Times where explaining something led to a horrible realization in Fan Works.
Crossovers
- This trope is how Shinji realized his mother tampered with his mind in Alpha and Omega. When Shinji starts rambling about all the different signs that the Asari were genetically modified, Aria asks how he could possibly know all that. Shinji's in the middle of explaining how he has a doctorate in evolutionary biology and three PhDs when he remembers that he never finished high school.
- In Avatar: Song of Ice and Fire
, Catelyn is wondering how Jon could be a firebender when the only firebenders in all of Westeros were Targaryens.Ned: Tell me, Catelyn, who are-or were- the firebenders of Westeros?
Catelyn: Queen Rhaella and Prince Rhaegar. Both are gone.
Ned: Correct. So if Jon is a firebender...
Catelyn:... He could be born out of either of them. (Catelyn thinks for a moment) Queen Rhaella died in childbirth.
Ned: It is true, but the child she gave birth to fled to Essos with Prince Viserys, and they have yet to be found by Robert. Besides, the kid was born after the war, not during it.
Catelyn: That leaves only Prince Rhaegar, and Jon has the Stark loo-oh. (Catelyn takes a sharp breath at the realization) Jon is your nephew. - In the Accusation Fic Bridges Burned (Mama Always Told Me That I Should Play Nice. But She Never Met You), Alya learns that Marinette is friends with Lois Lane when Marinette invites her to visit her school and introduces her to Aurore. After her initial shock wears off, Alya starts complaining to Nino about how Marinette never told her that she knew Lois Lane, but trails off as she recalls how she broke off their friendship.Alya: Marinette! She knows Lois Lane. I can't believe she never told me. And how could she recommend Aurore for an internship over me, I thought we were... We're not friends. Lois Lane said she just wanted to meet Marinette's friends. I'm not her friend.
- A Game Comes to Equestria: Right in the middle of an explanation of Pinkie Sense, we get this exchange:Pinkie Pie: Well, my tail's all a-twitchy witchy, my knees do ache a bit, and my left ear's all wobbly and shaky.
Wishing Star: And that means...?
Pinkie Pie: That means we're about to get ambushed!... Uh-oh. That's not GOOD. We're about to get AMBUSHED! - In Chapter 50 of Lelouch of the Wings of Rebellion, While Milly explains her infiltration plan for getting past the guards of the Palace The Black Knights, made up of five females, one male, and a cat, are infiltrating:Milly: Most males, and especially soldiers, are the hot-blooded type. They see a pretty girl, and some of those higher brain functions shut down, while more primitive parts take over. They'll be eager to please her. If they see six pretty girls... then we're home free.
Lelouch: There are only five of you... (Beat) No, you can't be serious!
Milly: (cackling) Time to take one for the team, Zero! - Played for laughs in Manehattan's Lone Guardian. Leviathan wonders to herself why one of the greatest Reploids of X's time was called "Green Biker Dude", saying that it sounds like the sort of nickname she would give him. She realizes right as she finishes the sentence that she had just zinged herself.
- Metal Gear: Green: When investigating Night Owl's next move, they find he is recruiting the Ninth Circle for help. Snake and Miller are confused at this, as the numbers are fifteen members... until they realize that it's the same for ten years, and the HPSC hasn't even bothered keeping tabs on the Ninth Circle in that timespan. Combined with Ocelot's intel on the JSDF selling guns to whoever offers a large wad of cash means a clusterfuck is en route. Snake's frustration is summed up thusly.
- In My Huntsman Academia, Izuku is busy taking down notes in Peter Port's class when he's suddenly called out. He looks around and notices how everyone seems annoyed or disturbed as they throw glances his way, remembering that people only really looked at him like that when he was busy mumbling. Then it hits him that he has been mumbling for several minutes.You blink a few times as you look at Port, before your eyes glance around at your fellow students. You see that they're all staring at you with really weirded out expressions... well, except Kacchan. The guy looked like he was about to bust a blood vessel from pure rage and annoyance. Huh, that's funny... usually people and Kacchan only looked at you like this whenever you... you... Oh, Crap!.
- Platinum Pirate:
- In Chapter 4, due to Torterra being a completely Outside-Context Problem for Crocodile, an Earthquake to the foundation of Rain Dinners and Ace's brief appearance in Nanohana causes him to briefly (and erroneously) believe that Whitebeard has decided to pay him a visit.Something was wrong, and after a second, he realized what it was. The ground was trembling, very slightly but getting more and more severe by the second. The Warlord's mind raced, desperately seeking a reason behind the tremors. An earthquake? But Alabasta was a desert kingdom! He'd done his research, there hadn't been any seismic events here in decades, centuries even! The only thing it could be was—
Unbidden, a spike of fear found its way into the Warlord's heart as he came to a single, terrifying conclusion, and he had just enough time to utter a curse before the ceiling of his hideout collapsed down on him. - In Chapter 17, while trying to figure out Crocodile's next move in Water 7, Lucas, Smoker, Tashigi, and Bentham go over the agents of Baroque Works that he could be employing at that moment. Bentham admits to the possibility that the officer agents that had been left on Little Garden might have rejoined him, and goes into detail about Miss Goldenweek's hypnotic painting abilities, saying that all she needs is a stationary target. A few seconds later, Bentham realizes that a stationary target would be present at a portrait sitting. Like the one that Mayor Iceburg is having done at that very moment. They arrive to find Iceburg unconscious and bleeding out, and it's only Gardevoir's powers that save his life.
- In Chapter 4, due to Torterra being a completely Outside-Context Problem for Crocodile, an Earthquake to the foundation of Rain Dinners and Ace's brief appearance in Nanohana causes him to briefly (and erroneously) believe that Whitebeard has decided to pay him a visit.
