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[[folder: Tropes M-O]]
* MadeOfIron: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] but also partly averted--characters get hurt badly a number of times, take time to recover, and have to be careful about side-effects and after-effects.
* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: Vachir, thanks to being the MadeOfIron ImplacableMan [[spoiler:as well as the HealingFactor provided by Chao's dark chi]].
-->'''Vachir''': ''(after being hurled the entire length of a bridge, slamming into a wall, and leaving an'' ''ImpactSilhouette)'' Sorry to disappoint ya. Was that supposed to tickle?
* MakingASplash: In the fic's setting, high-level kung fu masters can manipulate chi so as to create and/or control various ElementalPowers (although these are the Chinese elements, of course, not Western) based on the year of their birth. Po's elemental ability is revealed to be water, which aside from the usual sorts of attacks and powers (some right out of [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Katara]]'s book) also allows him to cleanse and purify [[spoiler:which is how he removes Heian Chao's corruption from the Pool of Sacred Tears]].
* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: After the defeat of Heian Chao, Tai Lung and Tigress celebrate by having sex in countless unusual places outside of their respective bedrooms--in the training hall, the bathhouse, the scroll room, behind the arena bleachers, in the pantry, and on the floor of the Hall of Warriors by the Moon Pool. The given explanation is a cross between OvercomeWithDesire, wanting to make up for lost time, and getting their fill before the Emperor arrives, but it wouldn't be surprising if the risk and thrill of getting caught (or watched) factored into it, at least on Tai Lung's part. In any event, HilarityEnsues.
* MalignantPlotTumor: What starts out as a story about Tai Lung redeeming himself, making friends, learning to lighten up, and being accepted turns into a battle to take out assassins, a serial killer, and a dark chi wizard threatening all of China.
* MamaBear: Xiulan is willing to stand up to Master Shifu and the entire Jade Palace crew, the Dragon Warrior (who as much as he's a NiceGuy is still a legendary figure of kung fu to be accorded respect), the Wu Sisters, and ''especially'' Tai Lung when it comes to protecting her little daughter, Yi. Other than the Sisters, this is misguided but understandable after her having lost her first husband in the snow leopard's rampage. [[spoiler:It's also a large part of how Heian Chao is able to influence and control her.]]
* ManipulativeBitch: Xiu, in the extreme—since as noted here and on the YMMV page, what is probably her worst act would be killing her own father while framing Jia for it, yet also managing to make Jia believe ''she'' was to blame so that she would obediently stay under her thumb as an assassin for fifteen years.
* MasterOfIllusion: Chao uses such an ability [[spoiler:to disguise the briefly-possessed Xiu [[LieToTheBeholder as Tai Lung]]]] during the {{Frameup}}.
* MasturbationMeansSexualFrustration: After the "Truth or Dare" game, [[spoiler: where Tai Lung and Tigress share their FirstKiss]], it's stated in the next chapter that when Tai Lung got back to his room, the experience had been so intense and blissful that he'd had to...take matters in paw.
* TheMatchmaker: As soon as she realizes Tai Lung has romantic designs on Tigress, Viper does anything and everything she can to help them get together, ranging from contriving ways to get them in close proximity at the Ghost Festival, to planning a "Truth or Dare" game culminating in a kiss between them, to actually instructing the snow leopard in the ways of courting (specifically, getting close to Tigress). Also applies to Mei Ling to an extent, who once she learns of the situation embarks on OperationJealousy to help.
* MayDecemberRomance: Tai Lung is almost twenty years older than Tigress ([[spoiler:and Jia is about the same age difference from Po]]). Xiulan is also much older than Zhuang.
* MeaningfulEcho:
** "You didn't see anything." "Sure did, every last beautiful moment." Also, with original movie dialogue, "If that's the way you want it..." "That's the way it has to be!" [[spoiler:Said by Xiu and Po, of all people.]] Crane's "Don't mention it. Ever," spoken this time to Tai Lung and in a completely different manner. And the "You cannot defeat me! You're just a big. Fat. PANDA!" "No, I'm/he's THE big fat panda." exchange appears again, with Xiu the one who refuses to believe and [[NotSoAboveItAll Tigress]] responding on Po's behalf.
** An example where an entire passage of text is echoed--the very opening lines of the fic, where Shifu first visits Tai Lung in his cell, are echoed when he visits him again later [[spoiler:after he's been arrested for murdering Shen Zhuang]]. Considering the second one is an example of whether the snow leopard has truly changed due to the offer made in the first, the parallel drawn is apt.
** Another example of an entire passage of text appearing again--the dream Tai Lung had of Tigress slipping into his bed, only for it to turn out [[spoiler:Jia was there for real]], is reused when Tigress genuinely does come to Tai Lung's bedroom after they are finally together as a couple. Amusingly, the similarity is enough for [[MediumAwareness Tai Lung himself to notice it]], and thus test Tigress to ensure he isn't dreaming again.
** One with particular emotional resonance: Jia's IronicLastWords to Wu Xuan as she embraced him, before [[{{Patricide}} Xiu killed him]], were "I've come home." At the end of the story, after Mei Ling invites her mother (and Jia's stepmother) Xu Mei to the Valley, they also embrace...and after Xu Mei [[{{Forgiveness}} asks her to come home]], Jia replies, "I ''am'' home."
* MeaningfulName:
** Heian Chao means [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "The Great Dark One."]] [[labelnote:*]]Literally, "surpassing darkness".[[/labelnote]] He obviously [[MeaningfulRename chose it himself]]. His original name was something of one too, since Xun, meaning "quick", references [[spoiler:his species]].
** Wei Chang means "Towering and Smooth," which is clearly meant to be ironic (whether taken literally due to his wrinked elephant skin, or figuratively since he's not especially eloquent or fast on his mental feet).
** Shen Zhuang means "Robust and Strong", "Deep Thinker".
** Yi means "Gift" (or "Joy").
** Xiulan means "Elegant Orchid." Also somewhat ironic.
** Xiu means "Graceful," Chun means "Spring" (or "Honest"), and Jia means "Beautiful." [[spoiler:Or "Good".]] Given at birth, before it was known what they'd be, but also by an assassin mother [[GenreSavvy who planned to raise them in the family business]].[[note]]Although the family name given below actually translates to "no" or "without", thus negating these positive aspects.[[/note]]
** Wu Qing, the mother of the Wu Sisters, has a name which means "Pitiless", "Merciless" and "Ruthless", while Xu Mei, the mother of Mei Ling, means "Beautiful Sunrise". The contradiction between them could not be more obvious. Xuan's name, meanwhile, means "High/Chosen Warrior", which fits his background as nobility in Kunlun Shan, but also applies to his being an Imperial bodyguard, his being Chen's close personal friend (and Yong's), and his place in the backstory for how he acts as a role model and inspiration to Mei, Jia, and even Chun to some degree.
