History GreyAndGrayMorality / FanWorks

* ''Fanfic/LiesOfAttrition'': Barring the exception of [[BigBad Chrysalis,]] no one this fic is truly evil, but none of them are saints, either.

* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': Although initially the story pits [[BlackAndWhiteMorality a group of brave soldiers putting their lives in line to save the world and a shadowy terrorist organization]], [[WordOfGod Grummancat]] warned that his story was going to be this. So, even though the Children are clearly heroic, [[ManipulativeBastard Gendo]] [[http://eva303.smackjeeves.com/comics/1745148/050/ is up to something]], and Grummancat has hinted that things in Nerv are not as innocent as they seem. And [[BigBad Seele]] conspires against the USA because they regard it like a -literally- World Class bully... but they do not care for the loss of billions of lives and the collapse of world economy that would come as a result of the downfall of the "evil Empire".

* The universe created in the ''Franchise/StarWars''/''Franchise/MassEffect'' crossover ''Fanfic/{{Fractured}}'' zig-zags the trope. On one hand, it's pretty heroic to [[TheCavalry save a galaxy under attack]] but on the other, playing allies off each other (even unintentionally) tends to go over badly. Further, in a [[TheWorldIsNotReady galaxy not ready]] for certain advanced technologies, even in face of [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]] it could be argued that the Trans-Galactic Republic got a little careless. Then the [[StateSec Republic Intelligence Service]] comes along in ''Fanfic/{{Origins}}'' to [[BlackAndGrayMorality muddy things up]]...

* ''Fanfic/TwentyFourTheMusical'', a fan-made musical of ''Series/TwentyFour'''s second season lampshades this in the song "Dammit!" Jack Bauer sings that "Sometimes the rules can be gray," in justifying shooting Marshall Goren and then asking for a hacksaw.

* The Solar Empire and Luna Republic in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' Fic ''FanFic/HarmonyTheory'', despite having opposing ideologies and being on the brink of war, neither is particular worse-though neither is exactly as good as Equestria used to be either-they both have their good and their bad and are even hinted to be NotSoDifferent. [[note]] As it turns out, a Democracy and monarchy are just as bad, as long as they are both corrupt.[[/note]]

* ''Jadestorm'' is a Literature/WingsOfFire fanfiction about a war between two tribes of dragons. It started when the [=SkyWing=] tribe had an epidemic, and the [=SeaWings=] refused to give them the antidote, despite not needing it themselves. The [=SkyWings=] launch an attack, attempting and failing to steal it. A few years later, under a new Queen, the [=SeaWings=] try to hand over the antidote, only to be rejected by the [=SkyWings=], who claim it is too late for apologies. The [=PoV=] switches between a [=SeaWing=] and a [=SkyWing=] to show how both tribes are affected by the war. Each side is portrayed as being right and wrong in their own ways.
* ''FanFic/DungeonKeeperAmi'' is a highly unusual example, being something of a crossover-Fusion fic combo. What's interesting is that Grey-and-Grey is played straight, inverted, averted, and sometimes double-inverted. Sometimes all at the same time. This is accomplished by having the titular heroine and the current universe she resides in both play BlackAndWhiteMorality very straight, but the heroine herself is bonded to an undoubtedly evil artifact. The forces of good, unused to such a situation, are reluctant to consider Ami as anything not-evil. The forces of evil consider her either an abomination, or the most brilliant case of evil overlording gone right.
* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'': Although initially the story pits [[BlackAndWhiteMorality a group of brave soldiers putting their lives in line to save the world and a shadowy terrorist organization]], [[WordOfGod Grummancat]] warned that his story was going to be this. So, even though the Children are clearly heroic, [[ManipulativeBastard Gendo]] [[http://eva303.smackjeeves.com/comics/1745148/050/ is up to something]], and Grummancat has hinted that things in Nerv are not as innocent as they seem. And [[BigBad Seele]] conspires against the USA because they regard it like a -literally- World Class bully... but they do not care for the loss of billions of lives and the collapse of world economy that would come as a result of the downfall of the "evil Empire".

