History Main / WaifProphet

* ''WesternAnimation/Encanto'': Bruno is a RareMaleExample who still checks all the boxes. He can see into the future, and is deemed dangerous as a result of this. He has a sickly appearance -- short, skinny, gaunt -- and a fragile mental state.

* ''Literature/TheBible": One possible interpretation is that Jeremiah the prophet from the Literature/BookOfJeremiah was called to be a prophet when he was a child, given visions by God to test him.

A character often, but not exclusively, female who is [[DelicateAndSickly physically]] or [[TheOphelia mentally ill]] or weak, or at least small in stature (e.g. a child), who possesses knowledge or insight she should not have. Her insight is often ascribed directly to a [[DisabilitySuperpower "debilitation"]]. She tries to keep her differences to herself, as a consequence of (or in fear of) CassandraTruth, but they can not help but manifest at the worst possible time, until the climax, at which time they are exactly what are needed.

* Tiffa Adil from ''Anime/AfterWarGundamX'' is shown numerous times predicting the future and uses this ability to drive the plot at one point. However just as often her (often VERY bleak) predictions are [[ScrewDestiny proven wrong]] by her HotBlooded boyfriend [[KidHero Garrod]]. The poor girl is also quite BlessedWithSuck, as her future-reading powers and empathy come from her being among the ''very'' few [[LastOfHisKind surviving]] [[TelepathicSpacemen Newtypes]]... and are the reason why [[BarrierMaiden everyone pursues her.]]

* In ''Manga/{{Nightschool}}'', it's noted that "seers who are still sane are rare." Marina, a pixieish young seer who can't be much older than 13 or so, has to regularly take special medication in order to stay lucid, but her visions get compromised as a side effect. Unfortunately, her employers at the start of the series care more about receiving accurate predictions about the stock market than her mental health. When Marina's [[BadassTeacher teacher]] finds this out, the employers are rightly [[CurbStompBattle curbstomped]]

* ''WesternAnimation/Encanto'': Bruno is a RareMaleExample who still checks all the boxes. He can see into the future, and is deemed dangerous as a result of this. He has a sickly appearance and a fragile mental state.

* Alia Atreides, AKA St. Alia of the Knife, from Frank Herbert's ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' universe.

* Bran Stark in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', who gains magical abilities and insight after being crippled and emerging from a coma.
** An either borderline or very downplayed version of this is... little Lord Robert "Sweetrobin" Arryn. He's frail, he's developmentally challenged and he is incidentally on so many highly dangerous sedatives, any bedbugs in his bedding are probably dead. Yet, he's one suspiciously clued-in kid, considering most people around him are very actively trying to keep him in the dark. Oh, and he's Bran's first cousin.
** Also [[spoiler:Patchface]], whose mind seems to have been broken under mysterious circumstances. Observant fans have noted that some of his mumblings have foreshadowed future plot developments.

* Fiver, the [[OracularUrchin runt of the litter]] "seer rabbit", whose visions of Man's encroachment drive the plot in the various adaptations of ''Literature/WatershipDown'', is a nonhuman variant of this character. This is especially played up in the animated TV series, where he spent an episode terrified that his visions actually ''caused'' the dangers he predicted.
-->'''Fiver:''' ''(to a still [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated very much alive]] enemy rabbit)'': Believe me, I am very sorry for your death.

* Several mystics and saints of the Catholic Church, like Saint Julian of Norwich, Blessed Anna Catherine Emmerich, Saint Gemma Galgani, Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, Saint Margaret Marie Alacoque, Saint Theresa of Avila, the three [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_F%C3%A1tima Fatima children]] (specially [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacinta_and_Francisco_Marto little Jacinta]]), [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Soubirous Saint Bernadette Soubirous]] (of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Lourdes Lourdes]] fame), etc.

* Drusilla from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', who had been severely damaged by a mob attack that left her physically weak. She regained her strength part-way through the second season and remained somewhat prophetic; but was still completely crazy. Creator/JossWhedon seems to like this trope in general.

* Mucor in The Literature/BookOfTheLongSun is anorexic and mentally ill, but able to project her mind into other people and so gain information.

* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfMagravandias'' Ellony receives visions after her marriage to Valraven, which get stronger as her physical and mental health deteriorate.

