History Main / ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimSelf

* Played sort-of straight and simultaneously spoofed in ''Film/HotFuzz''. The hero is in a gas station, struggling with the decision of whether or not to return to try and save the village. After some inspiration thanks to seeing ''Point Break'' and ''Bad Boys 2'' on DVD, he stops at the counter to purchase some badass sunglasses. The extremely wired-looking attendant asks "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?" The response, of course, in a deep, gravelly, action-hero voice is, "No... This is something I have to do myself."

* Parodied in [[http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/0069.html this]] ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}} strip.''
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' uses the phrase in [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=441 its tribute]] to ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4''.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'' Rumisiel is explicitly forbidden to interfere in one of Ash's races for this reason.

* ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'': Sarine [[http://www.errantstory.com/2005-08-01/395 invokes this with Jon]], although she has an [[QuitYourWhining ulterior motive]].
-->'''Meji:''' Um... he did know that I could just as easily have blown up their entire camp for him instead, right?\\
'''Sarine:''' Quiet... he needs this, I think. If nothing else, at least it'll probably make him stop whining for a little while.
* In ''Webcomic/ButtlordGT'', the secondary characters [[LampshadeHanging mock their tendency]] to [[AffectionateParody never assist in main-character fights:]]
-->"We must get to a nearby cliff to grunt and sweat but offer no help!"

* ''Literature/CanYouSpareAQuarter'': Jamie decides to go alone to his former home, without telling Graham and Frank where he is heading to and insisting that he has to go alone. [[spoiler:It almost gets him killed]].

--> '''Gohan''': Shouldn't we help him?
--> '''Piccolo''': Can't you see he's got to fight this battle on his own? He's doing it to avenge his fallen comrade!
--> '''Tien''' ''(getting brutally beaten by Nappa)'': HELP ME! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, HELP ME PLEASE!
-->'''Piccolo''' ''(smirking)'': ... like a hero.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/CareBearsAdventuresInCareALot'', Grizzle manages to steal Funshine's belly badge and uses it to try and take over Care-a-lot. Funshine tricks Grizzle and gets his badge back to prove the episode's [[AnAesop aesop]], but the fact remains that there were myriads of still-badged Care Bears who didn't lift a finger to help him.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'':
** When a few members of the team end up in the Old West, Jonah Hex prevents them from getting between the local town's hero and the main bad guy, because, in Hex's words: "A man's gotta settle his own accounts".
** At the conclusion of the "War World" two-parter, Draaga insists on [[LeaveHimToMe fighting Mongul himself]]. (And he has good reason to, as Mongul is a despot whose rule depends on BreadAndCircuses, who was blackmailing Draaga into compliance for years). The heroes step aside and let him do so, simply telling him to watch Mongul's left hook.

* Season 3 premiere of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' had this for Twilight, who must retrieve the Crystal Heart to save the empire. Subverted in the end, as [[spoiler:Twilight got trapped and had to get Spike to finish the quest instead]]. She falls into this situation a few more times, such as retrieving her Element of Magic in an alternate universe or [[spoiler:taking on all the powers of the Princesses to take down Tirek]]. Ironically, the pony who told her to do this alone is the same pony who told her to learn the magic of Friendship.

'''Optimus Prime:''' Mmmm...no, we won't be doing that.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE49IAmTheNight I Am the Night]]", Batman [[TenMinuteRetirement withdraws into the Batcave]] after he arrives too late to keep Jim Gordon from being shot. Dick tries to snap him out of it and then suits up to go and protect Gordon from the assailant (who broke out of prison and is likely to come back to finish the job). ''That'' brings Batman back to himself:
-->'''Batman:''' No, Dick -- this is my hunt.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' explores this, where Jedi Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger have private matters pertaining to the Force, such as their trip to the cryptic Malachor or their confrontation with Force-sensitive Inquisitors away from their crew. This trope is implicitly acknowledged by Hera, a non-Force Sensitive, who sometimes wishes Kanan would allow her more involvement in Force matters.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats1985'', [[TheLeader Lion-O]] accepts a caveman's challenge to arm wrestle over the time capsule that they had been searching for. The others arrive midway through, but Lion-O tells [[CowardlyLion Snarf]] that as the one who accepted the challenge, he's going to do it without their help. [[TheBigGuy Panthro]] stops [[TheLancer Tygra]] from intervening moments later for the same reason.
* {{Subverted|Trope}} on ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''--when [[SadClown Amethyst]] realizes that she's a "defective" Quartz, she's convinced that she has to defeat [[TheBrute Jasper]], the "[[BornWinner Ultimate Quartz Warrior]]," alone in order to prove her worth. However, [[CurbStompBattle Jasper really IS far stronger than Amethyst]]. Eventually, [[TheHeart Steven]] snaps her out of this, and they fight her with ThePowerOfFriendship [[spoiler:[[WrongContextMagic by fusing]]]].
-->'''Steven:''' Stop trying to be like Jasper! You're nothing like Jasper! ''You're like [[HalfHumanHybrid ME]],'' because we're both not like anybody! And yeah, it sucks. But I least I've got you, and you've got me. So stop leaving me out of this.

