nighttime]], it goes back to the usual lighthearted plotline of the first few chapters. The story takes another trip into the darkness with the discovery that [[spoiler: the ponies at Sunny Town murdered a filly for having a cutie mark, before dumping her corpse into an abandoned house and being cursed by Princess Luna to roam the night for all eternity until they atoned for their sins]], as well as the return of [[spoiler: Nightmare Moon]], which sets off a story arc involving the serious injury of several characters. The story ONCE AGAIN goes back to the regularly scheduled daily life observation, until things go to utter crap with the return of Discord, which leads to [[spoiler: James witnessing all his friends turning away from him, and him even being dumped by Fluttershy. This causes him to slip into [[HeroicBSOD a grief induced madness]] that causes him to trick Discord into a fight to the death where James [[CurbStompBattle beats the crap out of Discord]], tears off his wings, eats them, dismembers him, tears the Elements of Harmony out of his chest, and finally kills him. To make it worse, all of James's friends get to watch as all this happens, including Rainbow Dash, who wasn't corrupted by Discord]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqjNrb64sBg "Dawn of Shimmer"]], an installment in the [[MindScrew ridiculous]] ''WebAnimation/{{EQUESTRIA GIRLS}}'' parodies, while still being [[WidgetSeries incredibly silly]], is more dramatic than the other episodes. It basically involves Sunset Shimmer, the villain of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls the official movie]], showing up and causing trouble. [[spoiler:[[BewareTheSillyOnes Discord]] winds up [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing himself]] to stop her. Fluttershy pays a visit to his grave and gives him a tearful send-off, [[MoodWhiplash and then]] gets crushed by a giant [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Jigglypuff]]. And there's a subplot about Queen Chrysalis being TheDragon to Creator/LaurenFaust and plotting to take down Creator/{{Hasbro}}.]] This from a series where a regular episode involves apples shooting lasers and a cutout of Creator/NicolasCage [[ButtMonkey getting screwed over]].
* ''Blog/ThePredespairKids'' begins with many of the ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' characters enjoying their lives at Hope's Peak Academy. Even before veering away into an AlternateUniverse with [[spoiler: Mukuro's HeelFaceTurn]], it was inevitable that those happy times were going to end. That's when the 1000th page update occurs, with [[spoiler: Mahiru, Ibuki, and Mikan discovering Hiyoko's body in the gym.]]

* ''Not Your Enemy'' is the latest WesternAnimation/InvaderZim fanfic series created by the same person who did the [[WebAnimation/{{HappyTreeFriends}} HTF]] + MLP Creepypasta ''series'', It serves as a ''FanSequel'' to the original series and the Netflix [[WesternAnimation/{{InvaderZimEnterTheFlorpus}} movie]]. When [[BreakTheHaughty Zim]] finds out that his [[UngratefulBastard Tallests Red and Purple]] told him that his mission was all [[WasItAllaLie a lie to exile him from the Irken Empire]] and that [[BreakTheCutie GIR]] was not advanced, but made out of spare parts and garbage. When Zim tries committing suicide by jumping into water, [[AscendedExtra Zita]] rescues him from drowning and she and [[TheRival Dib]] [[WellDoneSonGuy Membrane]] comfort him. When Zim and GIR confront the Tallests, they began [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown fighting]] them damn well. [[spoiler: Sadly, GIR was put down by the Tallests, and [[FateWorseThanDeath using a device to erase all of his data from his body.]] Thus, causing Zim to [[RageBreakingPoint snap]] after thinking that GIR is dead. It gets even more shocking as Zim kills the Almighty Tallests by [[MultipleGunshotDeath shooting lasers at them repeatedly]]]]. There’s also an [[OriginalCharacter original character]] named [[TheWoobie Syss]], who lost her SIR named [[UndyingLoyalty Eros]] in the Florpus.

* ''Fanfic/TokimekiPokeLiveAndTwinbee'' started out as a series that only had lighthearted one shot SliceOfLife stories until the "Ideal Hero" Side Story arc (Itself an adaptation of "The King Returns" from ''WebAnimation/PokemonGenerations'' was written, which finally gave the ''PokéLive!'' series it's own brand of Shonen-like action/adventure stories which also up the stakes as well in addition to the Special Stories on occasion revealing terrifying bits of lore for the series as well as the crossover arcs also upping the stakes just like the Side Story arcs do!

** The short lived AlternateUniverse spinoff ''Tokimeki Splatoon'', which crossed ''VideoGame/Splatoon'' with ''PokéLive!'' especially upped the stakes more so than even the main series' Side Stories and Special Stories as well as the drama.