History Main / MuggleInMageCustody

See also TheRenfield for a vampire-specific version; also compare RaisedByTheSupernatural and MuggleBornOfMages.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', the protagonist, who is an ordinary human child, is adopted by the female monster Toriel from the Ruins, who is magical like all the monsters, and wants to keep the main character as her foster child forever. For this reason, she tries to use her magic to seal the exit from the Ruins so that he couldn't leave her.

* In ''VideoGame/TheUndertale'', the protagonist, who is an ordinary human child, is adopted by the female monster Toriel from the Ruins, who is magical like all the monsters, and wants to keep the main character as her foster child forever. For this reason, she tries to use her magic to seal the exit from the Ruins so that he couldn't leave her.

* PlayedWith in ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf''. An ordinary traveling merchant Kraft Lawrence encounters a harvest goddess in human form called Holo, and they go on a journey together. Holo often sees herself as Kraft's mistress who has the right to order him around due to her status as a goddess, but in reality, she is not well adapted to modern world, so the power dynamic between them is more complicated.

* ''Literature/TheFaerieQueene'' has Amoret, who is captured and tortured by the EvilSorcerer Busirane, with the intent of forcing her into becoming his lover.

* ''Literature/LandOfOz'': ''Literature/TheMarvelousLandOfOz'' is a negative example, with the main character Tip being raised by the wicked witch Mombi who constantly abuses him.

* In ''Anime/SpiritedAway'', an ordinary girl Chihiro becomes a slave of the evil witch Yubaba, and has to do menial work for her in her bathhouse for spirits.

A particular type of relationship involving an ordinary, non-magical character being at the mercy of a mage, a god, or another kind of supernatural being. The {{muggle}}'s status in the relationship may be either akin to that of a beloved child or to that of a servant or a slave... [[HappinessInSlavery or something]] [[PowerDynamicsKink in-between]]. Accordingly, the magician may reward the muggle with miracles and/or punish them with curses.

See also TheRenfield for a vampire-specific version; also compare RaisedByTheSupernatural.

Such a relationship may be depicted both positively and negatively. Mostly negative depictions date all the way back to Myth/CelticMythology, in which [[TheFairFolk fairies]] kidnapped humans and held them captive in their world (often for years, decades or centuries), having fun at their expense and viewing them in the same way as we view pets. However, at some time around the 19th century, with the advent of [[ComingOfAgeStory the Bildungsroman genre]], it became commonplace to depict the trope in a positive light. These kinds of works usually have religious overtones and use the relationship between a supernatural creature and an ordinary human as a metaphor for the relationship between God and humanity: in those, even if the "mage" [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment has to resort to tough methods sometimes]], it is ultimately for the "muggle"'s good, to enlighten them and to help them become a better person. Some of the most prominent examples are ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio'', ''Literature/MaryPoppins'', and the works of Creator/CSLewis.

Such a relationship may be depicted both positively and negatively. Mostly negative depictions date all the way back to Myth/CelticMythology, in which [[TheFairFolk fairies]] kidnapped humans and held them captive in their world (often for years, decades or centuries), having fun at their expense and viewing them in the same way as we view pets. However, at some time around the 19th century, with the advent of the [[ComingOfAgeStory bildungsroman genre]], it became commonplace to depict the trope in a positive light. These kinds of works usually have religious overtones and use the relationship between a supernatural creature and an ordinary human as a metaphor for the relationship between God and humanity: in those, even if the "mage" [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment has to resort to tough methods sometimes]], it is ultimately for the "muggle"'s good, to enlighten them and to help them become a better person. Some of the most prominent examples are ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio'', ''Literature/MaryPoppins'', and the works of Creator/CSLewis.

See also TheRenfield for a vampire-specific version.

* Several entries from the ''Literature/GiveYourselfGoosebumps'' series also feature bad endings of this kind:

** ''Literature/UnderTheMagiciansSpell'': In one of the endings, you and your friends all end up as slaves of a JackassGenie in his castle.

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'' has a borderline case between this and BenevolentMageRuler. [[EccentricMentor The eccentric magician Coriakin]] governs an island inhabited by gnome-like creatures known as Dufflepuds, but the Dufflepud community is small, Coriakin has no formal title, and his role is more akin to that of a caregiver than a ruler.

* In one of the issues of ''[[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Donald Duck & Co]]'', released by Egmont, Donald and Scrooge are on an underwater expedition when they meet the old wise sea king Saltomon. Saltomon hasn't had guests for about a thousand years, so he wants Donald and Scrooge to stay with him just for a little while... a hundred of years or two. The protagonists manage to leave, and then the villainous Beagle Boys get stuck with Saltomon instead.

* Rufus and Amberley are apprentices to the Dream Maker in ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'', often helping him in his occupation of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin making dreams]] and protecting the title stone, as well as assisting his allies the Wuts, an army of equally powerful mages. This relationship is generally closer to a paid occupation and more benevolent than many other examples, though odd jokes slip in later in the show that the two are often errand runners volunteered for grunt work their far more powerful authority figures would be far better suited for.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/LostGirl'': Bo's best friend and roommate, Kenzi, is human. Within Fae society, Kenzi is claimed as a "pet" by Bo to protect her from the Fae. This is a legal fiction, and Bo does not consider Kenzi her property -- their relationship is that of HeterosexualLifePartners.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' has Alexander, a dwarf not given the psychokinetic power that the other denizens of Platonius have. As a result, he is treated as a court jester and slave, and subjected to cruel treatment, particularly from Parmen.
[[/folder]]

** ''Literature/Literature/UnderTheMagiciansSpell'': In one of the endings, you and your friends all end up as slaves of a JackassGenie in his castle.