** [[spoiler:Tai Lung]]'s given name, Qiao Gang, means "Handsome, Hard, and Unbending". His father's name, Yong, means "Brave or Bold", his mother's, Jian, means "Determined or Resolute", and his brother De, TheCasanova who ReallyGetsAround (and possibly will [[ExtremeOmnisexual go after anyone who has a pulse]]), has an IronicName meaning "Virtue".
* MenAreTheExpendableGender: {{Zigzagged|Trope}}. Two of the most prominent female characters in the story, Mei Ling and Xiulan, are motivated by male deaths in {{Backstory}}, Mei by her father Wu Xuan (except he is given enough personality, value, and backstory, and is remembered and honored often enough--especially in the vignettes--to subvert the trope), Xiulan by her first husband Dishi [[spoiler:and then by her current husband Zhuang]]. The two deaths with the greatest EmotionalTorque in the story are both men ([[spoiler:Zhuang]] and Vachir), and while the latter starts out extremely unsympathetic, this changes simply due to the suffering he's put through (and a bit of {{Backstory}}) while the former immediately starts out sympathetic and ends up motivating a large number of characters to acts of heroism (in fact he is, as noted below, TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth, a trope usually reserved for women). While both Chang and his wife are put through horrific torture, it's Chang who suffers the worst (and this despite being extremely unsympathetic to begin with as well) and is treated as such. While the BigBad is male, many readers considered the eldest Wu Sister, Xiu, to be far worse as a villain, and while his fate is more graphic and violent, hers remains filled with subtle and disturbing horror which did ''not'' inspire sympathy in the vast majority of readers. And the only ones of the Five to come close to dying are male, with one of them receiving a fair amount of mourning time from the other characters. The closest the trope comes to being played straight is through the victims Vachir/Chao murders...but the genders of most of them are never specified. Tai Lung does consider himself expendable compared to the others (particularly [[HeterosexualLifePartners Po]] and [[LoveInterest Tigress]]), but this is due to being TheAtoner and the nature of his crimes, not his gender.
* MercyKill: Tai Lung to [[spoiler:Vachir.]] Partly it's because the latter is dying from a fatal injury there is no way to treat under the circumstances, and so he wants the pain to end, but mostly it's to keep Chao from reinstating the DemonicPossession that prior to this had made it so [[ICannotSelfTerminate he couldn't end his misery himself]].
* MetaphorIsMyMiddleName: Tai Lung uses this early on, in reference to his [[{{Determinator}} tenacity]], though as usual subverted since he notes he doesn't have a middle name.
* MexicanStandoff: When the Wu Sisters are holding Ping captive in his kitchen, Jia is desperate to save him because he is Po's adopted father (the sisters knew the panda's biological family, and had promised to help keep an eye on him). So she ends up putting a knife to Xiu's throat even as she in turn is menacing the goose...and then Chun does the same to Jia. For several very tense minutes the three are involved in GunpointBanter to try and resolve the situation; eventually Chun realizes Jia is right and switches so they're both menacing Xiu...but then another person comes into the kitchen, upsetting the balance. [[KilledOffForReal It doesn't end well]].
* MightyGlacier: Vachir. When Tai Lung fights him one-on-one in Chorh-Gom, the snow leopard is left incredibly battered, bleeding, and bruised afterward, especially after the rhino employs Thai fighting against him. He is also able to ''punch holes into stone walls'' (being left uninjured by this is due to [[spoiler:the dark chi possession of Chao]], and is an example of MadeOfIron, but it also shows how much strength the rhino has to do it in the first place). As for being slow? Prime example would be when Tai Lung and Tigress are charging toward him to deliver a double thrust-kick to his stomach, and Vachir can't get out of the way in time.
* MistakenForGay:
** In Chapter 17, while staying in an inn at Yunxian village, Po overhears Tigress and Viper having a conversation and, hoping it was pertaining to Tai Lung, decides to walk in on them... and is greeted by Tigress holding Viper in her arms, faces dangerously close to each other, and with tears in their eyes. They were actually apologizing for their actions towards each other during their trip to the Thread of Hope several chapters back, but Po, as much as he tries to deny it, thought something else.
--->'''Tigress:''' We ''know'' what you thought.
--->'''Po:''' Not that there's anything wrong with that!
** Near the end of the story, Ping walks in on Tai Lung and Po just as the former is holding out an orange to the latter ([[ItMakesSenseInContext the fruit is used as part of the New Year's festival]], wherein [[ShownTheirWork someone who loves another writes their name on it, then throws it in water to be carried to the deity of love]]). Ping responds, "Son, was there something you wanted to tell me?"
* ModestRoyalty: Played with. When Emperor Chen appears at the end of the story, he's decked out in the rich and regal robes you'd expect for the Lord of Ten Thousand Years. However, as soon as the formalities are dispensed with, he takes off his robes to spar shirtless with Tai Lung, then joins Po and the snow leopard in the kitchen dressed more simply and acting far more relaxed, even insisting they call him by name and that [[JustTheFirstCitizen he'd do away with formal titles entirely if he could get away with it]].
* ModestyBedsheet: Occurs after Tai Lung and Tigress's second sex scene; amusingly, the sheet isn't even mentioned during the act itself (although this does suggest the realistic point that those in the middle of sex aren't likely to notice or remark upon the bedding, and also keeps it from being intrusive). Luckily for the cats, they must have pulled the sheet up JustInTime, since it happens to cover his waist and her chest right when [[spoiler:[[ParentsWalkInAtTheWorstTime Shifu]]]] appears in the doorway--also [[JustifiedTrope justifying the trope]] since, while they wouldn't have wanted to be caught by anyone, they especially wouldn't have wanted it to be him.
* MommyIssues: Played with. While Wu Qing didn't beat her children, there was more than enough verbal abuse to justify turning out badly.
* MoodWhiplash: Deliberate contrasts in emotion and tone are set up at several points in the story, with a placement to suggest either irony, the GenreShift going on (i.e. horror intruding on action and comedy), or a GutPunch depending on circumstances. Chapter 17 starts with a fun slumber party scene (complete with "Truth or Dare"), only to segue into a gruesome murder; Chapter 24 consists of first Mantis, then Viper helping a pathetic Tai Lung learn how to romance Tigress only to switch to [[spoiler:possessed]] Vachir threatening a family and murdering their child; Chapter 33 starts with a ChewOutFakeOut when [[spoiler:Shifu]] catches Tigress and Tai Lung in bed together and banter courtesy of Viper and Mei Ling, switches to a dark and grim foray into the mind of Heian Chao (complete with [[spoiler:his corruption of the Sacred Pool]]), only to jump back to Tai Lung desperately trying to buy birth control herbs from the apothecary, and ''then'' seeing Chao's dark chi invading the Valley; and in Chapter 38, the tension and distress of the trial and near-execution is finally relieved after Chao's power is broken by plenty of hugging and renewed bonds of friendships, two couples being openly established by public kisses, and then finally Tai Lung's opium MushroomSamba.
