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Anime & Manga
"Remember me."
— Nozomi Yumehara/Cure Dream, Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GO!GO!
"Nezuko! Hang on, Nezuko! Don't give in! You gotta hang on! Don't let it take control! You gotta stay strong! Just hang on! PLEASE!"
— Tanjiro, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Supreme Kai: Don't let him take you Vegeta! Let go. The past is the past. Don't think of it. Be innocent and clear.
Vegeta: How can you say that? I'm not innocent!
Vegeta: How can you say that? I'm not innocent!
Comic Books
Let's have one of those totally cliched hero-slash-friend fights. You get to say things like, "I know you're stronger than this", or "You can fight it"... oh, and "This isn't you"! And I'll say things like... "I know your secret identity" and "All the people you care about are going to die!"
— Mind-controlled Terra, Power Girl (2009)
Lana, if you can hear me— SAY something! Lana! I KNOW you're IN there! Let her body Go, you insect FREAK! Get OUT!
Kara...? I'm your friend, remember? Whatever's happened, you don't have to hurt anyone.
—Siobhan "Silver Banshee" Smythe, Red Daughter of Krypton
Underlying: What... What's this? Her helper is far stronger than I thought! Attuned to her thoughts! He's locked into certain parts of her mind! I can't dispel him!
Supergirl: Whoever you are, keep it up! I can feel your influence growing stronger and stronger! Breaking through all the pain and torment!
Supergirl: Whoever you are, keep it up! I can feel your influence growing stronger and stronger! Breaking through all the pain and torment!
Barry: Metzner is dead! His pitiful consciousness submerged in my superior mind!
Supergirl: No! I don't believe that! Barry Metzner... Whatever makes him the man he is... can't be lost!
Supergirl: No! I don't believe that! Barry Metzner... Whatever makes him the man he is... can't be lost!
— Supergirl (1982) #23
Fan Works
"Rei. Answer me. Are you alright?"
Rei kept walking, footsteps as steady and regular as a metronome. "Yes," she eventually said very softly.
"You don't sound 'alright'. You sound... like a damn doll again. Did..." Asuka sucked in a shocked breath. She got in front of her and grabbed Rei's shoulders, halting her walk. "Did that fucking witch doctor do something to you again?!"
Rei stared at her, blank. "Doctor... Akagi... adjusted my medication," she eventually said very slowly.
Asuka shivered. "Scheiße. That witch. Fine... ok... Rei, you're going to be alright. We'll get you back to your apartment and... fuck..." She looked at Shinji, still at a loss. "Shinji?"
"Fucking... Ikari... kun... is... your... job," Rei said, slow and dead.
They both stared at Rei. A hopeful smile started to break out on Asuka's face, matching the one on Shinji's. "Wondergirl, are you still in there?"
Rei stood silent for a moment, but eventually said, "Yes."
Rei blinked again when Asuka suddenly crushed her with a tight hug. "Thank Gott, Rei. We'll get you through this. I'm not having NERV and Doctor Bitch turn the only other person who I know loves me into a doll."
Rei kept walking, footsteps as steady and regular as a metronome. "Yes," she eventually said very softly.
"You don't sound 'alright'. You sound... like a damn doll again. Did..." Asuka sucked in a shocked breath. She got in front of her and grabbed Rei's shoulders, halting her walk. "Did that fucking witch doctor do something to you again?!"
Rei stared at her, blank. "Doctor... Akagi... adjusted my medication," she eventually said very slowly.
Asuka shivered. "Scheiße. That witch. Fine... ok... Rei, you're going to be alright. We'll get you back to your apartment and... fuck..." She looked at Shinji, still at a loss. "Shinji?"
"Fucking... Ikari... kun... is... your... job," Rei said, slow and dead.
They both stared at Rei. A hopeful smile started to break out on Asuka's face, matching the one on Shinji's. "Wondergirl, are you still in there?"
Rei stood silent for a moment, but eventually said, "Yes."
Rei blinked again when Asuka suddenly crushed her with a tight hug. "Thank Gott, Rei. We'll get you through this. I'm not having NERV and Doctor Bitch turn the only other person who I know loves me into a doll."
Touji approached Hikari slowly. "Um... Hikari?"
Rei's voice replied to him, "I am not Hikari."
The Children felt a chill run through them. "Let go of her!" screamed Asuka. "Get out!"
