Battle Couple: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|''"Well, I was hoping that our relationship would be a [[Happily Ever After|long and happy one]], but I suppose I'm willing to settle for [[In Harm's Way|short and exciting]]."''|'''Odo''', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', "Shadows and Symbols"}}
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Battle couples aren't that common, due to restrictions on women in combat. One might expect for the great prevalence of men to mean that gay couples would be overrepresented here, but one would be disappointed in that case; anti-[[Badass]] stereotypes of gay men have probably been holding that in check. In heterosexual pairings, the woman will often not be a conventional soldier, but a partisan of some kind. They tend to be more resistant to breakup than most, given the [[Fire-Forged Friends|extra bonds forged in combat]], but they are particularly vulnerable to losing one half in battle. If the female half of this couple needs to go in disguise, she is a [[Sweet Polly Oliver]]. If they have gone all the way expect them to engage in a lot of [["Glad to Be Alive" Sex]]. It's also possible they may [[Pre-Climax Climax|get it on before the fighting]]
In [[Real Life]], it's also the same as
If they're married, they're likely [[Happily Married]]. Has a platonic counterpart in [[Adventure Duo]]. It may overlap with [[Spy Couple]]. In fantasy settings, they'll probably manifest as [[Sword and Sorcerer]]. Add a kid or two for a [[Badass Family]] with a [[Mama Bear]] and a [[Papa Wolf]]. If it's one guy/girl and ''his/her harem'' instead of just two people, then it's a [[Harem Hero]](ine) and his/her [[Battle Harem]].
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** The manga took pains to show this early on in chapter 17, when any sort of unexpected contact is enough to stop a spellcasting, even if the contact isn't even remotely painful.
** Hell, even they usually have a partner as they get older and start to develop their [[Glass Cannon]] aspects to supplement their [[Magic Knight]] aspects. Being able to use both styles equally well and accurately decide which is appropriate for the task at hand is a mark of a high-level mage.
*** A character-specific example of this are Negi and his partner Asuna. As of chapter 252, {{spoiler|Konoka and Setsuna got into a Pactio}}, which means they've pretty much become a
** It eventually becomes a [[Battle Harem]].
* [[Inuyasha|Inu-Yasha and Kagome]]; [[Beta Couple|Miroku and Sango]], eventually.
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* ''[[Basara]]'' has pirate leader Chacha and her lover and first mate Zaki.
* Just about every mecha pilot in ''[[Godannar]]''. Yes, even the one with [[Les Yay|two female pilots]] and the one piloted by [[Brother-Sister Incest|siblings.]]
** Somewhat [[Deconstructed Trope|deconstructed]], though, as the main
* {{spoiler|Allelujah Haptism and Soma Peries/Marie Parfacy}} in ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00|Gundam 00]]'', after {{spoiler|Marie returns to action in the GN Archer, which combines with Allelujah's Arios Gundam to form the Arios Archer. In [[The Movie]], they will co-pilot Gundam Harute.}}
* ''[[Ranma ½]]'': You'd ''think'' [[Official Couple|Ranma and Akane]] would be one of these, but the truth is, they aren't... or at least, they're not a very good one. For starters, Akane's typically a bystander in any battles Ranma gets involved
** On the other hand, when Ryoga and Ukyo teamed up in order to order to fight the ghosts in the Cave of Lost Love, they actually worked really well together. The odds were overwhelming, but they put up a good fight. The irony here is that Ukyo and Ryoga are not a couple, not interested in becoming a couple, only started working together to fight off the "stray" ghosts that got over-enthusiastic about attacking the real targets (Ranma and Akane), and their doing so just got them ''deeper'' into trouble, as seeing their teamwork, and comparing it to Ranma & Akane's bickering, convinced the ghosts that Ranma and Akane were ''not'' a couple at all and Ryoga & Ukyo ''were''. Cue Ryoga and Ukyo wailing in despair that they aren't the couple the ghosts are supposed to be breaking up, and afterwards viciously blaming each other for bungling things up.