-->'''Kingpin:''' Send the guards home.
-->'''Wesley:''' ''[confused]'' But, sir...
-->'''Kingpin:''' I was raised in the Bronx, Wesley. This is something you wouldn't understand.

* In ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}'', Sarah reaches the goblin castle and with the help of her friends reaches Jareth's inner chamber but tells her companions that she has to face Jareth herself, because "that's the way it's done". When they hear this explanation, they agree and let her venture into the final confrontation.

* This is the reason Picard gives when he goes alone to the ''Scimitar'' in ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' instead of, you know, sending the security chief or someone else more expendable and adept at combat. Moreso, since [[spoiler:Shinzon is a clone of Picard, Picard feels that it must be he that eliminates this side of him]]. Too bad, since [[spoiler:we end up losing Data because of this]].
* Quoted word for word by Frederick (Froederick?) in ''Film/YoungFrankenstein.'' The monster disagrees.
* ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', Obi-Wan tells Luke that if he faces Darth Vader in combat on Bespin, he couldn't get involved as he had previously. Before Disney acquired Star Wars, this was a slight reference to when Luke and Leia dueled Vader on Mimban in the 1978 novel ''Splinter of the Mind's Eye'', where Kenobi briefly possessed Luke during the duel.
* ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'': Harry faces Voldemort alone after Ron gives a "[[ItsUpToYou Not me, not Hermione, you]]!" speech essentially to this effect.
* ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'' - Kerim Bey insists to Bond that he has to shoot Krilencu himself, injured hand or no.
* ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'': Fighting the Dinobots is something Optimus Prime has to do alone, and later, flying into space and confronting the creators.

* This is Glinda's justification for not telling Dorothy about the powers of the ruby slippers immediately in ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''
* The climactic final fight in ''Film/MyBodyguard'' in which the title character, having faced [[spoiler: an adult professional goon brought in by the bully]] coaches the nerdy little rich kid who hired him into [[spoiler: fighting and defeating the bully for himself.]]
* ''Film/RevengeForJolly'': Cecil spends a day helping Harry track down the man who murdered his dog, but in the end, Harry tells Cecil to wait in the car while Harry kills him. Cecil feels betrayed, but doesn't follow him into the house.

* In the TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms novel ''Azure Bonds'' Alias tells her party "Back away. He's mine!". Elminster not only refrained from intervention but prevented [[spoiler:Nameless Bard from shooting heavily enchanted bolt into Phalse's eye]], and arguing that "She must finish this battle alone"... "So she can prove to herself, and to thee, that she is her own master."
** It's worth noting that in the hands of Grubb and Novak, Elminster is more often used to prevent a DeusExMachina. Less the case in Ed Greenwood's...
* In ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' Paul Atreides is dueling Feyd-Rautha and realizes that he could use a code word that was placed into Feyd-Rautha's subconscious to stun him for a second, thus saving his life. Paul [[spoiler:refuses to do so because This Is Something He's Got To Do Himself. Interestingly, when he says, "I will not say it!" (meaning use the code word), that is enough to distract Feyd-Rautha so Paul can win]].

* In Bernard Cornwell's [[Literature/TheSaxonStories Saxon Stories]], Ragnar the Younger has one of these against his old enemy Kjartan. This trope name is actually invoked by one of the characters when the main character wants to intervene, saying basically, "It's his fight, and he will never forgive you if you interfere."
* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia''
** In ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'' (book and movie both), Aslan will not allow the Narnian army to interfere with Peter's fight against one of the White Witch's wolves, saying "Let the prince win his spurs." (book)/"This is Peter's battle." (movie) After Peter emerges victorious all on his own, Aslan dubs him "Sir Peter Wolf's-Bane, Knight of Narnia."
** In ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew'', Jadis tempts Digory with the Apple of Life by telling him he could use it to cure his ailing mother. Because his treachery would be known otherwise, Jadis tells him he should leave Polly and use his ring to return home. Digory refuses, because while he knows Polly has a ring and could get back on her own, he knows the witch doesn't know that, so he suspects she's got an ulterior motive. Polly has been watching the whole time, and could've intervened, but refused. Because it wasn't her mother that needed that apple.
* Lampshaded in ''End Game'' by Creator/PeterDavid (the finale of the pilot of the ''Literature/StarTrekNewFrontier'' novel series), in which TheCaptain fights a desperate one-on-one battle on a planet which is blasting itself apart under him. He wins, only to find himself stranded [[ConvectionSchmonvection amidst lava flows]]. His second in command then arrives in [[HoverBoard anti-gravity boots]] and rescues him, explaining that she knew he would insist on fighting alone, but now it was time to do things the easy way.
* During ''Unholy Allies'', one of the tie-in novels for ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'', a renegade vampiric assassin challenges one of the protagonist's allies to a duel. When another ally suggests getting involved, Madeline (another vampire assassin) promptly invokes this trope... but does say that she'll step in immediately should their ally die.

* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'': ''The Last Hope'', [[BigGood Firestar]] and [[BigBad Tigerstar]] are ready for their FinalBattle. This trope happens twice. When [[TheLancer Graystripe]] was about to step in, [[CoolOldGuy Whitestorm]] holds him back, saying it was Firestar's battle. The second time happens when [[ActionMom Sorreltail]] holds [[FieryRedhead Sandstorm]] back when it looks like Tigerstar is overpowering Firestar.
** Brambleclaw is also held back from helping Ivypool against Hawkfrost and told that it's Ivypool's fight. He doesn't listen.

* {{Justified|Trope}} amusingly in the ''Literature/AlcatrazSeries''. Leavenworth Smedry gets into a WizardsDuel with the BigBad, and Alcatraz suggests they help.
-->'''Bastille:''' We can't interfere!\\
'''Alcatraz:''' Why? Some stupid code of honor?\\
'''Bastille:''' No! If we get too close to them, the power will vaporize us!

* Jonas cites this trope in ''Literature/{{Son}}'' as the reason he can't aid Gabe in fighting Trademaster.
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'' the duel between Belgarath and Ctuchik is a one on one fight - not because Belgarath's companions don't want to help but any additional sorcerous power added to the situation would obliterate them both.
* ''Literature/PleaseDontTellMyParentsIveGotHenchmen'': Penny has to make her hero debut without Ray and Claire since it would be too obvious that they were the villainous team the Inscrutable Machine if they all appeared together.
* Literature/CiaphasCain ends up having to fight a giant ork warboss alone due to this trope. As orks function on KlingonPromotion and AsskickingLeadsToLeadership, none of the Korbul's bodyguards join in the fight (as it's basically implying the boss is too much of a pansy to fight his battles himself). This also means Jurgen (who has a melta, a weapon used to melt tanks) can't join in, leaving Cain to fight Korbul with only a chainsword and a laspistol.
* This is an ongoing theme in ''Literature/HarryPotter'', applying to Harry himself, and his enemy Voldemort. Harry regularly refuses help, because he cannot bear anybody to die on his behalf. Voldemort refuses to let anyone else kill Harry because he is determined to prove that what happened when Harry was a baby was a fluke and he is the superior wizard.

'''Zoe:''' Oh. ''[they open fire]''

* Abed from ''Series/{{Community}}'' gets dangerously genre-savvy about it (as though Abed is ever any other way):
-->'''Abed:''' So, how does this play out? Is there going to be a moment in this fight when I finally step up and learn to stand up for myself?\\
'''Jeff:''' ...maybe you should just hang back.\\
'''Abed:''' Yeah, okay, I will. ''[beat]'' IN HIS FACE!!!
* Reese from ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' gets a bad case of this when the number of the week coincides with a cold case [[spoiler:Detective Carter was unable to solve before her death]]. Due to his insistence on investigating the case alone and not so much as telling the rest of his team where he's going, he very nearly gets himself killed. [[spoiler:Carter herself calls him out on it via hallucination.]]
* ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'' has a variation in an early episode, where a [[MonsterOfTheWeek Worm]] imitates Kagami's dead brother. Though Kagami can't actually fight the Worm himself (he doesn't have a TransformationTrinket), Tendou[=/=]Kabuto refuses to fight seriously until Kagami accepts that his real brother lives on in his memories, and not as a monster copying his form.
* Deconstructed in ''[[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand Spartacus: Vengeance]]'', in which Naevia insists on personally duelling Ashur, whose rape of her began her TraumaCongaLine. He nearly kills her given his superior strength and skill, and she only survives because he lapses into EvilGloating rather than striking the fatal blow, allowing her to surprise him with a GroinAttack.