- Suicidal Overconfidence: When Helen asks who convinced Dimitry to drop out of the deal to demolish Central Park, Bitsy replies, "I don’t know—something ‘Fist’." This leaves Helen confused because as far as she's aware, the only Fist in New York is Iron Fist. She figures that Bitsy must have misheard the name and wonders what sounds like "Fist"... and that's when she realizes that Dimitry was referring to Wilson Fisk, aka The Kingpin.
- All Assorted Animorphs AUs: In "What if Marco was the one split in half in #32?", Marco gets split into two people embodying his silly (Shallow Marco) and ruthless (Robot Marco) sides. When Shallow Marco spends the night at Jake's house, Rachel calls Jake the next morning to complain about all the inane phone calls she got from Shallow Marco that night. Jake starts saying this doesn't make sense because Shallow Marco's been with him the whole time, only to realize midsentence that his "Shallow Marco" was actually Robot Marco pretending to be his nicer half; when Jake rushes upstairs to check on him, he finds that Robot Marco's been gone for hours and left a Sleeping Dummy behind.
- In the The Legend of Korra fanfic Book 5: Legends, Mako does this in his head and has to spell it out for Tahno when they realize the man they're looking for may be nearby.Mako: Don’t you get it? If you want to hide a gem you hide it in a treasure trove. If you want to hide a tree you hide it in the forest.
Tahno: Mako, what're you talking about?
Mako: So, where would you hide a masked man?
[his accompanying, sweeping gesture of the plaza answered the question neatly for Tahno, who adopted a similar expression of dawning realization as he saw all the masked revelers drifting to and fro]
Tahno: Oh no... - Mercy shows this after Zuko Curb-Stomps his father and has him at his mercy, and the Fire Lord demands to know why he's sparing him.Ozai: Why spare me? Why choose mercy?
Zuko: Mercy? I'll answer your question for another. Why did you spare me when I was thirteen? I was weak then, wasn't I?
Ozai: That wasn't mercy! I just wanted you to suffer, to live with your fail— [pales in understanding]
- Sight When Ichigo is explaining how his ability to see zanpakutou works, he tells Shinji that he couldn't feel Shinji's zanpakutou, Sakanade when he first met Shinji. Only to realize since Sakanade was Hollowified, it means that Shinji would have had to lock away his own zanpakutou spirit.
- In The Hell-er-Nator: Chaos Machine Xander and Cordelia are explaining to Rory (Xander's uncle) that anyone who bought their costume from Ethan's Costume Emporium became their costume and that some won't/didn't change back, including Larry Blaisdell (who is now a Terminator hunting Cordelia), when Xander suddenly remembers that Harmony bought a Terminator costume as well.
- An amnesiac Cordelia in Memory spends a couple minutes trying to figure out what about Devon is bugging her despite being the only familiar face around. It's not until she notes how he doesn't look his age that it hits her that he looks exactly as she remembers despite her missing five years of memory, thus realizing he's a vampire.
- From Calvin and Hobbes Get XTREME!:Calvin: This is my grueling competition. A little sun... cool water... my best friend... a monster shark... a scared seagull... Wait a minute. A MONSTER SHARK!
- Chapter 4 of Danganronpa: Paradise Lost has Daisuke discuss blueprints of the water supply system he found during the investigation to the remaining students, before realizing mid-sentence, much to his shock, that Kenji had set Goh up to unknowingly activate a Drowning Pit.
- In Where Talent Goes to Die, Mizuhara recalls seeing Sakuragi stop by the laundry room before the first body discovery announcement. After a moment, he realizes, based on what's been discussed, that Sakuragi had been checking out the laundry room, hoping to wash the blood off his clothes.
- In the third story of the Facing the Future Series, Danny and Sam have this moment when Tucker offhandedly comments that it seems like the ghosts are trying to play Relationship Sabotage, which they are.
- Dragon Ball Z Abridged:
- Episode 12: Vegeta is fully healed and fresh off removing the liver from one of his colleagues when Cui tries to cut him off; Cui points out that Frieza and his men are en route to Namek to grab their Dragon Balls thanks to Vegeta's intel. Vegeta argues that Frieza couldn't have known because his transmitter was off the entire time, and then he remembers that he wasn't alone.GodDAMN IT NAPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
- Episode 18 has Vegeta realize that the Dragon Ball he left underwater has gone missing, and tries to look for it for a short time. He then remembered that Gohan was flying away from that site with a strange "watch", which was in reality his team's radar for hunting down Dragon Balls.Ghost Nappa: He took the Dragon Ball...
Vegeta: FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
cut to Gohan and Krillin; Vegeta is still screaming
Gohan: Krillin, do you... hear that...?
Krillin: I feel that. - Episode 24 has Vegeta waking up from a nap on Namek to figure out that it's suddenly gone dark as night. On a planet with three suns where there shouldn't be any nights. He soon picks up that the other heroes are using the Dragon Balls to summon Porunga, and lets out an Atomic F-Bomb.Vegeta: Jesus, I overslept. It's already night...for the first time since I got here...on a planet with three suns.
(Alarm clock in his head ticks, then goes off after several seconds)
Oh you motherFU-(cut back to the dragon)-CKERS! - Episode 38 has Dr. Gero gradually growing more and more desperate to kill Goku and his friends, only for his situation to get progressively worse, with this bit of inner monologue:Dr. Gero: All right, made a miscalculation... a couple miscalculations. Lost an android, and a hand... And I think my brain case is loose. But there's no way they could follow me and none of them know where to find my lab—
takes shelter under a rock and he sees Piccolo, Tien, and Krillin fly by.
Dr. Gero: That's funny... they're all flying right toward my— Oh, find me in the Alps! No, there's no way they could have secured the location of my secret lab. Unless they know a scientist, like Wheelo or Frapp. Or any of the Brief—
remembers shooting down Bulma's plane earlier.