* MoreThanMindControl: Chao's possession, while obviously fueled by TheDarkSide and TheCorruption, also is made more effective by the fact he manipulates his victims into giving in/joining him/carrying out his desires by tapping into their own secret urges, inflaming their vices or flaws, or otherwise encouraging them to act on their own beliefs and choices. Whether it's [[spoiler:Vachir]]'s desire for {{Revenge}} and KnightTemplar tendencies, [[spoiler:Monkey]]'s jealousy and possessiveness when it comes to Tigress, Tai Lung's pride and fiery temper, or Xiulan and the rest of the village's willingness to believe the worst of the snow leopard, it's a very twisted and disturbing phenomenon seeing how quickly characters can be made to submit, give away their will, or [[BeneathTheMask let loose their own inner demons]]. The fact Chao is directly influencing LifeEnergy (and thus the essence of a person's spirit and consciousness) just makes it all the more believable, and unsettling.
* MrExposition: Thanks to the fact he has personal knowledge of Chao that no one else does, Oogway provides several {{Infodump}}s regarding his powers, {{Backstory}}, and even some of his EvilPlan (couched in [[VaguenessIsComing generalities]] or prophecies, of course) to both Tai Lung and Shifu. Yet he also has to spend a fair amount of time explaining his own rationales and philosophies to the snow leopard to get him to even listen (and forgive), and at the end of the story he even explains the meaning of previously obscure plot points, makes suppositions about the future, and summons other spirits to help bring closure and explanations for some dangling plot threads.
* MrFanservice:
** [[HalfDressedCartoonAnimal Tai Lung]], being a very large and muscular male who goes around [[WalkingShirtlessScene perpetually shirtless]] most of the time, was already eye-candy for viewers who are into men, at least if they also didn't mind (or were attracted to) villains...but since in this story he's a protagonist [[TheAtoner on his way]] to [[RedemptionQuest becoming a hero]], it's even easier for readers to be drawn to him. Ironically, the author actually gives him a proper shirt ([[SleevesAreForWimps sleeveless]], of course), but that doesn't stop there being plenty of scenes where it gets removed (training scenes, as well as ones involving construction and repair work), and even one bathhouse scene where he's wearing only a towel.
** Emperor Chen, despite [[SilverFox being seventy-some years old]], is revealed at the end of the story to be in incredible muscular shape, which gets shown off in his own ShirtlessScene where he performs in a kung fu tournament exhibition with Tai Lung, to the excitement (and swooning) of many of the ladies watching.
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Downplayed, since it's only accomplished by word choice and a certain philosophical vagueness to add portent, but the scene where Shifu builds up what Tai Lung's first new lesson will be, only for it to turn out to be repairwork (and the "amazing" weapon being a hammer) certainly makes such a mundane activity and tools seem more exciting and meaningful than they really are. And while the observations Shifu makes have a great deal of truth to them, and performing such things will teach Tai Lung humility he sorely needs (thus justifying the stress being placed upon them), it's also fairly clear the red panda is {{Troll}}ing the snow leopard to some degree. The fact this is a {{Motif}} for the fic (referenced in its title, no less) and highly symbolic doesn't hurt.
* MurderTheHypotenuse: After learning of Tai Lung's romantic interest in Tigress, [[HopelessSuitor Jia]] threatens on several occasions to kill Tigress so she can claim the snow leopard for herself. However, in the end she doesn't go through with it.
* MushroomSamba:
** As mentioned under MoodWhiplash, Tai Lung goes through a downplayed version of this after his trial, when the opium the town guards drugged him with to keep him docile starts taking stronger effect. Highlights include him wanting to ribbon-dance with Viper, calling Shifu "Baba" and trying to hug him, praising Ping's soup, and demanding "to see a fat, black-and-white, fuzzy panda this instant!"
** Also referenced much earlier, and indirectly, when Po catches Tai Lung and Tigress arguing in the forest after the former declares his love for the latter: "Or maybe Po needed to check just how many mushrooms he'd put in his stew, or the felines'. Because the next time he heard them talk, they were so at odds with each other, and saying things he never thought he'd hear, that the panda wasn't sure which, if any of them, had lost their sanity."
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Tai Lung's point of no return from the movie, rejecting his father's apology and love and almost killing him for the Dragon Scroll, becomes this to him once he's no longer controlled by rage and hatred. To an extent, the rampage itself also becomes this, but it's mostly that act of filial impiety. Another key moment of CharacterDevelopment.
* MyGreatestFailure:
** Tai Lung speaks during the "Truth or Dare" of a time when he was young and had rushed to save travelers who were caught hanging on the Thread of Hope after it broke and fell; interestingly, it seems this actually contributed to his becoming a FallenHero, since the lesson he took from it was that he "wasn't strong enough" and it's his drive [[ThePerfectionist to be the best]] or else he'll be worthless that ends up breaking him when he is turned down by Oogway.
** After clearly understanding just why Tai Lung turned out the way he did, Shifu has come to view how he raised the snow leopard to be his biggest mistake and regret, and so he is now determined to do whatever it takes to atone and help his son become the hero he should have been.
** Jia, meanwhile, considers her father Wu Xuan's death to be her greatest failure, since she believes that he would never have died if she hadn't attempted to keep him in her life and thus encourage Xiu to kill him for [[MoralityChain "holding her back."]]
** [[spoiler:Oogway also happens to have his fair share of failures, all involving Xun Chao and how his inability to see his student's FatalFlaw led to him falling into darkness and the deaths of all his fellow students and many innocent children, as well as the fact that imprisoning him rather than killing him is part of what led to Tai Lung's own descent into villainy.]]
* MySkullRunnethOver: [[spoiler:Xiu, after she is 'gifted' with Chao's dark chi, discovers that, as the falcon himself puts it, a mortal mind cannot handle the full depth and power of so much arcane knowledge, and so she is driven (more) insane. While some of it is also due to Po breaking the connection between them before Chao can drain her chi, this is also why she ends up catatonic and locked within her own mind.]]
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Heian Chao, “the Great Dark One”.