* Althea Tower from ''Literature/TheProphetOfYonwood'', whose 'vision' makes her extremely ill.
* Irnai from Lady Knight, the last book in the ''Literature/{{Protector of the Small}}'' series by Tamora Pierce. Incidentally, she foretells the coming of the titular Chosen One, but she can only give fifty-fifty odds for the One succeeding.

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Season 4 introduces Anna, a young woman in a mental institute who sees demons everywhere, insists the apocalypse is imminent and illustrates her visions in a SignificantSketchbook. Sam and Dean immediately recognize that her visions are correct when they see her drawings.

* A subtle instance in ''Anime/{{Tekkonkinkreet}}'': [[ConstantlyCurious White]] is exceedingly immature for his age, and only as physically strong as a small 10-year-old can be expected to be. But at the same time, he occasionally shows a nearly supernatural insight and seems very in-tune to Black and the city around them.

A character often, but not exclusively, female who is [[IllGirl physically]] or [[TheOphelia mentally ill]] or weak, or at least small in stature (e.g. a child), who possesses knowledge or insight she should not have. Her insight is often ascribed directly to a [[DisabilitySuperpower "debilitation"]]. She tries to keep her differences to herself, as a consequence of (or in fear of) CassandraTruth, but they can not help but manifest at the worst possible time, until the climax, at which time they are exactly what are needed.

* Hinoto in the aforementioned ''Manga/{{X1999}}''. [[SpearCounterpart Kakyo]] and [[spoiler: [[IllGirl Kotori]] ]] qualify as well.

* Yeul from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' is a Seeress of Paddra, a MysteriousWaif existing in all time periods at once thanks to her reincarnation. The IllGirl part comes from the fact that every time she sees a change in the future her lifespan is shortened until she eventually dies at a young age.

* Played with in ''Anime/FatalFuryTheMotionPicture''. Sulia Gaudeamus is a waifish [[HealingHands healer]] without any fighting abilities and who's got an PsychicLink to the BigBad ([[spoiler:read, she's the twin sister of the guy who's got said BigBad [[EnemyWithin inside of him]]]]), but she's more of TheSmartGuy of the group due to [[MrExposition her encyclopedic knowledge of the myths behind the whole deal]]. Therefore, her insight in the plot is not necessarily related to epiphanies.

* Eto of ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'', who is [[spoiler: the lost daughter of Kuzen Yoshimura and his human wife, Ukina]], as well as [[spoiler: one of two regents for the semi-mythical One-Eyed King]]. Her small body is loaded with more secrets, power and insight than almost anyone else in the series and [[spoiler: she's in control of a ''massive'' amount of the plot]]. She also foretells many events and revelations throughout the collection of ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' works, through [[spoiler: her books written with the pen name Sen Takatsuki]].

* Aerith in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. Sure, she seems to Hear Voices and talks to people who aren't there. Except, she's the [[LastOfHisKind Last of the Ancients]] and has the power to talk to (and listen to, though it doesn't always make sense to her) the Planet itself. Downplayed otherwise because she does not fit the "ill"[[note]]Never faint from vision.[[/note]], "weak"[[note]]She's able to carry herself in battles, and ''specially'' if the player exploits her high magic.[[/note]], or "small"[[note]]That would be Yuffie, who is the youngest cast member.[[/note]] part of the trope description. During the game itself ([[ItWasHisSled even beyond her moment of physical death]]), she was a durable and strong-willed person. The "Waif" part comes from {{Flanderization}}.

* Genderflipped and subverted by Subaru Sumeragi, during his ''Manga/TokyoBabylon'' days. Despite his slight build, Subaru was physically extremely strong, but he gives the impression of weakness sometimes when he over-exerts his spiritual powers. His badassery shows more in ''Manga/{{X1999}}'' since he doesn't over-exert himself ''as'' much.

* ''Comicbook/ScarletSpider'' v. 2 has Aracely, a fugitive from human trafficking who also occasionally suffers from psychic visions of an apocalypse.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' has some:
** From ''VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral'': Julia from ''Genealogy Of The Holy War'' has shades of this. Also Sara from ''Thracia 776'': she's small, softspoken, kinda off, and introduces herself to Leif via telling him that she had heard his voice in her dreams. She's also a mix of WhiteMagicianGirl and MagicalGirlWarrior.
** From ''VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe'': Sophia from ''Sword Of Seals'', because of her prophetic visions. Siblings Nils and Ninian from ''Blazing Sword'' also fit this trope due to [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling being able to sense danger]] among other things.