Dr. Gero: SHIT!!! - Vegeta and Bulma both have this moment when they realize just who the lilac-haired youth Trunks happened to be.Vegeta: HA! That's a girl's name!
Krillin: Wait, isn't that the name of your kid?
Vegeta: Are you telling me that this wannabe Super Saiyan from the future is my so-(*realization*)-oooooooooooo...
Piccolo: Oh, by the way, that kid's your son. No harm telling you now; damage already done.
Bulma: Oh wow! He grows up to be a cutie, and... *realization* Oh my god, I solicited my son for sex.
- Episode 12: Vegeta is fully healed and fresh off removing the liver from one of his colleagues when Cui tries to cut him off; Cui points out that Frieza and his men are en route to Namek to grab their Dragon Balls thanks to Vegeta's intel. Vegeta argues that Frieza couldn't have known because his transmitter was off the entire time, and then he remembers that he wasn't alone.
- Alternate Tail Series:
- In the Phantom Lord arc, Phantom Lord has their Classical Elements Ensemble set up a power spell called Abyss Break to destroy the guild, which can be slowed down if members of said Ensemble are defeated. The spell noticeably slows down after Lyon defeats Merudy, which Lisanna notes should normally be impossible because she doesn't have an elemental power. It's then that the two Fairy Tail mages realize that Merudy was acting as a substitute power source, meaning one of the elementals is away from the mobile guild. Cue an Answer Cut of Natsu breaking into a safe house to capture Levy.
- During the Battle of Fairy Tail arc, Natsu asks Lily about the strength of the petrified Fairy Tail girls. It's when Natsu starts asking about which girl is Erza (after remembering that Erza took on a Jupiter cannon) that Lily finds out Natsu is trying to melt the stone off Erza.
- A case where someone else panics comes up in Once More With Feeling when Genesis tests Cloud's knowledge by asking how to beat the Midgar Zolom. After Cloud's explanation, Genesis is very worried to realize Cloud described how to beat a Midgar Zolom. It gets worse when Cloud tells him about Master Tonberries, which get stronger the more Tonberries you've slain.
- Everyday Craziness in Pontypandy: In "Shop Till You Drop", as Elvis explains to Jerry Lee that he tried the best he could to get everyone out of the burning shopping mall, he begins to realize that in his haste, he left without his friend Gabby, and freaks out.
- A lengthy case happens in the first chapter of Harry's New Home, when Snape lists his exacting requirements for Harry's new foster parents, rejecting each suggestion Dumbledore gives him. It's only at the end of it that he realizes the only person meeting his expectations is himself. Of course, Dumbledore had it figured out from the very start, and immensely enjoys watching Snape paint himself into the corner.
- In chapter 9 of Like Grains of Sand in the Hourglass, Harry Potter complains that his headache feels like someone is trying to break into his mind. Dora, who is expecting Voldemort to do just that, muses how Legilimency is supposed to require eye contact and how weird it is that Voldemort can still try Legilimency on Harry even though they're nowhere near each other. And then Dora realizes that that means Harry and Voldemort are somehow connected in a way that bypasses the need for eye contact, which can't be good no matter what way they're connected.
- One of the Slytherin prefects in Sort the Dragon correctly guesses that the new zero-tolerance policy towards bullying is because of Harry Potter as nothing happened the previous year to instigate it and he's the only first year important enough to warrant such measures. However, she can't understand why Potter would need such protection given that she couldn't even look him in the eyes when she tried to lecture him on the train. It isn't until Snape declares it a pity she didn't follow her train of thought to the final station that she realizes what's actually going on. The rules aren't in place to protect Harry Potter but to protect everyone else from him.
- Hellsing Ultimate Abridged:
- Zorin loses the last of her composure at the sight of Seras tearing through her troops and demands to know why she was never informed of Seras' powers, and why nobody did proper reconnaissance on the girl. This trope only kicks in after asking that last bit, as she remembered that gathering recon on the Hellsing Organization's headquarters was why the Major sent her there in the first place, and the overconfident Blood Knight Zorin had ignored those orders and charged in blindly instead.
- In the second episode, Jan Valentine tortured a Hellsing employee and forced the poor man to read an incredibly crude and violent rape threat to his boss Integra. At the very end of said threat comes the part where Jan sets the guy up to read about how Jan is about to kill him, after which Jan will shoot him. The unfortunate employee realizes what is about to happen at the last second and has a moment of panicked horror before Jan kills him.Hellsing Employee: [still reading the statement/threat Jan wrote out for him] Now pardon me while I blow this faggot ginger's brains o- OHGODNO!!! [Jan shoots him]
- I Ain't a Doll, This Ain't a Dollhouse: After running into Enyaba the Hag in Morioh 1999, Jotaro Kujo tries to discern the identity of the Noble One who has been recruiting and even resurrecting past enemies along with brainwashing allies of the Joestar family both living and dead. It's when he recalls Enyaba and N'Doul devotion to the Noble One that he realizes with dread the only one they would worship out of their free will is DIO, the Joestar's Familial Foe that he had killed not that long ago from his perspective.
- Kingdom Hearts Ψ: The Seeker of Darkness: the fic Adjustments has a scene where Kairi vents to Roxas about her frustration with the lack of progress in her relationship with Riku and Sora, despite the latter being something of a Covert Pervert.Kairi: But… if he is interested, then is he just shy? He never seems to instigate anything, except by accident.
Roxas: I have a theory about that, Kairi, but you’re not going to like it.
Kairi: (frowning) Go on.
Roxas: Sora doesn’t like to disappoint people, right?
Kairi: Right?
Roxas: So he tends to do what he thinks people are expecting of him, right?
Kairi: …Sometimes.
Roxas: Mmm. And you and Riku go to extenuating lengths to ensure that he never hears swear words. Even though he’s sixteen and lives in a port town, and you, at least, swear like a sailor.
