History Main / AlternateSelf

* ''Film/StarTrek2009'': The Kelvin Timeline plays host to a younger iteration of ''The Original Series'' crew, where the destruction of the ''Kelvin'' by the mad Romulan known as Nero causes Starfleet to take up a more aggressive stance. The ''Enterprise'' is delayed from launching by 13 years to be completely redesigned into a more tech-heavy powerhouse, Kirk starts off as a brilliant recluse who's living in his father's shadow (since his dad was the one who sacrificed himself on the ''Kelvin''), and the rest of the ''Enterprise'' crew is already serving on the ship well before they were meant to. [[spoiler:Spock-Prime, the original Spock from the Prime timeline, ended up in this reality for the rest of his life, even parting words of wisdom to his younger self.]]

* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': Ann learns the mysterious being that's connected to her, Amok, is an alternate version of herself due to sharing a dimensional link.

** There's a few of these in the AlternateUniverse first seen in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E5RiseOfTheCybermen "Rise of the Cybermen"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E6TheAgeOfSteel "The Age of Steel"]], including versions of Mickey (known there as Ricky), Rose's parents and Mickey's grandmother. Rose's father and Mickey's gran were already dead in the "main" universe. Mickey ends up deciding to stay to replace his dead counterpart. When it was revisited in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E13Doomsday "Doomsday"]], Jackie Tyler also winds up staying to replace ''her'' dead counterpart. And an alternate Harriet Jones (a short lived Prime Minister in the main universe) is mentioned to be President of Great Britain. It later turns out in the [[AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho Big Finish audios]] for ''[[Series/{{Torchwood}}]]'' that the alternate self of Torchwood One's leader Yvonne Hartman sneaked over to the main universe during these events.

* In ''Fanfic/ThroughTheLookingGlassMyNextLifeAsAVillainess'', Gerald and Keith from ''Literature/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' switch places with the Geord and Keith from the in-universe game ''Fortune Lover'' after all four make a wish involving their current lives by a runestone Gerald and Geord were studying [[note]]To summarize, Gerald wanted his fiance Katarina to love him romantically, Geord wanted his Katarina to not love him so he can end their engagement, Isekai!Keith wanted Katarina to see him less as a brother and more of a romantic option, and Game!Keith wanted a loving and caring family. Of course, these wishes almost never go as intended for them[[/note]]. Later, [[spoiler:the Katarinas from both worlds switch place after making wishes themselves in reaction to the other Gerald/Geord]].
* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBoilingPoint'': [[spoiler:An alternate version of Chloe of the Vermillion from ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'' exists, the main differences in their personalities and attire. WordOfGod even states that the Chloe Cerise in this story is from a different universe.]]
* The ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13488673/1/When-Gamers-Collide When Gamers Collide]]'' features two versions of [[GamerChick Gaz]] meeting each other due to interdimensional accidents in their respective universes transport them both to a PocketDimension. At first they get along, but their different personalities (one being a misanthrope, the other being a JerkWithAHeartOfGold) cause them to [[OtherMeAnnoysMe eventually come to blows]].

* Many of the characters in the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast ActionRPG ''VideoGame/NappleTale'' exist in two places — one in Napple Town and another one, described as a warped mirror image out in the "seasons" -- the game's {{platform| game}}ing levels. The characters aren't identical, but they are linked to each other.

** Ellen is an OppositeSexClone of Elliot, and has a [[CloningBlues crisis of identity]] from the moment of her creation due to having all of the original's memories, personality traits, and extreme reluctance with being trapped in female form, which is only compounded by (later disproven) fears that the cloning process would give her a lifespan of less than a month. She is later granted, through magical dreams, the memories and experiences of one of her ''own'' alternate selves so that she can build a separate life for herself as Elliot's "sister."

However, in some SpeculativeFiction, a Alternate Self can also be created by a TeleporterAccident, a TimeTravel mixup, or even a extreme case of CloningBlues, where the clone somehow keeps the personality, skills and memories of the original.

