History MortonsFork / FanWorks

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13372846/12/Of-Wolves-and-Dragons Of Wolves and Dragons]]'', Jon Snow's [[ItMakesSenseInContext fire-breathing werewolf form]] destroys the Sept in Winterfell, killing all in it and almost Catelyn Stark, which causes many to believe his wolf-form is a punishment from the Old Gods to punish those who have turned against them. This causes a dilemma for Houses that claim ancestry from the First Men: if they they accept the Whitewolf as a symbol of the Old Gods, then they will face direct conflict from their neighbors who worship the Seven, but if they call it blasphemy, then they might face the wrath of the Whitewolf.

* Dumbledore finds himself in one of these situations in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7093738/1/ Brutal Harry]]'' trying to figure out how to handle Harry, (who is '''very''' ruthless, powerful, and vindictive at being placed with the abusive Dursleys), with regards to what he knows about the prophecy and Voldemort. He's left with four options:
** Keep Harry at Hogwarts, observe from a distance, and hope that the new environment will help him adjust and acclimate... but this will place Harry within striking distance of other students and faculty, putting them at risk should they piss the boy off.
** Same as above, but personally try to reason with Harry... but Harry previously attempted to attack Dumbledore, and even if that weren't the case, it would bring too much outside attention to the situation. (Besides, Dumbledore has too many responsibilities and not nearly enough space to juggle them with aiding Harry).
** Follow typical student procedure, and discuss Harry's issues with his family...which Dumbledore admits would be the most idiotic thing to do, as the Durseys are the cause of Harry's abuse. Sending Harry back to them would be repeating his mistakes with Tom Riddle, and we all know how well that turned out.
** Send Harry to St. Mungo's for professional help that could help him overcome his traumas, likely the best option...but Harry would be out of Dumbldore's protection, and there's no way that it could be kept a private matter, (the public fallout would be devastating.)
*** Ultimately, its [=McGonagall=] who gives a fifth option that he takes; He resigns as Headmaster to focus on his other duties, assign her as Headmistress and place Harry in her custody, as she's managed to establish a rapport with him, which in the long run, is the best choice.

* In ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5554780/1/Poison-Pen Poison Pen]]'' "Professor Snape has taken points for breathing too loudly, asking questions, not asking questions and tardiness even with a note."

* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/22766356/chapters/54440779#workskin Her Love]]'', [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Peridot]] feels she's in this situation in when Lapis, who is [[{{Yandere}} dangerously in love]] with Steven, asks where he is. If Peridot lies, she is sure Lapis will hurt her, but if she tells the truth, she will hurt Steven's friends.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13422699/1/Missing-and-Presumed-Dead Missing and Presumed Dead]]'', [[Franchise/StarWars Luke Skywalker]] refuses to tell the Rebel High Command that he is Darth Vader's son, since he sees only 2 scenarios if he admits the truth: They will either fear him or he'll be called the "Defected Son of Darth Vader himself" and be made the poster boy of the Rebellion. He sees both options as equally unpleasant.

* PlayedStraight in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12388283/2/The-many-Deaths-of-Harry-Potter The many Deaths of Harry Potter]]''. After unknowingly encountering some Death Eaters, Vernon informs Harry about the dangers of the Magicals World (albeit calling it a cult). If he leaves the Dursleys, it's certain that he'll encounter more "Cultists"; But if he stays, Vernon tells him that other "Cultists" will still come for him. This proves to be true when Harry keeps dying no matter what he does.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12046758/1/Astronomy-Domine Astronomy Domine]]'', after [[Series/{{Supernatural}} Dean Winchester and Castiel]] find themselves on [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space 9]] over three centuries in the future as Dick Roman's last act against them, Dean has a violent breakdown when he learns that the only way to get back to his own time would burn out Castiel's grace, meaning that he can either return home to Sam or basically expect his only remaining friend to kill himself to help Dean. With this ultimatum, Dean chooses to stay in the future.

** A form of this happens in a branch-off, ''Foundling''. Reimu, due to being human, doesn't really fit in with youkai and, because she was abandoned by humans (and her [[spoiler: oracular powers]]), she wouldn't fit in too well with them either.

* ''FanFic/SonOfTheSevenKingdoms'': After the [[spoiler: Oblivion Gate summoned by Mythic Dawn]] [[SpannerInTheWorks derails]] his assault on King's Landing enough that he loses the chance to win an outright victory, William settles for setting up a plan to cause enough strife among the Lannister-Tyrell alliance that they're virtually crippled -- he pulls part of his forces back to Harrenhal while the rest march on the Reach, all while Robb's forces are still marching on Casterly Rock. As such, the Lannisters and Tyrells are left with too many equally important fronts to focus on.
* In ''FanFic/AllGuardsmenParty'' Aimy gains a SkunkStripe after a grazing shot from an enemy weapon. She is absolutely pissed and during "Tyranid Acquisition Experts" she wanders around asking random people if her hair looks funny and then does "mean things" if they answer wrong. As the narrator notes there was no ''right'' answer.