Kairi: The fuck are you talking about?
Roxas: Exactly. So, why don’t you let him hear swearwords again?
Kairi: Because he’s an adorable, innocent little angel, and Riku and I agreed a long time ago that we’d do our best to preserve that innocence for as long… as… possible… oh. Fuck me, we’ve been making him feel like he can’t express that sort of interest in front of us, haven’t we.
Roxas: I don’t know for sure, but that’d be my guess. Have you guys even talked about what your interests are yet? Things you want to try, that sort of thing?
Kairi: No, because…
Roxas: Because?
Kairi: Because… we didn’t want to make Sora uncomfortable.
Roxas: Did he say that sort of thing made him uncomfortable, or did you guys just assume it would without asking him?
Kairi: Fuck.
Roxas: Thought so.
Kairi: Well, I guess if I’m frustrated, I’ve got no one to blame but myself.
- Jace Beleren Must Die: This is how the player characters come to the Internal Reveal after capturing one of Dovin Baan's surveillance Ornithopters. The drones all act like a huge hive network, all extensions of Dovin's central node with him seamlessly integrated at the centre. Their mechanisms are also extremely weird, even to the team scientists. Their structure is completely alien to Ravnican devices to the point that it's like they're from another world, which means Dovin Baan is from another world.
- Occurs in Majority Rule when Tony explains to the rest of the Avengers that, by human standards, Thor's age would come out to be about seventeen.Tony: There's a bigger issue. Namely that Thor isn't the only Asgardian we deal with.
Bruce: Well, but Odin is definitely an adult, and—
[and then he stopped, as he and everyone else at the table remembered Thor's brother; Thor's homicidal suicidal megalomaniacal little brother.] - When things start going awry and become deadly in A Twelve Step Program to Omnipotence, Self-Insert Michael McCole tries to figure out where things went wrong because he knows self-insert stories are simple wish fulfillment where you get to hang out with your favorite heroes/villains, bang hot heroines/villainesses, and make your enemies fear you. In the middle of his rambling, he remembers that he deliberately avoided that cliche in his hopes of becoming omnipotent, therefore such things won't happen.
- A Crooked Man: Sinister tries to find a reason why a powerful mutant like Johann shouldn't exist after M-Day before realizing to his horror that Johann is a Reality Warper.
- Feralnette AU: During an argument with Alya, Marinette reveals that she stopped trying to salvage her friendship with her after a past confrontation that happened right on the heels of a painful personal loss. Alya had been badgering her to answer her accusations, pushed her to the point that she'd snapped, then took her lashing out as proof that Lila was right about her being a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing, leaving Marinette to realize there was nothing she could do to sway Alya off her Theory Tunnelvision. Alya insists that if she had only known what was going on, she would've dropped the subject and supported her friend... before talking her way through what would have likely happened next, causing her to realize just how much Lila manipulated her:Alya: Marinette, if you had just told me you were going through some sort of a crisis, I wouldn't have—
Marinette: So it's my fault again?
Alya: That isn't what I meant, I, I meant — if I knew you'd been going through some terrible thing, I would've dropped the Lila topic. I would've asked what was wrong, I promise, I — But... then Lila would've asked how it went, and I would've told her, and she would have made your troubles all about herself. (covering her face with one hand) She always wanted to know how you responded to stuff and I never even wondered why, just assumed she was shy or nervous around you... She was playing mind games and I didn't... even see it. Didn't notice. Didn't think. (moves hand to reveal sweat and tears trickling down her face) You've never been a menace to Lila, have you. You started acting like a marble statue because something bad happened to you. And I'd never seen you act like that before, so I just assumed Lila was right. Because... the alternative was that I was a bad friend.
Marinette: It's always easier to believe someone playing the victim. After all, the alternative to that is blaming the suffering party.
Alya: But I did that. I pointed the finger at you and didn't even realize you were hurt. - Hero Chat: During the Team Miraculous internal identity reveal, Chloé and Alix playfully nickname Luka "Jagged Stone's Illegitimate Child" on the chat. Luka recalls how his mother was in Jagged's band before he was born, then dropped out when she got pregnant... meaning they might be a grain of truth. Chloé admits she was only teasing him about looking like Jagged and playing the guitar like him. A few chapters later, it's revealed that Jagged actually is Luka's dad and is upset at Anarka for keeping it from him.
- the high road: While trying to defend himself from an angry Alya and Nino, Adrien points out that they didn't believe Marinette when she tried warning them about Lila's true nature, and that he hoped Lila would change her ways. Trying to explain this to them helps him realize how his inaction contributed to Marinette's misery, as well as her seemingly falling for the Manipulative Bitch's claims.
- In La Befana as It Should Have Happened, Papillon is lamenting how his attempt to Akumitize Marinette's grandmother (an Italian) failed because "Le Papillon" means "bow tie" in Italian, causing the old woman to laugh at how ridiculous the name is for a super-villain. He notes that he had the same reaction from other Italians... except for Lila Rossi, who remained mad enough at Ladybug to become Volpina. This leads him to realize that the girl has serious and potentially dangerous anger issues, leading him to recommend her to management class in the sequel.
- Leave for Mendeleiev: After a long and frustrating ordeal, Marinette vents to Tikki about Nino's atrocious behavior while working on the movie, having to deal with Chloé all day, and how long it took for Chat Noir to show up to the fight... before remembering that Horrificator sealed them all into the school, and that there was no signs of Chat using Cataclysm to break in... meaning that he's likely one of Mme Bustier's students. Tikki tells her not to pursue that line of thought any further, as she's not supposed to know her partner's Secret Identity; however, the damage is already done.