** [[spoiler:Dirk Strider]] has this in spades, with [[spoiler:Lil Hal]] an AI clone of his 13 year-old brain, [[spoiler:Brain-Ghost-Dirk]], an imaginary version of him that manifested via [[spoiler:Jake's Hope powers]] and [[spoiler:Ultimate Dirk]] an amalgamation of all his alternate selves

** [[Dirk Strider]] has this in spades, with [[Lil Hal]] an AI clone of his 13 year-old brain intended as an auto responder, [[Brain-Ghost-Dirk]], an imaginary version of him that manifested via [[Jake's Hope powers]] and [[Ultimate Dirk]] an amalgamation of all his alternate selves

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'' has Noah and Mio as the leaders of the Ouroboros, and [[spoiler: Consul N and Consul M, alternate selves who failed their rebellion and joined Moebius after their companions were killed, as major antagonists.]]

** A truly shocking example comes in the form of [[spoiler: [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Fou]]]]. In another life, they would be more well known as [[spoiler: Primate Murder]].

* The CrisisCrossover in ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse'' has the Trixie and Twilight of the Lunaverse show up in the Mane Six's world. HilarityEnsues.
** The rest of the Luna Six and Luna herself have followed them. Contemplation of the road less traveled ensues.

* Toys/{{BIONICLE}} has several alternate universes, most of which have at least a few alternate selves of heroes and villains, sometimes where one became the other (such as good Teridax from the Melding universe). Of particular note is the "Dark Mirror" universe, in which main universe Takanuva meets alternate Takua, and "The Kingdom," where he teams up with Turaga Takanuva. The former situation has a minor case of OtherMeAnnoysMe, but all in all Takanuva gets along with himself pretty well.

** There's a few of these in the AlternateUniverse first seen in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E5RiseOfTheCybermen "Rise of the Cybermen"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E6TheAgeOfSteel "The Age of Steel"]], including versions of Mickey (known there as Ricky), Rose's parents and Mickey's grandmother. Rose's father and Mickey's gran were already dead in the "main" universe. Mickey ends up deciding to stay to replace his dead counterpart. When it was revisited in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E13Doomsday "Doomsday"]], Jackie Tyler also winds up staying to replace ''her'' dead counterpart. And an alternate Harriet Jones (a short lived Prime Minister in the main universe) is mentioned to be President of Great Britain.

** Then, the crossover event ''Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' does this to nearly every major DC property, featuring (or featuring via another character from the same series) alternate versions of Batman (from [[Film/Batman1989 Earth-89]], [[Series/Batman1966 Earth-66]], [[Series/Titans2018 Earth-9]], and [[Creator/KevinConroy Earth-99]]), Superman (from [[Film/SupermanTheMovie Earth]]-[[Film/SupermanReturns 96]] and [[Series/{{Smallville}} Earth-167]]), and The Flash (featuring the return of the [[Series/TheFlash1990 Earth-90 Flash]] and even a [[spoiler:cameo from the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse Flash]]). It also retroactively declares the Oliver Queen from the future timeline of 2046 from ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'' as hailing from Earth-16, features a [[spoiler: deceased]] counterpart for Batwoman on Earth-99, and separates the ''Titans'' and ''Series/DoomPatrol'' shows into different Earths after characters from the latter series appeared on the former.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':

