History Main / Protectorate

{{Ideal Hero}}es, [[TheCape capes,]] and other such good guys just do not attack other people without provocation, not even if those other people are {{Card Carrying Villain}}s. Good guys simply do not do preemptive strikes; that's left for {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s, {{Anti Hero}}es, and bad guys. See VillainsActHeroesReact.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'', the three orphans he adopts end up becoming this to Gru, [[BecomingTheMask even if he didn't intend it that way.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'', [[GentleGiant Sulley]] ends up finding one of these in [[CheerfulChild Boo.]]

** George starts the series as a shy, non-confrontational man who gets pushed around by everyone. The turning point in his character occurs when he sees [[TheBully Biff]] try to rape Lorraine and then shove her to the ground. Enraged, George punches him out.

** Speaking of the Planet-team, they're ''all'' one another's protectorates. Mess with the Planeteers, and you'll have to deal with [[PapaWolf Captain Planet]] and/or [[MamaBear Gaia]]. Mess with either of the latter two, and the Planeteers will make sure you don't get away with it.
*** The Planeteers don't take well to any member of the team being threatened, especially [[EveryonesBabySister youngest member Ma-Ti]].
** Hoggish Greedly has one in [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes his son, Junior]].

* ''WesternAnimation/PickleAndPeanut'' Pickle is a nice guy but strongly dislikes anyone who will hurt Peanut.

* As with Superman, ComicBook/{{Thor}} considers all of the Nine Realms [[spoiler: he's not so fond of the Tenth Realm, for very good reason]], particularly Midgard, particularly Broxton, Oklahoma, to be under his protection. Harm it at your peril. And may the sweet and fluffy Lord help you if you hurt [[AmicableExes Jane Foster]] or [[TrueCompanions the Avengers]].

* Within the ''/Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games, Knuckles is the guardian of Angel Island and the Master Emerald that keeps it floating in the sky. Adaptations and spin-off games usually have Knuckles retain this role, but [[VideoGame/SonicBoom not]] [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022 always]].

* Within the ''/Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games, KNuckles is the guardian of ANgel ISland and tha Master EMerald that keeps it floating in the sky. Adaptations and spin-off games usually have Knuckles retain this role, but [[VideoGame/SonicBoom not]] [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022 always]].

-->'''Man on bridge:''' This is New York! You mess with one of us, you mess with ''all'' of us!

* many a hero has found themselves facing a MacGuffinGuardian, or [[MacGuffinEscortMission being one themselves]]

* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': In this ''Franhcise/{{Godzilla}}'' Franchise/MonsterVerse fanfiction, San after [[TwoBeingsOneBody fusing with Vivienne Graham]] takes his duty of caring for his new sister and teaching her to fend for herself to heart. Later in the story, Manda as an egg and then as an infant becomes a Protectorate to both Viv and San.

* ''LightNovel/RollOverAndDie'': Flum Apricot and Eterna Rinebow both play this role for Milkit and Ink. Primarily, Flum acts as Milkit’s protector, but she trusts Eterna to protect Milkit when she has to take care of other business. Likewise, Eterna generally acts as Ink’s protector, but Flum will protect Ink when Eterna is gone.

* ''Manga/FullMetalPanic'': Sousuke Sagara is the bodyguard and LoveInterest of one Kaname Chidori. And he will ''not'' stand for anyone who threatens her.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': As a result of initially blaming himself for his mother's death, Ichigo is driven by an intense desire to protect friends and family, regardless of the cost to himself. His need to protect his family from a Hollow attack is what first encourages Rukia to illegally share her Soul Reaper power with him and the idea of older siblings turning on younger siblings instead of protecting them makes him particularly angry, as both Orihime and Rukia's older brothers learn. He invades both Soul Society and Hueco Mundo to rescue Rukia and Orihime respectively when they're captured by enemy forces, and he will make sure friends can protect people on his behalf when he can't do it, such as asking Renji to protect Rukia, Uryuu to protect Orihime and Orihime to protect Nel. Tsukishima brainwashing all of his friends and family is one of the few times Ichigo ever accepts the need for killing instead of simply defeating the villain.