*** Made even more hilarious because Ranma and Akane [[Shipper on Deck|were sorta rooting for Ryoga and Ukyo]] to become this.
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** They've proven that they're capable of fighting together properly. During the last part of the martial arts cheerleading arc and the martial arts ice skating battle in the manga, they seem to fight together just fine, even while arguing. Maybe their lack of a Battle Couple status is more of an anime thing.
* Earlier examples: [[Belligerent Sexual Tension|Sayaka and Kouji]] in ''[[Mazinger Z]]''. And then again, in ''[[Mazinkaiser]]'' and ''[[Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-hen]]''.
** This trope was enforced by [[The Professor]] Dr. Kabuto, that created Minerva-X to be Mazinger-Z's
** Also, Tetsuya Tsurugi and Jun Honou from ''[[Great Mazinger]]''.
** And Duke and Hikaru, and {{spoiler|Kouji and Sayaka}} from ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]''.
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* ''[[Freezing]]'' has this as the main premise, with an older female [[Action Girl|Pandora]] and a younger male [[Barrier Warrior|supporter]] called a Limiter. One of their abilities, the [[Psychic Link|"Ereinbar Set"]], specifically requires that the Pandora and Limiter have a relationship based on deep, mutual trust. It's not so surprising then that, as Violet, older sister of female lead Satellizer, mentions, many Pandoras end up marrying their Limiters. As per the trope, however, these couples are particularly vulnerable to losing one half during battle (they fight [[Hero-Killer]] [[Eldritch Abominations]], after all), and the manga does show the psychological and social effects of losing a partner in combat.
* Happens eventually in ''[[Dragon Ball]] Z'', when Gohan as Great Saiya-Man is joined by Videl as Great Saiya-Man 2 (called Great Saiya-Woman in the US).
* Haseo and Atoli become a
* [[Inukami!]] Youko would ''like'' to be this with Keita, and from the perspective of [[Everyone Can See It|EVERYONE ELSE]] they pretty much are.
* Saya's parents, Soichiro and Yuriko, in [[Highschool of the Dead]].
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* Arguably [[The Princess and the Frog|Tiana and Naveen]], since they fight the redneck frog hunters together.
* April and Casey Jones in the 2007 ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (film)|TMNT]]'' movie.
* ''[[101 Dalmatians|One Hundred and One Dalmatians]]'': [[Papa Wolf|Pongo]]
* [[The Rescuers|Bernard and Bianca]]
* In ''[[Kung Fu Panda 2]]'', Po and Tigress have obviously become this as the pair of the new team of The Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five who fight closest together with new tactics they have developed together.
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* Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann (milder example, though they did ''get married in the middle of a battle''), from ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]''.
** And it was the [[Rule of Cool|coolest]] marriage [[Pirates of the Caribbean/Awesome|ever on screen]]. [[The Empire Strikes Back|Search your feelings, you know it to be true.]]
* In ''[[Mr. and Mrs. Smith]]'', becoming a
* At the end of ''[[Speed]]'':
{{quote|'''Jack:''' I have to warn you. I've heard relationships based on intense experiences never work.
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* ''[[The Mask of Zorro|The Legend of Zorro]]'' remake has Zorro and Elaine picking off the baddies.
** At the end of the [[Affectionate Parody]] ''Zorro The Gay Blade'', Zorro and [[Soapbox Sadie|Charlotte Taylor Wilson]] become a battle couple to take down the baddie once and for all. Though they also need the help of Zorro's [[Camp Gay|twin brother]] to succeed.
* ''[[Star Wars]]'': Han and Leia go from bickering couple to
{{quote|''Ep. V:''
'''Leia:''' I love you.
'''Han:''' I know.
''Ep. VI:''
'''[[Meaningful Echo|Han:
'''[[Meaningful Echo|Leia:
** The fact that the ''VI'' quote comes in the middle of a battle right before Leia shoots the two Stormtroopers holding them at gunpoint requires this example to be Seconded.