* NationalAnimalStereotypes: Aside from the obvious (Po and his panda stereotypes, snow leopards being native to Tibet), the author explicitly references several males who once attracted Tigress's eye as having species connected with their homelands--a [[SavageWolves wolf mercenary]] from [[MotherRussiaMakesYouStrong Siberia]], a [[AsianFoxSpirit fox from Japan]], a [[ImperialChina tiger from the capital]], and [[EndangeredSpecies a Gir lion from India]]. Additionally, the Great Khan is described as [[HotBlooded a wolverine]], Chao is [[spoiler:an Amur falcon]], and Oogway is suggested to be native to Galapagos, while Emperor Chen [[TigerVersusDragon is also a tiger]].[[note]](Interestingly, he's specifically noted to be an Amur, which while this may have been chosen due to the subspecies' larger size and thicker fur also implies his family originally came from outside China, or at least the very northern provinces.)[[/note]] One notable exception is making Vachir and most other rhinos be Mongolian in origin, despite those in the film being Javan in appearance, due to the Anvil of Heaven being placed at Chorh-Gom and Vachir's name being Mongolian for "thunderbolt"; this is addressed in one of the sequel vignettes when Vachir reflects on his family having Javan ancestry but having relocated to live among the Mongolian steppe tribes many generations ago. Other examples occur in the sequel vignettes and shuffles as well.
* {{Necromancer}}: Chao. A bit of logic may apply in precisely how he gained this ability, since when his {{Backstory}} is eventually told, it is revealed that he was once a great healer and, had he stayed on the side of good, could have been the best doctor in the empire. I.e., as a master of ''chi'' he could already manipulate LifeEnergy. May also tie into how he can perform a SummoningRitual.
* NeverFoundTheBody: Tigress points out regarding [[spoiler:Mantis]] that, because he was dropped from an arrow slit inside Chorh-Gom, and no one was able to find his body, there was still a good chance he might be alive, despite him having been badly battered at the time. [[GenreSavvy And it turns out she was right]].
* NeverHeardThatOneBefore: Unsurprisingly, Tai Lung's thought during the roofing work, when Monkey heckles him about "taking a catnap", is "Like I haven't heard that one a million times before. How brilliantly original!" Unlike most examples of the trope, however, Monkey isn't saying this to be genuinely funny, or out of true ignorance, but a deliberate attempt to get a rise out of the snow leopard.
* NeverMyFault: Since Heian Chao is not only the BigBad, but a WellIntentionedExtremist ([[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil originally]]) who believes IDidWhatIHadToDo, it's to be expected he would blame others for his own mistakes and choices. However, it takes quite the self-delusion, moral dissonance, and ImplausibleDeniability to claim, right after having killed [[spoiler:all of his fellow students]], that it is ''their'' fault because he didn't ''want'' to kill them but they "got in his way".
* NewEraSpeech: Chao informs Xiu, rather bombastically, that Tai Lung's chi will let him bring about a "new order which all of China sorely needs" in which "the weak shall be strong" and "the world will never be the same. It will be ''better''." He later gives Tai Lung a different outline, focused on how he will supposedly use his power to ensure all who serve and obey him will never have to [[CrapsackWorld suffer and die]] or [[LoveHurts lose anyone they love]].
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Played with in several examples.
** The revelation that Chao [[spoiler:has [[AnIcePerson power over ice chi]]]], which is both [[{{Foreshadowing}} Foreshadowed]] and makes perfect sense for such a powerful master of chi, ends up not mattering when he has to face [[spoiler:[[RedOniBlueOni the pairing of Tai Lung and Po's Fire and Water chi]]]].
** While the protection which Oogway has Shifu set up over the Jade Palace as a barrier between Chao and the Heroes does come out of nowhere, Oogway describes it as one only a master with balanced chi such as Shifu can employ, and only when Chao's power has been broken--i.e., it literally could not be used until certain plot elements had occurred. Also, it too ends up being fairly insignificant in the FinalBattle: although it prevents the BigBad from possessing or outright controlling his opponents, he's still quite able to use dark chi to horrific effect on [[spoiler:Tigress and Jia]], as well as strongly influence both [[HotBlooded Tai Lung]] and [[HeroicBSOD Po]]'s emotions. The barrier [[DramaPreservingHandicap only provides the Heroes enough wiggle room to still fight]], with it being the combination of Tai Lung and Po's chi and kung fu [[spoiler:and Tigress [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice throwing]] the [[HolyBurnsEvil Golden Spear]]]] that finally does Chao in.
** Finally, even [[spoiler:the Urn of Whispering Warriors being able to [[SealedGoodInACan release]] the [[BadassArmy Warriors of Tenshu]]]] and [[spoiler:the Sword of Heroes being able to seal [[SummoningRitual gateways to the underworld]]]], as useful and sudden as these abilities seem to be, aren't precisely played straight, seeing as this doesn't contradict anything revealed by the movie, the KFP website, or ''Art of Kung Fu Panda''.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Po's usage of the Wuxi Finger Hold also freed Chao.]]
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Initially, Chao's attempt to use the murder of [[spoiler:Zhuang]] to turn the PeoplePuppet villagers of the Valley against Tai Lung was a [[GenreSavvy brilliant]] scheme which took advantage of the snow leopard being viewed as a FalselyReformedVillain with a OnceDoneNeverForgotten past. But once the truth comes out who really killed him, and Shifu and Po succeed in freeing the villagers from his control, this same plot is what sways even die-hard haters like Xiulan to Tai Lung's side, and compels Tai Lung and Shifu to seek Chao out in his lair. [[VillainBall Oops]].
* NightOfTheLivingMooks: Thanks to Chao's {{Necromanc|er}}y, [[spoiler:the Anvil of Heaven]] returns as an army of zombies and skeletons to battle the heroes. While they have a finite number rather than endlessly spawning, they do seem to be fairly unkillable and can't be stopped until [[spoiler:Vachir]] is freed from DemonicPossession. [[spoiler:And when it's a large proportion out of a thousand troops, that's a lot to swarm with.]]
* NobodyCallsMeChicken: As evidenced twice--once in the past from his friend Master Dog, once in the present from Mantis [[spoiler:when possessing Monkey]], Chao's pride is such that [[BerserkButton he cannot bear]] being called a coward. Whether his response afterward proves or disproves his cowardice is debatable, as he certainly proves he isn't averse to entering into fierce, even vicious combat [[spoiler:and he kills, or he thinks he kills, the accuser in question]], but attacking those who call him out rather than admitting he could be wrong is still pretty cowardly.
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished:
** Happens twice to Tai Lung, once when his working to [[spoiler:save Po's life]] after the Wu Sisters' attack leads to Tigress and Monkey accusing him of [[spoiler:the panda's murder]], and a far worse one when his deciding to turn back to help Xiulan instead of returning to the palace (and establishing an alibi) gets him locked up and put on trial [[spoiler:for Zhuang's murder]]. Yet Tai Lung doesn't use this as an excuse to fall back on villainy--partly because there's plenty of other good things he does that don't result in bad karma for him, partly because he knows the bad karma is actually being [[EnforcedTrope enforced]] by Heian Chao, and partly because in the end his name is cleared.
