History Main / ThePowerOfLegacy

* In the ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "Black Dog Serenade", Jet learns that Fad, his partner from the days when Jet was a cop, is a DirtyCop and was involved in the ambush that caused Jet to lose his arm. (In fact, Fad fired the shot that destroyed Jet's arm.) Events of the episode imply Fad has become a [[DeathSeeker Death Seeking]] [[TheAtoner Atoner]] for his past misdeeds, and he all but [[SuicideByCop commits suicide by getting into a gunfight with Jet while his revolver is mostly unloaded]]. The end of the episode subtly implies that Jet arranged the scene in a way so that it will look like Fad died a hero's death against the bad guys he and Jet were there to take down.

* At the end of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', Snake gives a rather generic speech about how Grey Fox had wished the best for Naomi, who Fox had practically been a big brother to. Snake decides to skip the part where Grey Fox confessed that he had been the one who had killed Naomi's parents. [[MetaphoricallyTrue The way Snake probably sees it, telling Naomi]] [[TheAtoner how much Grey Fox really did care for her was more important]].

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[[quoteright:285:[[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Power_Of_Legacy_8330.JPG]]]]
[[caption-width-right:285:[-Stretching the truth to avoid shaming a fallen comrade: so morally ambiguous even ThePaladin can do it.-] ]]

* In the ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "Black Dog Serenade", Jet learns that Fad, his partner from the days when Jet was a cop, is a CorruptCop and was involved in the ambush that caused Jet to lose his arm. (In fact, Fad fired the shot that destroyed Jet's arm.) Events of the episode imply Fad has become a [[DeathSeeker Death Seeking]] [[TheAtoner Atoner]] for his past misdeeds, and he all but [[SuicideByCop commits suicide by getting into a gunfight with Jet while his revolver is mostly unloaded]]. The end of the episode subtly implies that Jet arranged the scene in a way so that it will look like Fad died a hero's death against the bad guys he and Jet were there to take down.

** In the non-canon ''Autobiography of James T. Kirk'', the log entry states that Decker was piloting the shuttle to the ''Constellation'' when he got caught by the planet killer and attempted to [[TakingYouWithMe take it down with him]], and this inspired Kirk to use the ''Constellation'' in a kamikaze attack.

Warning: EndingTrope[=/=]DeathTrope, uncensored spoilers ahead.

* In the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series the Andalite high command pressure Ax into doing this with his murdered older brother Elfangor upon learning he used his last minutes [[PrimeDirective to give morphing power to humans]]. Ax reluctantly takes the blame so that the Andalite citizens can continue remembering his brother as a hero untainted by disgrace (the war against the Yeerks started when an Andalite gave tech to less-advanced species). It's a rare case, though, where the decision to do so clearly isn't liked by the main characters, who feel the Andalites over-enforce their PrimeDirective law and because Ax has now been barred from advancing further in the military. [[spoiler:He becomes enough of own hero in the end, allowing him to be promoted to prince.]]

* ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/8793565/chapters/20159878 How the Light Gets In]]'' viciously deconstructs Oliver's decision to reveal to the world that Laurel was the Black Canary (see ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' below). As Sara points out, the authorities quickly looked into her husband to see if he was involved ([[RealityEnsues vigilantism is illegal after-all]]) and if he had been charged as an accomplice, their daughter would have lost both of her parents. Furthermore, having her epitaph merely be Black Canary reduced her identity, saying nothing about her as a person, and the courts seriously consider throwing out every case she ever worked on as an ADA, considering the work to be tainted. Her friend Joanna decides to to dedicate her career to ensuring this doesn't happen, which is seen as ''actually'' preserving her legacy.

* Probably the most famous example is from Joseph Conrad's ''Literature/HeartOfDarkness'', in which Kurtz's FamousLastWords were "The horror, the horror!" Marlow, however tells his fiancee that "His last words were... your name."

* Happens twice in Creator/SimonRGreen's first ''Hawk & Fisher'' novel: once when the BattleCouple Guards claim that TheRenfield of a vampire they'd battled was just another victim, and again when they blame ''all'' the deaths at Gaunt's mansion on [[spoiler: the guest who was secretly a werewolf]]. In the former case, it's to spare the feelings of the man's widow; in the latter, it's to preserve [[spoiler: Adam Stalker's reputation as a hero Haven's people can look up to]].

