History Main / ActIOnGirlfriend

* Either [[NewMeat Kate]] [[spoiler: a.k.a [[PoweredArmor Shining Nova]]]] or [[TheBaroness Madame Scorpion]] can be this to [[PunchClockVillain random mook]] Stan in ''VisualNovel/HenchmanStory''. He can upgrade the relationship to a [[BattleCouple]] depending on player choice.

* Either [[NewMeat Kate]] [[a.k.a [[PoweredArmor Shining Nova]]]] or [[TheBaroness Madame Scorpion]] can be this to [[PunchClockVillain random mook]] Stan in ''VisualNovel/HenchmanStory''. He can upgrade the relationship to a [[BattleCouple]] depending on player choice.

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'' has [[IronLady Commander]] [[ActionGirl Cathy]], [[ADungeonIsYou Keeper]] [[BadPowersGoodPeople Mercury]]'s second in command, trainer of her troops, [[MasterSwordsman Master Swordswoman]] and [[LovableRogue Jered]]'s girlfriend since their first appearance.

* Most people who dated ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} fall into this category. She's arguably the mightiest female hero in Franchise/TheDCU, so any boy -- who isn't related to her -- will look a pushover compared to the Maid of Might. It isn't coincidence that her main love interest, [[ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}} Brainiac 5]], doesn't match up to her physical power but is the greatest genius in the galaxy.

* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'':
** Subverted by Ran Mouri. She is Shinichi's {{Love Interest|s}} ''and'' an ActionGirl but [[FountainOfYouth he's stuck as Conan]] and [[LockedOutOfTheLoop she's not aware of it]]... therefore, whenever she goes MamaBear on anyone that threatens him, she doesn't know she's actually defending her "not"-boyfriend.
** It's played straighter in the case of [[MasculineGirlFeminineBoy Miwako Sato and Wataru Takagi]], despite both of them being police officers and older than the standard.

* Most girls in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. Special mention goes to Angua von Uberwald, [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] cop and ActionGirl. Also [[UnfortunateName Adora Belle]] [[NoSenseOfHumor Dearheart]] [[RunningGag (do not mention the name!)]] who stamps on several men's feet with her stilettos ''several'' times, then wonders out loud whether or not she can push it through to the floor.

* Most people who dated ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} fall into this category. She's arguably the mightiest female hero in Franchise/TheDCU, so any boy -who isn't related to her- will look a pushover compared to the Maid of Might. It isn't coincidence that her main love interest, [[ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}} Brainiac 5]], doesn't match up to her physical power but is the greatest genius in the galaxy.

* Saber, Rin and Sakura in their respective routes in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''.
* Depending on the boyfriend - it's a dating sim - Hiyoko of ''VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend'' can be this or half of a BattleCouple. In the first game there's little chance to explore this, but in the second she makes up for that and repeatedly acts the bruiser for her less vigorously athletic male companions.

* ''Film/TheMatrix'': Trinity

* ''Film/{{Wanted}}'' has the geeky protagonist receive assistance from Creator/AngelinaJolie (playing Fox, but really playing herself) transform him into a ninja assassin.

* Zanna Martindale to David Rain in ''Literature/TheLastDragonChronicles''.

* Zanna Martindale to David Rain in ''[[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]]''.

* ''LightNovel/NogizakaHarukaNoHimitsu'': Haruka's badass side is rarely seen but the first time Yuto saw her angry, he decided he must never enrage her.

* Creator/DCComics also has Big Barda and Mr. Miracle, two ComicBook/NewGods from the planet Apokolips. While Mr. Miracle isn't a pushover (the man regularly escaped deathtraps designed by {{ComicBook/Darkseid}}), Barda used to run the Female Furies, an all-female Apokoliptan strike team. Oh, and she's canonically almost as strong as Superman.