* In the ''Franchise/StarFox'' series:
** In ''VideoGame/StarFox64'', near the end of Venom, the final mission, Fox will leave behind his teammates to "go it alone" against the final boss.
** This gets a repeat in ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero'', but with drastically different setpieces -- after repelling a second assault on Corneria, Andross uses a wormhole to abduct General Pepper and deploy his [[ThatOneBoss Gigarilla]]. After shutting the machine down, Andross appears via hologram to taunt Star Fox, and as Slippy notes the wormhole closing, Fox declares he's going in alone and speeds off into it.
--->'''Peppy:''' [[OhCrap Fox! Don't!]]
* In the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'':
** The DuelBoss in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' between [[spoiler:Lloyd and Kratos]] is one of these, and is set up as one in advance. While either side ''could'' easily bring multiple parties into it, neither side wants to because of the personal catharsis involved. [[spoiler:Sheena]]'s duel with [[spoiler:Kuchinawa]] is another example.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'':
*** Hilariously subverted by Eizen and Zaveid. The first time they square off, they both yell at Velvet and her party to stay out of it. Velvet just says no and [[MeleeATrois beats them both up]] to get everyone back on task.
*** Played with in regards to Shigure. In the final battle, [[spoiler:after Shigure reveals [[IAmNotLeftHanded he'd been holding back in the past]], Velvet informs Rokurou in no uncertain terms the rest of the party will be fighting with him. Neither brother objects, but once they've slowed Shigure down enough for it to be a fair clash, the rest back off so Rokurou and Shigure can duel to the final strike.]]
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'':
*** Yuri pulls this card; he leaves the rest of the party at Halure to head to [[spoiler:Zaphias, where Alexei is holding a BrainwashedAndCrazy Estelle. Presumably, the logic is that, since he's proven himself to be a VigilanteMan who won't hesitate to kill when necessary, he's the only one who will have the guts to put Estelle out of her misery]]. He only makes it halfway when the rest of the party [[SubvertedTrope catches up and beats the crap out of him for doing something so stupid]]. And then he figures out what the right thing to do in this situation is.
*** Arguably [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] with Judith. [[spoiler:Since her father created the deadly Hermes Blastia, she believes that she's the only one who should worry about dealing with them and tried not to get the party involved. This belief is treated as a very bad thing, and in fact causes serious problems for the party at one point.]]
* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'', Ike decides to fight the Black Knight by himself [[spoiler:but Mist will run in anyway if she hasn't fallen in battle]]. Then in the sequel ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', both Ike and the Black Knight agree ItsPersonal, so the Black Knight puts up a big wall in the middle of the battlefield, separating the two from everyone else. Ike's weapon is the only weapon that can damage the Black Knight anyways, so it's really a JustifiedTrope. Also, the main characters of other ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games ''attempt'' to go alone, but other characters insist on helping out.
* Several ''VideoGame/Persona2'' choices can be made like this. Allowing the interested parties to settle their own accounts at the right moments will net them their evolved Personae, having transcended their issues and unlocking their true potential. There is one subversion in ''Eternal Punishment'', though - [[spoiler:you do have to interfere to stop Baofu from attacking a vision of Reverse Odysseus in order to avoid Lisa having her memories awoken]].
* Discussed in ''VideoGame/Persona5 Royal''. During a talk with Akechi and the protagonist on the 11th of July in a cafe, when asked by Akechi, Kasumi responds to him that she disagrees with the Phantom Thieves because people should be relying on themselves to solve their own problems and not by other people. This takes a [[spoiler:''very'' ironic twist in the game's final stretch, as "Kasumi" is actually Sumire who felt guilty for her sister, the real Kasumi preventing her from committing suicide because she felt inferior to her in every way. As a result, she asked Takuto to solve her very own problems by turning her into Kasumi via his cognitive manipulation powers, effectively being the ''exact reverse'' of what she told Akechi in the cafe.]]
* In ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', if you choose to fight the second battle with Magus and Frog is in your party, Frog insists upon fighting Magus by himself.
** Doubly epic if you use the Masumune (and quite difficult too)
** There is also [[spoiler:Robo's fight against [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Atropos]] in Geno Dome.]]
* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', during the first visit to the [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Pride Lands]], Sora tells Donald and Goofy to hang back from Simba's fight with Scar, asserting that it's something Simba has to do himself. But when Scar comes back from defeat as a Heartless, they're happy to join in.
** Mickey uses this on Donald and Goofy in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance]]'' before he [[spoiler:heads off to find and save Sora and Riku]] since he needs them to stay behind and protect their world.

* Just before the DuelBoss with [[spoiler:Cecil's dark side]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', Cecil tells the Twins and Tellah to "Stay back. This is a fight for me, and me alone."
* All over the place in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', the heroes always battle their villain alone. If they're accompanied by allies, like Terra and Bartz are, they will directly tell their allies "I'll handle this" and fight alone.
** A similar case happens with Barret in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' where former friend Dyne attacks the party and Barret tells his friends to back off because this is a fight he has to deal with by himself.
---> "''Cloud, you stay the hell out of it! This is MY problem!!''"
** In one attempted subversion, Squall is attacked by both Ultimecia and Garland, and resolves to fight both of them alone, only for Zidane to [[DynamicEntry charge in]] and tell Squall to stop ''showing off'' and take care of Ultimecia.
* Played with in ''VideoGame/{{Siren}}''. Shiro nearly quotes the trope verbatim as he [[spoiler:goes to finish off the Onda sisters]]. However, by this point, he has [[spoiler:murdered his twin brother and assumed his identity]], making the whole 'Things you have to do for yourself' bit a little ironic...
* [[CatGirl Buki]] of ''VideoGame/{{Sudeki}}'' takes on a giant spider boss monster by herself because "Like me, he is a Shadani Warrior" (this was actually a game design decision -- bosses simply worked better against lone characters)
** Only one boss is fought with your full party, and he acts more like a KingMook than the rest of the bosses. He also brings in swarms of Mooks to back him up.
* In ''VideoGame/Fallout3'', this is forced on the player at the end, when [[spoiler:you're asked to make a moral choice to either save the world and get exposed to lethal radiation or chicken out and have a heroic woman do it for you. At this point, it's possible to have a Super Mutant follower who is completely immune to radiation. If you ask ''him'' to do it, he just says that the conundrum is something you have to work out for yourself.]]

* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' gives you a huge approval bonus with [[spoiler:Nick Valentine]] if you stay out of his fight with [[spoiler:Eddie Winter]].
* The Extended Cut of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' has Shepard order away his/her squadmates to safety, while they make the run to the portal leading to the Citadel by themselves.
* In ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'', it is possible to choose to [[spoiler:solo the fight against Barubary, a demon who is the cause of much trauma in Ryu's childhood. The fight is pretty difficult even with a full party, but your reward for beating him with Ryu alone is an obscure hint as to the location of treasure in his dungeon]].

* In ''VideoGame/DragonballXenoverse'', as the PlayerCharacter and Goku battle Frieza on the exploding Namek, Goku thanks the player for their help, but asks them to let him finish the fight. There's obvious hesitation, but you agree.

-->'''Chris''': You get out of here.
-->'''Claire''': But what about--
-->'''Chris''': As a surviving member of S.T.A.R.S., I have to finish my mission.
-->'''Claire''': Ok...remember your promise!
* {{Deconstructed|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII''. Nei has to defeat [[spoiler: her evil sister Neifirst]] herself. [[spoiler: And, because Neifirst is in fact far stronger than her, she [[PlotlineDeath gets herself killed]], at which point the rest of the party have to fight Neifirst.]]

* A variant occurs in the climax of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' story arc ''ComicBook/TheKangDynasty'': Captain America enters into a one-on-one fight with Kang to conclude the war, and Thor prevents their teammates from interfering, insisting that they instead focus on saving survivors from the destruction caused by Kang's crashed ship. The heroes protest vehemently, claiming that a monster like Kang deserves a group beatdown and not an honorable fight. Thor replies solemnly that it is one-on-one not out of respect, but [[BadassBoast because Cap alone will be sufficient]].

* In ''ComicBook/{{Scion}}'', Ethan and Bron have a big showdown on the Sanctuary island. The Heron royals and Ashleigh are about to help Ethan, but Skink insists Ethan must face Bron alone.
* During the Silver Age while battling an energy creature that could possess and animated matter the entire Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica sits back in their cave lair while Superman watches and reports back to everyone what's going on, but otherwise they do nothing because 'well he hasn't used his signal device to call us in yet so we'll just sit and watch'.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Memorably subverted. The Gods decree that Diana must complete the titular Challenge by herself (though she is at least allowed to be armed to the teeth), and it does contain several revelations meant specifically for her. But Hippolyta's resolve to follow and ultimately fight alongside her, though heavily opposed by her fellow Amazons, is also ultimately portrayed as key to finally completing the Challenge.
* In the second story-arc of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'' Princess Luna insists that she alone go rescue Rarity, being intimately familiar with the Nightmare Dreamscape. Twilight and Celestia quickly convince her that the other Spirits of Harmony (and Spike) can help, as well.
* When Michonne in ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'' leaves the party to confront The Governor she almost uses these exact words.
* ''Franchise/FantasticFour'':
** ''ComicBook/TheComingOfGalactus'': The first time ComicBook/{{Galactus}} appears he builds a really big machine designed to convert the planet into energy smack dab in New York, the Marvel Universe's Superhero capital of the world, yet apparently every other superhero decided to take a vacation except the Fantastic Four because they are the only superheroes that even seem to notice and try to do anything.
** A ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' cover depicts the Thing in a losing battle with an enormous monster. The Human Torch yells that they have to help, and Mister Fantastic sternly declares that "LIVE or DIE - the Thing FIGHTS ALONE!".
* ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} in ''ComicBook/BatmanHush''. Poison Ivy has used her bewitching powers to enslave both her and Superman, turning Catwoman bisexual for a time and nearly getting her killed by Killer Croc in the course of one of Ivy's schemes for which Catwoman had to do the dirty work -- and then, trying to kill Catwoman ''herself'' when she broke free of the mental enslavement with Batman's help and attacked her. Catwoman is obviously very angry about all these humiliations; and when she and Batman confront Ivy again, Catwoman punches her out, even though Ivy was inevitably going to be captured anyway. The police are annoyed, and one of them asks Catwoman if she ''really'' had to do that. Catwoman and Batman look at each other for a second, and then in unison answer, "Yes."
* ''[[ComicBook/TeenTitans The New Teen Titans]]'': In issue 16 [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna]] goes to stop ComicBook/{{Starfire}} when her extraterrestrial best pal goes off to wreak murderous vengeance. ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} wants to help Donna out but Donna tells him that it's something she needs to do herself.
* Inverted in the ''WesternAnimation/LaffALympics'' story "The Meet at Mount Ono" (Marvel #1, Mar. 1978). Doggie Daddy tries to prove to his son Augie Doggie that he's not too chicken to climb Mount Ono in the last event (especially since the Yogis' participant, Grape Ape, was incapacitated). Babu of the Scooby Doobies offers to help, but Doggie Daddy refuses, saying it's something he has to do himself. And he succeeds.
* "Smarter and Smarter," the DC finale for ''ComicBook/ThePowerpuffGirls'', climaxes in a mano-a-mano between Blossom and Mojo Jojo. Blossom didn't take Mojo's insult to her kindly, so she tells her sisters (who have equally taken umbrage to Blossom's insufferableness after being admitted to a special school) to stay back. Buttercup and Bubbles not only agree, but they root for [[TeamRocketWins Mojo to win]].
* ''ComicBook/TheTrialOfTheFlash'': When he learns that the Reverse-Flash is free, Barry Allen asks the Guardians of the Universe to make sure that no one else will interfere because it's personal. Wally West is specifically warned off by the Guardians.
* Crazy Jane's emotional arc in ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'' has her first grow to trust and eventually love Robotman as someone she can rely on. As a result, a new personality named Liza Radley emerges as the first of Jane's alters to manifest thanks to positive emotions. While Robotman was able to help Jane face the personification of her sexually abusive father the first time, the Liza Radley alter eventually forces Jane and the rest of their alters to confront their childhood trauma on their own. [[spoiler:Jane is able to finally kill off the part of herself that was her father and gains self peace, only to cruelly get traumatized all over again when the Candlemaker shunts her into the real world and she gets put through electroshock.]]