Touji grabbed Hikari's shoulder. "Whadaya mean you ain't Hikari!" he said desperately. "Of course you're Hikari! Stop playin' around!"
Rei's voice replied to him, "I am not Hikari."
The Children felt a chill run through them. "Let go of her!" screamed Asuka. "Get out!"
Touji grabbed Hikari's shoulder. "Whadaya mean you ain't Hikari!" he said desperately. "Of course you're Hikari! Stop playin' around!"
"Padre, come on, please snap out of it. You're stronger than him, I know you are, I know you wouldn't hurt us, you care about us, you love us!" His voice nearly started to crack. He would have cried had it not been for Jonathan starting to move again, but this time, when he looked up, he saw his eyes screwed shut and his head was shaking from side to side.
"Padre?" He asked, hopeful, but when he saw his teeth grit, he almost cursed. "You guys, keep talking to him! He's starting to snap out of it!"
"Uh... you can do it, gramps!" Josuke nodded to himself. "Giorno's right, you're way stronger than him! You're probably the strongest person I've ever met!"
"Probably?" Joseph scoffed. "Not probably, he damn near is the strongest person ever! He doesn't need a Stand or even Hamon to beat us to hell and back! Right, Jotaro?"
At that, Joseph elbowed Jotaro in the chest. Jotaro just huffed, "Yes."
Joseph seriously considered if he should try punching him, but Jolyne interrupted the thought. "Yeah! You're way too nice and kind to be controlled by that bastard! So fight him, gramps! Get back to normal!"
"Thank you." Gappy suddenly blurted out, surprising even himself. "For accepting me as someone important to you, and for finally making me see what a family means. That was like an hour ago, and I haven't even enjoyed it properly, so you have to fucking wake up, Jonathan!"
"What he said," Johnny pointed a thumb at Gappy and nodded.
It seemed like an eternity passed. The Joestars kept throwing helpful words of encouragement and praise, and soon, Jonathan stopped thrashing, his face taking on a peaceful look. His eyes then opened. "Huh...?"
"Padre?" He asked, hopeful, but when he saw his teeth grit, he almost cursed. "You guys, keep talking to him! He's starting to snap out of it!"
"Uh... you can do it, gramps!" Josuke nodded to himself. "Giorno's right, you're way stronger than him! You're probably the strongest person I've ever met!"
"Probably?" Joseph scoffed. "Not probably, he damn near is the strongest person ever! He doesn't need a Stand or even Hamon to beat us to hell and back! Right, Jotaro?"
At that, Joseph elbowed Jotaro in the chest. Jotaro just huffed, "Yes."
Joseph seriously considered if he should try punching him, but Jolyne interrupted the thought. "Yeah! You're way too nice and kind to be controlled by that bastard! So fight him, gramps! Get back to normal!"
"Thank you." Gappy suddenly blurted out, surprising even himself. "For accepting me as someone important to you, and for finally making me see what a family means. That was like an hour ago, and I haven't even enjoyed it properly, so you have to fucking wake up, Jonathan!"
"What he said," Johnny pointed a thumb at Gappy and nodded.
It seemed like an eternity passed. The Joestars kept throwing helpful words of encouragement and praise, and soon, Jonathan stopped thrashing, his face taking on a peaceful look. His eyes then opened. "Huh...?"
Both women were panting as if they'd run a marathon. Their costumes were sweat-stained, and their muscles trembled with effort. They alternated closing their eyes in concentration and trying to stare the other one down.
Katma could see what Hal meant about the Predator in Carol's visage. It had twisted her face into one of the most cruel and arrogant aspects she had ever seen on a woman, on Korugar or elsewhere.
But in the depths of her eyes, Katma seemed to sense something more. Something a bit trapped, a bit different.
Encouraged, she tried pouring on more will. It had to be enough. It had to reclaim Carol from the Star Sapphire.
Katma could see what Hal meant about the Predator in Carol's visage. It had twisted her face into one of the most cruel and arrogant aspects she had ever seen on a woman, on Korugar or elsewhere.
But in the depths of her eyes, Katma seemed to sense something more. Something a bit trapped, a bit different.
Encouraged, she tried pouring on more will. It had to be enough. It had to reclaim Carol from the Star Sapphire.
