History Main / DragonWithAnAgenda

** The player was clued into the fact that [[spoiler:Dimentio]]'s trying to work behind Count Bleck's back pretty early on. However, it isn't until the end of the game that we learn that he's really higher up on the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, instead of just being a ReverseMole.

* The Ebon Dragon of ''''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'''' serves as this to Malfeas. While he may advise Malfeas or defer to his authority, he constantly seeks to manipulate the Demon King to his own purposes, and endemically betrays him. One of the biggest exmples would have been back when they were the Dragon's Shadow and the Holy Tyrant respectively, and he manipulated him into creating the Unconquered Sun (a deity who could serve as something for the Shadow to oppose, even while he would also subvert the authority of the Tyrant).

** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': Per WordOfGod, [[MagnificentBastard Sauron]] only worked with [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] to advance his own ends -- namely, to create perfect order by turning the world into a giant totalitarian state. As Morgoth's goals were, essentially, to take over the world so he could say "mine" before [[OmnicidalManiac blowing it up]], it's very likely that an EnemyCivilWar would have broken out had the bad guys ''won''. Fortunately for Sauron, Morgoth went down first, allowing him to graduate to BigBad in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'': [[spoiler:Ultear, to Lyon and Jellal. And later to Master Hades.]]

* VideoGame/{{Blazblue}}: All of [[spoiler: Izanami's]] direct subordinates have the same goal as their boss but have their own reasons for working for her, none of which seem to coincide with her own goals of "creating a world of death". Terumi wants ToCreateAPlaygroundForEvil because he [[ForTheEvulz finds misery interesting]]. Hazama, [[spoiler: now separated from Terumi, are different and still unknown.]] Relius wants to be [[AGodAmI the god of a perfect world]] to satiate [[ForScience his scientific curiosity]]. And Phantom/[[spoiler: Nine]] wants revenge against the first two for using her for their plans in the first place.

* From the VideoGame/PaperMario series, we have [[spoiler:you guessed it; Dimentio]]. In this case, TheDragon is even ''more'' evil; an outright OmnicidalManiac instead of a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds.

** Before that, we had the Thousand Year Door, where power hungry [[BigBad Sir Grodus]] tried to unearth an ancient power. [[spoiler:Too bad said ancient power was a [[SealedEvilInACan demoness whom Beldam served]], and wanted to spring free. Grodus ends up living as a talking head afterwards.]]

* [[spoiler:Konishi]] from VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou. It's hinted at, but eventually [[spoiler:she outright betrays the Conductor by making a deal with Minamimoto, wanting to be the new Conductor when he becomes Composer.]]

* [[TheDragon Craft]] in VideoGame/MegaManZero4 is one of these and makes this apparent [[NearVillainVictory when his boss]] [[BigBad Dr. Weil]] [[NearVillainVictory is about to destroy Area Zero and the Resistance with it]]. Craft fires the KillSat that Dr. Weil was planning to use on Area Zero at Neo Arcadia, destroying the city. Unfortunately, Weil survives this. Interestingly, Craft betrays Weil to protect Neige.

* In ''Video/SonicTheHedgehog'', Dr. Eggman seems to have a talent for attracting these:

* During ComicBook/DarkReign, Norman Osborn put together a cabal of the best villains to help him hold onto power. Unfortunately, he ran into this trope: Doctor Doom was only in it to get back control of Latveria after his last... foray against the Avengers, Loki was in it for as long as it amused him (and later, as part of a plan to force Asgard to leave Midgard space), ComicBook/EmmaFrost was only there because she was desperate to save the mutants, and Namor was only there because he needed the political clout to rebuild Atlantis (and support Emma, who he wanted to get back together with). Later he adds Taskmaster to the group, who's only really there for the money, and unknown to Osborn, had previously helped Deadpool mess with Norman's plans.
** In fairness, Osborn did realize that this was happening, and was starting a plan to build a new Cabal who ''wouldn't'' randomly try to kill him. [[ComicBook/{{Siege}} Unfortunately, y'know...]]

* One of Aizen’s right-hand men, Gin in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' fills in this example. The reason it took so long for Gin to become a captain is because Aizen fought to hold on to Gin as his lieutenant for as long as he could. When Aizen betrays Soul Society, he states that even after Gin became a captain, he still viewed Gin as his "lieutenant". However, Aizen's villainy centres around a vendetta against the Soul King, the reason for which isn't explained. Even Gin's oldest friend, Rangiku, cannot fathom why Gin serves Aizen so faithfully. [[spoiler:Aizen stole a piece of Rangiku's soul when she was a child and Gin swore to avenge her; by becoming one of Aizen's right hands, he eventually learned Aizen's weakness. Unfortunately for Gin, Aizen knew Gin's motives all along and factored them into his plans.]]