* This happens in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBy0HjrRr8c Pooh and Ash's Adventures of Scooby-Doo and the Headless Horseman of Halloween]]'' in which Pooh decides to take on [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} Jafar]] himself. Most of the time, Pooh plays the PinballProtagonist, so he usually doesn't fight. [[spoiler:Soon, Aladdin pulls a BigDamnHeroes moment and gives [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Ash]] the lamp used to seal Jafar, who then gives it to Pooh to use on Jafar]].
* ''Fanfic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness Act III'': In chapter 24, during Yukari's DesignatedGirlFight with Apoch and Astreal over Ahakon, Tsukune, in accordance with Yukari's wishes, opts to just let Yukari finish the fight herself, partly because his [[RestrainingBolt Holy Lock]] might crack even more if he does, and partly because if they don't settle things on their own, then it'll just happen again. This decision has near-fatal consequences when Ahakon disrupts a BeamOWar between the three and is seemingly killed in the blast, after which Tsukune confesses that he never thought that Apoch and Astreal would go that far; fortunately, it transpires that [[TimeMaster Luna]] intervened and saved Ahakon just in time.

* The second ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' event is subverted in ''The Sealed Kunai''. Jiraiya states this regarding Naruto's fight with Kakuzu. Naruto wins but promptly collapses afterward in utter exhaustion, causing Jiraiya to yell at him on ruining his "cool mentor" speech. Naruto makes a mental note to kill Jiraiya at some point in the future.
** Also subverted in that Jiraiya claimed Naruto needed to do this so he could prove to himself he could defeat Akatsuki. Considering he already had Hidan's still-screaming head sealed away, it wasn't as critical as he might have thought.
* In ''Fanfic/ChristianHumberReloaded'', Vash stands aside as his Toa allies fight the Visoraks until they start losing, at which point he steps in and helps them by adding his energy to their combined attack, helping to finish off the enemy.

* In chapter 20 of ''Fanfic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar'', Spitfire tells Medley to let Rainbow "do her job" and face her rival in the second and final duel between them.

* Invoked by Aizen in ''Fanfic/UninvitedGuests''.

* In ''Fanfic/CrownsOfTheKingdom'', Mickey insists this about the final showdown with Maleficent.
* ''Fanfic/GhostsOfEvangelion'': Asuka often says Shinji that he can't fix her issues: the only person who can solve it is her. What he can do, though, is standing by her side and supporting her while she tries to fix herself.

* In ''Fanfic/TheAuraChronicles'', Hunter faces Deoxys alone, knocking out Taren to keep him from helping.
* ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'': ComicBook/TheSpectre gets ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} out of Hell after she has managed to destroy Mordru for good. When Kara asks why he didn't intervene earlier, The Spectre answers he wasn't allowed to interfere unless she was defeated because it was deemed she had to achieve victory by her own means.
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Finrod is attempting to talk his fiancée into forgiving his earlier stupidity... and making a great job of putting his foot in his mouth. His friends wonder whether Finrod should have appointed someone to apologize to Amarie for him, but Edrahil points out you ''can't'' delegate this kind of conversation.

* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/22258909 Puncing in a Dream]]'', Haru and Ryuji are at a reception (with Ryuji pretending to be Haru's date) where they run into Haru's ex-fiance Sugimura, who attempts to push Haru into marrying him. When he tries to hurt Haru by taunting Ryuji, the latter realizes that the SmugSnake is no different from the bullies in his childhood: tormenting others just to feel stronger. Ryuji knows that when it come to bullies, ''their targets had to face them down on their own, and he encourages Haru to use her own real strength to beat him, which Haru does by proudly stating that no matter what Sugimaru does to her, she is more than her company and she won't let him push her around anymore, effectively humiliating him in front of everyone.
* Averted in ''Blog/MiraculousRewrite''; when Nino/Carapace gets into a fight with his now-akumatized deadbeat dad, Chat Noir initially prevents Bellflower from helping him, citing this trope...only for a struggling Carapace to state that no, he could ''really'' use an assist right now.
* In ''Fanfic/OSMUFanfictionFriction'', Orla decides to venture out to the forest of Hy-Brasil to prove herself and her bravery to readers, eventually trying to beat a dragon and failing to. The only reason she doesn't bring Opal, Omar and Oswald with her is because they would be put in danger and they would try to stop her before she even got started.
* In ''Fanfic/NotQuiteHeroes'', Kim Possible learns that Dr. Drakken is missing and offers to [[EnemyMine help Shego find him]]. She refuses, unwilling to have Kim do her job for her. (That said, she ''does'' get help from Kim less directly by kidnapping Ron in order to [[WhatWouldXDo see how Kim solves the same problem]].)

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'' played on this, with Hot Rod and Kup arriving in time to help Optimus Prime against Megatron, but Hot Rod's attempt to help actually made the situation worse. A comic book released decades later pulled this trope as part of a ForWantOfANail idea. [[spoiler:Optimus handily kills Megatron.]]
* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1''. Mr. Incredible insists on facing the Omnidroid alone, despite having three family members with superpowers ready and willing to assist. Elastigirl (his wife) is upset, thinking that he just wants to show off, or prove that he's still a powerful superhero. But the truth is that he wants to go alone [[spoiler:because he can't bear to risk his family's lives, having recently thought he'd lost them when their plane was shot down]].

* In ''Fanfic/NotQuiteHeroes'', Kim Possible learns that Dr. Drakken is missing and offers to [[EnemyMine help Shego find him]]. She refuses, unwilling to have Kim do her job for her. (That said, she ''does'' get help from Kim less directly by kidnapping Ron in order to [[WhatWouldXDo see how Kim found him]].)

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles''. Mr. Incredible insists on facing the Omnidroid alone, despite having three family members with superpowers ready and willing to assist. Elastigirl (his wife) is upset, thinking that he just wants to show off, or prove that he's still a powerful superhero. But the truth is that he wants to go alone [[spoiler:because he can't bear to risk his family's lives, having recently thought he'd lost them when their plane was shot down]].

* ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD'': In the first arc, Rias manipulates the situation so Issei will fight against Raynare - the Fallen Angel that faked interest in him as a human girl only to nearly kill him later, and that has just killed Issei's {{Protectorate}} Asia - one on one, because Rias knows he needs to prove to himself that he can be powerful and that he can get past the pain Raynare caused him.

** Scott vs. [[spoiler:the BonusBoss, Nega-Scott. Who turns out to be a pretty cool guy, so the drama wasn't necessary.]] Technically, Scott had to defeat all of the exes himself.
--->'''Roxy:''' Give it up Ramona, this is a League Game!\\

-->-- '''Shiraori''', ''LightNovel/SoImASpiderSoWhat''

* In ''LightNovel/SoImASpiderSoWhat'' Shiraori understands that her and Ariel's actions have greatly damaged Blow's pride and that his duel with the Hero is both an attempt to restore it and ultimately doomed to failure. She chooses not to interfere as it would ruin his pride even further and she feels [[LivingIsMoreThanSurviving it's more important to have your pride than live without]].

* Hilariously subverted and even inverted in ''LightNovel/StrikeTheBlood'', as whenever the normally-mellow Kojou is finally angry enough to finally go all-out in the final showdown with the villain-of-the-week, his sidekick/watcher/leading lady Yukina always manages without fail to interrupt his solo attack (usually a punch) by destroying its momentum as she suddenly stops his forward movement dead in its tracks just as he's about to advance at last: first by blocking his path through the thrusting and twirling of her spear and then by jumping right in front of him and between the villains '''each and every single time'''. It's already become the series' own infamous catchphrase and original ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9fJswUgnGc meme]]'' in the fandom:

* ''Manga/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': When the massive monster Charybdis is coming for Rimiru's town, the demon lord Milim offers to help. Rimiru's underlings politely decline, as it's their problem, and they can't just go running to their friends for every little thing. Rimiru is annoyed, as this is hardly a ''little'' thing, but can't countermand them without looking foolish. Rimiru and his army fight Charybdis in a long and exhausting battle, and while they are winning, he begins to get worried that they might run out of steam before Charybdis does. [[spoiler:Then they realize that Charybdis was after Milim the whole time, and they let her finish it off]].

* In the second season of the live-action ''Manga/{{Gokusen}}'' drama, [[TheChick Takeda]] takes on a college-level boxing champ on a rocky beach. When Yankumi shows up, she tells the rest of the TrueCompanions not to intervene, even though it's more of a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown than a proper fight and [[FamilyUnfriendlyViolence those rocks look they really hurt to land on]].