When Cassie finally finds him after the first battle, she discovers that she couldn’t have timed it much worse if she’d tried: she interrupts him in the middle of eating a kill. She’s a tiny blunt-nailed primate, and he is a 650-pound predator that she has just caught in a moment of vulnerability. By the time she registers the carcass of the mountain lion at his feet, he has already jerked his head up. A growl rumbles softly in the back of his throat. He takes a step toward her, lips drawn back from blood-darkened teeth, unhurried and unhesitating.
“Jake.” Her voice emerges tiny with fear; she takes a breath and tries again. “Jake.”
She’s been working with predators since she was six years old. Her mother taught her to look them in the eye. To show no fear. To be firm and unflinching, to force them to be the ones to hesitate.
Funny, how fast common sense flees the mind when the tiny animal brain faces down the hunter and demands the behaviors of prey.
“Jake. STOP!” Her fists are clenched, her knees locked, her spine drawn up straight. Her entire body trembles. “It’s me. It’s Cassie. Stop moving, right now!”
He does stop, ears coming forward, tail lashing at the air. He’s no longer growling, but he’s crouched now, ready to pounce.
“Jake.” Her voice emerges tiny with fear; she takes a breath and tries again. “Jake.”
She’s been working with predators since she was six years old. Her mother taught her to look them in the eye. To show no fear. To be firm and unflinching, to force them to be the ones to hesitate.
Funny, how fast common sense flees the mind when the tiny animal brain faces down the hunter and demands the behaviors of prey.
“Jake. STOP!” Her fists are clenched, her knees locked, her spine drawn up straight. Her entire body trembles. “It’s me. It’s Cassie. Stop moving, right now!”
He does stop, ears coming forward, tail lashing at the air. He’s no longer growling, but he’s crouched now, ready to pounce.
— "What if Jake was stuck in morph?", All Assorted Animorphs AUs
Film — Animated
I have crossed the horizon to find you
I know your name
They have stolen the heart from inside you
But this does not define you
This is not who you are
You know who you are
I know your name
They have stolen the heart from inside you
But this does not define you
This is not who you are
You know who you are
— Moana, to Te Kā/Te Fiti, Moana
Film — Live-Action
Leia: Luke, run away, far away. If he can feel your presence then leave this place. I wish I could come with you.
Luke: No you don't. You've always been strong.
Leia: But why must you confront him?
Luke: Because, there's good in him. He won't turn me over to the Emperor. I can save him, I can bring him back... to the good side. I have to try.
Luke: No you don't. You've always been strong.
Leia: But why must you confront him?
Luke: Because, there's good in him. He won't turn me over to the Emperor. I can save him, I can bring him back... to the good side. I have to try.
— Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, Return of the Jedi
Luke: I've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father.
Darth Vader: That name no longer has any meaning for me.
Luke: It is the name of your true self. You've only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully.
Darth Vader: That name no longer has any meaning for me.
Luke: It is the name of your true self. You've only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully.
"Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you... the conflict."
— Luke Skywalker, Return of the Jedi
Steve Rogers: You know me.
Winter Soldier: No I don't!
Steve Rogers: Bucky, you've known me your entire life. Your name is James Buchanan Barnes.
Winter Soldier: SHUT UP!
Steve Rogers: I'm not gonna fight you. You're my friend.
Winter Soldier: You're my mission. YOU'RE! MY! MISSION!
Steve Rogers: Then finish it. Because I'm with you to the end of the line.
Winter Soldier: No I don't!
Steve Rogers: Bucky, you've known me your entire life. Your name is James Buchanan Barnes.
Winter Soldier: SHUT UP!
Steve Rogers: I'm not gonna fight you. You're my friend.
Winter Soldier: You're my mission. YOU'RE! MY! MISSION!
Steve Rogers: Then finish it. Because I'm with you to the end of the line.
I know you're in there, Banner! I'll get you out!
—Thor while fighting Hulk, Thor: Ragnarok
John Connor: Please, you can't do this!
T-850: I have no choice. The TX has corrupted my system.
John Connor: You're fighting it! You're fighting it right now!
T-850: My CPU is intact. But I cannot control my other functions.
John Connor: You don't have to do this! You don't want to do this!
T-850: Desire is irrelevant. I am...a machine!
(throws John across the room and begins to strangle him)
John Connor: What is your mission?!
T-850: To ensure the survival of John Connor and Katherine Brewster!
John Connor: You are about to fail that mission!
T-850: I have no choice. The TX has corrupted my system.
