History Main / RegretfulTraitor

* Deconstructed in ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman''. In the backstory, when [[Characters/BojackHorsemanBojackHorseman BoJack's]] BigBrotherMentor and best friend Herb (who created the show that made [=BoJack=] a star) was outed as gay, the early 90s MoralGuardians went berserk and wanted Herb kicked off the family-friendly show he had written and created. [=BoJack=] was going to threaten to quit if the network moved to fire to Herb, but the network executives talked/bribed [=BoJack=] into standing aside as Herb was fired. [=BoJack=] was quite reluctant to do this, but not so reluctant that he didn't do it, and while he had plenty of regrets, it didn't stop him from avoiding Herb for the next 20 years, until Herb was on his deathbed. Hence why, when [=BoJack=] and Herb finally talk about it all those years later, [[RejectedApology Herb rejects [=BoJack=]'s attempt to apologize]]. Pointing out what else he could have done and why he ended up not doing it.

'''Herb:''' Know what your problem is? You want to think of yourself as the good guy. Well, I know you better than anyone, and I can tell you that you're not. In fact, you'd probably sleep a lot better at night if you just admitted to yourself that you're a selfish goddamn coward who just takes whatever he wants and doesn't give a ''shit'' about who he hurts. That's you. That's [=BoJack=] Horseman.\\

* ''Fanfic/LiesOfAttrition'': While Chat Noir is undoubtedly [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned]], he still holds tremendous regret over being on opposite sides with [[TrueCompanions Ladybug]]. It causes him to [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone frequently question]] [[GreyAndGrayMorality the morality]] of his situation. His [[spoiler: recurring nightmares of [[ApocalypseHow Chat]] [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Blanc]]]] don't help matters.

* [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Zuko]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is given the choice of betraying Iroh and the peaceful life they have made for themselves so that he can come back to the Fire Nation with his honor restored. Since coming home with his father's approval is the one thing he has wanted for years, he takes the offer, leading to Iroh being imprisoned, Ba Sing Se being conquered and Aang nearly dying from Azula's lightning bolt. He spends half of the third season conflicted and confused, trying to acclimate himself to the Fire Nation despite the suffering he has seen at both his hands and the Fire Nation's. After realizing that [[spoiler:he is descended from Avatar Roku]], and seeing how ruthless his father and generals are willing to go to win the war, he has a HeelFaceTurn and leaves to join the Avatar.
* Deconstructed in ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman''. In the backstory, when [[Characters/BojackHorsemanBojackHorseman BoJack's]] BigBrotherMentor and best friend Herb (who created the show that made [=BoJack=] a star) was outed as gay, the early [=90s=] MoralGuardians went berserk and wanted Herb kicked off the family friendly show he had written and created. [=BoJack=] was going to threaten to quit if the network moved to fire to Herb, but the network executives talked/bribed [=BoJack=] into standing aside as Herb was fired. [=BoJack=] was quite reluctant to do this, but not so reluctant that he didn't do it, and while he had plenty of regrets, it didn't stop him from avoiding Herb for the next 20 years, until Herb was on his deathbed. Hence why, when [=BoJack=] and Herb finally talk about it all those years later, [[RejectedApology Herb rejects [=BoJack=]'s attempt to apologize]]. Pointing out what else he could have done and why he ended up not doing it.

* ''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor'': 41 years prior to the series, Princess Elena's cousin Esteban secretly made a deal with the evil sorceress Shuriki to help take over the kingdom, and she promised no one would be hurt. However, she ended up killing the King and Queen, leading Esteban to regret his decision ever since. Eventually, he turned on Shuriki and helped Elena take the kingdom back, but he still refused to tell her of his involvement, but he's felt guilty for the choice he made back then. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, Elena found out about his treachery from all those years ago, and is understandably enraged and hurt at this revelation. Esteban tries to explain that he's changed since then, but Elena disowns him, and Esteban ends up betraying her again, believing that she hates him]].

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Due to this trope dealing with traitors, be wary of unmarked spoilers.

* In the ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'', after [[RebelliousRebel betraying the L'Manburg revolution]] for kingship of the Greater Dream SMP, Eret begins to regret his actions and starts to become TheAtoner, from actively wanting to help his former allies when they were exiled from L'Manburg, to overall becoming TheGoodKing despite [[PuppetKing having no actual political power]].

** Magolor is heavily implied to be this in ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand''. The description of his OneWingedAngel form is ''A sad shell possessed by the limitless power of the Master Crown, no more than a manifestation of the crown itself.'' He later reforms in the 20th Anniversary collection, though.

* Zuko from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is given the choice of betraying Iroh and the peaceful life they have made for themselves so that he can come back to the Fire Nation with his honor restored. Since coming home with his father's approval is the one thing he has wanted for years, he takes the offer, leading to Iroh being imprisoned, Ba Sing Se being conquered and Aang nearly dying from Azula's lightning bolt. He spends half of the third season conflicted and confused, trying to acclimate himself to the Fire Nation despite the suffering he has seen at both his hands and the Fire Nation's. After realizing that [[spoiler:he is descended from Avatar Roku]], and seeing how ruthless his father and generals are willing to go to win the war, he has a HeelFaceTurn and leaves to join the Avatar.
* Deconstructed in ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman''. In the backstory, when [=BoJack=]'s BigBrotherMentor and best friend Herb (who created the show that made [=BoJack=] a star) was outed as gay, the early [=90s=] MoralGuardians went berserk and wanted Herb kicked off the family friendly show he had written and created. [=BoJack=] was going to threaten to quit if the network moved to fire to Herb, but the network executives talked/bribed [=BoJack=] into standing aside as Herb was fired. [=BoJack=] was quite reluctant to do this, but not so reluctant that he didn't do it, and while he had plenty of regrets, it didn't stop him from avoiding Herb for the next 20 years, until Herb was on his deathbed. Hence why, when [=BoJack=] and Herb finally talk about it all those years later, [[RejectedApology Herb rejects [=BoJack=]'s attempt to apologize]]. Pointing out what else he could have done and why he ended up not doing it.

* Sunset Shimmer apologizes at the end of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'' and asks the Mane 6 for their forgiveness. Furthermore, the entire sequel ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'' deals with her seeking forgiveness from the rest of Canterlot High. Although her original FaceHeelTurn is not shown on screen, she is nonetheless a traitor from Celestia's point of view, and sees herself as one in Rainbow Rocks too. ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsForgottenFriendship'' has Sunset finally reconciling with Princess Celestia and being forgiven.
** Discord in ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E25TwilightsKingdomPart1 Twilight's]]'' ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 Kingdom]]'' also fits the bill. He teams up with Tirek, thus betraying all of Equestria because he felt he was never actually forgiven for his crimes by anyone but Fluttershy, only to realize that single friendship was still important to him after he is himself betrayed by Tirek.
* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': The fourth season has this as part of Catra's season-long VillainousBreakdown, with her being plagued with bad dreams about what she did to [[spoiler:Entrapta]] the previous season.