* As seen below, Fox to Wesley in ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}''. Portrayed differently in [[Comicbook/{{Wanted}} the comics]], where the characters are DC supervillain pastiches, and Fox is quite clearly [[HilariousInHindsight Halle Berry cosplaying Catwoman]], sent by [[spoiler:Wesley's not-quite-dead father]] to make a man out of the geek.

* In the science fiction series, ''{{Literature/Alterien}}'', Helena served in this role. She's skilled in Capoeira and she's also an Alterien. Titania later served in this role with the same qualifications.

* From the Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} there's [[BloodKnight Ryougi]] [[LadyOfWar Shiki]] of ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai'', who is the love interest of NonActionGuy Kokutou Mikiya.

* In the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom Sam]] has become this after obtaining her own ghostly powers.
* ''FanFic/AGrowingAffection'': Hinata, Tenten, Yugao. Kohaku is an Action Wife.

* Hungary/Elizaveta from ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' is this to Austria, although crossed with ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend. While she's a potent ActionGirl in her own right, it's ''never'' a good idea to mess with her ex-husband/boyfriend.

* Most people who dated ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} fall into this category. She's arguably the mightiest female hero in Franchise/TheDCU, so any boy -who isn't related to her- will look a pushover compared to the Maid of Might. It isn't coincidence that her main love interest, [[ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}} Brainiac 5]], doesn't match up to her physical power but is the greatest genius in the galaxy.

* As seen below, Fox to Wesley in ''Wanted''. Portrayed differently in [[Comicbook/{{Wanted}} the comics]], where the characters are DC supervillain pastiches, and Fox is quite clearly [[HilariousInHindsight Halle Berry cosplaying Catwoman]], sent by [[spoiler:Wesley's not-quite-dead father]] to make a man out of the geek.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has [[spoiler: Carol]], already an ActionGirl, become this to [[spoiler: Harry]] - she's also a ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend, and was long before they technically got together, with the two of them being a functional BattleCouple over 50 chapters before they actually get the more or less expected RelationshipUpgrade. It is worth noting that Harry's a force of nature in his own regard, particularly as time goes on.
* In the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom Sam]] has become this after obtaining her own ghostly powers.

* Ludmilla Leonovna, in Creator/DavidWeber's ''Literature/TheApocalypseTroll'', fits this trope to an extent, though as with Leeloo (above), her male love interest was a bad-ass himself before they met -- a U.S. Navy captain who rose to that rank through the SEAL teams. It's just that she's an [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld immortal]] SuperSoldier from TheFuture...
* Katniss and Peeta start ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' series as a BattleCouple. By ''Catching Fire'', Katniss has slowly becomes this to Peeta's increasingly NonActionGuy status. Especially apparent during [[spoiler: the Quarter Quell]].
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** Most female Wizards - special mention to Elaine and Warden Commander Luccio, both for the protagonist.
** Also for Harry, badass cop Karrin Murphy and reporter Susan Rodriguez, after [[spoiler: she's turned into a proto-vampire]].

* Literature/LightAndDarkTheAwakeningOfTheMageKnight: Sabrina is this for Danny. She's his crush and a Lightborn drake that draws him into the world of knights and monsters.
* Jenny from ''Literature/TheTruthOfRockAndRoll'', as the local JerkJock discovered to his regret when he tried to bully her boyfriend.
* Most girls in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. Special mention goes to Angua von Uberwald, [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] cop and ActionGirl. Also [[UnfortunateName Adora Belle]] [[NoSenseOfHumor Dearheart]] [[RunningGag (do not mention the name!)]] who stamps on several men's feet with her stilettos ''several'' times, then wonders out loud whether or not she can push it through to the floor.
* Zanna Martindale to David Rain in ''[[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]]''.
* The warrior Thorn to the cloth merchant Spendwell in ''Literature/FrostflowerAndThorn''. Though she's more of a ''sex'' interest to him than a love interest, really.
* ''Literature/TheArtsOfDarkAndLight'': Caitlys Shadowsong, overlapping with a MagicalGirlfriend. Caitlys is a MagicKnight from the elven kingdom, and is introduced to the protagonist Marcus more or less when she saves him from assassins trying to sabotage the diplomatic mission he is accompanying.

* ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'': When Sura was being attacked and Film/{{Spartacus}} shows up and starts killing her attackers, does she run and hide? Hell no! She picks up a sword and kills one herself!
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** Rory might be the Whoniverse's resident badass, but he doesn't exactly like the adventurous lifestyle. His wife Amy is far more gung ho about going on adventures. She even saved Rory's life several times.
** In the same vein, River Song, [[spoiler: the aforementioned couple's daughter and eventual wife of the Doctor]] is certainly more actiony compared to the main protagonist. While the Doctor would solve problems with his brains, River would solve them with some feminine charm and a gun.

* Tengaar from ''VideoGame/SuikodenI''. She and her boyfriend Hix live in a town with a very rich warrior culture. [[NonActionGuy He doesn't like fighting]], but she's more than determined to "make a man out of him". While she's less of a physical warrior, she's also an pretty good knife thrower, and an excellent magician.

* [[VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice Princess Sapphire]]. Although Almaz is certainly no slouch in combat ability, its clearly obvious that Sapphire is the stronger warrior. It should be noted however that Sapphire's primary affinity (based on stats and evilities) is towards ranged combat while Almaz is a close combat fighter.
* Elaine Marley is this to Guybrush Threepwood in ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland''. Still, Guybrush is pretty competent in [[YouFightLikeACow Insult-related duels]], but as an AdventureGame protagonist relies more on his wits.

* Almost any female player character or {{Love Interest|s}} in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' games falls into this category:
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has the female Warden, who at the time is arguably the most badass person in Thedas, for whichever character she romances. Optionally, the Female Dwarf Noble was this for Gorim in her backstory, though it was a SecretRelationship due to their class differences.
** Female Hawke in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' qualifies - one doesn't become the Champion of Kirkwall without being sufficiently badass, after all - as does a romanced Isabela. Aveline eventually becomes this for Guardsman Donnic.
** The female Inquisitor in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' is this for whomever she romances, being literally the only person standing between Thedas and complete annihilation. A romanced Cassandra or Sera falls into the category as well; Vivienne is this for Duke Bastien.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate'': If one looks at things from Henry Greens point of view, he's a clever analyst but a bumbling field agent, and Evie Frye swings into his life like the damn dashing assassin dame that she is, kicking ass all over the place while taking over London's underworld on the way to finding mystical artifacts.

* ''VisualNovel/AkaiIto'': [[SupernaturallyDeliciousAndNutritious Hatou Kei's]] [[SchoolgirlLesbians girlfriend]] does all the fighting for her. [[TheLoad Good for her]].
* Depending on the boyfriend - it's a dating sim - Hiyoko of ''VisualNovel/HatofulBoyfriend'' can be this or half of a BattleCouple. In the first game there's little chance to explore this, but in the second she makes up for that and repeatedly acts the bruiser for her less vigorously athletic male companions.

* In ''Webcomic/AgentsOfTheRealm'', Jordan is this for Mackenzie, although both are girls and Mackenzie doesn't know about it.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Rascals}}'', without a doubt, Reiko with her man Skye in their team up hi-jinks as seen [[https://rascals.kemono.cafe/comic/rascals-pg-155/ here]].

* [[spoiler: Salem]] from ''Literature/WhatIsThisBlackMagicYouCallScience?'', though he's pretty harsh to said girlfriend, especially in her [[TrainingfromHell daily training regimens]].

** Subverted by Ran Mouri from . She is Shinichi's {{Love Interest|s}} ''and'' an ActionGirl but [[FountainOfYouth he's stuck as Conan]] and [[LockedOutOfTheLoop she's not aware of it]]... therefore, whenever she goes MamaBear on anyone that threatens him, she doesn't know she's actually defending her "not"-boyfriend.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has [[spoiler: Carol]], already an ActionGirl, become this to [[spoiler: Harry]] - she's also a ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend, and was long before they technically got together, with the two of them being a functional BattleCouple over 50 chapters before they actually get the more or less expected RelationshipUpgrade.

