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{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* Happens a few times in ''[[Bleach]]'' with Ichigo; he sets out repeatedly to fight alone, and most of the final battles are just him and the [[Big Bad]]. But his friends and [[The Obi-Wan]] Urahara refuse to actually let him set off for battle alone.
** However, Ukitake does give Rukia a speech which amounts to this concept and {{spoiler|leads to the death of Kaien}}
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* Happens sometimes in ''[[Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple]]'', usually when a challenge fight is being fought, or when somebody desperately wants a rematch. Also interesting is the dynamics of helping and refusing help between Kenichi and Miu: Kenichi is very chivalrous and wants to [[I Will Protect Her|become strong enough to protect Miu]], and sometimes even tries to interfere when she is about to start fighting, but Miu is more skillful fighter than Kenichi (''always'' beating him in sparring matches), and ''she'' is very willing to protect ''him'' when she thinks he is in danger. Kenichi, of course, often refuses such help from Miu, because "this is something a man must do himself".
* In an earlier episode of ''[[Detective Conan]]'', the murder happens at a reunion of Kogoro's old high school judo club, meaning both the victim and the murderer are friends of his. Conan pulls Kogoro aside and is about to tranquilize him as usual when he sees Kogoro's anger about the situation and his resolve to crack the case for his slain friend. Hearing this, Conan puts away his tranq gun and decides that Kogoro needs to solve this one himself, though he does still provide little hints.
* Appropriately, as ''[[Trigun]]'' is a [[Space Western|Stranded-On-A-Desert-Planet-For-Three-Generations Western]], Vash [[The Magnificent|the Stampede]] has been known to invoke this trope. For himself, he keeps trying to do things alone and keep everyone else out of the line of fire. More darkly, in the manga Vash ''is standing there watching'' for the horrible, gory, agonizing marathon battle that ends in Wolfwood {{spoiler|dying of overusing his [[Heroic Red Ring of Death|regeneration formula]].}} He does nothing. At all. Despite the incredibly high stakes and the fact that that's his best friend and the fight is clearly completely unfair as well as heartbreaking on several levels. This is apparently his rationale, although it's hard to be sure [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass|why Vash]] [[Rule of Cool|does anything]].
** This also serves as a strong distinction between the anime and manga iterations of our hero. The anime is [[Lighter and Fluffier]] enough that its Vash ''could never do that''. '''Ever.''' (His neglect in the corresponding incident consists of being too busy beating himself up for not being able to stop a [[What Measure Is a Mook?|random enemy with no lines]] from [[Eating His Gun]] to notice the blood trail. Not that noticing would have helped. Probably.)
*** Caine the Longshot is, interestingly, apparently the replacement for Livio and Razlo, whose character development is what took those two dozen or so bloody chapters. They gave him a sniper rifle and a mask, and he kills himself when Vash breaks the former. That is it. His whole character. Either really dutiful or really in love with his weapon.
** A lesser example from the anime instead is the guys who take the card-playing rich girl hostage in the saloon in episode 3(?), when beard guy eventually gets his shot at his nemesis, Shinigami Bostalk, who murdered his parents and stole their life's work, and who his hostage knows only as Daddy. Vash respects the avenger's right to the showdown, although he cries with relief when he doesn't shoot to kill.
* In ''[[Berserk]]
* Perhaps one of the only rules of engagement ''[[One Piece]]'
== Card Games ==▼
* This appears in the ''[[Munchkin]]'' cardgame by Steve Jackson Games in the form of the "Gazebo" card—which bears the text, "None can help you fight the gazebo. You must fight the gazebo alone".▼
** A reference, naturally, to ''[http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/98/Jul/gazebo.html Eric and the Dread Gazebo]''.▼
== Comic Books ==
* This is an incredibly common trope in comic books. The comic's titular star will be facing an incredible threat, and it is only logical that other heroes would show up to help. However, that would remove the limelight from the star and make every comic into a "team" book. Therefore, writers are constantly having to invent reasons why a heroes' buddies are not available or cannot participate in the fight. The really lazy ones use this excuse. Notable incidents follow:
* Carried to a ludicrous extreme in ''[[Green Lantern|Green Lantern: Rebirth
* A ''[[Superman]]'' arc involved a battle with the magical powerhouse Atlas. When Superman is on the verge of defeat, Supergirl offers to help. Superman insists he must do battle alone, and asks Supergirl to avenge him if he fails. However, Superman has no problem when Krypto the Superdog shows up and saves the day just a few moments later.