{{Ideal Hero}}es, [[TheCape capes,]] and other such good guys just do not attack other people without provocation, not even if those other people are {{Card Carrying Villain}}s. Good guys simply do not do preemptive strikes; that's left for {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s, {{Anti Hero}}es, and bad guys. See {{Villains Act Heroes React}}.

** During the [[Franchise/MassEffect Reaper]] War, the coalition between the [[Film/IndependenceDay Harvesters]] and the [[Webcomic/{{Drive}} Vinn]] take up the mantle of protecting worlds which can't rely on aid from the various power blocs. Post-war, most of these worlds organize themselves as the [[TheAlliance Shield Alliance]], wherein the Harvesters and Vinn continue to provide primary defense for all the members.

* A DamselInDistress

* Most DC heroes have a home city they pay special attention to protecting. ComicBook/{{Superman}} has Metropolis, ComicBook/{{Batman}} has Gotham City, ComicBook/TheFlash has Keystone and/or Central City, ComicBook/GreenArrow has Star City, ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} has [[HeavyMetalUmlaut Blüdhaven]], etc.

* Most DC heroes have a home city they pay special attention to protecting. ComicBook/TheFlash has Keystone and/or Central City, ComicBook/GreenArrow has Star City, ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} has [[HeavyMetalUmlaut Blüdhaven]], etc.

** Marty: his family and best friend Doc.
** Doc: Clara Clayton and his best friend Marty.
** George: his LoveInterest and future/present wife Lorraine.

* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', trying to hurt [[TheHero Frodo]] in front of [[BattleButler Sam]] is a good way to get reminded why you should BewareTheNiceOnes.

The villains rarely get the notion of redirecting their energies against less inflammatory targets--or if they do, we never hear about it. Again and again, the villain just ''has'' to attack [[AndYourLittleDogToo the one thing the main character has shown they will kick butt over]].

** Grimlock is a sort of an unofficial protectorate over Bumblebee as well.

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': Sora puts everyone he's close to high on the list of things to protect, but none moreso than his best friends Riku and Kairi.
** Also, Riku has this for Kairi hard in the first game, and it leads him down the path to the [[RivalTurnedEvil dark side and puts him in conflict]] with his childhood friend Sora. Riku eventually pulls a HeelFaceTurn and adds him to his protectorate, as seen several times throughout most games after ''VideoGame/{{Kingdom Hearts II}}''- but especially in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance''.
** From ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', [[BigBrotherMentor Terra]] and [[CoolBigSis Aqua]] treat Ventus like a little brother and are [[BigBrotherInstinct fiercely protective of him]]. Terra was willing to fight his master to the death if meant protecting Ven.

* In the ''VideoGame/DetectivesUnited'' series, it gradually becomes clear that Agent Brown regards his partners this way. He will not put up with anyone or anything posing a threat to Anna Gray or James Blackthorne (''especially'' James, for whom he has BigBrotherInstinct). In the series to date, the things from which he's protected or rescued at least one of them include a deadly fire, a malevolent child ghost, mind control, and his own EvilTwin brother.

* [[BigBrotherInstinct A younger sibling]] (Unless the older sibling is a BigBrotherBully).
* Someone's TrueCompanions.

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** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Io takes on Lyta, the child of Circe and Ares, as her ward/protectorate and she is devastated when Ares easily defeats her and takes Lyta.

** The Grey Wardens have a form of this as their purpose for existing since their duty is to defend all living things from the threat of the darkspawn - by any means necessary.

** [[{{Precursors}} Fallen Empires]] always attempt to subjugate the rest of the galaxy when they Awaken, but most of them won't bother to defend their subjects if attacked. The exception are Benevolent Interventionists and their "Signatories", though on the downside Signatories cannot start wars at all.

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