* ''Literature/LandOfOz'': Literature/TheMarvelousLandOfOz'' is a negative example, with the main character Tip being raised by the wicked witch Mombi who constantly abuses him.

!!Examples

[[folder:Comics]]

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* In the ''Manga/DNAngel'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3588642/1/ Of Darkness and Light]]'', [[MistressAndServantBoy an orphaned boy called Yami asks to stay at the temple of the oracle Lunara, and becomes her servant]]. He has to obey Lunara's orders, and is forbidden to leave the temple without her permission ([[TricksterMentor and occassionally she also makes fun of him]]).

[[folder:Film]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' has Alexander, a dwarf not given the psychokinetic power that the other denizens of Platonius have. As a result, he is treated as a court jester and slave, and subjected to cruel treatment, particularly from Parmen.
* ''Series/LostGirl'': Bo's best friend and roommate, Kenzi, is human. Within Fae society, Kenzi is claimed as a "pet" by Bo to protect her from the Fae. This is a legal fiction, and Bo does not consider Kenzi her property--their relationship is that of HeterosexualLifePartners.

* In ''Literature/TheOdyssey'', Odysseus gets stuck for a year with the sorceress Circe who turns his men into pigs. Later on, he is also forced to remain for seven years with the nymph Calypso.
* In ''[[Literature/TalesOfTheFiveHundredKingdoms The Fairy Godmother]]'' by Creator/MercedesLackey, a fairy punishes a cruel prince by transforming him into a donkey and taking him into her custody, where he is constantly made fun of and has to do a lot of work. Eventually he makes a HeelFaceTurn, after which she warms up to him, and eventually they become a couple.

* ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'' has a borderline case between this and BenevolentMageRuler. [[EccentricMentor The eccentric magician Coriakin]] governs an island inhabited by gnome-like creatures known as Dufflepuds, but the Dufflepud community is small, Coriakin has no formal title, and his role is more akin to that of a caregiver than a ruler.

* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'' has an odd example in that the "muggle" is actually a wizard, but is rarely seen to use magic: Death's manservant Albert was once Alberto Malich, a very powerful wizard who decided to cast the Death-summoning ritual of Ash-Kente in reverse to gain immortality. Instead, he found himself dragged into Death's realm but took on the position of CrustyCaretaker there, as he had very little time left in reality and the other options for immortality were less than pleasant or likely to succeed.
* ''Literature/TheMarvelousLandOfOz'' is a negative example, with the main character Tip being raised by the wicked witch Mombi who constantly abuses him.

* Taran, in the ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain'', is the ward of the great enchanter Dallben, whom he regards as his master. Taran has no magical ability of his own and in fact has absolutely no idea why Dallben is the one raising him or where his real parents are; but he has nowhere else to go, and he sincerely loves both Dallben and his other (non-magical) guardian Coll, so he stays. [[spoiler:Only at the end of the series is it finally revealed that Taran was an orphaned infant whom Dallben found and decided to raise in the hopes of fulfilling a great prophecy.]]
* In ''Literature/DoctrineOfLabyrinths'', Felix casts the obligation d'ame on Mildmay in large part to keep him protected in the Mirador, as the contract makes them as one legally. But it still makes Mildmay his slave.
* The {{Gamebook}} ''Literature/CreatureOfHavoc'' has several bad endings of this sort:
** In one of them, an unnamed Wizard in red robes puts a Control Creature spell on you, making you his slave for the rest of your life.
** In another, a witch gives you the Potion of Obedience, after which you come to see her as your benevolent master, and remain with her for the rest of your life.
** {{Downplayed}} in another ending, in which you become one of the henchmen of the evil sorcerer Zharradan Marr.

* ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII Dragon Quest VIII]]'' has David, a servant to the magician Dominico whom the player's party meets in the town of Arcadia. David shows nothing but gratitude towards his master for taking him in when he was alone and starving, even though Dominico constantly bullies and humiliates him and wonders even to himself why he keeps David around. It turns out that [[spoiler:David is actually descended from a great sage who transferred his powers to Dominico's family in exchange for them protecting his descendants. So while David himself is a muggle, he's still linked to Dominico by magic, even though neither is initially aware of it.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall,'' [[IllGirl an ordinary girl Lorna]] is being raised by the sorceress [[HonoraryAunt Auntie Whispers]], who uses a magic bell to [[MindControl force her]] to work constantly. Auntie Whispers insists that she has no choice, as otherwise Lorna would "fall into wickedness." [[spoiler:It turns out to be BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood--Lorna suffers from DemonicPossession, and the evil spirit has to be constantly occupied or it goes on a killing spree]].

* In ''Literature/DoctrineOfLabyrinths'', Felix casts the obligation d?âme on Mildmay in large part to keep him protected in the Mirador, as the contract makes them as one legally. But it still makes Mildmay his slave.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' The Human Luz is apprenticed to the Witch Eda in return for helping Luz learn magic.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse''The Human Luz is apprenticed to the Witch Eda in return for helping Luz learn magic.