* Done in the climax of ''[[The Avengers (Comic Book)|The Avengers]]'' [[Story Arc]] ''Kang Dynasty'': Cap agrees to a one-on-one fight with Kang to conclude the war, with Thor preventing their teammates from interfering, citing this trope. The heroes protest vehemently, claiming that a monster like Kang deserves a group beatdown and not an honorable fight. Thor replies that its one-on-one not out of respect, but because Cap alone would be sufficient.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140605171851/http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/79/3093_20060529105915_large.jpg This ''X-Men'' cover].
* In ''[[Scion (comics)|Scion]]'', Ethan and Bron have a big showdown on the Sanctuary island. The Heron royals and Ashleigh are about to help Ethan, but Skink insists Ethan must face Bron alone.
* During the Silver Age while battling an energy creature that could possess and animated matter the entire Justice League of America sits back in their cave lair while Superman watches and reports back to everyone what's going on, but otherwise they do nothing because 'well he hasn't used his signal device to call us in yet so we'll just sit and watch'.
* Subverted in ''[[
{{quote|'''Kyle:''' "We're the Green Lantern Corps, Mogo! ''[[True Companions|We face everything together]]'' - [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|even our own damn demons]]!}}
==
* Played straight in ''[[The Final Clash]]'' where Akuma demands a one-on-one fight with Ryu [[Duel to the Death|to the death]]. Snake and the others understand, but Alien Hominid goes after Akuma anyways. Yoda then Force Pulls him back to the party of heroes and says "This is something that he must do himself.".
* The second ''[[Naruto]]'' event is subverted in ''The Sealed Kunai''. Jiraiya states this regarding Naruto's fight with Kakuzu. Naruto wins, but promptly collapses afterward in utter exhaustion, causing Jiraiya to yell at him on ruining his "cool mentor" speech. Naruto makes a mental note to kill Jiraiya at some point in the future.
** Also subverted in that Jiraiya claimed Naruto needed to do this so he could prove to himself he could defeat Akatsuki. Considering he already had Hidan's still-screaming head sealed away, it wasn't as critical as he might have thought.
* In ''[[Christian Humber Reloaded]]'', Vash stands aside as his Toa allies fight the Visoraks until they start losing, at which point he steps in and helps them by adding his energy to their combined attack, helping to finish off the enemmy.
* In ''[[Buttlord GT]]'', the secondary characters [[Lampshade Hanging|mock their tendency]] to [[Affectionate Parody|never assist in main-character fights:]]
{{quote|"We must get to a nearby cliff to grunt and sweat but offer no help!"}}
== Film ==
* ''[[Transformers: The Movie]]'' played on this, with Hot Rod and Kup arriving in time to help Optimus Prime against Megatron, but Hot Rod's attempt to help actually made the situation worse.
** Also seen at the tail end of ''[[Transformers Cybertron]]'', where even with Prime insisting that the war was over (which it was), Galvatron insists on a final showdown with him, and Prime agrees to face him one-on-one. (He still winds up cheating a bit with some help from the late [[Spirit Advisor|Vector Prime]].)
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{{quote|'''Shockwave''': The secondary heroes stand around and watch, calling on their burning spirit and heart of justice to empower the main hero from afar.
'''Optimus Prime''': Mmmm...no, we won't be doing that. }}
* In the movie ''[[Dungeons & Dragons (film)|Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where Ridley enters a cave to search for the [[MacGuffin]] and the female Elf character prevents others from going too, because "he must do this himself". [[Hand Wave|An explanation is attempted]] with a magical force field that keeps the others from entering.
* Played sort-of straight and simultaneously spoofed in ''[[Hot Fuzz]]''. The hero is in a gas station, struggling with the decision of whether or not to return to try and save the village. After some inspiration thanks to seeing ''Point Break'' and ''Bad Boys 2'' on DVD, he stops at the counter to purchase some badass sunglasses. The extremely wired-looking attendant asks "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?" The response, of course, in a deep, gravelly, action-hero voice is, "No... This is something I have to do myself."
* In ''[[Labyrinth]]'', Sarah reaches the goblin castle but tells her companions that she has to face Jareth herself, because "[[Genre Savvy|that's the way it's done]]".
* Subverted in ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]'', where Indy explains everybody he was told by the skull to return it to its kingdom, a task he's got to do alone. On the next scene, however, we get to see all four sidekicks following him into the cave.