** Zhuang could be said to suffer from this trope, since [[spoiler:his death comes about due to trying to convince his wife to lay off Tai Lung, and trying to save Ping's life]], but since he still succeeds in clearing Tai Lung's name and [[spoiler:his daughter will be well looked after]] it's debatable whether he views what happens as a punishment--certainly not one to justify refusing to do good deeds.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: [[TookALevelInBadass Po of all people]], as well as Tigress, administer one of these to Xiu at Wu Dan. An even worse one occurs during the final battle, when Tai Lung uses almost every single kung fu technique he knows, in rapid, random succession, to take Xiu out. Both times, she [[ManipulativeBitch most definitely deserved it]]. Chao also received one at the hands of Po and Tai Lung, while Tai Lung himself received one from Vachir.
* NoodleIncident
** The contents of Oogway's more explicit love letters.
** Also, the third usage of the Wuxi Finger Hold, which was actually a RuleOfThree / RuleOfFunny gag and never meant to be explained. [[spoiler:Although it's entirely possible, after the third movie, that this could be [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence sending the one it's used on to the Spirit Realm]].]]
** After Tigress and Tai Lung start being intimate everywhere they can and Po accidentally walks in on them, he's left in shock and says he can never look at plum juice the same way again.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Tai Lung says this about Vachir, when trying to convince himself he'd died during the escape. And of course, it turns out he was wrong. Also, Jia regarding [[spoiler:Po's throat-slicing]] and Monkey regarding [[spoiler:Mantis]].
* NotAGame: After [[spoiler:nearly being killed by Xiu]] and declaring he now has a "cool" kung fu scar, Po gets lectured by Tigress that lives are in danger, matters are extremely serious, and he needs to stop acting like a cub and grow up.
* NotHelpingYourCase: Tai Lung knows better than to resist arrest, let alone kill any of the guards when they try to arrest him for [[spoiler:Zhuang's murder]] (since even without knowing about [[spoiler:the DemonicPossession]] he was well aware [[ReformedButRejected they'd never allow]] him WrongfulAccusationInsurance). He also is lucky enough not to be [[TheCorpseStopsHere found bent over the victim]], nor does he [[BetterManhandleTheMurderWeapon Manhandle the Murder Weapon]] (since it was removed from the scene). However, his later attempt to escape prison (complete with threatening Shifu's life as a hostage) really doesn't do much to prove his innocence (though in his defense he was suffering from SanitySlippage brought on by the trauma of being imprisoned again). And he does have the unfortunate luck of being found by the city guard right as he was [[GetAholdOfYourselfMan trying to calm]] [[spoiler:Xiulan]] down.
* NothingCanStopUsNow: Inverted and averted--it's one of the heroes who says this regarding their chances in the final battle if they all work together, and despite some hairy moments and coming close to losing [[spoiler:Shifu]], the Heroes win.
* NothingPersonal: Jia tries to pull this trope on Po at Wu Dan, based on the fact she's a PunchClockVillain ForcedIntoEvil who owed him ThePromise. Surprisingly, even though this is all true, she is sincere, and he acknowledges these facts and shows regret for it, [[TookALevelInBadass he still takes her out with the nerve strike]] instead of surrendering and agreeing to their/Chao's terms so [[TellMeAboutMyFather he can learn about his parents]]--because it's ''also'' not personal for him, just something that has to be done if the heroes are to win.
* NotMeThisTime: Thanks to being ReformedButRejected, but believed to be a FalselyReformedVillain, Tai Lung gets this several times--first being accused of [[spoiler:nearly killing Po]], then suspected of Vachir's killings around the Valley (something Xiulan is grudgingly forced to admit wasn't him), and finally put on trial for [[spoiler:killing Zhuang]]. This last one, at least, is helped along not only by his former villainy but also by [[spoiler:the authorities and innocent villagers being under DemonicPossession MoreThanMindControl at the time]].
* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:Xiu]], who suffers not only from a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown but ends up stabbed (front ''and'' back!), yet somehow still has the willpower to get back up and keep fighting, even if it's just to demand chi healing so she can do so. On the heroes' side, [[spoiler:Mantis]], who survives nearly being crushed and then falling into a miles-deep chasm, although this is justified in-story both by his own usage of chi techniques and [[spoiler:[[DeusExMachina the intervention of Oogway]]]].
* NotSoDifferentRemark:
** From the first time he appears in the story, Vachir notices this about himself and Tai Lung (and disliked admitting it), reflecting on the similarities between them in his memories of their first meeting, namely that they were both [[IDidWhatIHadToDo willing to do anything to get what they wanted]] (or [[ItsAllAboutMe felt was due them]]), as well as to achieve vengeance on someone they felt had slighted them. As the story progresses, Tai Lung in turn learns just what a phenomenal fighter the rhino is once they finally end up in combat against each other. After they are left together on the ledge in Chorh-Gom and stories are shared, Vachir reveals how his KnightTemplar attitude led him to fall into HeWhoFightsMonsters, and the rhino understands that his subsequent actions were no better or different than Tai Lung's rampage. [[spoiler:And both of them were pushed into their atrocities by Chao's MoreThanMindControl.]] The snow leopard finally admits that if matters had been different, they could have been friends.
** Tai Lung and Chao also [[MirrorCharacter share a number of traits]]--both the greatest warrior/chi master of their generation, both filled with too much pride and a powerful sense of entitlement, both believing they had a grand destiny from which the turtle was holding them back, both believing they had to go out and make the world a better place/face down a great evil, and willing to do anything to achieve it--and both, of course, falling into darkness and ending up imprisoned by Oogway. Chao himself [[InvokedTrope uses]] these similarities [[WeCanRuleTogether to try and convince Tai Lung to join him]], while Shifu recognizes them in his thoughts when told the story by Oogway.
* NotSoStoic: Tai Lung works extremely hard to keep his emotions, especially those of a more tender and empathetic nature, hidden from everyone out of a combination of uber-masculinity, pride, and a fear of appearing vulnerable. But as Viper, Po, and Tigress work on him over time, this facade cracks to reveal he actually does have a heart (and not one of stone)--especially notable moments are when he is shown the items in Oogway's secret cabinet and realizes the turtle did love him, and when he and Shifu finally reconcile. After this the snow leopard becomes more willing to be open about his feelings, but he still does his best to remain standoffish or at least serious as much as he can, though he also ends up displaying [[NotSoAboveItAll much more of a sense of humor and light-hearted side]].
* NotUsingTheZWord: Averted. When [[spoiler:the Anvil of Heaven is resurrected by Chao]], the story and the characters just call them zombies. Shifu does call them "revenants" at one point, [[PurpleProse which is just a fancy way of saying the same thing]].
* NotWhatItLooksLike:
** Played with (since the characters in question aren't a romantic couple), but Po walks in on Tigress and Viper apologizing to one another after an earlier argument they'd had about Tai Lung--which since they are embracing, with their faces close together, and crying happy tears [[HomoeroticSubtext very much looks like something else]]; not only does Tigress respond with the trope name, but Po immediately tries to downplay his reaction by stating "Not that there's anything wrong with that!"