* In ''Manga/FateKaleidLinerPrismaIllya'', there are three separate characters who are parallel versions of one person, [[spoiler:Shirou Emiya]]. First is [[spoiler:Illya's older brother]], who lives a normal life. Second is [[spoiler:Miyu's older brother]], whose life follows a parallel version of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. Third is [[spoiler:Heroic Spirit EMIYA]], who comes from [[spoiler:a future where Shirou Emiya contracted with the world and became a Heroic Spirit]]. The second learns the third's identity when the latter [[spoiler:responds to his summoning and lends him his power through the Archer Card]].
* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'', [[spoiler:Enrico Pucci's Made In Heaven kills most of the cast and then accelerates time for everything except living beings to the end of the universe and then to a similar point in time to the next universe]]. Emporio, [[spoiler:the only main cast member to have survived]], encounters {{Gonk}}ish versions of [[spoiler:Jolyne and Jotaro]] confirmed to be different from the originals due to having [[spoiler:died in the previous universe]]. After Emporio [[spoiler:kills Pucci during another time acceleration he's transported to another new universe]] and this time he encounters versions of [[spoiler:Ermes, Anasui, Jolyne and Weather Report]] who all look much closer to the originals and whose lives have gone much better due to the absence of [[spoiler:Pucci]], to the point of [[spoiler:Irene and Anakiss (Jolyne and Anasui's counterparts)]] being in a healthy relationship. Supplementary material hints the souls of the originals were preserved in these counterparts.

* Toys/{{BIONICLE}} has several alternate universes, most of which have at least a few alternate selves of heroes and villains, sometimes where one became the other (such as good Teridax from the Melding universe). Of particular note is the "Dark Mirror" universe, in which main universe!Takanuva meets alternate Takua, and "The Kingdom," where he teams up with Turaga Takanuva. The former situation has a minor case of OtherMeAnnoysMe, but all in all Takanuva gets along with himself pretty well.

* ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' is an alternate universe where ComicBook/TheJoker blows up Metropolis, and Franchise/{{Superman}} kills him, which is the StartOfDarkness that leads to a FaceHeelTurn for Supes. The characters of the main universe end up going to the Injustice universe, and have to deal with the corrupt, totalitarian state that it's become, including many Alternate Selves that have also made a FaceHeelTurn. Main!Superman especially calls out Injustice!Superman once the two finally come face to face.

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2''

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' features this due to time travel. All of the second-generation characters get alternate selves in the "Future Past" DLC episodes, [[spoiler:Morgan gets a ''second'' alternate self in said DLC episodes]], and the playable version of [[spoiler:Yen'fay]] is explicitly an alternate self to the NPC version of the character.
** Not to mention that the game's GreaterScopeVillain is [[spoiler: an alternate-future version of the Avatar, the player character, who is possessed by an EldritchAbomination]].
* This is also prevalent ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes''. Due to it being a gacha game and how its Summoning system works, the player can potentially summon ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' characters from various points in time, and even to {{Alternate Timeline}}s.
** To further explain, each different version of a unit (e.g., original Lucina versus Spring Lucina) is treated as an alternate self with their own consciousness and memories. The game also splits out alternate gender versions of characters, such as Corrin or Shez; in the case of Kris, it was explicitly stated in Forging Bonds that male Kris is the 'canon' version who all the other characters recognise, while female Kris comes from an alternate timeline. This can get confusing when both genders of a character get the same seasonal, leading to increasingly unwieldy descriptors like 'Fallen Female Morgan' (or 'F!F!Morgan'). It can also get confusing when characters have similarly-named alternate versions, like Summer Micaiah and Hoshidan Summer Micaiah (which until the former's release was often just called 'Summer Micaiah' herself), or Adult Tiki ('A!Tiki') and Ascended (young) Tiki.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'': Lorule has counterparts to the inhabitants of Hyrule, most notably Hilda and Yuga, who are the counterparts to Zelda and Ganondorf, respectively. [[spoiler:Link is aided by his own counterpart in the form of the shopkeeper Ravio, who keeps his face hidden by a rabbit mask until the ending of the game]].

* In ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'', when traveling through Luigi's dreams, Mario is accompanied by "Dreamy Luigi", who is significantly braver than the waking world's version, and possesses many abilities the real Luigi doesn't.
** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'' reveals that VideoGame/PaperMario and his version of Bowser are this to regular Mario and Bowser.
* In ''{{VideoGame/The Witch and the Hundred Knight}}'', there are at least 3 alternate versions of Metallia shown throughout the game. One is shown as a high school delinquent, the other is a sick patient in a hospital, and [[spoiler: Torude]] who is revealed at the end of chapter 12 as Metallia questions her about changing her own name.