- Miraculous: Tales of Scarlet Beetle & Ikati Black: In chapter 10, Marinette and Alya tell Alix that they are searching for the Secret Identity of the supervillain Monarch by interviewing former Akumas like her. What they found out is that Monarch is a teenager, he's a redhead, he's not too pushy, he's shorter than Scarlet and Ikati, and he has a soft spot for Marc... which Alix realizes with horror is an exact match for her best friend and classmate Nathaniel. When Alix asks them if they really think that Nathaniel is Monarch (with the implicit threat that she'll punch them for the accusation), they go rigid and Alya quickly answers that they never considered Nathaniel because he's too shy and nice to be a supervillain. Of course, the three of them realize that if the suspicions are shared, they could easily be a lynch mob formed to go after Nathaniel on the belief he is Monarch. In a case of Dramatic Irony, Nathaniel actually is Monarch.
- Oh, You Don’t Have to Do That. (Communication): After Roger and Fred inform Ms. Rossi that her daughter is a Consummate Liar, she reveals that while she was somewhat aware that her daughter had a bit of trouble with the truth, she didn't believe that she'd ever lie about anything major or important...before recalling that Lila had been the one who'd warned her that her ex-husband Antonio was having an affair. Fred asks if Antonio had ever said anything about their daughter's bad habits, and Ms. Rossi is heartbroken as it hits her that Lila had intentionally set them up to divorce.
- There's More Magic Out There: After Juleka finds out that Alya is a fox selkie, the former asks the latter if the rest of her family are selkies. Alya says that it's complicated, with only her mother and her older sister Nora being born selkies. She then asks Juleka what she knows about selkie stories. Juleka says she heard plenty of stories where farmers would steal a selkie's coat to force them into marriage... and realizes the same thing happened to Alya's mother, with Alya clarifying that her and Nora's birth father did that before the selkies escaped.
- Weight Off Your Shoulder: After Gabriel Agreste is unmasked as Hawk/Shadow Moth, Nino vents to Marinette about how his best friend's dad turned out to be way more than just a Control Freak who wouldn't let his own son have a birthday party. As he complains, his anger turns to horror as he recalls how that led to his akumatization into The Bubbler, spurring him to ask just how many akumas Gabriel created not just by preying upon people's moments of weakness, but by engineering their problems in the first place.
- One for All and Eight for the Ninth: After meeting with Mirio and Tamaki, Izuku admits that he felt a little jealous over how close they were and wished he and Bakugo could've been like that. Nejire points out that Mirio and Tamaki are dating as well as best friends, and questions why Izuku would be jealous of that, at which point the implications dawn on her.
- those hardest to love need it most: After learning about how Midoriya was mistreated at Aldera Junior High for being Quirkless, Aizawa takes him out of class for a private discussion. As he's trying to explain to him the importance of learning how to trust others, especially the staff at U.A., he idly refers to him by his usual nickname of 'Problem Child', only to freeze as he abruptly realizes how that sounds to somebody who's used to teachers dismissing and belittling him.Aizawa: Midoriya... do you think I call you Problem Child because I hate you?
Silence. That was answer enough.
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
- Ascend (xTSGx): The story description, which starts with trying to cheer Twilight up, then figures out that she shouldn't really be happy:Cheer up, Twilight. It's not every day somepony changes species. In fact, no pony has ever changed species. It's something new and you like discovering new things. Granted, Equestrians don't like new things, especially things that fundamentally alter their government. So maybe there is reason not to be happy after all.
- Everfree Infection AU: While gathering supplies in the Everfree Forest, Zecora and Fluttershy come across a grove filled with fungus branches growing from dead insects. Fluttershy starts telling Zecora that the grove is where she gathered "nettle branches" to help cure a mouse right before the infection started, but chokes up midsentence as she realizes that Discord enchanting the fungus branches she gathered is what started the infection in the first place.Fluttershy: Oh wow, there's so many nettles here!
Zecora: These are where the infection has spread, these poor little insects are all very dead.
Fluttershy: Bugs? Not nettles? (...) But this is where I - I - I - - Discord of all creatures, gets one in Misunderstandings. Throughout the story, the human protagonist Peter has been absorbing the magic around him and channeling it to Earth, only now a sabotage of Twlight's experiments has cut off that connection. Discord starts out explaining how it happened in his strange way — he pulls off one of his horns to symbolize the connection — but starts to get very nervous when he realizes the magic building up in the broken conduit will eventually cause Peter to explode.
- Androgyninja's A Drop of Poison: Sakura accidentally does this to herself during the bell test. She figures out that it's actually a Secret Test of Character meant to gauge their teamwork... then realizes, much to her horror, that this means she has to try and convince Naruto and Sasuke to cooperate with her.
- When Naruto first meets the Kyuubi in Blood and Venom and finds out that the Bijuu was sealed by the Yondaime instead of killed like he had been told, Naruto tries to figure out who or what the Kyuubi was sealed into.Naruto: But if he couldn't seal you into a pot or something like that, an' he couldn't seal you into a person, then where are we?
Kyuubi: An adult. An adult couldn't hold me because their chakra system is of a set size, so that would mean...?
Naruto: Yondaime-sama would have to...He'd have to find someone who had a chakra system without a set size...So he had to use someone who wasn't an adult, someone really...really young, and you attacked on my birthday...
(Naruto's eyes widen comically at the realization)
Kyuubi: Yes brat, the Yondaime sealed me into you; we are currently in your mind and your body is unconscious.
(After taking a moment to process the information)
Naruto: AAAAAAAAaaaaaahahhhhhhhhhh! - First Try Series: Kiri-nin Mizuko Sanbashi and Kampachi are investigating the aftermath of an ambush where they trace the source of Jinchuriki. They try to figure out which Jinchuriki it was and deduce that the people ambushed and the source of the energy had to be someone from Konoha. They initially believe that Konoha doesn't have a Jinchuriki; however, Mizuko realizes which Jinchuriki was there when he explains which villages do have Jinchuriki and figures out that Konoha has the Kyuubi by process of elimination.