* The "I'm different" Turret you can rescue in ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'' foreshadows just about everything that happens later on, from [[spoiler: Cave Johnson's Lemon speech to the old testing areas to [=GLaDOS=] being pecked by birds.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Subverted by Zefie, in ''Manga/DotHackLegendOfTheTwilight Bracelet''. Her "mother" is the CreepyChild''/''WaifProphet Aura, who was the MacGuffin for ''Anime/DotHackSign''. Zefie seems similar at first, but it quickly becomes apparent that she's really sarcastic, mischievous, and outspoken... and occasionally unhesitatingly violent.

* A few of the characters in ''Manga/TheFiveStarStories'' possessing "Para-Diver" powers. Also many of the [[ArtificialHuman Fatima Fates]], especially Clotho have elements of this, despite the fact that they are at least twice as strong as a normal person.

* Genderflipped and subverted by Subaru Sumeragi, during his ''Manga/TokyoBabylon'' days. Despite his slight build, Subaru was physically extremely strong, but he gives the impression of weakness sometimes when he over-exerts his spiritual powers. His badassery shows more in ''Manga/{{X1999}}'' since he doesn't over-exert himself ''as'' much

* Played with in ''Anime/FatalFuryTheMotionPicture''. Sulia Gaudeamus is a waifish [[HealingHands healer]] without any fighting abilities and who's got an PsychicLink to the BigBad ([[spoiler:read, she's the twin sister of the guy who's got said BigBad [[EnemyWithin inside of him]]]]), but she's more of TheSmartGuy of the group due to [[MrExposition her encyclopedic knowledge of the myths behind the whole deal]]. Therefore, her insight in the plot is not necessarily related to epiphanies.
* Mary Magdalene in ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'', an orphan girl whose prophetic powers were so strong and overwhelming, she forgot her own childhood and name--Mary is the name given to her by the religious order who took her in.
* In ''Manga/{{Nightschool}}'', it's noted that "seers who are still sane are rare." Marina, a pixieish young seer who can't be much older than 13 or so, has to regularly take special medication in order to stay lucid, but her visions get compromised as a side effect. Unfortunately, her employers at the start of the series care more about receiving accurate predictions about the stock market than her mental health. When Marina's [[BadassTeacher teacher]] finds this out, the employers are rightly [[CurbStompBattle curbstomped]]
* Tiffa Adil from ''Anime/AfterWarGundamX'' is shown numerous times predicting the future and uses this ability to drive the plot at one point. However just as often her (often VERY bleak) predictions are [[ScrewDestiny proven wrong]] by her HotBlooded boyfriend [[KidHero Garrod]]. The poor girl is also quite BlessedWithSuck, as her future-reading powers and empathy come from her being among the ''very'' few [[LastOfHisKind surviving]] [[TelepathicSpacemen Newtypes]]... and are the reason why [[BarrierMaiden everyone pursues her.]]
* ''Anime/LupinIIICrisisInTokyo'': Maria. A young reporter trying to do an interview with stubbornly obsessed cop Inspector Zenigata. Has tiny flashes into the future she shouldn't be having. Wishes to investigate Michael Suzuki. Naturally, it all ties into the climax.
* In ''Anime/{{Endride}}'', Eljuia is the token NonActionGuy with a decidedly [[DudeLooksLikeALady effeminate appearance]] whose most useful power, premonition, is uncontrollable and comes with a side effect of [[FaintingSeer fainting]].
* Eto of ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'', who is [[spoiler: the lost daughter of Kuzen Yoshimura and his human wife, Ukina]], as well as [[spoiler: one of two regents for the semi-mythical One-Eyed King]]. Her small body is loaded with more secrets, power and insight than almost anyone else in the series and [[spoiler: she's in control of a ''massive'' amount of the plot]]. She also foretells many events and revelations throughout the collection of ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' works, through [[spoiler: her books written with the pen name Sen Takatsuki]].

* A subtle instance in ''Anime/{{Tekkonkinkreet}}'': [[ConstantlyCurious White]] is exceedingly immature for his age, and only as physically strong as a small ten-year-old can be expected to be. But at the same time, he occasionally shows a nearly supernatural insight and seems very in-tune to Black and the city around them.

* The daughter in ''Film/DarkFloors'' does this during her mad ramblings because [[spoiler: she's lived all this before--in fact, living in that time loop is what's driven her mad to begin with.]]
* ''Film/MinorityReport'': The government uses three "precogs" to predict future murders. All three sort of fit the trope, being physically weak from lifelong inactivity, but especially the girl, Agatha, who is also female, somewhat cute, and a more powerful and versatile psychic than the other two.