* The universe created in the ''Franchise/StarWars''/''Franchise/MassEffect'' crossover ''FanFic/{{Fractured}}'' zig-zags the trope. On one hand, it's pretty heroic to [[TheCavalry save a galaxy under attack]] but on the other, playing allies off each other (even unintentionally) tends to go over badly. Further, in a [[TheWorldIsNotReady galaxy not ready]] for certain advanced technologies, even in face of [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]] it could be argued that the Trans-Galactic Republic got a little careless. Then the [[StateSec Republic Intelligence Service]] comes along in Fanfic/{{Origins}}'' to [[BlackAndGrayMorality muddy things up]]...
* ''FanFic/GoddessRebornChronicle''-[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei naturally]]. Unusually, the players can fix it or create an apocalypse.
* ''FanFic/WhatLiesBeyondTheWalls'' mostly focuses on two different factions. On one side is the [[BadassArmy Long Patrol]], which is led by a badger who is a {{Jerkass}} AntiHero at best, and a [[HeWhoFightsMonsters bloodthirsty]] [[FantasticRacism racist]] at worst. Most of the members of the Long Patrol are aware of how unhinged the badger is, but they usually just shrug off anything he does that they know is wrong, and some of the hares are just as sadistic as he is. On the other side is a BadassCrew of vermin corsairs led by [[VillainProtagonist Kurwin the Flayer]]. While some of them (Kurwin included) are merciless murderers and/or rapists, others are AffablyEvil {{Punch Clock Villain}}s, and a few members (most notably Stinkfoot) are [[AntiVillain Anti-Villains]] who only joined Kurwin's crew because they had nowhere else to go, and [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe because Kurwin was nice to them]] [[AFatherToHisMen and treated them like family]].
* The ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'' and ''Anime/MawaruPenguindrum'' crossover fanfic ''FanFic/SeinenKakumeiUtena'' stays very loyal to both series in this regard.

* ''FanFic/ItsNotTheRaptorDNA'': One of the main conflicts in the story are the people who question whether or not it was right to forgive Elise despite her causing the deaths of countless people. She openly admits to her atrocities, and is trying to be better. In turn, there are humans and dinosaurs who stick up for her, and point out her traumatic treatment went into screwing her up. Her critics, however, are correct about how dangerous she is, and the deaths she caused. But their motivations and desires aren't always pure, with some people desiring to put her down, while others refuse to acknowledge her basic humanity.

--> '''Jack''': Get me a hacksaw, cut off his head!
--> '''Mason''': Are you crazy, Jack?
--> '''Jack''': Come on, George. He's already dead! I know this is drastic, it's all that we've got. Sometimes the rules can be gray!

* The universe created in the ''Franchise/StarWars''/''Franchise/MassEffect'' crossover ''FanFic/{{Fractured}}'' zig-zags the trope. On one hand, it's pretty heroic to [[TheCavalry save a galaxy under attack]] but on the other, playing allies off each other (even unintentionally) tends to go over badly. Further, in a [[TheWorldIsNotReady galaxy not ready]] for certain advanced technologies, even in face of [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]] it could be argued that the Trans-Galactic Republic got a little careless. Then the [[StateSec Republic Intelligence Service]] comes along in ''[[FanFic/SovereignGFCOrigins Origins]]'' to [[BlackAndGrayMorality muddy things up]]...

* Mentioned time and again in ''[[http://ficwad.com/story/247425 Eroninja]]'' that (almost) every faction is seeking to do what they think is right; whether it be for their family, their village/country, or the world as a whole. Shizune sums it up perfectly when discussing with Tsunade some of the morally shady things they've done compared to the morally shady things others have done.