- The Kakashi Way: While recounting the Kannabi bridge incident to Inoichi, Kakashi falters as he reaches the point where Rin was taken hostage. Mainly because Inoichi recently revealed to him that they had evidence Danzo had some hand in the encounter; as a result, Kakashi realizes that they weren't keeping her alive in order to interrogate her, as both he and Obito had assumed, but as bait to lure the boys into a trap.
- A comedic example occurs in Minimum Requirement when Hizashi accidentally discovers Naruto's parentage.Hizashi: Hey there little fella. You look an awful lot like Kushina. In fact, I think you are Kushina's. Did you know I could've been your father if my marriage hadn't been arranged since childhood and Kushina hadn't been so in love with...with... Holy Crap!
- Naru-Hina Chronicles: While discussing with Naruto about a job, Shikamaru notices that his friend is holding a bag:Shikamaru: Hey, Naruto. What's in the bag?
Naruto: Huh?! Oh, this?! It's a present for Hinata's bir... OH CRAP! I'M SUPPOSED TO MEET HER!- Naru-Hina Chronicles Mini-sodes: When Naruto and Hinata are babysitting Kurenai's baby AJ, Hinata is smiling tenderly at Naruto playing with the baby. At one point, the Uzumaki gives the baby a shuriken. The Hyuga continues to smile and says "Aww, he's playing with a shuri..." before making an over-the-top panicking face upon realizing what her boyfriend gave to AJ.
- Rise of the Minisukas: As SEELE discusses the matter of three unfinished Eva units going missing, Keel begins listing what kind of traits the thief must have before realizing that Tabris ticks all the boxes.
- This Bites!:
- At the start of Chapter 33, Vice Admiral Jonathan has a civil, friendly even, conversation with Cross about why the latter is terrible at chess. There are too many rules and no matter what you do, it has to follow those rules but sometimes, Cross just wants to flip the board. This and the accompanying explosion let Jonathan know that Cross just metaphorically flipped the board on their little game.
- At the end of Chapter 36, when Cross sees Miss Friday in Water 7, Lassoo asks where Mr. 13 was, with Soundbite agreeing, calling him a water rat in the process. Halfway through the insult, he and Cross remember they are currently on a canal street and realize where Mr. 13 will be coming from.
- In Chapter 51, Cross remembers what exactly Nidhogg is as he explains it to the crew and realizes what Moria is doing. Nidhogg is the dragon at the end of the world and Moria is going One-Winged Angel.
- In Chapter 55, Through the discussion about how survival of the fittest is an Enforced Trope on Merveille (Dr. Indigo injected his strength-boosting toxins into the wildlife, animals beat other animals, consume their bodies and the toxins inside them and grow even stronger), Luffy, Boss, and Cross and his partners realize why the beasts are following them: the animals have been driving them into the paths of the alpha beasts (which they inevitably beat), the ones who had consumed enough toxin to stand strong alone until now, and as such have invited the other animals to feed on their corpses and grow even stronger in a very short amount of time. And since these animals have been trained to believe that eating the strong will make them stronger, they've already set their eyes on their final targets, those that have established themselves as the strongest on the archipelago. Guess who that is?
- In Chapter 56, Cross and Vivi are trying to figure out exactly why Shiki has a village filled with inhabitants living on his floating archipelago. When Cross draws a comparison between Shiki's bioweapons and the nuclear weapons from his world, he realizes the answer: super-weapon test targets.
- In Chapter 59, Cross is pondering on the subject of Keimi. Thanks to the Butterfly of Doom, Hachi has enough help at his restaurant to hold off the Macro Pirates, but he also knows that they're too evil and stupid to give up because of that. So Cross deduces that Duval's men were planning to wait to grab Keimi until she was vulnerable... like if she's on the deck of their ship.
- In Chapter 72, Marguerite is busy lambasting Luffy's idiocy in attempting to assassinate Boa Hancock, especially given how he always recklessly fights his enemies head-on, only to realize that his fighting style precludes him from attempting to assassinate someone. The realization that she was mistakenly persecuting one of their possible allies, one of the nicest people in the world, for assassinating her leader gives her a full "My God, What Have I Done?" Heroic BSoD.
- Near the end of Chapter 75, after watching Buggy Tempting Fate in the worst possible way, Chief Guard Saldeath remarks to Smoker that none of their forces are close enough to get to Buggy and the others fast enough to give karmic retribution, nor is anyone among them other than Magellan and Hancock who have the power to deliver said retribution, leading to the conclusion that a third force is going to react to Buggy's cry. Cue the Caribou Pirates and the World Pirates invading Impel Down at Level 3.
- In Chapter 77, after receiving the report that Luffy disappeared all of a sudden from Level 5, Magellan asks about other prisoners that also "disappeared" (Ivankov, Inazuma, and Bentham specifically). This coupled with the fact that Luffy told him when he surrendered that he may find a "miracle" makes the wardens realize that not only are those disappeared still in the prison somewhere, but also that Luffy had known that and planned on joining up with them from the start. Which can only mean that a massive jailbreak is soon going to take place.
- Inverted in Take the World by Storm - when Vivi meets Robin (who she only knows as Miss All Sunday, at the moment), she panics, since Robin is The Dragon to Crocodile, the president of Baroque Works, the organization trying to take over her country, and the only one that knows Crocodile is said president - and then, she realizes that since Robin is the only person who knows Crocodile's identity, and since the Straw Hats were able to tell Vivi herself Crocodile was the president, Robin must be spying for them.
