History Main / HolyChild

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%%Entries marked with %% are ZeroContextExamples. They do not sufficiently describe how the
%%trope has occurred.
%%Add context to entries before uncommenting them.
%%Do NOT uncomment them without sufficient context.
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A young child of either gender who is sought after by both the bad guys and the good guys for more than one reason. They may be TheChosenOne, or holding the key or the secret to something, That makes this kid one of a great importance to all around him or her...

See also MacGuffinGirl, MysticalWaif, KidHero, TheFool.
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!!Examples:

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* In ''Manga/FrankenFran'', a girl is this to a sect. The building of the sect becomes her ''body''. Then she gets pregnant. And when the embryo awakens, [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext mother and child merge to become the Flying Spaghetti Monster]].
* Azumaria from ''ChronoCrusade'' is a young choir singer. She's sought fater by the bad guys beacuse she's an apostle; a human with holy power. In her case it's healing power.
* Madoka Kaname from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has a huge potential to become a powerful MagicalGirl. This drives a lot of the conflict, as TeamPet Kyubey wants her to take up the role, but DarkMagicalGirl Homura wants to stop her from doing so, [[spoiler: going as far as shooting and killing Kyubey right when she decides to make a contract.]] Eventually we learn that [[GenreDeconstruction in this setting]], being a HolyChild goes hand in hand with being [[spoiler:an '''ApocalypseMaiden''']].
* Hikari / Kari, from ''Anime/DigimonAdventure''. Hunted by [[spoiler:Myotismon]] because she's [[spoiler:the eighth digidestined and the holder of the Crest of Light]]. Heck, one of her image songs is even called "Holy Light."
* Vivio of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'', who is sought after by the villains because she's [[spoiler:[[CloneJesus the clone of the]] [[CrystalDragonJesus last Sankt Kaiser]], and they need her to activate and control [[CoolStarship the Saint's Cradle]]]].

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In the ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' universe, Alia Atreides was considered this when she was a girl. After she grew up and became a tyrant, not so much. Also, Leto II and Ghanima as children.
* Pomma D'ok and Teera Eld in Zilpha Keatley Snyder's ''Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy''. After they [[spoiler: manage to connect with each other telepathically and rediscover important psychic abilities, some lost to their people for many generations]], they are literally named Holy Children and worshiped by most of the people.
* In [[GoodOmens Good Omens]], Warlock, the [[TheAntiChrist child anti-christ]] falls into this, being contended for by both Aziraphale and Crowley. [[spoiler: Except not as due to a mix-up at birth, the potential [[TheAntiChrist anti-christ]] is growing up elsewhere with another family]]
* In Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching adventures, Tiffany. While she is thirteen and sixteen in the second two books, she is still sought after by a variety of forces. Basically the series is made up of supernatural beings who want Tiffany and/or something that belongs to Tiffany for themselves.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
%%* Enola in ''Film/{{Waterworld}}''.
* ''Film/SevenYearsInTibet'': The Dali Lama, he's only seven when we first see him and fourteen at the end, by which time he has been formally instated as the spiritual leader of the Tibetans.
%%* ''Bless the Child''
* ''Little Buddha'': A child is thought to be the reincarnation of Lama Dorje.
%%* ''Film/TheGoldenChild''
%%* Elora Danan in ''Film/{{Willow}}''.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* ''Series/StargateSG1'' used it twice, first with the Harsesis and later with Adria.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'' has Baby William, who is heralded as this. He is described as "more human than human", a normal human child with none of the human frailties. He is seen as the salvation of the human race from alien invasion; he is the epitome of what the Syndicate has been trying to do for years: create a human/alien hybrid. While they did it in a lab (with diastrous results), William was gestated naturally. If they can figure out to replicate that, or make a vaccine against the alien virus, the human race has a chance of surviving. So, they're after him. And the Super Soldiers, who are bent on making sure alien invasion is swift and that resistance is futile, are after him to kill him. On top of that, he is kidnapped mid-season 9 by a UFO cult who are convinced he is connected to a UFO they found. He has supernatural powers, most notably telekinesis. He is seen making the mobile above his crib move on its own (scaring his mother to death in the process). He also has a Christ-like birth, with Scully giving birth in a shack in the middle of nowhere, a guiding star, and the Lone Gunmen acting as the Three Wise Men. Though it took place in mid-May, not December.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': A few of these crop up during the series, notably in the series 2 episode "Judgement" and the series 5 episode "Time Bomb". Inverted with Connor, as only evil demons view him as one. Sahjhan let slip that Connor has a "big future", but in what sense, we don't know yet.
* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'': Michael, the Observer child, is shaping up to be classic one of these. Mute, bald, non-violent, communicates through emotive telepathy and is integral to saving the world? Check.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
%%* Sheba is considered one in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun''.
%%* That kid in the ''Villagers'' game.
* A somewhat older version is the teenaged Diadora from VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral, since [[spoiler: if she ever gave birth, there would be a high chance for said kid to be a vessel for a Dark God.]]
* The center of the conflict in ''VideoGame/{{Fahrenheit}}''.
* Mithra from ''AsurasWrath'' can freely manipulate Mantra to a point where she can be used as apower source to increase the power of the deities. [[spoiler: And is apparently the perfect vessel for [[{{God}} The Golden Spider]] to regain his full power.]]