* Aizen’s CoDragons Gin and Tōsen in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' both fill in this trope.
** The reason it took so long for Gin to become a captain is because Aizen fought to hold on to Gin as his lieutenant for as long as he could. When Aizen betrays Soul Society, he states that even after Gin became a captain, he still viewed Gin as his "lieutenant". However, Aizen's villainy centres around a vendetta against the Soul King, the reason for which isn't explained. Even Gin's oldest friend, Rangiku, cannot fathom why Gin serves Aizen so faithfully. [[spoiler:Aizen stole a piece of Rangiku's soul when she was a child and Gin swore to avenge her; by becoming one of Aizen's right hands, he eventually learned Aizen's weakness. Unfortunately for Gin, Aizen knew Gin's motives all along and factored them into his plans.]]
** Tōsen had his own goals when he joined Aizen but unlike Gin who wanted to kill Aizen, Tōsen was more loyal to him but still had his own agenda. While Aizen wanted to become a being to overthrow the Soul King, Tōsen wanted to bring absolute justice to the Soul Society and to have revenge for his best friends death.

* Aizen’s CoDragons Gin and Tōsen in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' both fit in this trope.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': The reason it took so long for Gin to become a captain is because Aizen fought to hold on to Gin as his lieutenant for as long as he could. When Aizen betrays Soul Society, he states that even after Gin became a captain, he still viewed Gin as his "lieutenant". However, Aizen's villainy centres around a vendetta against the Soul King, the reason for which isn't explained. Even Gin's oldest friend, Rangiku, cannot fathom why Gin serves Aizen so faithfully. [[spoiler:Aizen stole a piece of Rangiku's soul when she was a child and Gin swore to avenge her; by becoming one of Aizen's right hands, he eventually learned Aizen's weakness. Unfortunately for Gin, Aizen knew Gin's motives all along and factored them into his plans.]]

* ''Series/TheSopranos'': In season 1, Tony allowed his Uncle Junior to become the official Boss of the family since he would become the FBI's main target instead of Tony, who could still exercise power through the other capos, who recognized him as de facto leader. Eventually, it became a minor MobWar when Junior realized that his nephew had fleeced him, one which Tony won.

* Shenzi from ''Disney/TheLionKing'' has an agenda. As the Matriarch of the hyena clan, who the BigBad Scar used to keep the Pride Lands under control, she seemed to just want freedom, power, and food for her clan.

%% ** In ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM'', [[spoiler:Snively]] in the final minutes of the series finale was revealed to be this.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': The reason it took so long for Gin to become a captain is because Aizen fought to hold on to Gin as his lieutenant for as long as he could. When Aizen betrays Soul Society, he states that even after Gin became a captain, he still viewed Gin as his "lieutenant". However, Aizen's villainy centres around a vendetta against the Soul King, the reason for which isn't explained. Even Gin's oldest friend, Rangiku, cannot fathom why Gin serves Aizen so faithfully. [[spoiler:Aizen stole a piece of Rangiku's soul when she was a child and Gin swore to avenge her; by becoming Aizen's right hand, he eventually learned Aizen's weakness. Unfortunately for Gin, Aizen knew Gin's motives all along and factored them into his plans.]]

* ''VideoGame/KisekiSeries''

* [[spoiler: Neomutant]] in ''WebAnimation/{{TOME}}'' is a rare example where the DragonWithAnAgenda is actually ''worse'' than the BigBad without having any [[TheStarscream aspirations of power themselves]]. [[spoiler: Neomutant helped Rubirules develop the Antivirus in order to control Kajet, but made sure to program it to murder the person it was attached to when activated - namely, Flamegirl. He wanted [[IfICantHaveYou revenge on her for rejecting him]], and is the only human in this series to deliberately attempt murder.]]

** Lord Hong from ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'' is this to the emperor, and only just fails being TheStarscream by way of not really being bothered about having his old boss's land.

* [[VideoGame/MetalGear Revolver Ocelot]]. In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', Ocelot has been seemingly working for the BigBad, but working behind their backs, and usually the backs of the people he's supposedly really working for. The portrayal of him in Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound even named the trope ChronicBackstabbingDisorder. The only MGS game he ISN'T this trope is the one where he's [[spoiler: not actually]] the BigBad himself, ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', where his agenda comes to fruition. Even in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'', he still has his own agenda while working loyally for the player character, in that he [[spoiler: betrays the player]].
* In ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed'', it is revealed that Darth Vader has been Palpatine's Dragon with an Agenda much earlier than the "I am Your Father" Scene in Episode V mentioned under Film. Vader tries pulling off a similar speech to the young Starkiller, but proves unable to sway him.
** In the "Dark Side" DLC available for some versions of the game, Starkiller actually becomes a Dragon with an Agenda appealing to Luke Skywalker.
* [[TheBrute Astaroth]] in the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'', [[AllThereInTheManual according to the backstory]].
* Just nearly ''every'' dragon in ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' has their [[TheStarscream own hidden agenda]] or suffer from ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.
* In ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII'', you eventually learn [[spoiler:[[TheChessmaster Albert Silverberg]] orchestrated everything just to prove his skill as a strategist. He then casually derails it and walks away, likely leaving many players [[KarmaHoudini aching for a chance to settle the score]]. Or at least wipe that not-quite-smile off his face]].
* From the VideoGame/PaperMario series, we have [[spoiler:you guessed it; Dimentio]]. In this case, TheDragon is even ''more'' evil; an outright OmnicidalManiac instead of a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds.
** The player was clued into the fact that [[spoiler:Dimentio]]'s trying to work behind Count Bleck's back pretty early on. However, it isn't until the end of the game that we learn that he's really higher up on the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, instead of just being a ReverseMole.
** Before that, we had the Thousand Year Door, where power hungry [[BigBad Sir Grodus]] tried to unearth an ancient power. [[spoiler:Too bad said ancient power was a [[SealedEvilInACan demoness whom Beldam served]], and wanted to spring free. Grodus ends up living as a talking head afterwards.]]

