Soul Chess: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''Aizen. You may have defeated Urahara-san, but now you face an opponent who will trip you up at every turn, stop you at every juncture and counter your every move. You now face an opponent [[Xanatos Speed Chess|who can play by your rules and settings]]. [[The Chessmaster|From now on you face me]].''|'''[[Guile Hero|Lelouch]] [[Magnificent Bastard|Lamperouge]]'''}}

 

 

The story is noted for staying very true to character, even considering [[Bleach|how many]] [[Loads and Loads of Characters|the source material brings.]] Lelouch, Aizen, Yoruichi, Urahara, and everyone else are all completely in character.

Also important is something ''extremely'' rare in any crossover: ''things don't change right away''. The story starts sometime a little before the turn back the pendulum arc, and major changes don't happen for several chapters. This is partially because the overall spread of events was [[The Chessmaster|designed]] to allow for [[Magnificent Bastard|inconsistencies,]] and partially because Lelouch starts out at a fairly low rank, and stays that way for a while. His rise through the ranks is steady and believable.

 

== Tropes A to G ==

* [[Absurdly Sharp Blade]]: {{spoiler|Hisana's Bankai's ultimate form can cut through Starrk's cero and also through Hallibel and Grimmjow's hierro enough to hack off their arms.}}

* [[Actor Allusion]]: Multiple people have commented that Lelouch and Ichigo [[Johnny Yong Bosch|sound very similar]], including themselves.

** As an alias to get her and Ichigo through Seireitei, Kukaku calls Ichigo [[The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya|Koizumi]][[Devil May Cry|Nero]].

** [[Word of God]] has explicitly stated that this trope is applicable to the Battle of Karakura Town Arc in large contrast to canon. {{spoiler|So far, Ikkaku, Nanao and now Shuhei are among the Soul Society casualties. The First Half is over but expect it to rise in the Second Half.}}

** The Second Half just finished with the final tally adding up to be: {{spoiler|Komamura, Hiyori, Love, Hachi, Spargga, Kira, Mia, Ulquiorra, Ciela, and Talbumosuke}}. It's subverted for {{spoiler|Yammy}} who is actually killed, but {{spoiler|he is now haunting Grimmjow as Ghost Yammy}}. [[Shout-Out|Which may]] [[Expy|have been]] [[Dragon Ball Abridged|the point]].

** As of {{spoiler|Aizen's Revenge so far: [[Oh Crap|Captain-Commander Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryusai]], Ryou, Sentaro, and Yosei are dead}}.

*** Before most of the actual fighting begins {{spoiler|Mayuri}} snuffs it as well.

* [[Badass Boast]]: The page quote, which comes from the end of the Prelude arc.

** How about this one {{spoiler|near the end of Eye Of The Storm}}:

** Uryu vs Shawlong. "I will kill you before you land a single blow on me." Bonus points for ''actually doing it''.

** Shinji: I won't need more than five minutes.

* [[Berserk Button]]: Don't even THINK on {{spoiler|[[Attempted Rape|raping Orihime]] especially when [[What an Idiot!|ICHIGO IS NEARBY]] Needles.}} It won't end well.

* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Yuna and Rangiku, respectively.

** In chapter 107 Kendra becomes the Veronica to {{spoiler|Orihime's}} Betty with regards to {{spoiler|Ichigo}}. {{spoiler|It’s subverted at the end of the chapter where Ichigo pulls the [[Just Friends]] line on Kendra, seemingly not knowing that she thought of him in that way, and tells Orihime that [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|she’s his girl]]}}

* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: Happens so often that counting would be meaningless. It's not always predictable, though.

* [[Catapult Nightmare]]: Lelouch is subject to this every time he has a really bad dream.

** {{spoiler|Talbumosuke}} too, but only in an omake.

* [[Chekhov's Boomerang]]: In chapter 72 Chizuru [[It Makes Sense in Context|throws a fake rock onto an ice rink to force Ichigo and Orihime apart]] and [[Epic Fail|fails miserbly]] to do so. The second half of the now broken rock is tripped over later in the chapter by Susanna and she stumbles into Lelouch’s arms.

* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: That flying device that Yoruichi had? Yeah, Lelouch uses it to {{spoiler|''kill Aizen''}}.

* [[Christmas Episode]]: The aptly named ch 72 [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Lelouch's White Chirstmas]]

* [[Circles of Hell]]

* [[Combat Pragmatist]]: According to Mia, most arrancar have a similar philosophy.

* [[Comically Missing the Point]]: Rukia says that she'll replace Byakuya's flowers when her rabbit eats them, before {{spoiler|Hisana }} calls her on this.