John Connor: You're fighting it! You're fighting it right now!
T-850: My CPU is intact. But I cannot control my other functions.
John Connor: You don't have to do this! You don't want to do this!
T-850: Desire is irrelevant. I am...a machine!
(throws John across the room and begins to strangle him)
John Connor: What is your mission?!
T-850: To ensure the survival of John Connor and Katherine Brewster!
John Connor: You are about to fail that mission!
Sam: Alex, man, fight it! Fight man! Fight it!
Alex: (aliens reassert control) How could he, Sam? You couldn't!
Alex: (aliens reassert control) How could he, Sam? You couldn't!
Literature
Ms. Keane looked around at all the children. "I feel so much better now," she said. "I just haven't felt like myself lately. I don't know what it is, but it all started when that awful woman came in here with that pink spray."
"We knew the real Ms. Keane was in there somewhere." Bubbles said happily.
— The Powerpuff Girls (1998), "Ms. Meane"
Shadowsight held his breath as Bramblestar repeated the same move over and over, while Squirrelflight managed to step out of his way or push him off without causing him harm.
"Bramblestar!" she yowled as he snapped at her throat. "Remember who you are! Fight against Ashfur... please!"
"Bramblestar!" she yowled as he snapped at her throat. "Remember who you are! Fight against Ashfur... please!"
— Warrior Cats: The Broken Code #5: The Place of No Stars
Live-Action TV
Dean: Sammy? Are you in there?
Lucifer: Oh, he's in here, all right. (punches Dean) And he's gonna feel the snap of your bones. (another punch) Every single one. We're gonna take our time! (rains down punches)
Lucifer: Oh, he's in here, all right. (punches Dean) And he's gonna feel the snap of your bones. (another punch) Every single one. We're gonna take our time! (rains down punches)
— Supernatural, "Swan Song"
Sam: Dean, look, I know you think that Cas has gone...
Dean: ...cause he is.
Sam: He's not! He's in there somewhere, Dean. I know it!
Dean: No you don't.
Sam: [beat] No I don't. But look, I was pretty far gone myself, and you never gave up on me.
— Supernatural, "Meet the New Boss"
Video Games
Spider-Man: What happened to the man who wanted to help people?
Doctor Octopus: The weakling? The loser? He's gone.
Doctor Octopus: The weakling? The loser? He's gone.
ugh... that being said... you, uh, really like swinging that thing around, huh? listen. i know you didn't answer me before, but... somewhere in there. i can feel it. there's a glimmer of a good person inside of you. the memory of someone who once wanted to do the right thing. someone who, in another time, might have even been... a friend? c'mon, buddy. do you remember me? please, if you're listening... let's forget all this, okay? just lay down you weapon, and... well, my job will be a lot easier.
"Claus...You aren't Porky's robot!...You're our son!"
— Hinawa, Mother 3
Come back to us! Estelle! Are you just going to let your life end like this, like someone else's tool?
— Yuri Lowell, Tales of Vesperia
"You have to wake up, Mao! I'm risking my life to stop you!"
— Almaz, Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
Marie: Callie! Remember! That heavenly melody!
Callie: The one and only... I... I remember...
Palutena: So you're here to fight me, Pit?
Pit: No... No! I'm here to save you!
Pit: No... No! I'm here to save you!
Sho: I've been waiting to knock some sense into you, ya crow!
Dita: Don't make me laugh! You abducted and used my beloved sister! You may destroy the Vaikun, but you can't stop Mandler! Anum! You don't need them anymore. I'll save you!
Luna: Dita, you've got to wake up! You and I are both synthoids created by Mega Zofer. We're weapons they made to take over the universe!
Dita: That's absurd! Terrans are the true evil corrupting the universe! The force that toppled our officers must be stopped!
(later...)
Dita: Ugh...! You've grown much stronger than you were before!
Sho: Damn right! When you fight for galactic peace and justice, you can't lose!
Dita: You speak of justice?! You cowards who use my own sister against me?!
Luna: They're not cowards! They're my dearest friends! The only one being used here is you!
Dita: Still you speak such nonsense!
(eventually...)
Dita: Why do you persist?! What drives you to keep fighting?!
Sho: We fight for every soldier who fell before us. We fight for everyone behind us who holds out hope for peace. We fight to honor their sacrifices and faith!
Luna: Dita, please! Be the kind and loving brother I once knew again!