* The un-linkable PornWithPlot series ''Monster Girl Encyclopedia'' surprisingly has this as part of its base lore, which various fanfics and stories can take in a variety of directions. Both sides of the in story conflict have their points and their failings: the titular monster girls are led by a Demon Lord who wants to end the conflict between monsters and humans, which she changed from more traditional monsters into many varieties of CuteMonsterGirl some time after taking power with the intent of uniting both races as a single species. However her ideas of how to do this, being a Succubus and the series being, well PornWithPlot, means that the Anti-Monster Order faction has legitimate reasons to oppose her even without factoring in the fact that currently no monster males can be born (a problem said Demon Lord is working on) and a victory of hers too quickly could wipe out all sentient life. However The Order in turn tends to be KnightTemplar to monsters even in fully peaceful situations and several of its defeats are just as much a result of its failures with its own people as much as it the power of the monster army: for example the order alligned city-state of Lescatie was made vulnerable to the Demon Lord's armies because of high taxes, invasive religious rules, and mistreatment of its human heroes. Fanfics set in the universe are capable of siding with either believably, with either side or both being able to be realistically held up as right or wrong.

* The un-linkable PornWithPlot series ''Monster Girl Encyclopedia'' surprisingly has this as part of its base lore, which various fanfics and stories can take in a variety of directions. Both sides of the in story conflict have their points and their failings: the titular monster girls are led by a Demon Lord who wants to end the conflict between monsters and humans, which she changed from more traditional monsters into CuteMonsterGirls some time after taking power with the intent of uniting both races as a single species. However her ideas of how to do this, being a Succubus and the series being, well PornWithPlot, means that the Anti-Monster Order faction has legitimate reasons to oppose her even without factoring in the fact that currently no monster males can be born (a problem said Demon Lord is working on) and a victory of hers too quickly could wipe out all sentient life. However The Order in turn tends to be KnightTemplar to monsters even in fully peaceful situations and several of its defeats are just as much a result of its failures with its own people as much as it the power of the monster army: for example the order alligned city-state of Lescatie was made vulnerable to the Demon Lord's armies because of high taxes, invasive religious rules, and mistreatment of its human heroes. Fanfics set in the universe are capable of siding with either believably, with either side or both being able to be realistically held up as right or wrong.

* The Solar Empire and Luna Republic in the MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Fic ''FanFic/HarmonyTheory'', despite having opposing ideologies and being on the brink of war, neither is particular worse-though neither is exactly as good as Equestria used to be either-they both have their good and their bad and are even hinted to be NotSoDifferent. [[note]] As it turns out, a Democracy and monarchy are just as bad, as long as they are both corrupt.[[/note]]

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* ''Jadestorm'': This is a Literature/WingsOfFire fanfiction about a war between two tribes of dragons. It started when the [=SkyWing=] tribe had an epidemic, and the [=SeaWings=] refused to give them the antidote, despite not needing it themselves. The [=SkyWings=] launch an attack, attempting and failing to steal it. A few years later, under a new Queen, the [=SeaWings=] try to hand over the antidote, only to be rejected by the [=SkyWings=], who claim it is too late for apologies. The [=PoV=] switches between a [=SeaWing=] and a [=SkyWing=] to show how both tribes are affected by the war. Each side is portrayed as being right and wrong in their own ways.

* It should come as no surprise, but the crossover fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Renegade}}'' by the same author does the same thing, with the same factions. In fact, both factions are presented as protagonists, with the Brotherhood of Nod intervening in the slaver raid on Elysium and with [[spoiler: Kane himself]] attempting to negotiate a compromise between GDI and the Citadel. Of course, [[spoiler: Nod apparently stole the Tacitus on Eden Prime]], which ''caused'' said conflict between GDI and the Citadel and allowed [[spoiler: Kane]] to score points by negotiating said compromise, so it might have [[ThePlan been part of the plan....]]
* ''[[Fanfic/TwentyFourTheMusical 24: The Musical]]'', a fan-made musical of ''Series/TwentyFour'''s second season lampshades this in the song "Dammit!" Jack Bauer sings that "Sometimes the rules can be gray," in justifying shooting Marshall Goren and then asking for a hacksaw.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' fanfiction, ''[[Fanfic/NeverHadAFriendLikeMe Never Had A Friend Like Me]]'', this is how [[JerkassGenie Norm]] sees the genies vs. fairies arrangement. Norm has declared many times that he gets a kick out of tormenting masters by screwing them over, but he [[AtLeastIAdmitIt at least he doesn't pretend to be a saint]]. And while fairies do enjoy having godchildren and try to fill the gap their parents can't, he thinks the fact that fairies eventually terminate their relationships with their godchildren, not to mention their memories of time together is also pretty cruel. Granted [[JerkassHasAPoint he may have a point]], considering [[OriginalCharacter Amanda]] his current master, and the most selfless girl he's ever encountered, is pretty horrified by the concept.

