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{{trope}}
Examples of [[True Companions]] in [[Literature]]
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== ''[[Discworld]]'' ==
{{quote|'''Vimes:''' We're just one big family and, when you've been to a few domestic disputes, Littlebottom, I can assure you that you'll see the resemblance.}}▼
== Other works ==
* [[Older Than Feudalism]]: ''[[The Bible]]'' has many examples of true companions scattered throughout ([[Bash Brothers]] David and Johnathan get the most screen time in the Samuels and probably Kings). The more-recent New Testament refers to Jesus as a "Friend that sticks closer than a brother" which, given that in those days relatives were true companions by default, is pretty darn close indeed.
* ''[[The Three Musketeers (novel)|The Three Musketeers]]'': "One for All, and All for One."
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* In [[Andre Norton]]'s ''Catseye'', Troy's ability to communicate with the enhanced animals leads to a true companions group of which he is the only human member.
* Norton was very fond of this trope, particularly in her ''Solar Queen'' series. Free Traders collectively regard themselves as true companions with respect to the larger trading corporations (although they freely and very roughly compete with one another). The crew of the titular ship forms a very tight bond amongst themselves throughout the stories.
▲* ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'':
▲** Harry seems to think like this about most people who aren't Death Eaters, especially in the later books; although it could be argued that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are a sort of inner true-companion group within the bigger group. The end of ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' also makes very clear the difference between the relationship between true companions and romantic relationships: Hermione and Ron are allowed to join Harry in his quest for the Horcruxes, while Ginny is not, because they are Harry's true companions and she is not.
▲** Luna's mural of her friends is another example: Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Ginny. Given that Luna [[Cloudcuckoolander|practically lives on a different]] ''planet'', she doesn't even notice the minimal added difficulty of inter-House rivalry. As far as the inter-House rivalry goes, outside of Quidditch matches, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff seem to get along all right.
▲** Ginny, Neville and Luna rally together a group of their own during the seventh book.
▲** The Order of The Phoenix
▲** The Marauders are definitely true companions. This is probably best shown in the case of Sirius, who is taken in by James's parents after leaving home. Peter Pettigrew crosses the [[Moral Event Horizon]] by {{spoiler|betraying James (and Lily) to Voldemort.}}
▲*** However, it's implied that the Marauders began to fall apart prior to Peter's actions. When reunited in the third book, Sirius and Lupin discuss that Sirius believed Lupin was a traitor before he was imprisoned, and that Lupin truly believed Sirius was guilty of the Potter's murders. That combined with Peter's choices suggest some serious discord between the lot of them, though what caused the relationship's deterioration is never explored. One possibility is that it goes all the way back to {{spoiler|their fifth year when Sirius tricked Snape into seeing Lupin when he was transformed, which evidently caused a good amount of tension between the two of them as seen in memory scenes.}} It may also be that James Potter was the glue that held the group together and that the other three were never especially close, which would have made their relationships difficult to maintain once James and Lily were forced to go into hiding.
* The Bob-Whites in ''[[Trixie Belden]]''
* [[Kurt Vonnegut|Kurt Vonnegut's]] word for it (in ''[[Cat's Cradle]]'') was ''karass'', which carries an important additional connotation that they are together for some fated purpose. A karass is the group of people whose actions shape each other's destinies or who share destiny-shapers, with no regard for whether you've met them or are even aware of their existence. So, for example, if an airline pilot becomes suicidal and decides to take his passengers down with him, the man whose rejection of his advances led to that despair is part of their karass.
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* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'': As mentioned above, the Fellowship of the Ring, including [[The Mentor|Gandalf]], [[Bash Brothers|Gimli]] and [[Heterosexual Life Partners|Legolas]], [[Supporting Leader|Aragorn]], the [[Hobbits]] and [[The Lancer|Boromir]]. Their bond is such that [[Elves Versus Dwarves|Legolas and Gimli]] are able to overcome their [[Fantastic Racism]], and even after Boromir [[Face Heel Turn|betrays]] the Fellowship, they [[Redemption Equals Death|forgive him]] and give him a [[Due to the Dead|warrior's funeral]]. They also find the strength to go on after [[Mentor Occupational Hazard|Gandalf's]] [[Heroic Sacrifice]] due to [[The Power of Friendship]].
* The crew from ''[[Mistborn]]'' form a close group, initially around Kelisier's leadership, later around Vin and Elend's.
▲** ''[[Discworld/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'': The members of the regiment come together to protect each other and their identities until they have to reveal themselves to Sgt Jackram in order to complete their individual quests. Even after capture, they refuse to leave a comrade behind.
▲** The Ankh-Morpork Watch. At first, Colon and Nobby are all the family that Vimes has. By the end of ''[[Discworld/Guards! Guards!|Guards Guards]]'' [[Decoy Protagonist|Carrot]] is adopted as one of them. As the Watch expands, there is heavy emphasis on new recruits realizing the importance of relying on and protecting fellow officers.
▲{{quote|'''Vimes:''' We're just one big family and, when you've been to a few domestic disputes, Littlebottom, I can assure you that you'll see the resemblance.}}
▲** ''[[Discworld/Going Postal|Going Postal]]'': When Moist von Lipwig arrives at the Post Office it already houses a mini-crew in the shape of Groat, Stanley and Mr. Tiddles. He and Mr. Pump join this little family.
▲** Arguably, the wizards of the Unseen University: They may not like each other, especially at meal times when they're fighting for the last goose, but ever since Ridcully put a stop to the [[Klingon Promotion|old way of doing things,]] they've made it very clear that only wizards are allowed to disrespect wizards.
▲** Similar to the above, the witches, especially Nanny, Granny, and Magrat/Tiffany/Agnes. Getting witches together is like trying to herd cats, but they visit each other regularly to make sure they're all sane, and will band together if the threat is great enough.
* ''[[Great Alta Saga]]'': Jenna's band. Though it eventually develops into an army, for most of the book Jenna has few enough followers that she can afford to be very loyal to all of them. In general, all of the Hames were designed to be this way.
* [[Lloyd Alexander]]'s ''[[Prydain Chronicles]]'': [[The Hero|Taran]] and his companions — [[The Wise Prince|Prince Gwydion]], [[Wandering Minstrel|Fflewddur]], [[Big Eater|Gurgi]], [[Deadpan Snarker|Doli]], and [[Rebellious Princess|Princess Eilonwy]]. They are even referred to in the narrative ''as'' "the companions."
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* Will, Halt, Horace, Gilan, Evanlyn, and Alyss from [[Ranger's Apprentice]]. Oh, and their horses.
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