** Played with in a different way when Tigress [[InterruptedIntimacy walks in on Tai Lung and Jia]] when the latter is sharing the former's bed; it ''is'' what it looks like on one side, since the Wu Sister is trying to seduce Tai Lung, but the latter is only trying to string her along so he can get information about her sisters and their mysterious employer, as well as his missing family. Interestingly, despite Tigress still having a fairly low opinion of Tai Lung at this point, she believes him when he protests that matters weren't as they appeared, since she is focused on getting revenge for the Sisters' earlier attack on Po.
** [[PlayedForDrama Much more seriously and with more dire consequences]], Tigress and Monkey [[MistakenForMurderer catch Tai Lung literally red-handed]], bending over [[spoiler:Po's bleeding, unconscious body]].
* ObfuscatingStupidity: What Mei Ling thinks must be responsible for how Jia, of all people, could have killed their father yet still act so ditzy and flighty. She's wrong of course, though Jia may use it somewhat to make people underestimate her.
* ObliviousToLove: Classic example, in both Crane ''and'' Mei Ling. He's an UnluckyEverydude, [[TwiceShy underconfident]], can't believe [[ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe she would notice him]], and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy wants his beloved to be happy]]. She's a BrokenBird, and believes he must view her as a RichBitch, [[LikeBrotherAndSister he sees her as a sister]], or he thinks an InterspeciesRomance will never work to explain why he's never pursued her, and so has fallen into AttractivenessIsolation. Add in PoorCommunicationKills, CannotSpitItOut, a HatePlague, shake and stir. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools What makes the plot work]] is how in-character it is (at least on Crane's part, and if the ShipTease of ''Secrets of the Furious Five'' is real then he does seem oblivious to Mei's feelings for him), that it is at least partly justified by [[AWizardDidIt Chao's interference]], and that the resolution is genuinely romantic and sweet, as well as PlayedForLaughs.
* ObviouslyEvil: [[DiscussedTrope Referenced]] by Monkey when he mocks Mantis for not having figured out sooner that [[spoiler:he was under DemonicPossession]]: "I was startin' to think I'd have to hit you over the head with it before ya got the point--[[spoiler:[[BlackCloak wear black all the time]], maybe, [[PoisonIsEvil grow oleander]] in the garden, [[NothingButSkulls decorate my room with skulls]]...]]"
* OddFriendship: Tai Lung and Po [[{{Foil}} are about as different]] as can be [[RedOniBlueOni in]] multiple [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan ways]], but eventually they do become friends, and both of them learn more about each other and themselves as a result. While Tai Lung and Yi are more strictly speaking a case of IntergenerationalFriendship, the amount of difference between a nearly-forty-years-old, former villain, hulking snow leopard warrior and a sweet, innocent, five-year-old cow girl is staggering...and yet they too become friends (and playmates!), although in this case it's only Tai Lung who learns something.
* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Repeatedly used on Tai Lung. Vachir does it with [[spoiler:"Come to Chorh-Gom and face me or I'll keep killing people"]], Xiu does it with [[spoiler:"Join my clan or I'll kill Po"]], and Chao himself does it with [[spoiler:"Join me or I'll kill you and resurrect you so you join me anyway"]]. Averted when Tai Lung refuses the last two.
* OffstageVillainy: While the reader gets to see a number of awful things the Wu Sisters do, a great deal of their history as assassins is left undisclosed. Also, their mother, Wu Qing, is terrifying enough to [[MommyIssues twist Xiu around her little finger]] and disturb the battle-hardened Wu Xuan, but the reader never gets to see exactly what she was truly like or was guilty of. Again, this is rectified in the sequel vignettes.
* OhCrap: As might be expected, a number of these moments show up:
** Tai Lung, when he first encounters the Wu Sisters.
** Tai Lung again, when Monkey and Tigress discover him [[spoiler:bent over Po's wounded body]].
** Po, Mei, and the Wu Sisters when they find [[spoiler:Monkey]]'s RoomFullOfCrazy.
** Everyone, when they encounter [[spoiler:the zombie Anvil of Heaven]] at Chorh-Gom.
** Tai Lung and Tigress, when Shifu walks in on them in the bedroom.
** Shifu, when he gets told that Tai Lung has been arrested [[spoiler:for the murder of Zhuang]] and again when Oogway's staff lets him see [[spoiler:Chao's possession of the townsfolk]].
** Everyone, when Chao [[spoiler:summons the yaoguai]].
** Monkey, when he sees Po took on Chao on his own.
** And probably the strongest example in the fic, Chao when he sees [[spoiler:the Golden Spear heading right for him]].
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: While "there are no accidents," yadda yadda and so on, Oogway admits that he was wrong about many things and he feels more than a bit guilty about how things played out. Still, he did say that he believed everything worked out for the best in the end, and that he knew it would.
* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: Played straight at first, but eventually averted. Tai Lung eventually forgives Po for humiliating him, and Tai Lung himself is eventually forgiven for his rampage, but not until after a great deal of time, soul-searching, and grudge-bearing--for the longest time it seems as if the snow leopard will never get over his final battle with Po or acknowledge the panda had done anything worthwhile as a kung fu warrior, and thanks to how terrible his rampage was it seems as if everyone will only remember Tai Lung for that and not any of his heroic deeds which preceded it.
** Prime illustrative quotes--first, Tai Lung regarding Po's humiliation of him during their battle:
-->"Do I have to spell it out?" Tai Lung snarled sarcastically. "You battered me senseless, made me bite my own tail, bounced me off that belly of yours, and turned me into a laughingstock! No one in the village, or the whole valley, will ''ever'' take me seriously again!"

-->The panda winced, looking rather guilty. His voice became evasive, even as his eyes shifted uncomfortably about, never meeting Tai Lung's gimlet gaze. "Yeah, well, ya didn't leave me much choice there, buddy. It was you or me, and you're the one who made it that way. I gave you every chance to call it quits, but you just wouldn't stop—"

-->Tai Lung's nostrils flared. "You ''made'' me...bite...my ''tail''." He seemed very stuck on that point.
** And then regarding his rampage:
-->"And as for who I think I am..." [Tai Lung] drew himself up to his full height, nostrils flaring as he growled softly. "I ''think'' I'm the one who defended this valley when you were knee-high to a grasshopper. I ''know'' I'm the one who kept the peace and protected all the outlying communities in Hubei province years before Oogway ever made his judgment or Chorh-Gom was rebuilt, so don't try and tell me how to do my job!"

-->He knew he shouldn't be boasting, but he couldn't help it—as Po had made him realize, there was a lot more to his life and what he had done with it than his short-lived rampage (however horrific it had been), and everyone, himself included, needed to remember that.