* Literature/CiaphasCain ends up having to fight a giant ork warboss alone due to this trope. As orks function on KlingonPromotion and AsskickingEqualsAuthority, none of the Korbul's bodyguards join in the fight (as it's basically implying the boss is too much of a pansy to fight his battles himself). This also means Jurgen (who has a melta, a weapon used to melt tanks) can't join in, leaving Cain to fight Korbul with only a chainsword and a laspistol.

* Unfortunately, this is one of the several bits of common, but generally impractical bits of "advice" people will give to depressed people online, especially bad when the problem is something that actually ''requires'' multiple people as opposed to just them, and made even worse by the habit of it often being paired with ''other'' impractical advices. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement And that's all we'll be saying about this one]].

* Subverted in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', where Hinjo calls Roy off so he can try to reason with fallen paladin Miko. That goes about as well as you'd expect, and Miko is about to kill him when Roy says "Screw this!" and swats Miko into unconsciousness.

* This is {{Deconstructed|Trope}} in ''Fanfic/Type2Hero''. All Might realizes that while a noble attempt to stop others from dying, each of his predecessors fighting All for One alone was the reason they died. Until it went to All Might, One for All was not strong enough to deal with the strongest villain in the world, and even then he suffered crippling injuries. [[spoiler:By fighting [[BattleCouple together]] Uraraka and Izuku defeat All for One definitively]].

* ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', Obi-Wan tells Luke that if he faces Darth Vader in combat on Bespin, he couldn't get involved as he had previously. Before Disney acquired Star Wars, this was a slight reference to when Luke and Leia dueled Vader on Mimban, where Kenobi briefly possessed Luke during the duel.

* In ''Manga/SoulEater'', Sid sees the fight between Black Star and Mifune as this when Nygus wants to intervene. Possibly justified in that Sid recognised the fight could determine whether Black Star risks ending up like his father or could find his own 'path' (it does, and he does), but also shows MoralDissonance considering the HonorBeforeReason mentality.

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' have this in pretty much every other episode.

** Subverted in some manga chapters where [[spoiler:Ichigo was fighting Aizen and was joined by every single Shinigami or Visored who could still raise a sword]].

** Averted in the Fullbringer arc where [[spoiler:Ichigo and Ishida team up to fight Ginjo. Unfortunately, Ishida can't do anything to him, but Ichigo didn't seem to have a problem with accepting his help]].
** Justified in the Bount filler arc. Byakuya and Yoruichi are present at Ichigo's last fight with Jin Kariya, but they hang back so they can block his attempts to detonate the Jokai Crests, which would destroy Soul Society.

* In ''Manga/SoulEater'', Sid sees the fight between Black Star and Mifune as this when Nygus wants to intervene. Possibly justified in that Sid recognised the fight could determine whether Black Star risks ending up like his father or could find his own 'path' (it does, and he does), but also moral dissonance considering the honour over reason mentality.

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'', Ike decides to fight the Black Knight by himself [[spoiler:but Mist will run in anyway if she hasn't fallen in battle]]. Then in the sequel ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', both Ike and the Black Knight agree ItsPersonal, so the Black Knight puts up a big wall in the middle of the battlefield, separating the two from everyone else. Ike's weapon is the only weapon that can damage the Black Knight anyways, so it's really a JustifiedTrope. Also, the main characters of other ''Fire Emblem'' games ''attempt'' to go alone, but other characters insist on helping out.

* ''Manga/ShonanJunaiGumi'': In Chapter 107, [[ButtMonkey Makoto]] gets in over his head and has to face a terrifying thug, Samehara, alone. He tries getting his friends [[BashBrothers Eikichi and Ryuji]] (who Samehara had demanded to see in the first place) to help, and when he can't reach them, Kamata and [[BloodKnight Saejima]]. They also refuse, telling him [[FairWeatherFriend it's his fight]] (and they also call [[BloodKnight Katsuyuki]] and warn him not to help either). Makoto eventually beats Samehara, though it wasn't technically "alone": [[spoiler:He used two {{Right Hand Attack Dog}}s named after Eikichi and Ryuji.]]

* "Smarter and Smarter," the DC finale for ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', climaxes in a mano-a-mano between Blossom and Mojo Jojo. Blossom didn't take Mojo's insult to her kindly, so she tells her sisters (who have equally taken umbrage to Blossom's insufferableness after being admitted to a special school) to stay back. Buttercup and Bubbles not only agree, but they root for [[TeamRocketWins Mojo to win]].

* ''Fanfic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness Act III'': In chapter 24, during Yukari's DesignatedGirlFight with Apoch and Astreal over Ahakon, Tsukune, in accordance with Yukari's wishes, opts to just let Yukari finish the fight herself, partly because his [[RestrainingBolt Holy Lock]] might crack even more if he does, and partly because if they don't settle things on their own, then it'll just happen again. This decision has near-fatal consequences when Ahakon disrupts a BeamOWar between the three and is seemingly killed in the blast, after which Tsukune confesses that he never thought that Apoch and Astreal would go that far; fortunately, it transpires that [[{{Time Master}} Luna]] intervened and saved Ahakon just in time.

--->'''Peppy''': [[OhCrap Fox! Don't!]]