* Tokiko in ''Manga/BusoRenkin'' is this to ordinary high school guy Kazuki Muto - the series starts out with her resurrecting him from the dead after he got killed on the spot by one of the series' "homunculus" (evil demon things) and later kills the creature. She becomes Kazuki's mentor, and a little later becomes severely weakened due to a parasitic demon-infested probe, with Kazuki saving her life. He eventually surpasses her in power.

* Athlete, a student at the [[SuperheroSchool Hyperion Academy]] in the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', is dating fellow student Ideal. She has all his powers and abilities, and then some.

* Tokiko in ''Manga/BusouRenkin'' is this to ordinary high school guy Kazuki Muto - the series starts out with her resurrecting him from the dead after he got killed on the spot by one of the series' "homunculus" (evil demon things) and later kills the creature. She becomes Kazuki's mentor, and a little later becomes severely weakened due to a parasitic demon-infested probe, with Kazuki saving her life. He eventually surpasses her in power.

* In ''ComicBook/TheMazeAgency'', the man characters are a boyfriend/girlfriend pair who solve crimes. Gabe, the male half, is a NonActionGuy who frequently needs to be bailed out of trouble by Jen, an ex-CIA agent turned PrivateEye.

* Anyone who dates Franchise/WonderWoman is going to fall into this trope, save maybe for Franchise/{{Superman}} or Franchise/{{Batman}}. Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman's golden age whipping boy, was a UsefulNotes/WorldWarII U.S. intelligence officer, but couldn't exactly hold his own against Greek gods, sorceresses, or several hundred feet tall women.

* FanFic/AGrowingAffection: Hinata, Tenten, Yugao. Kohaku is an Action Wife.

* Athlete, a student at the [[SuperheroSchool Hyperion Academy]] in the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', is dating fellow-student Ideal. She has all his powers and abilities, and then some.

* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': The titular character is this to her sidekick and eventual boyfriend, Ron. Interestingly enough, he is the one that inadvertably gets her into the action in the first place: He encourages and helps her go and help out a trapped billionaire (the security person tried to contact Team Impossibe, but aCcidentally added a k beforehand) back when they were just pre-teens. Since then, Kim has seen her heroics as an extension of her drive to help people while Ron has been by her side since. They finally get together by Season 3 and Season 4 has them go through life as a couple while still dealing with the usual heroics business.

* In ''LightNovel/BeyondTheBoundary'', Spirit World Warrior [[BadassAdorable Mirai]] is this to [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Akihito.]] PlayedWith in that Akihito is a half-human, half-youmu hybrid and his mother and friends are Spirit World Warriors as well, but he never actively got involved in supernatural adventures until Mirai came along.

** Subverted by Ran Mouri from . She is Shinichi's LoveInterest ''and'' an ActionGirl but [[FountainOfYouth he's stuck as Conan]] and [[LockedOutOfTheLoop she's not aware of it]]... therefore, whenever she goes MamaBear on anyone that threatens him, she doesn't know she's actually defending her "not"-boyfriend.

* ''Manga/HighschoolOfTheDead'': {{Zigzagged}} with Rei. She used to date Takashi back when they were in middle school, but they drifted apart when Rei [[HeldBackInSchool was forced to repeat her junior year.]] Since she believed Takashi had abandoned her, she began to develop feelings for his best friend, Hiashi. Yet, she still harbored feelings for Takashi, which resurfaced after Hisashi's death. As a result, she was conflicted and plagued with guilt, but eventually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpUmjfJfTEY made up with him.]] Oh, and if anyone gets any ideas about threatening him while ''[[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend she's]]'' around..? Got one word for you: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt-c35cu6UA "Don't".]]