*** Anakin and Padme are also a battle couple in II.
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** All Klingon relationships. Almost all Bajoran relationships.
*** Quark, amazingly, started a battle couple relationship by successfully courting a Klingon Noblewoman.
*** Klingons adore
*** Don't forget the top quote. That refers to Odo and Kira Nerys.
*** Apparently so common that Dr. Bashir has just stopped asking how people were wounded because [[Destructo-Nookie|it usually turns out to be fight-sex]].
* [[Legend of the Seeker|Richard and Kahlan]]. This is a change from the [[Sword of Truth|source material]], where Kahlan's skill in battle depended on the plot.
* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]] and Angel, with their lots of time spent fighting evil together, would probably qualify, but Buffy and Riley would definitely
* On the ''[[Angel]]'' end, Fred and Wes and Fred and Gunn both count. Fred and Wes have a definite battle couple scene in the beginning of "A Hole In The World".
* Michael and Fiona of ''[[Burn Notice]]''.
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** In the serial "Battlefield", Ancelyn and Brigadier Bambera start out beating on each other and end up as a glorious example of this trope.
** Martha Jones and Mickey Smith end up becoming one as well.
** Amy and Rory grew into a (mostly) non-violent
** Vastra and Jenny from the 2011 mid-series finale; sword-wielding interspecies lesbians who fight crime in Victorian London (and sometimes other eras). And the fandom said: ''more.''
* In the Who-spinoff ''[[Torchwood]]'', Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones eventually become this, especially after Ianto [[Took a Level In Badass|takes a level in bad-ass]] before the events of ''Children of Earth'. {{spoiler|Unfortunately, it doesn't end well.}}
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'''Sheridan, upon coming [[Back From the Dead]] thanks to [[The Power of Love|The Power Of Delenn's Love]]''': I'll never leave you, Delenn. Not if the whole universe stood between us. }}
* Not sure if this counts since they're not actually a couple, but to some shippers, Juliet and Lassie of ''[[Psych]]''.
* Rya'c and Kar'yn become this in the ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' episode "Sacrifices". This trope is [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] and used to justify their marriage when they face opposition from Teal'c on the basis that Rya'c has chosen to fight the Goa'uld and that war has to be his priority. As Ishta points out, "A warrior is always stronger with another at his side" so being a
* An interesting version appears in ''[[Charmed]]'', where it's the woman, Piper, who is the more aggressive one, and the man, Leo, is the more peaceful one. Yet when it comes to the safety of their children, the opposition tends to explode spectacularly.
* Mulder and Scully from ''[[The X-Files]]'' could kick ass with the best of them from Season One...though it took them several more years to really [[Will They or Won't They?|figure the whole 'couple' part out]].
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* Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance from the video game ''[[Half-Life]] 2''. While the exact nature of their relationship isn't clear (Gordon [[Heroic Mime|never speaking]] makes things difficult), whatever it was, it was forged in the fires of battle.
* Raider and Raven (as well as Biff and Flo for whatever ''that's'' worth) in ''[[Jagged Alliance]] 2''. It doesn't make for any huge change as gameplay is concerned (they merely share moral gains.), but they do have their own [[Informal Eulogy|Informal Eulogies]] for each other if one should get killed in battle.
** There's also Wolf and
* Popo and Nana (Ice Climbers) from [[Super Smash Bros.]]. Though not much is known about them, their friendship towards each other is obvious. Though they might not classify as a couple because they are still just young kids.
* In ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'' {{spoiler|Johnny}} eventually manages to win {{spoiler|Meryl's}} heart, by saving {{spoiler|her}} life on not one but three occasions. In a scene that [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QofhJhJGBjw has to be seen to be believed], they hold a door against seeming endless waves of attackers while slipping new magazines into each others guns, and proposing each other for marriage.
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*** Likewise any of the romance options in ''[[Dragon Age]] II'', plus Aveline and Guardsman Donnic if Hawke takes the time to help them get together.