* The final one-on-one fight {{spoiler|between Cloud and Sephiroth}} in ''[[Final Fantasy VII
** Although arguably they would have just gotten in the way. Especially when {{spoiler|Sephiroth}} turns up ("Tell me what you cherish most. Give me the pleasure of taking it away.")
* This is the reason Picard gives when he goes alone to the ''Scimitar'' in ''[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]'' instead of, you know, sending the security chief or someone else more expendable and adept at combat.
== Literature ==
* In ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' novel ''Azure Bonds'' Alias tells her party "Back away. He's mine!". Elminster not only refrained from intervention but prevented {{spoiler|Nameless Bard from shooting heavily enchanted bolt into Phalse's eye}}, and arguing that "She must finish this battle alone"... "So she can prove to herself, and to thee, that she is her own master."▼
▲* In [[Forgotten Realms]] novel ''Azure Bonds'' Alias tells her party "Back away. He's mine!". Elminster not only refrained from intervention but prevented {{spoiler|Nameless Bard from shooting heavily enchanted bolt into Phalse's eye}}, and arguing that "She must finish this battle alone"... "So she can prove to herself, and to thee, that she is her own master."
** It's worth noting that in the hands of Grubb and Novak, Elminster is more often used to prevent a [[Deus Ex Machina]]. Less the case in Ed Greenwood's...
* In ''[[Dune]]'' Paul Atreides is dueling Feyd-Rautha and realizes that he could use a code word that was placed into Feyd-Rautha's subconscious to stun him for a second, thus saving his life. Paul {{spoiler|refuses to do so because This Is Something He's Got To Do Himself. Interestingly, when he says, "No, I won't do it" (meaning use the code word), that is enough to distract Feyd-Rautha so Paul can win}}.
* Referenced/parodied in ''[[Discworld]]'', specifically ''[[
{{quote|'''Victor:''' There are some things a man must do by himself.
'''Ginger:''' What, like... go to the toilet? }}
* In Bernard Cornwell's ''Saxon'' stories, Ragnar the Younger has one of these against his old enemy Kjartan. This trope name is actually invoked by one of the characters when the main character wants to intervene, saying basically, "Its his fight, and he will never forgive you if you interfere."
* In ''[[
* Lampshaded in ''End Game'' by [[Peter David]] (the finale of the pilot of the ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier]]'' novel series), in which [[The Captain]] fights a desperate one-on-one battle on a planet which is blasting itself apart under him. He wins, only to find himself stranded [[Convection, Schmonvection|amidst lava flows]]. His second in command then arrives in [[Hover Board|anti-gravity boots]] and rescues him, explaining that she knew he would insist on fighting alone, but now it was time to do things the easy way.
* Throughout the ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' series, Ron and Hermione have a tendency to fall by the wayside before [[The Chosen One|Harry]] has a face-to-face confrontation with Voldemort. In the [[Harry Potter (film)|first film]], Ron gives a "[[It's Up to You|Not me, not Hermione, you]]!" speech essentially to this effect. Ron and Hermione do often tag along despite Harry's insistence that [[I Work Alone]], but the plot [[Contrived Coincidence|nearly always conspires]] to make sure they aren't around when Voldemort shows up.
** In fact, Ron and Hermione don't even see Voldemort in person until the last book. (In the [[Harry Potter (film)|fifth film]], they at least get a glimpse of him, but that part wasn't in the book.)
*** In [[
*** [[Fridge Brilliance]]: This gives a good reason. Anyone
** [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (novel)|The last book]] has the most overt invocation: Harry says to a crowd of people about to watch his final confrontation with Voldemort, "I don’t want anyone else to try to help."
* During ''Unholy Allies'', one of the tie-in novels for ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'', a renegade vampiric assassin challenges one of the protagonist's allies to a duel. When another ally suggests getting involved, Madeline (another vampire assassin) promptly invokes this trope ... but does say that she'll step in immediately should their ally die.
* Subverted in Swedish science fiction novel ''Iskriget (The Ice War)'' in which protagonist Johnny realizes that it up to him to be the hero, after which decision he immediately enlists the help of a team of skilled Jewish mechanics to build the equipment he needs to execute his plan.
