Prophecies Are Always Right: Difference between revisions

* {{spoiler|The Rail Tracer}} in ''[[Baccano!]]''. In reality, it's what happens when let someone as [[Axe Crazy]] as {{spoiler|Claire Stanfield}} hear about it and then give him a reason to act it out. Certain comments reveal that the reason the story about {{spoiler|the Rail Tracer}} is so accurate is because {{spoiler|Claire was probably the one who made up the story in the first place}}.

* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'': Carim's annual prophecies are always correct. Now, if only they were written in a less flowery form and in a language that isn't dead [[Cryptic Conversation|so people could interpret what its saying a lot easier]].

 

 

* In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' this trope normally holds true but is subverted by {{spoiler|Dany's son being satanically miscarried instead of leading the Dothraki to conquering the whole world as was prophecized}}. But it leads to {{spoiler|Dany trying to take over the world}}.

* In William King's ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' [[Space Wolf]] novel ''Wolfblade'', Ranek invokes this to defend Ragnar, who threw their prized relic [[Blade on a Stick|The Spear of Rus]] into a Chaos warp gate, despite the prophecy that their primarch would take it up when he [[King in the Mountain|returned]]. The Spear would doubtlessly return in good time to fulfill the prophecy, if it is a true prophecy. One of those who wish to punish Ragnar sneers at Ranek's faith -- [[Berserk Button|a sad misstep on his part]]. {{spoiler|It really is recovered in the end of the series.}}

* ''Gregor the Overlander'': Subverted hard. The series revolved around the prophecies of Sandwich (no, really), who wrote numbers of them in his tenure in the Underland some time before. At first, these prophecies seem to be always turning true (the first two books for example), but the third and fourth books become increasingly stretched to fit the prophecy. It all comes to a head when it is revealed that in the last prophecy, {{spoiler|Gregor is supposed to die}}. After going into the final battle, Gregor {{spoiler|does not die}}, and not all of the prophecy comes true, as is noted by several characters throughout the book such as {{spoiler|Ares, Gregor, Ripred, and Luxa}}. However, they still manage to con the people and creatures of the Underland that the prophecy is true {{spoiler|with a little help from Luxa's "prophetic" sister, who believes the prophecies are true in order to bring peace amongst the humans and rats.}}

* In ''[[The Belgariad]]'' and ''[[The Malloreon]]'', [[David Eddings]] [[Playing with a Trope|plays with]] many of the standard conventions of prophecy. In particular, there is not one, but two prophecies that control the outcome of the universe. The two are diametrically opposed, born of a tremendous accident that occurred long ago. The writings of their prophets are carefully hidden such that only the people they are intended for can make use of them, and they actively intervene from time to time to make sure events stay on track.

** Alternatively, it could lead to new potentials and prophecies, meaning that the original two would less less likely than they currently were (50%) of winning. Although a real and immutably accurate prophecy does exist, Belgarath in his seven thousand years has had plenty of time to encounter many self-deluded "prophets" who are simply mad, and knows how to tell the difference.

* Played absolutely straight in Meredith Ann Pierce's ''[[Firebringer Trilogy]]''. There are three prophecies regarding the unicorns' promised hero the Firebringer, each delivered by a different dreamer. The first describes his coloration; the seconds describes "burning blood, sparking hooves and a tongue of flame: a colt born at moondark out of a wyvern's belly and sired by the summer stars"; and the third claims he would be a Renegade outside the Law and "would storm out of heaven in a torrent of fire, and his advent would mark the ending of the world." The unicorns think only the first prophet was correct and the last two were insane. {{spoiler|By the end of the trilogy, however, every word off all three prophecies comes true, if not literally than at least metaphorically.}}

* ''[[Harry Potter]]'': Both of Trelawney's prophecies in the series come true, although Divination is otherwise treated as a very imprecise art. Also, Dumbledore is quick to point out in the sixth book that not all of the prophecies studied by the Department of Mysteries have or will come true, saying by way of example that had the prophecy regarding Harry and Voldemort not been overheard and relayed to Voldemort, [[Self-Fulfilling Prophecy|it would have never meant anything.]]

** Interestingly, Trelawney made several smaller predictions aside from her big two that were actually right. They were simply dismissed or misinterpreted by Trelawney herself. Only in hindsight can their true meaning be seen.

** Though as Anathema points out, Agnes was mostly concerned with her descendants: as they lived in Smalltown, England, there was a chance they might get hit by a falling brick in Kings Lynn and very little chance of being hit by a stray bullet in Dallas.