* PlayedStraight in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12388283/2/The-many-Deaths-of-Harry-Potter The many Deaths of Harry Potter]]''. After unknowingly encountering some Death Eaters, Vernon informs Harry about the dangers of the Magicals World (albeit calling it a cult). If he leaves the Dursleys, it's certain that he'll encounter more "Cultists"; But if he stays, Vernon tells him that other "Cultists" will still come for him. This proves to be true when Harry keeps dying no matter what he does.

* In the ''Manga/DeathNote'' fic ''[[FanFic/FortySeconds 4 0 s e c o n d s]]'' when Light tells a hapless ignorant crook: "Write your name [in the [[ArtifactOfDeath notebook]]]... or [[IllKillYou I'll kill you.]]"

* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12388283/2/The-many-Deaths-of-Harry-Potter The many Deaths of Harry Potter]]''. After unknowingly encountering some Death Eaters, Vernon makes it seem like Harry is in a Morton's Fork. If he leaves the Dursleys, it's certain that he'll encounter more "Cultists" (I.e. Death Eaters); But if he stays, Vernon tells him that other "Cultists" (I.e. More friendly and well-meaning Wizards and Witches) will still come for him.

* In a sidestory of ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', Brock finds himself in serious risk of losing his gym. He can't keep it closed for too long, even to mourn the deaths of his parents, but when he reopens it, his grief hampers his battle performance, landing him on a losing streak that puts him at risk of his gym getting shut down by the League. He doesn't break out of it until he finally moves on from his sorrows.

* In a sidestory of ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', Brock finds in serious risk of losing his gym. He can't keep it closed for too long, even to mourn the deaths of his parents, but when he reopens it, his grief hampers his battle performance, landing him on a losing streak that puts him at risk of his gym getting shut down by the league. He doesn't break it until he finally moves on from his sorrows.

* In ''FanFic/AllGuardsmenParty'' Aimy gains a SkunkStripe after a grazing shot from an enemy weapon. She is absolutely pissed and during "Tyranid Acquisition Experts" she wanders around asking random people if her hair looks funny and then does "mean things" if they answer wrong. As the narrator notes there was no ''right'' answer.

* ''FanFic/SonOfTheSevenKingdoms'': After the [[spoiler: Oblivion Gate summoned by Mythic Dawn]] [[SpannerInTheWorks derails]] his assault on King's Landing enough that he loses the chance to win an outright victory, William settles for setting up a plan to cause enough strife among the Lannister-Tyrell alliance that they're virtually crippled -- he pulls part of his forces back to Harrenhal while the rest march on the Reach, all while Robb's forces are still marching on Casterly Rock. As such, the Lannisters and Tyrells are left with too many equally important fronts to focus on.

* Near the end of the first chapter of ''Look What The Cat Dragged In'', Chloe bumps into a waiter, causing him to spill a tray full of red wine all over Blanche Bissete's white dress. Blanche storms off, and Adrien clearly realizes that if he doesn't go after her and calm her down, she will almost certainly be akumatized. Unfortunately, if he does so, the waiter's humiliation will almost certainly lead ''him'' to be akumatized.

-->"If that baby was already born, I could beat her ass for calling and, if that baby wasn't born, I'll wait."

* Near the end of the first chapter of ''FanFic/LookWhatTheCatDraggedIn'', Chloe bumps into a waiter, causing him to spill a tray full of red wine all over Blanche Bissete's white dress. Blanche storms off, and Adrien clearly realizes that if he doesn't go after her and calm her down, she will almost certainly be akumatized. Unfortunately, if he does so, the waiter's humiliation will almost certainly lead ''him'' to be akumatized.
* This trope is [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] (by name, no less) during Chapter 1 of ''Fanfic/FracturedFates'', as the first motive boils down to this: If a murder doesn't happen by midnight the day after the motive is announced, then Monokuma will randomly kill one student that same night, and will continue to randomly kill one student each night until a murder ''does'' happen. However, if someone ''does'' commit murder, then a classmate will still be dead and the surviving students will be put through a class trial where either the rest of the spotless or the blackened will be killed.

* In ''Fanfic/Gensokyo20XX'', this is played with in two instances. To keep her safe, Yukari leaves Reimu behind but, as can be seen, the latter almost died of starvation and hypothermia, as lighting a fire to cook and keep warm with could have made smoke, which could have caused someone to take notice (and look into it). The second instance, is where Ran wanted to take her to hospital but acknowledges that she could die on the way, as she was going to die from starvation, along with the fact that they could be captured and possibly killed for being a youkai with a human, in which case it would lead to death for any of them, so the former decides to TakeAThirdOption, which places Reimu under a hibernation spell.