'''Eien Tamashi''': You're missing the point! }}

** Yoruichi during her [[Naked First Impression]] to Ichigo with Lelocuh present

'''Lelouch''': [[Lampshade Hanging|I think you're kind of missing the point there Yoruichi]]. }}

* [[Complete Monster]]: {{spoiler|The Inked Alliance}} is {{spoiler|not only}} responsible for the Soul Chess version of 9/11{{spoiler|, but also responsible for Ginjo's [[Start of Darkness]] by pointlessly breaking into his house and killed his mother and girlfriend Natsumi.}}

** In chapter 53, Hisana tells Lelouch that if the Head Captain wanted his input he'd ask for it directly. In chapter 70, Yamamoto asks Lelouch to {{spoiler|Lead the battle against Talbumosuke as the tactician}}.

* [[Creator Cameo]]: Both the omake writer and the author appear in the 100th chapter omake. [[Author Avatar|Sort of]]

* [[Curb Stomp Battle]]: Happens every now and then. Some are done well others...not so much

* [[Darkest Hour]]: [[Wham! Episode|Chapter 123]]. {{spoiler|[[The Bad Guy Wins|Aizen WON]], Seireitei is conquered, Captain-Commander Yamamoto is [[Oh Crap|DEAD]], and Unohana is captured by the enemy. To put it simply, [[HSQ|HOLY SHIT!!!]]}}

* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: Lelouch thinks that he's invincible because {{spoiler|he saw himself as a captain}}. [[Word of God]] says that it's a parallel to teenagers who think that they're bullet-proof, and completely immune to addiction of any kind.

** In chapter 53, Hisana lampshades the following conversation

'''Renji''': Only if you don't have a glove }}

** [[It Makes Sense in Context]] since they're trying to get Kon's pill out of his plush body and Renji doesn't have on of those special skull symbol gloves, which is the glove he's referring to.

** In chapter 64, while [[Vampiric Draining|having his reiatsu absorbed by Mia]]

* [[Doorstopper]]: At over one million words at the time of writing, this definitely qualifies.

* [[Driven to Suicide]]: Several Togabito because Lelouch and the others mention Rita and she’s supposed to be a myth. And they’re the good guys.

* [[Dungeon Bypass]]: The second [[Circles of Hell|circle of hell]] is a fighting arena where, those who want to test their skill, or explore the lower regions, must fight for their lives. Upon the reveal that Kokuto is the [[Asskicking Equals Authority|187th strongest]], the other fighters [[Bring My Brown Pants|give up before the match starts]].

* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Ikumi Unagiya appears in chapter 72 while the Arrancar dilemma is still the main plot line.

** The reinforcements from soul society have Lelouch as [[The Hero]], {{spoiler|Hisana and Kaien}} are [[The Lancer]], {{spoiler|Kukaku}} and Renji represent [[The Big Guy]], and Rukia, Susanna and Rangiku are [[The Chick|chicks]].

** Orihime suggested that if he turned out to be a nice guy, Shinji could be the [[Sixth Ranger]]. As of chapter 60, he officially becomes this

* [[Fix Fic]]: Lelouch sets out to turn this into one.

* [[Flat What]]: Ichigo's reaction to {{spoiler|[[It Makes Sense in Context|Kaien kidnapping Rukia]]}}.

** In chapter 73 it's mentioned that Lelouch might respond to the call of vigilantism again and at the during the Lelouch and the Law arc he tells Byakuya he'd always help him out in anyway he could if he needed it. {{spoiler|in chapter 99 it's revealed that Lelouch and Byakuya are working together against Muramasa, while [[Fake Defector|pretending]] to betray the Soul Society}}.

** Ichigo's comment in chapter 106 when Isshin is going to an overseas trip for a medical conference for a week pretty much said it all.

* [[For Want of a Nail]]: Inverted. {{spoiler|The series basically inserts Lelouch into Bleach 126 years ago}}. Major changes have happened to [[The Stations of the Canon]] of [[Bleach]] as a result. Of course...

** [[In Spite of a Nail]]: That doesn't mean anything worth a damn for {{spoiler|The [[Code Geass]] universe}} due to the {{spoiler|[[Temporal Paradox]]}}. Makes it blatantly impossible to [[Set Right What Once Went Wrong]]

* [[Fourth Wall Mail Slot]]: The "Ask Eien Tamashi" segments of the Newsletters.

* [[Freudian Slip]]: "Six, '''SIX!'''"

* [[Genre Savvy]]: While heavily outclassed in this department by people like Lelouch, Kaien does realise and suspect that an enemy building could be booby-trapped.

* [[Genre Shift]]: The series turns into a Courtroom Drama for an entire arc.

* [[Not Quite Dead]]: Double subverted. {{spoiler|Yuna lives just long enough to say goodbye}}.

* [[Non Sequitur Thud]]: Yammy in chapter 76. Oh dear god were those statements completely unlinked.

* [[Oh Crap]]: Ikkaku flips out when Shisato abandons him to Yachiru.

