The Final Temptation: Difference between revisions

Occasionally, the dream implies whatever the hero was doing has been ''done'' somehow, and they shouldn't worry about it now. Although sometimes the quest still exists but is suddenly [[Somebody Else's Problem]].

 

 

This might be the fantasy conjured up by a [[Lotus Eater Machine]], and often fails when it overplays its promise. May be used in conjunction with [[More Than Mind Control]], though the villain has the added burden of first convincing the victim the offer ''is'' what they want.

** This example crosses over with [[Lotus Eater Machine]], as the [[Big Bad]] used his powers to trap the DigiDestined in illusions not just designed to distract them, but that were actually based on their deepest desires.

* The infamous [[Elseworld|Schoolyard Comedy]] sequence in the final episode of ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''. It's up for debate whether Shinji's fantasy world was a real possibility or just [[Lotus Eater Machine|an Instrumentality-induced illusion]], which is probably [[Mind Screw|intended]].

* This happens to [[Tenchi Muyo!]] near the end of ''Tenchi In Tokyo'', in which the temptation is to be with his girlfriend Sakuya forever in a [[Lotus Eater Machine|dream world]] after she was [[Ret-Gone|erased from the real world]]. This comes after the revelation that Sakuya was created by [[Big Bad|Yugi]] for the sole purpose of preventing Tenchi from being able to stop Yugi's evil plan. Ironically, it's ''Sakuya herself'' (having gained a will of her own) who gets Tenchi to leave, [[Disappears Into Light|at the cost of her own life]].

* Arguably, ''[[Ergo Proxy]]'' provides an example of this trope as Vincent {{spoiler|dreams/conjures/creates a version of Romdeau in which he holds the high position of Head of Security, Real is his fiancée and Deadelus her friendly genius kid brother.}}

* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' has one in the form of a [[Lotus Eater Machine]] {{spoiler|imposed by the Anti-Spirals. Particularly touching in that it shows Viral (originally a [[Noble Demon]] mortal enemy of the protagonists who eventually sides with them out of necessity), who can't reproduce, with a wife and child in the dream world, who [[Tear Jerker|he has to leave behind to return to the battle.]]}}

* [[Greek Mythology|Achilles]] is told early on that if he does not go to the war he will find peace and have a family of his own but he will eventually be forgotten; if he goes to Troy, his name will last for eternity but he will die there.]] [[Jumped At the Call|Guess which one he took.]]

* [[Andre Norton]]'s ''Storm Over Warlock'': the telepathic Wyverns put Shann Lantee through a test involving illusions, including reunion with a pet he'd had a few years before -- "the only thing Shann had ever known which he could love wholeheartedly...." To pass that part of the test, he had to force himself to recall in detail how his pet died, in pain from an injury Shann was powerless to heal. He was, understandably, in a rather bad mood for some time afterwards.

* In ''[[The Belgariad]]'', [[Farm Boy]]-turned-[[The Hero|hero]] Garion is on his way to confront the Dark God, Torak, when he begins dreaming of a life in which he is not orphaned, with the implication that Torak could make it happen if Garion gives up the quest to slay him. Garion sees through it with the help of the Light Prophecy, and delivers a defiant [[Shut UP, Hannibal]].

* In ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'', Nynaeve finds herself in a world where she and Lan have married, had kids, and settled down to peaceful farm life. Different from many examples in that the temptation is not created by a villain, but is part of a magical test she has to pass to join the Aes Sedai.

* Occurs in ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'' (Hordes of the Underdark, to be specific) if you try to oppose the Elder Brain. It's not very tough to overpower the illusion - but fighting off the three big uglies that show up when you do is another matter. (After which the Elder Brain dies almost anticlimactically, since it's... well... [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|a giant brain]].)

* In a not-very-[[Secret Test of Character]] in ''[[Baldur's Gate]] II: Throne of Bhaal'', a figure representing your character's lost innocence tempts you to give up all your power and become this your younger self again. However, you don't even have the chance to acquiesce, and it's not clear how this rewinding the clock is supposed to be possible. When you refuse, "your innocence" will turn into the [[Super-Powered Evil Side|monstrous avatar]] of [[God of Evil|Bhaal]] you also have the ability to turn into and attack, [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?|making for a mildly challenging fight]].

* Part of the [[Secret Test of Character|Air Gem tests]] in the [[AGD Interactive]] [[Fan Remake]] of ''[[King's Quest II]]''. {{spoiler|Graham is thrust forward in time to his darkest moment - Daventry is in ruins, the three-headed dragon ravaging the land has demanded Graham's daughter as a [[Human Sacrifice]], and Graham's son was kidnapped by his enemies. That's when the [[Big Bad]] (who masterminded the whole thing in a [[Batman Gambit]]) shows up to gloat and offer a deal. He will send away the dragon, return Graham's kids, and restore the blighted kingdom in exchange for Graham's crown.}} It's playable, so you have several options. The one scoring the highest points is {{spoiler|telling him that the act of passing on the crown to someone like him would be treason against the principles that Daventry is founded on, and that certain values must be put above oneself and one's family. The fiend ends up being quite impressed with your sense of loyalty}}.

* The Perfect World in ''[[Fable]]'' ''2''. As a last ditch effort to keep you from stopping his plans, Lucien {{spoiler|traps you in a [[Lotus Eater Machine]] that gives back the life you lost. You are a child, living in a beautiful estate, and your sister is alive again. After a day or so of fun and games, you are awakened by the Music Box you bought long ago. As you follow the music, the blissful dream gradually gives way to a nightmarish road littered with corpses. When you finally reach the box, the illusion shatters completely, and you set out to finish the quest once and for all.}}

 

== Western Animation ==

* This happened to Shipwreck in ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' in the episode "There's No Place Like Springfield".

* In ''[[Barbie and the Diamond Castle]]'', the heroines come across an isolated mansion and are told that it now belongs to them. As it would provide them with more food and dresses than they ever had before, Alexa wants to stay, while Liana feels they should continue on to the Diamond Castle to [[Saving the World|save the world]] from being robbed of all music. The two girls split up, but it turns out the mansion was just a trap set by the villain, and Alexa is promptly [[Hypnotize the Princess|captured]].

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[[Category:Plots]]