* ''FanFic/WhatLiesBeyondTheWalls'' mostly focuses on two different factions. On one side is the [[BadassArmy Long Patrol]], which is led by a badger who is a {{Jerkass}} AntiHero at best, and a [[HeWhoFightsMonsters bloodthirsty]] [[FantasticRacism racist]] at worst. Most of the members of the Long Patrol are aware of how unhinged the badger is, but they usually just shrug off anything he does that they know is wrong, and some of the hares are just as sadistic as he is. On the other side is a BadassCrew of vermin corsairs led by [[VillainProtagonist Kurwin the Flayer]]. While some of them (Kurwin included) are merciless murderers and/or rapists, others are AffablyEvil [[PunchClockVillain Punch Clock Villains]], and a few members (most notably Stinkfoot) are [[AntiVillain Anti-Villains]] who only joined Kurwin's crew because they had nowhere else to go, and [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe because Kurwin was nice to them]] [[AFatherToHisMen and treated them like family]].

* The setting of ''FanFic/SonicXDarkChaos''. Maledict and the Demons are willing to exterminate whole galaxies and fight brutal wars, but Maledict [[BlueAndOrangeMorality genuinely]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist believes]] that absolute order under the Demon Empire alone is the only way to [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans preserve stability and peace]] in the universe, and the Demons have [[BenevolentPrecursors created a standard economic system and raised up far more races than they've destroyed]]. On the other side, [[ForeverWar three hundred trillion years of war]] has hardened the [[TheFederation Angel Federation]] to the point where [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized they see nothing wrong with genocide if it damages their Demon foes]].
** The Angels themselves aren't the only reason the Federation is gray. The Muslims of the Emirate of Mecca - one of the founding Federation states - are a totalitarian theocracy that use suicide bombers as their main weapon and do [[MadScientist very unpleasant]] [[BodyHorror things]] to their [[MarsNeedsWomen women]] to increase their numbers. The Jews of the Tribal Republic/[[SpacePeople Diaspora Fleets]] are technologically backward primitives who fight among themselves [[TeethClenchedTeamwork and the Muslims]] more than they fight the Demons.
** Chris even muses that the sole reason the war has lasted for so long is ''because'' [[NotSoDifferent both sides are gray]]. Both sides have fanatics ([[GeneralRipper Metatron]] and [[AxCrazy Muhammad the Prophet]] for the Angels, [[SenseFreak Beelzebub]] and [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Astorath]] to a lesser extent for the Demons) and idealists ([[AFatherToHisMen Firmus D'Arnazhee]] and [[spoiler:[[DarkActionGirl Venus the Seedrian]]]] for the Demons, [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Jesus]] and [[ThePaladin Tephiroth]] for the Angels).

* Fittingly, considering the canon series' Grey and Gray Morality and BlackAndGrayMorality tendencies, the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' fanfic The Council Era is entirely these two. The VillainProtagonist seeks to create a Utopia for the galaxy, and does improve it over time, but he believes that UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans and commits seriously heinous acts in order to marginally improve the galaxy. His WorthyOpponent in this EvilVersusEvil plotline merely seeks to create a firm foothold for his newly spacefaring people, the krogans. By exterminating every other species, and turning the krogan into a MasterRace.