A standard pattern in a story, like:
- Dumbo can only fly when holding a magic feather, then loses the feather and discovers...the power was inside himself all along!
- Fred Flintstone is sad because nobody seems to remember his birthday, but then gets home to discover a surprise birthday party! ...Everyone remembered, after all!
- Reluctant hero has to be coaxed out of retirement in order to handle ...one more challenge
- Character is in impossible situation and then wakes up...it was just a dream
Basically, every story uses plot devices. All kinds of Shakespeare depends on intercepted letters and people hidden behind curtains, right?