* Owen in ''Literature/APrayerForOwenMeany''. He is short, and a damaged voice box forces him to speak with no indoor voice. Downplayed, as the visions of the future he has are minor, but none of them are averted.
* Billy in ''Literature/{{Remnants}}''. He has a sort of hyper-aware brain as a result of being awake for all of the five-century, ''hibernated'' trip to Mother, a giant, superpowerful spaceship that it is found out he can interface with and control.
** Point of order: Even before the trip he was odd and (as the book described it) when he slept, his brain didn't shut down. That was the justification for him staying awake while he was a HumanPopsicle, actually; it wasn't just a hibernation mishap.

* Underplayed in ''Literature/BlackLegion'' - Sargon, Abaddon's seer, is just as old as the others, but has boyish, {{Bishounen}} look, making him WaifProphet when compared to other characters.
* Fiver, the [[OracularUrchin runt of the litter]] "seer rabbit", whose visions of Man's encroachment drive the plot in the various adaptations of ''Literature/WatershipDown'', is a nonhuman variant of this character. This is especially played up in the animated TV series, where he spent an episode terrified that his visions actually ''caused'' the dangers he predicted.
-->'''Fiver:''' ''(to a still [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated very much alive]] enemy rabbit)'': Believe me, I am very sorry for your death.
* Jenny Wren in Creator/CharlesDickens' novel ''Literature/OurMutualFriend'' - a tiny, crippled teenager, who has otherworldly visions, and is also an unusually perceptive and insightful observer of the characters around her. These two abilities are interconnected, and both suggested to be either a [[DisabilitySuperpower compensation for or result of her disability]]. Her insights and her visions help resolve one of the novel's main plots. However, it should be also pointed out that although her abilities and plot function fit the trope perfectly, Jenny's personality is much closer to the DeadpanSnarker.
* Hai from Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' ''[[Literature/KieshaRa Wyvernhail]]''. Her unstable magic allows her to view many possible future outcomes of decisions, but does not always render her the most lucid.
* Bran Stark in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', who gains magical abilities and insight after being crippled and emerging from a coma.
** An either borderline or very downplayed version of this is... little Lord Robert "Sweetrobin" Arryn. He's frail, he's developmentally challenged and he is incidentally on so many highly dangerous sedatives, any bedbugs in his bedding are probably dead. Yet, he's one suspiciously clued-in kid, considering most people around him are very actively trying to keep him in the dark. Oh, and he's Bran's first cousin.
** Also [[spoiler:Patchface]], whose mind seems to have been broken under mysterious circumstances. Observant fans have noted that some of his mumblings have foreshadowed future plot developments.

* Alia Atreides, AKA St. Alia of the Knife, from Frank Herbert's ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' universe.
* Sheeana is referred to as such in ''Literature/ChapterhouseDune'', a desert waif with the ability to control the worms.
* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfMagravandias'' Ellony receives visions after her marriage to Valraven, which get stronger as her physical and mental health deteriorate.
* Mucor in The Literature/BookOfTheLongSun is anorexic and mentally ill, but able to project her mind into other people and so gain information.
* Nerissa from Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles. It's suggested that the [[DisappearedDad deaths of]] [[MissingMom her parents]] [[BreaktheCutie broke her]], but her visions certainly don't help; she is always described as looking unwell, [[FaintingSeer faints occasionally]], and with a handful of exceptions is [[CassandraTruth never believed]].
* Wazzer Goom, brutalised orphan, then army recruit, in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment'' becomes a channel for the deceased Duchess to still make her presence felt in the world.
* Althea Tower from ''Literature/TheProphetOfYonwood'', whose 'vision' makes her extremely ill.
* Alicja from ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheMiraclesDistrict'', a girl with some sort of mental disorder, has vision concerning her missing mother's fate and location.

* Drusilla from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', who had been severely damaged by a mob attack that left her physically weak. She regained her strength part-way through the second season and remained somewhat prophetic; but was still completely crazy. Creator/JossWhedon seems to like this trope in general.

* ''Series/TheOutpost'': Ilyin is a little girl able to see unknown things, and when she does her eyes turn white.

* ''Series/{{Manifest}}'': Being the youngest passenger (as well as something of a LittlestCancerPatient), Cal has shades of this. He's prone to making creepy crayon drawings and running off/getting abducted.

* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'', you encounter a small child in a village called Ember who prophesies that the entire village will be slaughtered soon. Though everyone else is doomed, the child also tells you he himself will survive if one of your party members offers up his hunting knife. [[spoiler:Later, when you've been framed for the destruction of the village, the kid comes in handy at your trial, using both his testimony and his mysterious power of prophecy to make the prosecuting attorney decidedly uncomfortable.]]
** A random prophet in ''Storm of Zehir'' sees the coming of 4th edition rules. Seriously, the transition was canonically the cause of huge disasters in the Forgotten Realms setting as the magic system shifted.

* Fon Master Ion from ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' is a RareMaleExample of this trope ([[ViewerGenderConfusion although you wouldn't know this by looking at him.]]) He is very mature for his age, is one of few who can read the Score on the Seventh Fonstone and while his magic is tremendous, using it is a threat to his health because of his weak constitution.

* Luleva of ''VideoGame/{{Summoner}}'', a young orphan seer. She also shows up in Summoner 2 as an adult, but as she's a gladiator, she no longer fits the trope by that point.

* Klara from ''VideoGame/{{Pathologic}}''.
* The Forecaster of ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', a psychic orphan who wears a psychic inhibitor and can be paid to give his prophecies on certain things pertaining to either the upcoming Battle of Hoover Dam, the Mojave itself and even The Courier.
* The "I'm different" Turret you can rescue in ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'' foreshadows just about everything that happens later on, from [[spoiler: Cave Johnson's Lemon speech to the old testing areas to [=GLaDOS=] being pecked by birds.]]

* [[OracularUrchin Rika Furude]] from ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' appears to be this. In fact, [[spoiler:she doesn't have any kind of future-reading powers. She's just already been through the future - and died horribly in it - [[GroundhogDayLoop hundreds and hundreds of times.]] And while several others have died with her and often just as horibly... she's among two people who actually ''remember'' that.]]. Can you blame her for trying to tell someone?

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has them pretty much everywhere, being that the main cast are all thirteen years old or the equivalent and that half of them are girls. Everyone with a dreamself on Prospit can use the clouds of Skaia to see glimpses of the future, as first shown with [[GenkiGirl Jade Harley]]; virtually everyone has lost this ability with the deaths of their dreamselves, Jade being the first to lose it. The Seer CharacterClass, whose two seen members are both female, has a more comprehensive prophet ability, being able to see the outcome of any possible course and thus discern the correct future path. [[BlindSeer Terezi Pyrope]], the Seer of Mind, is well-versed in this ability; [[BlackMagicianGirl Rose Lalonde]], the Seer of Light, never gave herself the opportunity to learn to use or develop it. Finally, two of the {{troll}}s - [[StringyHairedGhostGirl Aradia Megido]] and [[MadOracle Sollux Captor]] (a male example) - have the ability to hear the voices of the dead, who foreshadow the future for them; Sollux loses it upon being blinded.

* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' has Dinah Alcott, a nine-year old girl who is the third-most powerful precognitive on the planet. She's also addicted to a variety of drugs due to having been kidnapped by a supervillain for use of her powers.

* Alia, the younger sister of Paul Atreides in ''Dune'', is a small and frail child born with psychic powers when her mother Jessica drank the Water of Life while pregnant. Particularly in the David Lynch film, she is also a good example of a CreepyChild.

* When King Vortigern of [[KingArthur Arthurian lore]] tried to build a fortress at Dinas Emrys, the walls mysteriously collapsed every night, until a boy "without a father" pointed out to Vortigern that the reason was two dragons were fighting in a cavern beneath the fundaments. The boy went on to prophesy the future history of Britain, which came true. The boy was Ambrosius (Emrys) in the older ''Literature/HistoriaBrittonum'', but from Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Literature/HistoriaRegumBritanniae'' onwards, the Waif Prophet is always Myth/{{Merlin}}.

* Played with in the ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' movie. Sulia Gaudeamus is a waifish [[HealingHands healer]] without any fighting abilities and who's got an PsychicLink to the BigBad ([[spoiler:read, she's the twin sister of the guy who's got said BigBad [[EnemyWithin inside of him]]]]), but she's more of TheSmartGuy of the group due to [[MrExposition her encyclopedic knowledge of the myths behind the whole deal]]. Therefore, her insight in the plot is not necessarily related to epiphanies.