History Main / RedStringOfFate

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB5KhdrUcd4 This]] (mainly UsefulNotes/FurryFandom) fan-animation set to "Two Birds" by Regina Spektor uses the red string to depict how the various character's lives are tied together.

Warning: [[StrangledByTheRedString Choking Hazard]]. May be related to the PinkySwear. Usually involved in ReincarnationRomance. See also FateDrivesUsTogether and ForgottenFirstMeeting. Compare LoveBeforeFirstSight and MindlinkMates.

* In the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fic "[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/452818 With Your Crooked Heart]]”, most people (except those supposedly incapable of love) have words on their forearm which appear as if by magic at some point in their lives, usually during childhood. The words are in the handwriting of your True Love and may be a name, address, or cryptic clue like a poem or obscure reference. When the clue is obvious, like an address, you can hurry fate along by turning up on their doorstep, but if its as vague as a line of poetry, you may have to get to know your True Love before the clue begins to make sense.
* In the ''Film/{{TiMER}}''-inspired ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fic “[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/287582 Blue Veins]]”, everyone has a magical configuration of veins near the surface on the inside of the wrist that count down to the moment you meet your True Love.
* In the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fic “[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/440801 Put a Smile in Your Name]]”, everyone is born with the first name of their True Love in their True Love’s handwriting on their palm. Databases of this information exist and, for a fee, matchmaking companies will check for any matches between your name and the name on your palm.
* In the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fic "[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/322377 Finding John]]”, everyone is born with the first name of their True Love like a tattoo on the inside of one finger. With only a limited number of first names, it’s usually not enough information (unless you’re The British Government) to lead you to a person but once you meet your True Love, they’ll have your name too and the particular color and shade of your names will match.
* This trope is defied in the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' fic, "[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/435055 To the Limits of Your Choice]]" when Sherlock chooses not to care, or perhaps not to accept the consequences of acknowledging the person symbolized by the soulmate mark on his wrist. When John finds his soulmate, Sherlock asks John to choose between camaraderie with him and romance with her [[spoiler:and John also defies this trope, choosing to continue adventuring with Sherlock]].

* Also in L.J. Smith's ''VampireDiaries'', Elena remembers stories of "the souls of true lovers" being connected by "a silver string from heart to heart or a red cord from pinky to pinky", but it's the first one that she's able to find (and follow). Stefan and Elena are bound together by the silver cord from soul to soul, implying that they are destined soulmates.

* In ''Series/PennyDreadful'', the protagonists eventually figure out that an ancient prophecy referring to Lucifer and Dracula's nefarious plans for Vanessa includes a figure destined to protect her from them, Lupus Dei (Latin for "wolf of god"). Her main love interest in the series, Ethan, turns out to be a [[{{Meaningful Name}} Werewolf]]. In the very first episode of the series, the two also do a tarot card reading together and he picks [[{{One True Love}} The Lovers]] card.

* In an episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', an Enterprise crew member starts having dreams of a beautiful woman. When the Enterprise meets with a plague-infested ship, he finds the woman is there and has been having dreams of him, and created portraits of him. He decides to go with them to help them treat the plague.

More than LoveAtFirstSight, more than simply two Soulmates destined to be together, the Red String of Fate is some perceivable clue that identifies your destined OneTrueLove.

* The flash PV of {{IOSYS}}'s [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viPZZYYTSIY Make Us Your Brides]] plays with the imagery by tying [[HoYay Marisa and Reimu to Suika]].

** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto [[ChildhoodFriendRomance since they were children]], after [[RescueRomance he protected her from a trio of bullies]] while he was wearing a red scarf. Even though the bullies ripped the scarf, Naruto told her to keep it, and [[MementoMacGuffin she's cherished it ever since]]. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his mother's soulmate story. In the second act of the movie, he sets aside Kushina's green scarf in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of [[DarkAndTroubledPast his painful past]] and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with [[OneTrueLove Hinata]] by his side]].

** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto [[ChildhoodFriendRomance since they were children]], after [[RescueRomance he protected her from a trio of bullies]] while he was wearing a red scarf. Even though the bullies ripped the scarf, Naruto told her to keep it, and [[MementoMacGuffin she's cherished it ever since]]. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his mother's soulmate story. In the second act of the movie, he sets Kushina's green scarf aside in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of [[DarkAndTroubledPast his painful past]] and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with [[OneTrueLove Hinata]] by his side]].

** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto [[ChildhoodFriendRomance since they were children]], after [[RescueRomance he protected her from a trio of bullies]] while he was wearing a red scarf. Even though the bullies ruined the scarf, Naruto told her to keep it, and [[MementoMacGuffin she's cherished it ever since]]. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his mother's soulmate story. In the second act of the movie, he sets Kushina's green scarf aside in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of [[DarkAndTroubledPast his painful past]] and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with [[OneTrueLove Hinata]] by his side]].

** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto [[ChildhoodFriendRomance ever since they were children]], after [[RescueRomance he protected her from a trio of bullies]] while he was wearing a red scarf. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story. In the film proper, he sets Kushina's green scarf aside in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of [[DarkAndTroubledPast his painful past]] and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with [[OneTrueLove Hinata]] by his side]].

** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto since they were children. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story. In the film proper, he sets Kushina's green scarf aside in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of [[DarkAndTroubledPast his painful past]] and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with [[OneTrueLove Hinata]] by his side]].

* Also in L.J. Smith's ''VampireDiaries'', Elena remembers stories of "the souls of true lovers" being connected by "a silver string from heart to heart or a red cord from pinky to pinky", but it's the first one that she's able to find (and follow). Stefan and Elena are bound together by the silver cord from soul to soul, implying that they are destined soul mates.

** The Crimson Weaver is the personification of the tale, except it's more of a WellIntentionedExtremist who will use the red string to bring together [[LoveIsACrapshoot whomever they consider to be soul mates]], which may have [[StrangledByTheRedString no basis in reality]] and can [[AxCrazy end badly]].

** We have a literal example. The titular character meets the spirit of his mother, who tells him that the reason she fell in love with his father was because, during an incident when she was kidnapped, [[RescueRomance he was the only rescuer]] who noticed that [[TrailOfBreadCrumbs she had been leaving a trail of red hair]]. She commented that her red hair was her "personal red thread of fate", leading her to her OneTrueLove.

** We have a literal example. The titular character meets the spirit of his mother, who tells him that the reason she fell in love with his father was because, during an incident when she was kidnapped, [[RescueRomance he was the only rescuer]] who noticed that [[TrailOfBreadCrumbs she had been leaving a trail of red hair]]. She commented that her red hair was her "personal red thread of fate", leading her to her soulmate.
** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto since they were children. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story. In the film proper, he sets his mother's old scarf aside in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of [[DarkAndTroubledPast his painful past]] and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with [[OneTrueLove Hinata]] by his side]].

* ''TearsToTiara'''s CMOTDibbler Epona has a mysterious red string worth 99999 gold for sale at her shop. It turns out that [[spoiler:she was using it as SchmuckBait to get the PlayerCharacter to buy it, as it has a LovePotion effect on the people it attaches. Yes, it's [[{{Eroge}} that]] kind of game.]]

More than LoveAtFirstSight, more than simply two Soulmates destined to be together, the Red String of Fate is some perceivable clue that identifies your destined True Love.

** We have a literal example. The titular character meets the spirit of his mother, who tells him that the reason she fell in love with his father was because, during an incident when she was kidnapped, he was the only rescuer who noticed that she had been leaving a trail of red hair. She commented that her red hair was her "personal red thread of fate", leading her to her soulmate.
** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto since they were children. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story. In the film proper, he sets his mother's old scarf aside in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of his painful past and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with [[OneTrueLove Hinata]] by his side]].

** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata]] has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto since they were children. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story. In the film proper, he sets his mother's old scarf aside in favor of [[spoiler:Hinata's]] as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of his painful past and look to a happier future, [[spoiler:with Hinata by his side]].

** In episode 7, Nova tells Luluco that they're connected by the red string of fate, and she finds that a glowing red string is tied to her finger, causing her to blush at the implication that their love is meant to be; [[spoiler:Then she realizes that he is not the real Nova, but Kill
** Killian, who is using life fibers tied to his fingers to feed on the energy of the crowd of people who see him as the illusion of their heart's desire]].

* In the novel "On a Pale Horse", Zane is offered a Lovestone, a magic stone which will lead him to his true love. He borrows the stone and follows its glow. The good news is he finds her. The bad news [[spoiler:the proprietor of the store bought the encounter, in exchange for the Wealthstone, so HE gets the lovely and extremely wealthy girl]]. The results of this encounter start the main plot.

* In L.J. Smith's ''Literature/NightWorld'' series, soulmates who are destined to be together often describe a silver thread connecting the two of them together.

* Continuing with L.J. Smith, in Secret Circle, Adam and Cassie are bound together by a silver cord, like Stefan and Elena from Vampire Diaries.
* In ''Literature/JaneEyre'', Mr. Rochester has this to say: "...it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame. And if that boisterous Channel, and two hundred miles or so of land, come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapped; and then I've a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly."
* The protagonist ([[OpeningACanOfClones one of them anyway]]) accidentally discovers this during the events of ''Literature/KilnPeople''. At the end of the novel, he's dropped his job as a PrivateEye and is advertising an agency to link people with their soulmates.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Eric states that there is one of these between his teammates, Tiza and Nolien. After acquiring an EnlightenmentSuperpower during ''Literature/LoomingShadow'', he says "I can see it! The connection is red and strong and" Tiza shoved a biscuit into his mouth to cut off the rest. [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend She doesn't want to acknowledge their UST.]]