Dita: Ugh... I... I must...!
Dita: Don't make me laugh! You abducted and used my beloved sister! You may destroy the Vaikun, but you can't stop Mandler! Anum! You don't need them anymore. I'll save you!
Luna: Dita, you've got to wake up! You and I are both synthoids created by Mega Zofer. We're weapons they made to take over the universe!
Dita: That's absurd! Terrans are the true evil corrupting the universe! The force that toppled our officers must be stopped!
(later...)
Dita: Ugh...! You've grown much stronger than you were before!
Sho: Damn right! When you fight for galactic peace and justice, you can't lose!
Dita: You speak of justice?! You cowards who use my own sister against me?!
Luna: They're not cowards! They're my dearest friends! The only one being used here is you!
Dita: Still you speak such nonsense!
(eventually...)
Dita: Why do you persist?! What drives you to keep fighting?!
Sho: We fight for every soldier who fell before us. We fight for everyone behind us who holds out hope for peace. We fight to honor their sacrifices and faith!
Luna: Dita, please! Be the kind and loving brother I once knew again!
Dita: Ugh... I... I must...!
I should warn you, though, it can get a little rough when I "help" people.
—Ragna the Bloodedge giving Nu-13 a heads-up, BlazBlue: Chronophantasma
Web Animation
Harley Quinn: Ms. Moone, I know you're in there. So listen up!
Enchantress: (wheezing) June Moone is no more. I consumed her!
Harley Quinn: Yeah, right! That's exactly what someone who didn't actually consume Ms. Moone, but was scared that my maneuvers might work, would say!
Enchantress: (wheezing) June Moone is no more. I consumed her!
Harley Quinn: Yeah, right! That's exactly what someone who didn't actually consume Ms. Moone, but was scared that my maneuvers might work, would say!
Web Original
Just once, just once I wanna see the hero's non-Love Interest bestie who just got their ass kicked to show how out of control they really are to get really cranky that their desperate plea to their humanity wasn't enough to get them to stop being evil.
— Red, Trope Talk, "Superpowered Evil Side"
Mario, c'mon man, quit
You must snap out of it
Flurry of threats and weak attacks
Won't stop us in our tracks
Where's the fatso we all know?
Our great big friend, not a foe
The biggest idiot of the show
With an ass so thicc, thicc as dough
Jester: Molly, you gave your life to save us! Fight it, Molly!
Lucien: He's dead. He never really existed. You're shouting into nothing, my dear! Just like you will be.
Jester: Then why is this working?!
Lucien: He's dead. He never really existed. You're shouting into nothing, my dear! Just like you will be.
Jester: Then why is this working?!
— Critical Role, "Rebirth"
Webcomics
Rodard: Well?
Vihnie: Well what?
Rodard:: Aren't you going to burst into tears? Say something cliche and cute; like "I can't fight you" and then cry helplessly?
Vihnie: Sorry pal, you missed the waterworks by a couple of minutes. That tree almost hit Cyrill, and now I'm pretty fucking angry.
— Hackbent
Western Animation
Aang: Jet! It's me, Aang! You don't have to do this!
Long Feng: I'm afraid he no longer has a choice.
Long Feng: I'm afraid he no longer has a choice.
— Avatar: The Last Airbender, "Lake Laogai"
Jim: Please, I'm not going to fight my friend. I can't fight my friend.
Gunmar as Draal: Your friend is gone.
Gunmar as Draal: Your friend is gone.
Keith: Shiro, I know you're in there. You made a promise once. You told me you'd never give up on me!
Fake Shiro: And I should have abandoned you, just like your parents did! They saw that you were broken. Worthless! I should've seen it too.
Keith: I'm not leaving here without you!
Fake Shiro: And I should have abandoned you, just like your parents did! They saw that you were broken. Worthless! I should've seen it too.
Keith: I'm not leaving here without you!
"I will never stop trying to get through to you. I won't fight you; I won't justify your hatred, and there's NOTHING you can do to change that! Nothing."
— Rapunzel, Tangled: The Series, "Cassandra's Revenge"
"Somewhere in that sea of bull hormones is the sweet, wonderful girl I married. The woman who, instead of swatting a fly, would give it a bath and send it on its way. I'd sure like to go home and have Jiffy Pop with her."
— Homer Simpson, The Simpsons ("The Strong Arms of the Ma")