* OneDegreeOfSeparation: The Wu Sisters not only happen to have [[EveryoneWentToSchoolTogether gone to school with Crane and Mei Ling]] (and are the latter's half-sisters), and have met Tai Lung and helped him on the way to becoming a FallenHero (a reference to their having been part of his army in the original script), but they also happened to know Po's biological parents and promised them they'd look in on the panda and Ping. While the former connections are there just for dramatic narrative purposes, the last one is surely meant as another symbolic way to underscore how Po and Tai Lung aren't so different, being {{Foil}}s and two halves of a BashBrothers, RedOniBlueOni, YinYangBomb [[{{Deuteragonist}} pairing]]. [[spoiler:The fact it was the Wu Sisters' father who [[DoorstopBaby brought Tai Lung to the Jade Palace as a baby]], as a favor to the wife of his friend after the latter's death, and that Xiu killing him kept Tai Lung's origin a secret as much as Po's was [[LockedOutOfTheLoop via oath]], is even more of an example. [[ArcWords "There are no accidents"]], indeed.]]
* OneLinerNameOneLiner: In Chapter 24, Vachir [[spoiler:while under DemonicPossession]] listens in to Hai speaking about the murder spree Heian Chao is committing to lay a siege of terror to the Valley (and make all those at the Jade Palace feel helpless and frustrated). The emphasis in his thoughts, in this case, is meant to underscore [[DramaticIrony the tragic and unsettling reason]] for his personal knowledge of what she's talking about:
-->"All those deaths…so many innocent people, so brutally torn apart. I don't understand how anyone sane and with a soul could do such a thing!" ''Oh, you have no idea, girl. You have no idea…''
* OneWingedAngel: The BigBad is an insanely powerful KungFuWizard, master of [[CastingAShadow dark]] chi and other forms of BlackMagic, and won the SuperPowerLottery. He's almost ''required'' to transform into a larger, more terrifying and deadly form during the FinalBattle. That said, it's still scarily effective, as Chao basically turns into [[WesternAnimation/Fantasia2000 the Firebird]]. At the same time, the form doesn't seem to last, only being fueled by his anger as he summons [[spoiler:the yaoguai]] from [[SealedEvilInACan their spiritual prison]], since afterward he seems to be back to a generally normal size and appearance again (for him), although the draining of his chi reserves by the battles which follow may also be responsible for the change back.
* OnlyTheLeadsGetAHappyEnding: Played with. While it is unequivocally true that Tai Lung, Tigress, and Po all get happy endings, so does [[spoiler:Jia]], who while arguably a lead by the end of the story started off as a PunchClockVillain, as do [[BetaCouple Crane and Mei Ling]]. Additionally, Monkey gets to redeem himself after [[spoiler:his stint with DemonicPossession]], and even Chang and Xiulan, despite losing [[spoiler:his son and eyesight and her husband]], find healing and seem to have a brighter future ahead of them, due to Tai Lung's carpentry apprenticeship and [[spoiler:becoming godfather to Yi]], and their families becoming friends.
* OnlyThePureOfHeart: The Golden Spear, a mystical weapon from the Hall of Warriors originally described on the KFP Wiki, was created to seek out evil within the heart of any warrior--including the one wielding it, since only the purest and bravest can do so without being burned by it. [[spoiler:Tai Lung eventually becomes able to wield it.]]
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness:
** The sign that things have reached their DarkestHour would be when Po, ultimate NiceGuy and [[TheChosenOne hero]], not only approaches the matter of facing the Wu Sisters to [[IHaveYourWife rescue his father]] far more [[BewareTheNiceOnes fiercely]] and [[LetsGetDangerous seriously]] than anyone could ever have expected, to the point even Tigress is disturbed, but also [[PrecisionFStrike swears for the first time]] when attacking Xiu. Not coincidentally, [[TookALevelInBadass he's quite badass]] while doing so. Interestingly this is also an in-story example, since the fact he went this far is a matter of some concern for Po, because he believes it's a sign [[spoiler:[[VillainousLineage he is just like his highwayman father]]]].
** A slightly downplayed case; by the time that Tai Lung, Shifu, and the rest of the Furious Five make it to Chorh-Gom in Chapter 29, Tai Lung legitimately struggles to hide his fear of the place and even sheds tears upon revealing the ColdBloodedTorture Vachir inflicted on him during the 20 years he was imprisoned there. While Tai Lung had already started becoming more open about his feelings by this point in the story, this was the moment where he willingly let himself appear vulnerable to highlight how traumatic the experience was for him.
** A more story-wide example of this trope is that thanks to Chao's MoreThanMindControl, the GenreSavvy reader (or character) is able to tell that this is going on whenever someone acts out-of-character. Prime examples would be the way Monkey acts toward Tai Lung (though no one but [[spoiler:Mantis]] figures this out until it's too late), Fu Xiao's personality switch from humble and friendly to arrogant and hateful [[LampshadeHanging which Shifu remarks upon]], and the progress of the HatePlague during Chapter 27 (particularly the usually calm and collected Crane nearly losing it on Tai Lung).
** Lesser examples (though still meaningful): when the [[NothingIsScarier abandoned village of Qinghe]] is discovered, examining [[spoiler:the dug-up graveyard]] causes CovertPervert Mantis to completely go dead serious; and the [[EvenEvilHasStandards reactions of Chun and Xiu]] to [[spoiler:Monkey]]'s RoomFullOfCrazy.
* OperationJealousy: Mei Ling and Tai Lung attempt this to force Tigress to admit her feelings for him. It works, after a fashion, but in the process, thanks to PoorCommunicationKills, Crane first becomes a GreenEyedMonster, then [[ObliviousToLove mistakenly believes their relationship is genuine]] and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy decides they belong together]].
* OpponentSwitch: Happens on Wu Dan, but subverted in that the switch doesn't instantly result in the heroes' victory (Tigress doesn't even beat Xiu in the end, it's [[TookALevelInBadass Po]], and it's Chun's original opponent, Viper, who takes her out). Also justified in the case of Po and Jia since [[ForcedIntoEvil she really doesn't want]] to [[ThePromise fight him]], and with Po and Xiu since she was focused on her ArchEnemy Tigress at the time and had [[DidntSeeThatComing discounted him]].
* OrcusOnHisThrone: Played with. While Heian Chao only appears onscreen (at least [[DemonicPossession as himself]]) in five chapters other than the FinalBattle, those five chapters involve him doing some fairly active things--hiring the Wu Sisters, finding a pawn to possess, outlining his EvilPlan, punishing his lackeys/demanding explanations for their failure, aiding in a critical murder for the {{Frameup}}, and corrupting [[spoiler:the Sacred Pool]]. And since he possesses both [[spoiler:Vachir]] and [[spoiler:Monkey]], any time one of those characters is onscreen is actually him being active as well, albeit in secret.