* In ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope,'' Obi-Wan tells Luke about his father, who Luke believes is dead. According to Obi-Wan, Luke's father was "the best star pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior, and a good friend." All of this used to be true about Anakin, as revealed in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', but Obi-Wan conveniently leaves out the part where Anakin turns to the dark side, helps kill all of the Jedi (including children) and becomes Darth Vader, instead claiming that [[FromACertainPointOfView Vader murdered Anakin when he betrayed the Jedi Order]]. As such, Luke remembers his father as a hero until the [[LukeIAmYourFather infamous scene where he learns the truth from Vader on Bespin]].

* ''LightNovel/AscendanceOfABookworm'': At some point, a Knight ordered to guard Myne attacks her because she's a commoner holding a job usually given to those of noble blood, but currently experiencing shortage of applicants of proper lineage. In the process, he worsens the problem both Myne and the group of Knights he's part of were sent were sent to fix. He gets executed, and his family gets two options: getting punished themselves or having his father sign a contract promising nobody in the family will ever interact with Myne in the future and paying a fee. The latter option, with was taken, comes with the extra feature of replacing the Knight's attack on Myne and execution by a honorable death in battle in official records.

* In ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope,'' Obi-Wan tells Luke about his father, who Luke believes is dead. According to Obi-Wan, Luke's father was "the best star pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior, and a good friend." All of this used to be true about Anakin, as revealed in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', but Obi-Wan conveniently leaves out the part where Anakin turns to the dark side, helps kill all of the Jedi (including children) and becomes Darth Vader, instead claiming that [[FromACertainPointOfView Vader murdered Anakin when he betrayed the Jedi Order]] As such, Luke remembers his father as a hero until the [[LukeIAmYourFather infamous scene where he learns the truth from Vader on Bespin]].

* In ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope,'' Obi-Wan tells Luke about his father, who Luke believes is dead. According to Obi-Wan, Luke's father was "the best star pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior, and a good friend." [[FromACertainPointOfView Whether or not he's actually lying is up for debate]] (remember the scene between Luke and his ghost on Dagobah), but he does leave out telling Luke about how his father betrayed the Jedi council, crossed over to the dark side, helped kill all the Jedi, including children, etc. Luke remembers his father as a hero until the famous LukeIAmYourFather scene.

[[TearJerker And truthfully wrote the Mother,]] [[GoOutWithASmile "Tim died smiling."]]''

* PlayedForLaughs on ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment''. Tobias paints himself blue and walks off to an audition for the Music/BlueManGroup. Unfortunately, he's hit by a car and taken to the hospital. (In a variation on this trope, he lives.) At the hospital, it's revealed that Michael was the last person to see him before he left.
-->'''Lindsey:''' Did he say anything?\\

* Something close to this trope happens on ''Series/ModernFamily''. Gloria takes Alex with her to meet her psychic adviser. Alex, an intellectual, deduces early on that the woman relies on ColdReading, and when she claims to speak for Gloria's deceased grandmother, it's clear that she is just telling her what she wants to hear. However, Alex decides to keep quiet after seeing how the psychic's words bring Gloria comfort.

* [[LordOfTheRings Boromir's]] dying words are a confession: "I tried to take the Ring from Frodo. I am sorry. I have paid." Even when discussing where Frodo has gone, Aragorn refuses to tell the others this.

* ''Film/TheDarkKnight'': Batman takes the blame for Two-Face's actions, in order to keep Harvey Dent's "White Knight" reputation intact (and to make sure the criminals Harvey put behind bars stay there). There were other options, [[WebAnimation/HowItShouldHaveEnded such as blaming the Joker]], but those weren't brought up, and were slightly less airtight.
** The power is strong enough that years later during the events of ''The Dark Knight Rises'' Gotham celebrates Harvey Dent Day and crime rates are at an all-time low. [[spoiler:Bane shatters the legacy by revealing the truth]].