* In ''[[Warrior Cats]]'': ''The Last Hope'', Firestar and Tigerstar are ready for their [[Final Battle]]. This trope happens twice. When Graystripe was about to step in, Whitestorm holds him back, saying it was Firestar's battle. The second time happens when Sorreltail holds Sandstorm back when it looks like Tigerstar is overpowering Firestar.
== Live
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' features this in the musical episode "Once More With Feeling", when Giles insists that Buffy save Dawn on her own as she is becoming too dependent on his support. The gang eventually does show up to help her out.▼
▲* ''[[Buffy]]'' features this in the musical episode "Once More With Feeling", when Giles insists that Buffy save Dawn on her own as she is becoming too dependent on his support. The gang eventually does show up to help her out.
** Later on, he does admit she needs backup.
** Also, killing Caleb, although in that case it was her idea.
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* ''[[Highlander the Series]]'' has an explicit rule that battles between Immortals must be one-on-one.
** Except this is more due to tradition than something they absolutely have to do. Kell in ''Endgame'' has become so powerful partly by assembling a team of immortals, which he uses to kill others. Then {{spoiler|he kills most of them at dinner. Hey, 'There can be only one'}}.
* In the finale to ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' Sisko rushes off to a final confrontation with Dukat, and actually says "This is something I have to do myself". Now while it is ripe with symbolism - Sisko is the Bajoran Emissary and Dukat their equivalent of the Anti-Christ - there isn't really any justifiable reason he doesn't take a heavily-armed security
** To be fair, maybe he was just [[Genre Savvy]] enough to realize that
* Abed from ''[[Community]]'' gets dangerously genre savvy about it (as though Abed is ever any other way):
{{quote|Abed: So, how does this play out? Is there going to be a moment in this fight when I finally step up and learn to stand up for myself?
Jeff: ... maybe you should just hang back.
Abed: Yeah, okay, I will. (Beat.) IN HIS FACE!!! }}
==
▲* This appears in the ''[[Munchkin]]''
▲** A reference, naturally, to ''[http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/98/Jul/gazebo.html Eric and the Dread Gazebo]''.
=== Tabletop RPGs ===
* ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' contains the Deck of Many Things. Characters draw cards from it and receive various effects, two of which fall under this:
** The ''Comet'' card will cause the character who draws it to gain a level... if he or she defeats the next monster(s) encountered single-handedly.
** The ''Skull'' card makes a dread wraith (or, in earlier editions, a "minor death") appear and attack the character, who must then defeat it alone (anyone who helps gets a dread wraith to fight as well)... and if the character loses, he or she is slain forever.
* ''[[Warhammer Fantasy]]'' has (had?) a rule for this: once two heroic characters declare a duel, only the one character and their mount may attack the other character, and vice versa.
== Video Games ==
* In the game ''[[Star Fox (series)|Star FOX]] 64'', near the end of Venom, the final mission, Fox will leave behind his teammates to "go it alone" against the final boss.
** Does it count if you don't notice they're missing in the first place?
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** There is also {{spoiler|Robo's fight against [[Brainwashed and Crazy|Atropos]] in Geno Dome.}}
* In ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', during the first visit to the [[The Lion King|Pride Lands]], Sora tells Donald and Goofy to hang back from Simba's fight with Scar, asserting that it's something Simba has to do himself. But when Scar comes back from defeat as a Heartless, they're happy to join in.
* Used to [[Narm]]ful levels in ''[[Dead or Alive]] 4'', in Kasumi's ending. Right before the boss fight with [[SNK Boss Syndrome|Alpha 152]], Ryu is standing there, and comments that this is something she has to do herself. And presumably he's still standing there after the jiggly jello ''totally wipes the floor with you'', multiple times. Thanks, Ryu.
* Just before the [[Duel Boss]] with {{spoiler|Cecil'a dark side}} in ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'', Cecil tells the Twins and Tellah to "Stay back. This is a fight for me, and me alone."
* All over the place in ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', the heroes always battle their villain alone. If they're accompanied by allies, like Terra and Bartz are, they will directly tell their allies "I'll handle this" and fight alone.
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== Web Animation ==
* Used in ''[[Pucca]]''.{{context}}▼
▲* Used in ''[[Pucca]]''.
* Parodied in [https://web.archive.org/web/20100219074921/http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/0069.html this] ''[[Adventurers!]] strip.''▼
* Subverted in ''[[The
▲== Webcomics ==
▲* Parodied in [http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/0069.html this] ''[[Adventurers!]] strip.''