- In Chapter 3 of Aftermath in the Boiling Isles (Season 1), Odalia tries to lay sole claim to Blight Manor thanks to a pre-nuptial contract, only for Amity to ask who's going to enforce it. Odalia replies the Emperor's Coven... and then trails off in horror as she realizes that said coven was overthrown and thus can't help her.
- Confide in Me: In Chapter 19, Sae considers what Joker says about the traitor to their group; namely, that there was no traitor because anyone who would sell them out was never one of them in the first place. When Sae runs over the seven human suspects of the Phantom Thieves, she realizes that that was precisely how Joker defined Goro Akechi. Then, through the revelations of the Devil confidant, she realizes that Akechi is responsible for the mental shutdowns, and through the fact that Joker said he trusted her with his life in Chapter 11, she then realizes that they're planning to assassinate him.
- Royalty-free Rerun: Akira in the previous timeline has this when he realizes that while Kasumi isn't selfish, Kasumi and Sumire are different people.Seeing her like this... He couldn't take it. He tried his best to convince her that this was all a farce, but she still went along with it. Even after all that talk about her own family and the state of her sister's life, she still...? Didn't she want her back? Was that not the issue?
The only other option was... No, he'd said that to catch Maruki off guard, not for a second did he think those were her true feelings. She wasn't selfish, she was the total opposite. She was unwavering in her passion. She was overflowing with confidence, believing she would get out of her slump. She was selfless to a fault, and never once did she ask anything too strenuous a task out of anyone. Even when they practiced together, she always made sure he was following along, smiling and encouraging all the while. That's just how she was. Kasumi was-
Kasumi...
It dawned on him then. He knows Kasumi. Those were Kasumi's traits. Sumire isn't her. He knows what Kasumi would've picked, but Sumire... He's never met her before.
- The Soulmate Timeline: Akasuki Suzumebachi, a Magical Girl Serial Killer, is looking for Madoka (who she is trying to kill in an attempt to also kill her Magical Girl Soulmates) when she suddenly comes face to face with the newly contracted Sayaka (who contracted to heal Madoka's injuries). As Suzumebachi is looking over the new Magical Girl, who seems to be shaking at the sight of her, she happens to spot a set of diamonds on Sayaka's outfit, which happens to be the shape of Madoka's soulmarks. It is at this moment that Suzmebachi realizes that she is not staring at a scared newly contracted Magical Girl, but a newly awakened Soulbound Magical Girl that is very angry and has every reason for wanting her dead after nearly fatally injuring Madoka.First of all, she had the pink girl on her back, clinging onto her like some infantile animal or something, partially covered by, all things, a white cape. The girl literally had a white cape, how cute. And oh, she was shaking too. She was scared of her, even as she was glaring at her like she was a sick monster or something. Girl’s outfit was blue and white and had cleavage, her Soul Gem was a blue crescent over her belly button, she had a cutlass sword (of course), and on her left breast was a set of diamonds…
Diamonds….
Suzumebachi stepped back as she looked at the girl over again. That shaking…that wasn’t fearful shaking, that was starting from one arm….
- Rosario Vampire: Brightest Darkness:
- In Act III chapter 46, after dismissing the possibility that Akua and Kahlua are Fairy Tale agents, Kou proceeds to explain to the headmaster that the Chrono Displacement spell that Fairy Tale stole from the Shuzen estate was stored in a secret archive that only Issa and his daughters knew about. As soon as those words are out of his mouth, Kou realizes that the only way Fairy Tale could possibly have known about the archive, let alone the spell, is if Akua and Kahlua were working for them.
- Throughout Act IV, after receiving a glimpse into an Alternate Timeline, Tsukune and the others expect Hokuto and his Co-Dragons, Jovian and Jacqueline, to pull off a full-scale attack on Yokai Academy to capture Moka as part of his plan to resurrect Alucard, and prepare accordingly. When that day comes, however, they're caught completely unprepared when a Brainwashed and Crazy Felucia shows up alone, several hours ahead of schedule. While trying to work out why it's happening differently, they suddenly remember that, unlike their current timeline, Luna was not present at the academy during the Alternate Timeline, something they never considered before then; thus, Hokuto isn't launching an all-out attack on the school.
- In Act VI chapter 13, Kyouko insists that Talon can't be evil because he's targeting those who were part of Fairy Tale... and then remembers that since Dark, Akua, and Kahlua are ex-Fairy Tale agents themselves, they're on Talon's hit list too.
- The Self-Insert in Overlord grumbles to himself about how annoying Summer Rose and her big silver eyes are becoming when he remembers both that 1) Silver Eyed Warriors are supposed to be near-mythical warriors capable of killing Grimm with a look, 2) Everyone he's met from Summer's village has silver eyes.
- White Sheep: Cinder throws Jaune into the ocean arena to get him out of the way. A few minutes later, Weiss notices that Jaune still hasn't come up, and asks if he can swim. Cinder finds that question ridiculous; of course he can't swim, he lived his entire life hundreds of miles away from any water. Then she realizes this means Jaune is drowning, and jumps in to save him.
Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics)
- In issue 3 of Sonic Retold, Cream is scolding the Tails doll for its habit of disappearing without a trace when it suddenly dawns on her that these disappearances all coincide with something going wrong with the nanites that make up the city. She shares this epiphany with Rotor, and they're later able to lure the doll—which is really a spy robot—into a trap and capture it.
- Sword Art Online Abridged:
- In Episode 6, Kirito decides to test whether an alleged murder weapon is indeed capable of harming a player in a city-wide safe zone before Asuna stops him.Asuna: Jesus Christ, what the hell are you doing?!
Kirito: Well, clearly I'm stabbing myself with this sword to see if it kills me - oh god, what am I doing? - In Episode 7, Kirito tests Lisbeth's masterwork sword by hitting - and smashing - it against the edge of his current one. He then demands that she make him a new one, even better than her career's triumph, to live up to the 'Lisbeth Quality Guarantee'.Lisbeth: Grrr... Fine! You want the best sword in the game? I'll forge the best damn sword you've ever seen! I'll just need you to gather a certain ultra-rare metal for me.
