Odd Couple

[butterflydreaming]

There is a trope, frequent in anime and not uncommon in fantasy novels, where a sweet and gentle person (or cat-like companion) has a hidden self that is a centuries old monster. I found myself considering how the reverse would look, and realized: isn't that what the amnesia trope is? Regarding Henry, as the prime example. Henry with amnesia is sweet and gentle, but original Henry was not a nice person.

So here we have a powerful monster or sorcerer, but their truer, hidden self is a sweetheart.

Wait, isn't that like when the dragon is a princess under a curse? But with the variation that she has to stay a dragon, most of the time, even when the curse is broken?

I find myself laughing at the idea of a person who goes around being terrifying as a false self, and when called to action becomes a chickadee. The idea that the peaceful one is the more powerful form of the two and that the scary one functions better in the daily world.

Comments

[coffeedaiv]

What circumstances would call for a more powerful but very nice person?
Does the Princess 'Have' to stay a dragon, or is that she finds it more convenient and less trouble to do so?

[butterflydreaming]

Think Wu Xi master: the calm and gentle master is more powerful because they are in harmony with nature and in control of their emotions. That's where my mind goes.

The trope is usually something about the false form fitting in better in everyday conditions and uses less magic power, like standby mode.