▲* Subverted in ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'', where [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0409.html Hinjo calls Roy off] so he can try to reason with fallen paladin Miko. That goes about as well as you'd expect, and Miko is about to kill him when Roy says "Oh, screw this!" and swats Miko into unconsciousness.
* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'' uses the phrase in [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=441 its tribute] to ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 4''.
* In ''[[Misfile]]'' Rumisiel is explicitly forbidden to interfere in one of Ash's races for this reason.
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== Web Original ==
* In the novel ''Exams'' of the ''[[Whateley Universe]],'' massively over-powered characters Tennyo and Fey insist on Jade fighting two (mediocre) supervillains herself, to prove something important about Jade to Jade: she's not really cut out to be a pacifist.▼
▲* In the novel ''Exams'' of the [[Whateley Universe]], massively over-powered characters Tennyo and Fey insist on Jade fighting two (mediocre) supervillains herself, to prove something important about Jade to Jade: she's not really cut out to be a pacifist.
* ''[[Dragon Ball Abridged]]'' has a memorable subversion. When Tien's best friend/dojo mate is killed by Nappa, Tien attacks furiously to try to avenge him... and promptly starts getting his butt kicked by Nappa. Gohan, watching from the sidelines, asks his [[Mentor]] Piccolo if they should help, but Piccolo replies that this is something Tien has to do himself. We then cut back to Tien, who is getting a [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown]] from Nappa and is frantically screaming for help.
* Lampshaded and subverted during a ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe|Global Guardians]]'' third year story. Achilles, leader of the titular hero team, discovers the bad guy who has been causing them so much havoc is his own brother. Cue Gunmetal asking "Is this going to end up one of those 'I have to face him alone' things with you?" To which Achilles responds, "Oh hell no. Take his ass down the moment you can get a clear shot."
* In ''[[
* This happens in ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjSfwbQ1xWQ&t=5m47s Pooh's Adventures
== Western Animation ==
* In one episode of ''[[Care Bears|Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-Lot]],'' Grizzle manages to steal Funshine's belly badge and uses it to try and take over Care-a-lot. Funshine tricks Grizzle and gets his badge back to prove the episode's [[An Aesop|aesop]], but the fact remains that there were myriads of still-badged Care Bears who didn't lift a finger to help him.
* In the [[Grand Finale]] of ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', Aang shows up [[Just in Time]] to fight [[Big Bad]] Ozai before he [[The End of the World as We Know It|ends the world as they know it]]. Several of his allies were present and about to have a crack at him, but decide that Ozai is Aang's fight, and proceed to ruin the rest of Ozai's [[Evil Plan]].
** While everyone did acknowledge that defeating Ozai was that Avatar's responsibility (simply because if anyone else killed him, it would be seen as an act of rebels/fighting for the throne, rather than divine intervention), no one (not even Sokka's group) was actually
** They were also severely outclassed by comet-empowered Ozai - Aang and Iroh were about the only ones who stood a chance in the first place.
** Still, it's not like the rest of the
* ''[[Justice League]]''
** When
* In ''[[The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes|Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes]]'' "Panther's Quest", Black Panther insists Wakandan tradition says he must defeat Man-Ape by himself. Captain America respects this, but when Man-Ape orders the Dora Milaje to take out the Panther, Cap intervenes.▼
** At the conclusion of the "War World" two-parter, Draaga insists on [[Leave Him to Me| fighting Mongul himself]]. He has good reason to, as Mongul is a despot whose rule depends on [[Bread and Circuses]], who was blackmailing Draaga into compliance for years. The heroes step aside and let him do so, simply telling him to watch Mongul's left hook
▲* In ''[[The Avengers: Earth's
{{quote|'''Cap''': You can face Man-Ape alone. Anyone else is fair game.}}
* At the climax of the ''[[Teen Titans]]'' episode "Betrothed", Starfire challenges her sister Blackfire to a battle for the crown which Blackfire eagerly accepts. Robin is about to help her, but:
{{quote|'''Galifore:''' Stop! If anyone helps, the challenge is void. The princess will lose!
'''Cyborg:''' Besides, our girl can handle this.}}
== Real Life ==
* The origin of this trope is, perhaps, more historical than legendary. During the Battle of Crécy, King Edward III of England left his son, the Black Prince, and his retainers without reinforcements so that he could "win his spurs, for I want him, please God, to have all the glory." The Prince survived and was gifted with the crest of the defeated King of Bohemia.
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