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* {{Tales of the Galli}}: Dvorah is a baby whose [[spoiler:death fulfills a prophecy predicting the end of paganism and the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire]].

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Aang from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is the avatar's latest reincarnation; the bad guys want to kill him because if he becomes a fully realized avatar then there will be no stopping him from ending their EvilPlan.
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' episode "Won't You Pimai Neighbor?": Bobby is thought to possibly be the reincarnation of Lama Sanglug. The monks display several items on a blanket, and Bobby is to choose from any item that he sees. If Bobby is the Lama, he will choose an item that was the possession of the Lama. Bobby doesn't want to be a monk, so he chooses Connie, whom he sees in a mirror amongst the items. The monks accept this and leave...but the mirror was the item the Lama owned!
* Subverted (in the respect of "child") in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' where holy monks believe Tohru is their reincarnated Chosen One. [[spoiler: Double Subverted towards the end when it's clearly shown to be Jade.]]

[[AC: RealLife]]
* As mentioned already, this is the whole deal behind the search for the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalai_Lama Dalai Lama]].
* Baby Jesus, for obvious reasons.
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* The center of the conflict in ''{{Fahrenheit}}''.

* ''KingOfTheHill'' episode "Won't You Pimai Neighbor?": Bobby is thought to possibly be the reincarnation of Lama Sanglug. The monks display several items on a blanket, and Bobby is to choose from any item that he sees. If Bobby is the Lama, he will choose an item that was the possession of the Lama. Bobby doesn't want to be a monk, so he chooses Connie, whom he sees in a mirror amongst the items. The monks accept this and leave...but the mirror was the item the Lama owned!

* Madoka Kaname from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has a huge potential to become a powerful MagicalGirl. This drives a lot of the conflict, as TeamPet Kyubey wants her to take up the role, but DarkMagicalGirl Homura wants to stop her from doing so, [[spoiler: going as far as shooting and killing Kyubey right when she decides to make a contract.]] Eventually we learn that [[GenreDeconstruction in this setting]] HolyChild also means [[spoiler: ''Apocalypse Maiden'']].

* In the ''{{Dune}}'' universe, Alia Atreides was considered this when she was a girl. After she grew up and became a tyrant, not so much. Also, Leto II and Ghanima as children.

* Pomma D'ok and Teera Eld in Zilpha Keatley Snyder's {{Green-sky Trilogy}}. After they [[spoiler: manage to connect with each other telepathically and rediscover important psychic abilities, some lost to their people for many generations]], they are literally named Holy Children and worshiped by most of the people.

* Vivio of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'', who is sought after by the villains because she's [[spoiler:[[JesusClone the clone]] of the [[CrystalDragonJesus last Sankt Kaiser]], and they need her to activate and control [[CoolStarship the Saint's Cradle]]]].

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': A few of these crop up during the series, notably in the series 2 episode "Judgement" and the series 5 episode "Time Bomb".

%%* The Dalai Lama in ''Seven Years in Tibet''.

* Madoka Kaname from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has a huge potential to become a powerful MagicalGirl. This drives a lot of the conflict, as TeamPet Kyubey wants her to take up the role, but DarkMagicalGirl Homura wants to stop her from doing so, [[spoiler: going as far as shooting and killing Kyubey right when she decides to make a contract.]] Eventually we learn that [[GenreDeconstruction in this setting]] HolyChild also means [[spoiler: ''ApocalypseMaiden'']].