* ''[[The World Ends With You]]'' has Nao and Sota. Seeing as in the game's world any participant in the Reapers' Game needs a partner or they're powerless, it can be assumed that there have been quite a few Battle Couples out there.
** One other case stands out in particular, and according to the fandom may, or may not be, an even better example than Nao and Sota. {{spoiler|Uzuki Yashiro and Koki Kariya. This Reaper duo fights you twice in the game and even have their own version of a light puck as well as a team attack that can render players that are under-leveled at those points in the game, screwed. Their relationship can also be considered [[Vitriolic Best Buds]] if not an outright
* This appears to be the norm with most couples in ''[[Resident Evil]]'', even if the pair aren't romantically linked. If they are, expect bad things to happen by the end.
** [[Resident Evil 1|Chris
* In ''[[Armored Core|Armored Core 4/For Answer]]'', the player character of 4 (Unknown
** And the [[Player Character]] and Sumika from ''Armored Core: Project Phantasma''.
* On a similar note (with Female Character x [[AFGNCAAP]] forming this) there's Edge and Blaze in ''[[Ace Combat|Ace Combat 5]]''.
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** Zidane threatened Amarant with [[Crack Pairing|teaming him up with Eiko]] to do battle with one of the tyrants.
** Freya's lover is Sir Fratley, and they probably have counted as a battle couple somewhere along the line.
** When Zidane suffers his {{spoiler|[[Heroic BSOD]] in Castle Pandamonium}}, millions of tropers worldwide could see him and Garnet becoming the
* ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'' has Balthier and Fran, ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' has Tidus and Yuna, while ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]'' arguably has Vanille and Fang, given the strong overtones of [[Les Yay]]. Its sequel, ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]-2'' gives us Serah and Noel.
* Diddy and Dixie Kong in ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' 2.
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* Leo/Jason and Tigris/Kira from ''[[Panthera]]''. They met by being the first two students to become elemental-powered panthers designed to fight a secret government project. They've had spats since Jason brought his little sister into the club, though.
** {{spoiler|Jason and Kira broke up in chapter seven. However, it seems that Taylor and Fletcher will qualify for it sooner or later.}}
* Torg and Zoe from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' have a
* ''[[Homestuck]]'' has several, mostly among the [[Humanoid Aliens|Trolls]].
** [[Rebellious Princess|Feferi Peixes]] and [[Playful Hacker|Sollux Captor]].
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* [[Kim Possible]] and Ron Stoppable. Albeit he's more the distraction, but she definitely works better with him than without him. {{spoiler|Until the end...}}
* They may not have done much about it in the series, but Niko and Shane from ''[[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers]]'' ''definitely'' qualify. Even [[Word of God|the series creator]] admits he planned to marry them off!
* The parents in ''[[Dave the Barbarian]]'' are this. In fact, their choosing to be a
* [[Fan-Preferred Couple|Although not official]], Numbuh 1 and Numbuh 5 from ''[[Codename: Kids Next Door]]''.
** Depending on the fan. Others prefer Numbuh 1 and Numbuh 362. [[The Scrappy|Lizzie? Who's Lizzie?]].
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* Robert Guiscard, Norman king of Sicily and his wife, Sichelgaita, the Lombard queen of Apulia. They won against the Byzantine army of Alexios Komnenos in Durrazzo 1081, commanding the Norman army together. {{spoiler|At one time the Normans were repulsed and about to rout. Sichelgaita rode ahead the army, undressing herself and yelling naked: "Are you men or maidens? Follow me!}} Anna Komnena, the Byzantine historian, compared Sichelgaita "like the Amazons of the old".
* Josiah and Elanor Creasy were not a warrior couple(except against the ocean), but they were a [[Happily Married]] pair commanding the clipper Flying Cloud.
* Sir Thomas and Lady Katherine Cochrane, a British
* Common enough among Scythians to the point of being a possible origin of the [[Hot Amazon|Amazons,]] the women rode, fought alongside and even [[Bifauxnen|dressed]] like their husbands and [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|were buried together]] [[Together in Death|in the same graves.]]
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