* [[spoiler:Cabadath, the Tall Man]] from the ''VideoGame/ChzoMythos''. The central conflict of the series, in fact, is him resisting [[spoiler:replacement by [[BigBad Chzo]]. He fails in the last game, and the PlayerCharacter Theo becomes TheDragon.]]

* The Ancient Minister and Ganondorf, as well as possibly Bowser, ''all'' take this role in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'''s Subspace Emissary.
* Hawke in the ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' series. especially noticeable in ''Dual Strike'' as he actively chafes against Von Bolt taking control of Black Hole [[spoiler:and eventually ends up leaving him for the heroes.]]
* Samir Duran could be considered a Dragon With An Agenda compared to the BigBad Infested Kerrigan in ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' when we [[spoiler:discover some of his agenda in ''Dark Origin'']]. He could also be viewed as an EnigmaticMinion [[spoiler:and TheMole (against two different factions!)]]
* Colonel Autumn from ''{{Videogame/Fallout 3}}'' counts, as both he and the President have different aims for Project Purity. He wants to use it as leverage to [[spoiler:control]] all the free humans in the Capitol Wastelands, and President Eden wants to use it to [[spoiler:exterminate]] everything in the Capitol Wastelands. It's also why [[DragonTheirFeet he takes the opportunity to split as soon as the Lone Wanderer hits the Enclave base.]]
* In ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'' (as well as some non-OG games, to an extent), Shu Shirakawa acts as this to Bian Zoldark. Bian is well aware that Shu is both more powerful and more interested in pursuing his own goals, and he actually ''requests'' for Shu to [[DragonTheirFeet merely observe during his final battle]].
%%* [[spoiler:Cyril]] in ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory''

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' reveals that [[spoiler:Saix and Axel were planning on overthrowing Xemnas together, and Axel had actually been following Saix's plan throughout Chain of Memories. Neither of them got as far as becoming TheStarscream, however - Axel's friendship with Roxas and Xion led him away from the plan, and Saix apparently ended up dropping the idea and BecomingTheMask.]]
** [[spoiler:Xigbar]] also seems to have shades of this, looking back after ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', as he knows more about the backstory and mechanics of everything than the BigBad, and is almost certainly manipulating his boss to an extent. He is confirmed to be this in the 2.5 Remix of Re:coded, when he outright says that he has his own plans.
*** Further revealed in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII''. He wanted the big bad's specific keyblade as it was necessary for his own plans, and was essentially just putting up with and going through the motions of supporting the big bad's plans to ensure it would be given when the big bad was defeated.
** Vanitas displays hints of this in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', by nearly killing a key member of his master's EvilPlan before they've done their job, and allowing another person to live as a "plan b" in his own words suggests he has plans of his own, but in a subversion winds up following his master's plan exactly anyway.

* Wrestling/IvelisseVelez in SHINE Wrestling's Valkyrie. Rain, Allysin Kay, Taylor Made and April Hunter all had vendettas against the promotion in general, Vélez wanted to prove she was the best in the world. You'd be surprised how well that ended up ''not'' working out.
* Out of WWE's Authority Wrestling/TripleH and Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon wanted what was "best for business", and they thought Wrestling/RandyOrton being WWE Champion and [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] not was just that. Wrestling/{{Kane}} thought ruining people's lives was best for business but Triple H and co were good at that so he threw his lot in with them. Wrestling/TheShield wanted "justice". They sided with the Authority because they thought it was an injustice that their career paths were decided on the whims of the "WWE Universe" instead of their bosses and so attacked [[{{face}} fan favorite wrestlers]] to ensure the WWE Universe [[KickTheDog did not get what it wanted]]. But after their stablemates decided to attack Wrestling/JerryLawler, they came to the conclusion [[HeelFaceTurn the Authority was the biggest injustice in WWE]].