History Main / MacGuffinGuardian

->''"''Infidels!'' You have touched the forbidden treasure! Now you will never again see the ''light of day!''"''

* ''FanFic/TheEquestrianWindMage'': Since the second season plays out more like a proper Zelda story than the first, [[ArcVillain Ganondorf]] places each of the Elements of Harmony under the protection of a powerful monster -- the Element of Honesty is guarded by Grey Hoof and a Stallord, the Element of Kindness by Volvagia, the Element of Generosity by the Gohma Queen, the Element of Loyalty by Shanzom, and the Element of Laughter by Twinrova, while Ganon keeps the Element of Magic on his person.

* In ''Literature/PresterJohnSaga'', several plot-relevant items are guarded by some monster. Book 1 alone has two pieces of the magical armor guarded by a massive octopus and a Hawk-man you have to trick or fight. At least two of them (one in Book 2, the other in Book 4) are also the FinalBoss of the story.

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' arc [[Recap/DoctorWhoS1E5TheKeysOfMarinus "The Keys of Marinus"]], one of the keys is in a block of ice and guarded by several warriors who come to life when it is thawed out.

* A rare heroic example is in ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfChima,'' where the lions guard the pool of chi that falls from Mount Cavora, and unlike most MacGuffin Guardians, are willing to share what they're guarding.

* ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' has the huge hound Gertrude in the third game. The sequel features the gigantic, bug-looking keeper of Sawayama.

* In ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'', Kratos must fight several Guardians during the course of the three games, including [[ALoadOfBull Pandora's Guardian]], [[KingMook the Mole Cerberus]] and [[ScaryScorpions Skorpio]].

** Spoofed to no end with the presence of a GiantSquid in a pool just outside the entrance of the Dwarven Kingdom is lampshaded. [[CrowningMomentOfFunny In a particular campaign said gag]] was brought UpToEleven.

* A rare heroic example is in ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfChima,'' where the lions guard the pool of chi that falls from Mount Cavora, and unlike most MacGuffin Guardian, are willing to share what there guarding.

* A rare heroic example is in ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfChima'' as the lions guard the pool of chi that falls from Mount Cavora, and unlike most MacGuffin Guardian are willing to share what there guarding.

** The monstruous Dakomyd guards the first Lorestone in book 6, ''The Kingdoms of Terror''.

* [[spoiler:Arachne]] in the third ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' book, ''Mark of Athena.''

[[folder:Theatre]]

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode, "The Lost Mattress" had Mr. Krabs' prized money-filled mattress guarded by a ferocious worm at the junkyard, after it got thrown away.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}''

* A rare heroic example is in ''WesternAnimation/LegoLegendsOfChima'' as the lions guard the pool of chi that falls from Mount Cavora, and unlike most MacGuffin Guardian are willing to share what there guarding.

* A rare heroic example is in Legend Of Chima as the lions guard the pool of chi that falls from Mount Cavora, and unlike most MacGuffin Guardian are willing to share what there guarding.

This happens really often, with any kind of possible keeper. Monsters, Living Statues, Dragons or Demons summoned by portals and runes. It can be tracked [[OlderThanFeudalism back in old myths]] where a monstrous guardian keeps a treasure or a person, usually for his master. Of course, it doesn't need to be revealed in that exact way to qualify, but has just to be a monster keeping a treasure. A variation is a monster who guards not an artifact but rather the path/gate which our heroes must take.

->''"''Infidels!'' You have touched the forbidden treasure! Now you will never again see the ''light of day!'' ''Die!''"''

->''"''Infidels!'' You have touched the forbidden treasure! Now you will never again see the ''light of day!''"''

!!Examples

* The huge Kraken in ''Franchise/TombRaider: Underworld'' was probably left behind as a guardian.

* ClassicalMythology has various guardian monsters like Ladon (the dragon that guarded the Apples of the Hesperides) and another dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece.

* In the first ''GotrekAndFelix'' book, there's a huge, Warpstone-mutated Troll guarding the treasure inside an abandoned dwarven tomb.

* In EgyptianMythology the Book of Thoth is guarded by serpents and scorpions and a Serpent that cannot be slain, meaning it can [[HealingFactor come back together]] if its head is chopped off.

* ''VideoGame/EarthBound''
** Each of the [[MacGuffin Sanctuaries]] is guarded by some sort of monster.
** The Barrier Trio would count too, from [[VideoGame/MOTHER3 the sequel]].

->'''Infidels!''' You have touched the forbidden treasure! Now you will never again see the '''light of DAY!'''
-->-- Cave of Wonders, [[Disney/Aladdin]]