* In ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'', the female protagonist of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' ''[[UpdatedRerelease Portable]]'' is from an alternate timeline where she is the main lead instead of the male protagonist. When she meets the main timeline SEES, she recognizes all of them, but none of them recognize her. Later on when both counterparts meet, they also note that they feel like they know each other.

** Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour has [[VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine Shadow Mario]]. Unlike Metal, Shadow Mario is actually a form of Bowser Jr and both of them are playable in the same game. We can assume that the person taking Shadow Mario's form might be II Piantissimo.
** Mario Kart 8 also introduces Pink Gold Peach, who is a metallic version of Princess Peach similar to Metal Mario. Appearing as {{DLC}} in this game are [[VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand Tanooki Mario]] & [[VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld Cat Peach]], who are another power-up form of two already-existing characters.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' had a two-part episode about this. In a parallel universe, Lex Luthor killed the Flash and, as a result, is murdered by Superman (it's also implied that Lex, who had become President of the United States in that timeline, was about to start a nuclear World War III). This ultimately leads to the remaining five members of the League rebranding themselves as the Justice Lords, who turn the planet into a police state with themselves in control and drop their generalized rules of ThouShaltNotKill--yes, even ''Batman''. Since they virtually eliminated all crime, Lord!Batman started fiddling with interdimensional travel and found the main-universe Justice League. Then the Justice Lords decide to do it all again in the Justice League universe...

* As part of the ComicBook/SpiderVerse event, the ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'' series had its own feature-length take on a team up across the multiverse, as Spider-Man pursued the Green Goblin from one universe to the next. The participants were new versions of [[GenderFlip Spider-Girl,]] ComicBook/SpiderMan2099, ComicBook/SpiderManNoir, ComicBook/SpiderHam, [[DungeonPunk Spyder-Knight,]] and even young ComicBook/MilesMorales.

* In ''Fanfic/ThroughTheLookingGlassMyNextLifeAsAVillainess'', Gerald and Keith from ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' switch places with the Geord and Keith from the in-universe game ''Fortune Lover'' after all four make a wish involving their current lives by a runestone Gerald and Geord were studying [[note]]To summarize, Gerald wanted his fiance Katarina to love him romantically, Geord wanted his Katarina to not love him so he can end their engagement, Isekai!Keith wanted Katarina to see him less as a brother and more of a romantic option, and Game!Keith wanted a loving and caring family. Of course, these wishes almost never go as intended for them[[/note]]. Later, [[spoiler:the Katarinas from both worlds switch place after making wishes themselves in reaction to the other Gerald/Geord]].

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes'', each different version of a unit (e.g., original Lucina versus Spring Lucina) is treated as an alternate self with their own consciousness and memories. The game also splits out alternate gender versions of characters, such as Corrin or Shez; in the case of Kris, it was explicitly stated in Forging Bonds that male Kris is the 'canon' version who all the other characters recognise, while female Kris comes from an alternate timeline. This can get confusing when both genders of a character get the same seasonal, leading to increasingly unwieldy descriptors like 'Fallen Female Morgan' (or 'F!F!Morgan'). It can also get confusing when characters have similarly-named alternate versions, like Summer Micaiah and Hoshidan Summer Micaiah (which until the former's release was often just called 'Summer Micaiah' herself), or Adult Tiki ('A!Tiki') and Ascended (young) Tiki.

* This idea is explored in detail in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5021697/1/Doppelgangers Doppelgangers]]'', by Creator/AAPessimal, which builds on a scene in ''The Colour of Magic'' where Rincewind is flipped onto Earth and for a moment sees life on Earth through the eyes of his alternate self there[[note]]Although in the book, this is presented more as the universe hastily altering history so it ''looks'' like he was there all along.[[/folder]]. Establishing a link between Discworld and Roundworld (Earth), the story builds and establishes clear links between the two worlds. Rincewind turns out to be not the ''only'' Discworlder to have a Doppelganger on Earth...