** Cornelia's face in chapter 58 when she realizes her infantile brother Lelouch is missing.

** Fixed. {{spoiler|Aizen tried to get Tousen to kill Lelouch.}} Guess he decided not to take any chances.

** Ichigo in chapter 69 when Tatsuki tells him that Orihime went off on her own before class starts he immediately assumes something bad will happen to Orihime and goes after her. {{spoiler|It’s a [[Attempted Rape|good thing he did]]}}

* Rape as Comedy: Rangiku [[Ass Shove|preparing to shove a stick up Haineko]] is used as this.

* [[Rape as Drama]]: Mayuri {{spoiler|had a hollow [[Squick|impregnate Nemu]]}}.

* [[Sex Is Violence]]: One of the Omakes has Unohana mentioning that she would have to beat the shit out of Zaraki before she could do anything.

* [[Sidetracked by the Analogy]]: Rita in ch 125

* [[Ship Sinking]]: [[Ichi Ruki]] fans better turn away because as of chapter 54, it officially sinks! {{spoiler|Rukia is engaged to Kaien.}}

'''Ichigo''': Yeah that's for sure. }}

* [[Ship Tease]]: The author is still keeping us in suspense with Lelouch's love life. {{spoiler|Ichigo seems to have been cemented with Orihime}}

** Lelouch's Story Arc: Chapters 1-9 are the Awakening Arc. 10-14 is the Prelude to the Chess Game. Chapters 15-20 make up the Lelouch and Yuna arc, followed by the Rise of the Black King, chapters 21-28. Most recently, we have chapters 29-34, which make up the Phantoms of Justice arc.

** Ichigo's Story Arc: Chapters 35-39 are the Prelude to the Final Game. Chapters 40-48 is the Eye of the Storm, a call back to the authors notes in chapter 35. Chapters 49-50 are the {{spoiler|Free Lelouch}} arc, 51-60 are the Visored arc, 61-67 is the Rescue Orihime arc, 68-74 is the Training arc, and 75-82 is the Battle for Karakura Town arc. Next is the {{spoiler|Yuna Returns}} arc, at Chapters 83-85, Chapters 86-90 is the {{spoiler|Fall of Talbumosuke}} arc ([[Trailers Always Spoil|both are spoiled]] [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|for good reasons]]), Chapters 91-93 is the Lelouch and the Law arc, and Chapters 94-105 is the Reapers and Heralds arc, Chapters 106-110 is the Different Bonds arc, Chapters 111-115 is the Demon Within arc, Chapters 116-119 is the Fullbringer arc, Chapter 120 is a [[Take That]] to the Reigai arc, and Chapter 121 begins the {{spoiler|[[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Aizen's Revenge]]}} arc.

** The second newsletter outlines all of the upcoming arcs. [[Word of God]] doesn't want them put here on the off chance [[Aborted Arc|things go awry]]

* [[Strong Family Resemblance]]: Ichigo and Tatsuki notice how Rukia and Hisana look almost identical, and of course everyone still comments on how uncanny the resemblance is between Ichigo and Kaien.

* [[There Are No Therapists]]: Well, not since the budget cuts.

* [[There Is No Kill Like Overkill]]: Uryu used Licht Regen... on Shawlong.

* [[The Rival]]: Grimmjow and Ichigo explicitly decide to become this to each other in chapter 66

* [[The Starscream]]: Baraggan natch.

** Mia utters this almost word for word when Kaien [[Heroic Second Wind|gets his second wind]] during their third battle.

** In one battle {{spoiler|against Baraggan}} [[Dangerously Genre Savvy|Talbumosuke]] mocks the use of this trope

* [[Throw the Dog a Bone]]: After all of the abuse, [[Butt Monkey|Keigo]] finally gets to spend some time with Ichigo.

* [[Title Drop]]: In chapter 98, Lelouch claims to be playing a game of Soul Chess.

* [[When All You Have Is a Hammer]]: Kukaku's plan to help her and Ichigo land safely.

* [[Who's on First?]]: Done in the [[Yu-Gi-Oh!]] omake

'''Kaien''': *frustrated* No, you know what? Forget it. Let's just play. }}

* [[Willfully Weak]]: The Espada in the Battle of Karakura arc. According to Ulquiorra and Kira, Talbumosuke wants the Espada to remain in Resurreccion. If they find themselves hard pressed they should flee. [[Word of God]] has confirmed this, saying that this is part of a grand scheme of Talbumosuke’s to gather information on the enemy in battle and then go in with an actual plan with his army at full strength.

* [[You Need to Get Laid]]: Eien Tamashi certainly thinks so.

** It finally happens in chapter 33.

* [[You Remind Me of X]]: When Keshiba asks Lelouch {{spoiler|why Lelouch made him the orange phantom}}, Lelouch says that he reminds him of someone that he used to call by that name.

** Happened again when {{spoiler|Lelouch first meets Orihime in chapter 56 and telling her how much she reminds him of Shirley so much that it left him in sadness before asking her to act as Shirley temporarily in order for Lelouch to have temporary peace before meeting Shirley again in 17 years time.}}

 

{{reflist}}