Prophecies Are Always Right: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

Prophecies never lie. In fiction, especially [[Fantasy]], a prophecy is equivalent to [[Because Destiny Says So|destiny]]. Prophecy is never wrong, oracles are never false, prophets never turn out to be deluded and "predictions" never turn out to be political allegories of the time they were written in. If they weren't, [[Law of Conservation of Detail|why even bring them up in the first place?]] Prophecies, furthermore, are always believed, except by those who simply don't like what is predicted, or [[The Chosen One]] who [[Refusal of the Call|can't accept his fate]]. They may [[Prophecy Twist|twist]], they may [[Either/Or Prophecy|have loopholes]], they can even [[Prophetic Fallacy|be misleading]], but in the end, the prophecy ''is'' fate, and [[You Can't Fight Fate|you can't fight it]].

[[Sub-Trope]] of [[All Myths Are True]]; [[Super-Trope]] of [[Because Destiny Says So]].

== Anime and Manga ==

* Parodied in one ''[[Project A-ko]]'' OAV. A prophecy is discovered at the beginning, and seems to be progressing towards fulfillment as the story goes on. At the end, the professor who discovered the prophecy gravely pronounces it to be... a complete coincidence.

* In [[Susan Cooper]]'s ''[[The Dark Is Rising]]'' series, the series of prophecies that guide the Light come true exactly as written. It's stated that the Dark has its own set of prophecies, but we aren't told anything else about them.

* In ''[[Dark Rendezvous|Yoda: Dark Rendezvous]]'' the young Padawan Whie Malreaux regularly dreams about what he'll be doing in the future. Details seem to be obscured—he once knows that someone will beat him but not who or how, even though when it was actually happening her name was stated - but the gist always happens. He knows that a Jedi will kill him and it will surprise him; he thinks this means he'll turn to the Dark Side and be hunted down, but really Anakin Skywalker does it while on his murderous rampage. Despite the future always being in motion, some things are apparently set.<ref>Heaven knows what we'll see in ''Yoda: Dark Rendezvous II: Electric Boogaloo''</ref>

** Gandalf forsees that Gollum's fate is bound up with that of the Ring, and the Ring cannot be destroyed unless Gollum is kept alive. Naturally, this comes true, as Frodo is unable to destroy the Ring in the end, and Gollum is one who destroys it.

** Gandalf also forsees that Merry and Pippin are more vital to the quest than even Glorfindel, and that they should be included in the Fellowship instead. Needless to say, they prove vital by getting the Ents involved in the war, and by killing the Witch-king, as well as keeping Denethor alive long enough to reveal his vision in the ''palantir'' that results in the decision to march on Mordor—all of which were vital to the quest.