History Main / TheRuinsICaused

* ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' has an indirect and regretful variation where teenage Danny looks at April's apartment building (and father's antique store) burning down from a few blocks away, after providing the Foot with the information about where to find her and the turtles. From the look on his face he's clearly starting to feel guilt and doubt about his loyalties.

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

[[caption-width-right:260:And nothing of value was lost.[[note]]From top to bottom: ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'', ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'', ''VideoGame/MegaManX'', and ''VideoGame/SuperCastlevaniaIV''.[[/note]]]]

* It happens sometimes in ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' stories:

[[folder:Film--Animated]]
* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}} TheMovie's'' ending is on the ruins of a megastructure the protagonists tore down on a clear morning after the storm.

[[folder:Film--Live Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' ([[VideoGame/MegaManMaverickHunterX and its remake]]) ends with X watching from a cliff how Sigma's fortress plummets into the sea after he escapes. ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'' has a similar shot with X joined by Zero (if the latter didn't die during the game) while watching the ruins of Doppler's fortress.

-->--'''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipio_Aemilianus Scipio Aemilianus Africanus]]''' at the ruins of Carthage invoking this trope. It is almost certain that he was using Troy as a RomanAClef for Rome itself.

* ''Literature/TheBible'': Defied in the Book of Jonah. After delivering his message to the Ninevites that {{God}} intends to destroy Ninevah, he climbs a cliff outside the city to watch it happen. There's nothing to see, however, because the point of his mission was to warn the Ninevites to change their ways and pray for another chance... which they've done.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Happens in Chapter 26 of the original. Soren, Lily and the mages of Kyril's company [[BurnBabyBurn burn]] down [[SinisterMinister Grishom's]] cathedral. They then discuss how ugly this piece of architecture is as the building is in flames.

* Inverted in ''VideoGame/TheLostVikings''. If you get a game over, the scene shows the surviving viking(s) on a random shore, taking a glace on a burning boat drifting away. Push the continue button, and the dead vikings will be revived then you can continue the game.

* The ending of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'' has Diddy, Dixie and DK watching Crocodile Isle collapse into the ocean as the sun sets.

* Any time there's a major battle in ''Fanfic/SonicEvilRebornZero'', especially in a city. It doesn't help that there are sociopolitical and economic repercussions, Earthly and galactic.

* ''VideoGame/KunioTachiNoBanka'': After Kunio and Riki defeat Sabu in a BattleAmongstTheFlames, the duo escape and watch from a cliff-top as Sabu's mansion burns to the ground.