* {{The X-Files}} has Baby William, who is heralded as this. He is described as "more human than human", a normal human child with none of the human frailties. He is seen as the salvation of the human race from alien invasion; he is the epitome of what the Syndicate has been trying to do for years: create a human/alien hybrid. While they did it in a lab (with diastrous results), William was gestated naturally. If they can figure out to replicate that, or make a vaccine against the alien virus, the human race has a chance of surviving. So, they're after him. And the Super Soldiers, who are bent on making sure alien invasion is swift and that resistance is futile, are after him to kill him. On top of that, he is kidnapped mid-season 9 by a UFO cult who are convinced he is connected to a UFO they found. He has supernatural powers, most notably telekinesis. He is seen making the mobile above his crib move on its own (scaring his mother to death in the process). He also has a Christ-like birth, with Scully giving birth in a shack in the middle of nowhere, a guiding star, and the Lone Gunmen acting as the Three Wise Men. Though it took place in mid-May, not December.

%%* Azumaria from ''ChronoCrusade''.

%%* HarryPotter in the first book.

%%* Aang from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.

* Subverted (in the respect of "child") in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' where holy monks believe Tohru is their reincarnated Chosen One. [[spoiler: Played straight towards the end when it's clearly shown to be Jade.]]

* {{The X-Files}} has Baby William, who is heralded as this. He is described as "more human than human", a normal human child with none of the human frailties. He is seen as the salvation of the human race from alien invasion; he is the epitome of what the Syndicate has been trying to do for years: create a human/alien hybrid. While they did it in a lab (with diastrous results), William was gestated naturally. If they can figure out to replicate that, or make a vaccine against the alien virus, the human race has a chance of surviving. So, they're after him. And the Super Soldiers, who are bent on making sure alien invasion is swift and that resistance is futile, are after him to kill him. On top of that, he is kidnapped mid-season 9 by a UFO cult who are convinced he is connected to a UFO they found. He has supernatural powers, most notably telekinesis. He is seen making the mobile above his crib move on its own (scaring his mother to death in the process).
** He also has a Christ-like birth, with Scully giving birth in a shack in the middle of nowhere, a guiding star, and the Lone Gunmen acting as the Three Wise Men. Though it took place in mid-May, not December.

* Azumaria from ''ChronoCrusade''.

* Hikari / Kari, from ''DigimonAdventure''. Hunted by [[spoiler:Myotismon]] because she's [[spoiler:the eighth digidestined and the holder of the Crest of Light]]. Heck, one of her image songs is even called "Holy Light."

* HarryPotter in the first book.

* Enola in ''Film/{{Waterworld}}''.
* The Dalai Lama in ''Seven Years in Tibet''.
* ''Bless the Child''

* ''Film/TheGoldenChild''
* Elora Danan in ''Film/{{Willow}}''.

* Sheba is considered one in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun''.
* That kid in the ''Villagers'' game.

* Aang from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.

* In ''FrankenFran'', a girl is this to a sect. The building of the sect becomes her ''body''. Then she gets pregnant. And when the embryo awakens, [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext mother and child merge to become the Flying Spaghetti Monster]].

* Enola in ''{{Waterworld}}''.

* ''The Golden Child''

* Madoka Kaname from ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has a huge potential to become a powerful MagicalGirl. This drives a lot of the conflict, as TeamPet Kyubey wants her to take up the role, but DarkMagicalGirl Homura wants to stop her from doing so, [[spoiler: going as far as shooting and killing Kyubey right when she decides to make a contract.]] Eventually we learn that [[GenreDeconstruction in this setting]] HolyChild also means [[spoiler: ''ApocalypseMaiden'']].

* Madoka Kaname from ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' has a huge potential to become a powerful MagicalGirl. This drives a lot of the conflict, as TeamPet Kyubey wants her to take up the role, but DarkMagicalGirl Homura wants to stop her from doing so, [[spoiler: going as far as shooting and killing Kyubey right when she decides to make one.]] Eventually we learn that [[GenreDeconstruction in this setting]] HolyChild also means [[spoiler: ''ApocalypseMaiden'']].

* ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'' used it a couple of times, first with the Harsesis and later with Adria.

* ''{{Angel}}'': A few of these crop up during the series, notably in the series 2 episode 'Judgement' and the series 5 episode 'Time Bomb'.

* Sheba is considered one in ''GoldenSun''.

* A somewhat older version is the teenaged Diadora from FireEmblemJugdral, since [[spoiler: if she ever gave birth, there would be a high chance for said kid to be a vessel for a Dark God.]]

* Aang from ''AvatarTheLastAirbender''.