Kirito: Alright, just tell me where to find it. I'll make a milk run.
Lisbeth: Oh, don't think it'll be that easy. It's hidden in the mountains of Floor 55 guarded by a Lv. 99 Elite Dragon!
Kirito: Ooh, scary.
Lisbeth: And good luck even finding it, because the metal won't even spawn unless you're partied with a master... black... smith. Oh, no. - In Episode 8, Kirito is questioning why the sandwich Asuna gave him tastes "like you dipped a dog turd in Cool Ranch," despite her having cooked an amazing meal for him just the night before.Asuna: My Cooking skill is maxed out, you idiot, I could have actually done that and you'd still call it the best meal you'd ever... had...
Kirito: What? What is it?
Asuna: Don't you see, Kirito? It's the [Ragout] Rabbit! An S-Class ingredient prepared by someone with the highest possible skill? It's literally the tastiest thing you could ever eat, real or otherwise. What food could possibly compare after that?
Kirito: My god... we Flowers for Algernon'd our taste buds?! - Then later in that episode, when Kirito sees a group of other players getting wiped out by a boss monster, he accidentally triggers his own Trauma Button, "[this isn't] your fault," Sachi's last words to him.Kirito: Whatever happens to them, it's not our... DAMMIT!
- In Episode 11, when Kayaba and the protagonists are chatting after the final battle, Asuna offers an alternative response to what led Kayaba to begin the death game in the first place, which he tries to dismiss.Kayaba: (chuckling) Yeah, okay, see, Asuna? The problem with that, is that it's... an excellent idea I wish I had thought of two years ago.
(long, painful beat)
Kayaba: Anyhoo, on that sobering note, I think I'm gonna go scream into that uncaring void for a bit. - In Episode 14, Sugou is gloating about the NerveGear's full potential to a captive Asuna.Sugou: For instance, the NerveGear was actually able to scan in your real-life abilities, and assign your base stats accordingly, allowing one to rise up from their former self into a hero, a legend.
Asuna: Yeah, I was trapped in that world for two years. Ya really think I didn't know all that?
Sugou: Well, I just think it's fascinating, is all. Increase your Strength stat, and even a child could wield the mightiest weapons. Increase Dexterity, and you could move with the grace of a world-class gymnast. Increase Charisma...
Asuna: Yeah, yeah, it would let you... ohhhh. Oh no...
Sugou: By Jove, I think she's got it!
- In Episode 6, Kirito decides to test whether an alleged murder weapon is indeed capable of harming a player in a city-wide safe zone before Asuna stops him.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows: In chapter 27, Hisako finally snaps at the lack of progress the Hamato family has made at stopping Krang, and embarks on a crusade to take him down herself no matter what, leading to her forming an alliance with the Newtralizer and planning to steal a Humongous Mecha to use against Krang. The alliance falls apart when the Newtralizer reveals his plans for the mech:Newtralizer: See that? With that mech, we can level this entire stinking city!
Hisako: Yeah... wait, what? What do you mean we can level it?
Newtralizer: Exactly what I said. New York City is infested with Krang's ilk. The only way to be sure we destroy them all is to burn it all to the ground.
Hisako: You can't do that! There are thousands, millions of people living in the city! What's the point of stopping Krang if everyone's dead?!
Newtralizer: What do I care? I'm not people.
Hisako: This isn't what we agreed on! I signed on with you to take down Krang, not butcher an entire city full of innocents!
Newtralizer: It is what you agreed on, Oracle. We destroy Krang at any cost.
Hisako: No! There has to be a line, K'Vathrak! Otherwise, we're no better than... him... [recalls that Leo said exactly that to her, only for Hisako to throw him across the room and blow him off] Ugh... [Face Palms] I'm a fucking idiot.
- In Turning Red: Secrets of the Panda, this happens to Miriam when she realises that Mei can't turn into a panda, anymore.Miriam: Your hair, Mei. It’s turned black, like it was before you gained the panda. But, if you didn’t get rid of the panda, why would.. Oh, no!
Mei: I can’t turn into a panda, anymore, can I?
- Here Comes The New Boss: When Panacea heals up Elpis, she sees the changes the latter underwent due to her Trigger, and notes that had Elpis appeared earlier people would have mistaken her for the Butcher, what with the Healing Factor, and the tough skin, and the extra photoreceptors, and extra row of teeth, in combination with being a Tinker... and Panacea realizes all of a sudden that she's enclosed in a room with the latest incarnation of an immortal Serial Killer.Panacea: I mean, one of the Butchers was a regenerator, and another was a Case 53, so you'd… really… be…
- Chaos Effect:
- In Chapter 4, Edwin is reflecting on how he needs to not interfere in canon, how he needs to not make it to the finals, not stop certain Duelists from being kicked off the island, and not stop Mokuba from being locked in a dungeon and having his soul stolen. As soon as he reviews that last point, his conscience slaps him and he rushes off to save Mokuba before that can happen.
- In Chapter 97, Yami Ishizu is facing torturous interrogation by Renard in retaliation for trapping Yugi, not the Pharaoh, in a Lotus-Eater Machine. After half an hour of stubbornly resisting, Yami Ishizu realizes that not once during the process did he ask how to free Yugi, and makes the connection that Renard was just a distraction so Edwin and the gang could use the Millennium Key to undo it. And she immediately uses her own Item's powers to pursue them.
- Fallen King has this played for drama and tears. After narrowly escaping death, Joey suddenly remembers his promise to Serenity and how she'll now be blind forever.The world, my friends, my family...
Joey's eyes shot open as reality slapped him in the face.
"Serenity," he whispered.