* Played with in ''Anime/SandsOfDestruction'', where Morte is constantly forced to be [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend violently protective]] of NonActionGuy Kyrie, though their feelings towards each other are not explicitly stated [[spoiler:until the end of the series, where it's clear they've fallen for each other at some point along the line.]]

* ''Anime/VariableGeo'': Washio is [[{{muggle}} an everyman]] in a WorldOfActionGirls, so he's fortunate that one of 'em happens to be his boss... and ([[SecretRelationship secretly]]) his girlfriend: [[CulturedBadass Reimi]] [[LadyOfWar Jahana.]] As in, the two-time defending champion of [[SupernaturalMartialArts the VG Tournament]], who's the favorite to win for a third year in a row.

* Although they're a BattleCouple too, girlfriend Ramona Flowers does end up fighting some enemies that boyfriend Comicbook/ScottPilgrim doesn't want to fight ([[WouldntHitAGirl those enemies being women]]), something both of which Ramona and his enemies call him out for being a pussy on.
** The first instance was in a bonus comic where Ramona had to help Scott fight. The main instance was against Roxanne Richter, Ramona's 4th evil-ex. In Scott's defense, his hesitance on fighting her was heavily implied due to the fact that she was ''armed with a sword'' and Scott wasn't.
* Anyone who dates with Franchise/WonderWoman is going to fall into this trope, save maybe for Franchise/{{Superman}} or Franchise/{{Batman}}. Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman's golden age whipping boy, was a UsefulNotes/WorldWarII U.S. intelligence officer, but couldn't exactly hold his own against Greek gods, sorceresses, or several hundred feet tall women.
* Most of people who has dated ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} falls into this category. She's arguably the mightiest female hero in Franchise/TheDCU, so any boy -who isn't related to her- will look a pushover compared to the Maid of Might. It isn't coincidence that her main love interest, [[ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}} Brainiac 5]], doesn't match up to her physical power but is the greatest genius in the galaxy.

* The [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Invisible Woman]] has graduated to this, after being introduced as a rather... young love interest for Mr. Fantastic. Now that Reed Richards has evolved into [[CloudCuckooLander the absent-minded superprofessor]], Sue Storm has become the definition of {{Team|Mom}} MamaBear.

* ''Film/MySuperExGirlfriend'', except it's the guy's current girl-friend who gets the powers.

* Most female Wizards from the Literature/TheDresdenFiles - special mention to Elaine and Warden Commander Luccio, both for the protagonist.

*** This is a general trend in Jim Butcher's books - he's very gender-blind in assigning badassness, and many of his main characters have plausible romances with at least one other main character.

* Most girls in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. Special mention goes to Angua von Uberwald, [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf]] cop and ActionGirl.
** Also [[UnfortunateName Adora Belle]] [[NoSenseOfHumor Dearheart]] [[RunningGag (do not mention the name!)]] who stamps on several men's feet with her stilettos ''several'' times, then wonders out loud whether or not she can push it through to the floor.
* Zanna Martindale to David Rain in [[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]].

* [[spoiler: The younger version of Mary Winchester]] from ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' would count as this trope, since it was revealed that [[spoiler: she used to be a hunter herself even before John had learned about the existence of monsters and demons.]]

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Rory might be the Whoniverse's resident badass, but he doesn't exactly like the adventurous lifestyle. His wife Amy is far more gung ho about going on adventures. She even saved Rory's life several times.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': After Tifa consummated her feelings for Cloud ''[[PreClimaxClimax "Beneath the Highwind"]]'', they officially became a BattleCouple. While in [[Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren the cgi film sequel]], she becomes a full-fledged [[ActionMom action]] '''''[[MamaBear mom]]''''', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k70IWHiXl18 by fighting Loz to defend Marleen]], and later, protects Denzel from a group of Shadow Creepers [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeyyJSmLW3w (seen at 2:35-2:45).]]

* Almost any female player character or LoveInterest in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' games falls into this category:

* Burn is like this to Chet ''WesternAnimation/TurboFAST''.