** Given the laughter of her ghost when the new book was destroyed (which she undoubtedly saw coming), plus the way it appeared out of nowhere when how she got the first printed was a subplot, this was probably just an elaborate prank on her part.

* ''[[Sword of Truth]]'': Prophecies are always true in the series, and several of the books start out by having the characters learning of one that holds dire consequences for them, or suggests they'll act entirely contrary to their goals and character. The trick is, while they're always true, they're ''also'' always vague, and almost never to be taken literally. Even the ones that ''are'' literal are so only on the surface level, and the reasons ''why'' the characters end up doing the crazy things eventually make sense.

* 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.

* ''[[Lord of the Rings]]''

** 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.

** Sam Gamgee also has a vision in the beginning, that he "has something to do before the end," and that he "must see it through." Of course, this comes true.

*** It is speculative whether this is prophecy or more like sudden moment of wisdom.

** These could be somehow justified as Tolkien pretty much stated that fate of world was pre-created during Great Music (aka creation). It does not apply 100% (though it seem to be the case for whole time up to end of Third Age, maybe because stories tend to be too "large" to affect by one or few person who don't act as expected), but does work for most, if not all of above mentioned.

* In ''[[Macbeth]]'', it is prophesied that no one born by a woman could harm Macbeth, which he took to mean that he was invincible; and he is killed by McDuff, who it turns out was born not by woman, but by C-section.

* [[Jack Chalker|Jack Chalker's]] ''Dancing Gods'' series states that prophecies from the better oracles are always true: the only problems are that you usually don't know what the specifics mean right away, and the prophecies don't state what the outcome will be, only what is needed to have a chance of getting the outcome you want.

* Played with in the ''[[Wheel of Time]]'' series. The Dragon is a reincarnated hero who appears throughout time to battle the [[Big Bad|Dark One]]. Numerous prophesies have been written regarding how this will play out. The thing is, The Dragon doesn't exactly know what to do once he realizes who and what he is and there have been numerous "False Dragons". Rather than be lead around by people trying to manipulate him, he decides to use the prophesies as a sort of PR tool. Even if he doesn't believe that they predict the future, fulfilling them convinces other people that he's the real deal.

* Near the beginning of ''[[Farscape]]'', Aeryn mutters, of Rygel, "One day, your greatest fear will be realized: you will be killed by a Peacekeeper." Aeryn is one of a very few characters in the show to ''never'' show any signs of precognitive ability, but the prophecy still gets fulfilled {{spoiler|by Aeryn's mother.}}

* Similarly, ''[[Babylon 5]]'' is full of prophecies, and Narns are the only species with no telepaths. When Narn Ambassador G'Kar yells in the first season that one night, the Centauri will awaken to find the Narn's teeth at their throat, it's clearly just ambassadorial bluster...that also happens to come true, {{spoiler|near the very end of the show}}.

* In ''[[Star Trek]]:[[Deep Space Nine]],'' the "prophets" of Bajor turn out to be the aliens who created the Wormhole, who exist outside of linear time, and who can therefore forsee prophecies by simply reading the future. Even when people use the prophecies to try to avoid them, the attempt only ends up ''fulfilling'' them.

* Abed from ''[[Community]]'' makes several predictions weeks to hours in advance about [[Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick|actions, conversations, and menstruation cycles]] of the rest of the study group. Every last one is shown on screen or implied to be correct.

{{quote|''Sokka: But the fortuneteller was wrong! You didn't have a safe journey, you were almost killed!''

''Old Man: But I wasn't! Alright, have a good one...'' }}

* ''[[Justice League]]'': The Legion of Superheroes transport three Leaguers into the future, knowing that "incomplete records" indicate that one of the three won't make it back alive. The subversion comes in when all three heroes ''do" survive the mission, but one of them chooses to stay in the future of her own volition.

* ''[[Winx Club]]'': Subversion: {{spoiler|When giving the Winx the Black Gift, the ethereal fairies specifically say "More than one human being could be beyond life's threshold, but you may rescue one person. This is the prophecy, Winx." The next scene seems to suggest that there would be a dilemma between using it on Duman or someone else (many were expecting Bloom, from the trailer that followed the episode). As it turns out, Duman has long been destroyed before the Black Gift comes into play, leaving only Nabu in danger. And then when Layla decides to summon the Black Gift to use on Nabu, Ogron takes it away and uses it on a flower, meaning that it is neither used by the Winx, nor on a person.}}