* In an episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', an Enterprise crew member starts having dreams of a beautiful woman. When the Enterprise meets with a plague-infested ship, he finds the woman is there and has been having dreams of him, and created portraits of him. He decides to go with them to help them treat the plague.

The trope namer is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend called the Red String of Fate (''akai ito'' or ''unmei no akai ito''). The concept is that two people who are destined to be together are attached by an invisible red string bound from a male's thumb to a female's pinky finger (it's become more common to show ''both'' parties attached at the pinky).

** In ''Bleach: Fade To Black'', Ichigo and Rukia's red spirit threads are linked to one another, allowing Ichigo to find Rukia when she went missing during the events of the movie.

* The trope is name-dropped in ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'' when Kikyou tells Inuyasha that the red string of fate, once cut, can't be restored.

* Used in an official ''VisualNovel/{{Higurashi|WhenTheyCry}}'' art, for [[http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s355/Sokumei/twin.jpg Mion and Shion]] drawn by the Watangashi/Meakashi manga artist. [[{{Twincest}} Make what you will of this.]]
* In ''Manga/PokemonSpecial'', it happened to Red and Yellow twice. Of course, said string (a Caterpie's String Shot and Yellow's fishing line) wasn't actually ''red''...but yes, pinkies and shipping symbolism were still there.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', we have a literal example. The titular character meets the spirit of his mother, who tells him that the reason she fell in love with his father was because, during an incident when she was kidnapped, he was the only rescuer who noticed that she had been leaving a trail of red hair. She commented that her red hair was her "personal red thread of fate", leading her to her soulmate.
** In ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:Hinata has always wanted to give a homemade scarf to Naruto since they were children. She eventually gives him the red one that he wears in the poster of the movie, as a CallBack and MeaningfulEcho to his own mother's soulmate story. In the film proper, he sets his mother's old scarf aside in favor of Hinata's as part of his CharacterDevelopment, symbolizing his decision to finally let go of his painful past and look to a happier future, with Hinata by his side]].

* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica,'' Madoka giving her red hair ribbons to [[spoiler: Homura]] before [[spoiler:[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Ascending to a Higher Plane of Existence]]]] can be considered a reference to this trope. After [[spoiler: Madoka's disappearance,]] her hair ribbons are [[spoiler: [[TragicKeepsake the only thing Homura has left of her]] and the only trace that she ever existed]]. [[note]]Interestingly, the ribbons are a sign of both [[TheFourLoves familial love and romantic love]]. They were originally a gift from Madoka's mother, and after [[spoiler:Madoka's human self is erased]], Homura tries to give them back. Junko refuses them [[spoiler:because, after all, she can't remember she even ''had'' a daughter]]. [[/note]]

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}: Fade To Black'', Ichigo and Rukia's red spirit threads are linked to one another, allowing Ichigo to find Rukia when she went missing during the events of the movie.

* ''Anime/SpacePatrolLuluco'': In episode 7, Nova tells Luluco that they're connected by the red string of fate, and she finds that a glowing red string is tied to her finger, causing her to blush at the implication that their love is meant to be; [[spoiler:Then she realizes that he is not the real Nova, but Kill ** Killian, who is using life fibers tied to his fingers to feed on the energy of the crowd of people who see him as the illusion of their heart's desire]].
* In ''Literature/SoundEuphonium'', Kumiko and Reina are connected by one in the season one ED.

* Quite a few ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanarts of [[MoeAnthropomorphism America and Canada]] show a red string attached around their hands. Could be to represent their relationship which in real life is one of the closest and most productive international relationships in the world. Or it's to play up the HoYay.

* In the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Avengers]] fic "[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/563570 But Loving Him is Red]]", Steve and Tony wake up after a fight to find themselves connected by a piece of magic red string. Later, they find out it signfies the fact that they're soulmates.

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* The recent ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games have a red ball of string as an item (called "Destiny Knot" in the English version). Appropriately, if the monster holding this item becomes infatuated, the foe that it "loves" will be infatuated as well.
* In the Anime based fighting game ''Manga/{{Naruto}}, Narutimate Hero Accel 2'', the character of Chiyo has an Ougi where her attack puppets (Mother and Father, which are actually modified exhumed corpses) are joined by a literal red string, which is then used to viciously lacerate the opponent.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword''. In an interesting bit of FoeYay during their second battle, Ghirahim appears again to tell Link that the reason they keep bumping into each other is because they are bound by a red thread of fate; in the Japanese script, he is talking about this exact trope. He also gets behind Link, invading his personal space again, and whispers in his ear. He tells Link to come to him after licking his lips and says they're bound by that red thread of fate, that they're destined to fight. He also says that the thread of fate will be soaked crimson with Link's blood.
* ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' takes Ghirahim's mention of the red string and makes it a ''gameplay mechanic'': his strong attack conjures a glowing red thread between himself and a nearby enemy, which powers up some of his moves when attacking the foe he's tied to.

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