* {{Otaku}}: Po was already revealed to be an obsessive fan of kung fu in general, and the Furious Five in particular, in the first movie. While that still remains true in the fic, the panda has also graduated to a Tai Lung-otaku--possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of the snow leopard's past exploits and heroism before his fall into darkness (although some tales he was unaware were Tai Lung's because [[{{Unperson}} his name had been expunged]] from the legends), and drawing upon this to not only earn points/convince the snow leopard to back off, but show him (and everyone else) that he truly can redeem himself.
* OurLichesAreDifferent: While he has no SoulJar per se and is in some ways more demonic, Heian Chao could be considered a lich by virtue of the dark chi he absorbed [[ImmortalityImmorality keeping him alive indefinitely]], not to mention his [[{{Necromancer}} control over the undead]]. He certainly studied forbidden lore for the sake of power--and when separate from his body cannot be killed.
* OutOfTheInferno: Inversion--via a FlashbackNightmare, this is revealed to be how Tai Lung left his rampage in the village to head for the Jade Palace and steal the Dragon Scroll, disappearing ''into'' the fire. A direct ShoutOut to Sephiroth of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes P-R]]
* PaintingTheMedium: The opening of Chapter 22, wherein Po is using the [[InsistentTerminology action figures]] of himself, Tai Lung, and the Five to act out his wishful thinking of all of them getting along and being close friends (and in Tai Lung and Tigress's case, declaring their love for one another), is [[BaitAndSwitch at first played as if]] it's the actual characters doing so before TheReveal. This is only possible in a textual medium, since in actual animation the truth would have been given away instantly. (The author has stated, though, that if it were possible to animate the fic, this scene would be done with the 2D animation to achieve the same effect--though the sudden appearance of 2D would clue the viewer in that ''some''thing was up...)
* PairTheSpares: Played with. [[spoiler:Jia]] is a spare, [[spoiler:being a HopelessSuitor for Tai Lung who only has eyes for Tigress]]--but Po isn't, being one of the leads and a character who wasn't romantically pursuing anyone, let alone another main character. Although the panda is somewhat less prominent here than in the movies.
* PapaWolf: While Shifu was already an ActionDad (albeit something of a RetiredBadass), in the movies his closeness to Tigress was quite downplayed, and he naturally ended up having a one-on-one combat with Tai Lung when the snow leopard shows up to take the scroll, since he was the villain of the story. However in this fic, the villains come to learn to their detriment that you don't ever threaten Shifu's children, especially after he's struggling to save/redeem/become close to them so as to make up for his past mistakes in raising them. Several times (whether in his thoughts or aloud), the red panda explicitly states anyone who threatens his children is going to pay for it nastily and in very final fashion, and he proves true to his oath--not only physically when facing down Vachir and Chao (the latter all by himself), but in defending Tai Lung from the charges of the KangarooCourt.
-->'''Shifu''': If this is true, if [Vachir] did this…then I'm going to kill him. He is going to die, and I'm going to do it myself.

-->'''Heian Chao''': Truly, what ''have'' you done with your life, Shifu? Always second to your master. None of your students were yours, they were all chosen for you save the harlot Tigress.
-->'''Shifu''', ''in his thoughts'': You are ''so'' lucky she didn't hear that. You are ''not'' lucky that I ''did''.
* PassingTheTorch: Shifu eventually steps down and gives his position to Tai Lung. (And he in turn inherits Oogway's position.)
* PassThePopcorn: Mantis's reaction to Tai Lung and Tigress's incipient kiss during the "Truth or Dare", as well as later when he's spying on them in the bedroom in chapter 24.
* {{Patricide}}: What Mei Ling believes Jia is guilty of. [[{{Frameup}} Actually]] it's Xiu, apparently because she's an AntagonisticOffspring who thinks LoveIsAWeakness that [[MoralityChain is holding Jia back]] from her true evil calling.
* PeoplePuppets: While Chao's abilities over others generally involve DemonicPossession and MoreThanMindControl, he is able to manipulate those he possesses and influences on occasion, especially when his power has been augmented in some fashion. This is most clearly seen in the flashback where he [[spoiler:forces his former classmates to kill each other]], but it also appears to some degree [[spoiler:with the villagers]] during Tai Lung's trial.
* ThePerfectionist: Tai Lung, and definitely to his detriment since it led to an all-or-nothing mentality that contributed greatly to his rampage (if he cannot master the scrolls perfectly, he cannot become the Dragon Warrior, which then makes him nothing but a poor orphan and his kung fu is all meaningless).
* PetTheDog:
** Once it is revealed that the Wu Sisters knew Po's biological parents, Jia makes several attempts to reach out to the panda and be kind to, or even assist, him--ranging from only half-heartedly fighting him while learning about (and praising) his understanding of kung fu, to agreeing to tell him about his parents if he will surrender, to actively trying to stop her sister Xiu from killing Ping and honestly praising Po for [[spoiler:cleansing the Sacred Pool]].
** Chun confesses to Po the full story of his parents, rather than using it as a bargaining chip for a lighter sentence, in order to keep her oath to look out for him and to help him honor where he came from. She also reveals she isn't just the EmotionlessGirl she appears when she notes in her thoughts that after discovering some of Vachir's victims around the Valley rim, she made sure to anonymously report them [[DueToTheDead so they would get proper burials]].
** Tai Lung himself reveals he not only WouldntHurtAChild but has a soft spot for them, and then that he [[spoiler:knows how to play the flute, and does so in honor of Oogway]].
* PlayingPossum: [[spoiler:Mantis]] survives his DisneyDeath by pretending he was actually crushed by [[spoiler:Monkey]]'s paw (after protecting himself internally with a chi shield), so that he would be sent falling into the Chorh-Gom abyss and assumed to be dead. Comes complete with a ShoutOut to ''Secrets of the Furious Five'' and [[spoiler:his "staying-still-for-a-really-long-time" technique]].
* PlayingWithFire: In the fic's setting, high-level kung fu masters can manipulate chi so as to create and/or control various ElementalPowers (although these are the Chinese elements, of course, not Western) based on the year of their birth. Tai Lung's elemental chi ability is fire, which is made possible via a nice RetCon of the movie and the end of his FinalBattle with Shifu, explaining both [[RequiredSecondaryPowers how he was left unburned]] and [[HotBlooded what fueled]] it [[UnstoppableRage (his rage)]]. Just prior to facing Heian Chao he naturally has a BurningWithAnger moment, and even a few WreathedInFlames occurrences during combat.
* PlotArmor: While most of the good guys get badly hurt, [[spoiler:none of them die]].
* PlotMagnet: No matter how much he wishes otherwise, Tai Lung continues to attract characters and plot developments throughout the story. On the heroic side he has his father and Po continually coming to his defense and trying to redeem him (even against his will, at first), while the rest of the Five either try to help, stay neutral, or openly disbelieve him being TheAtoner and reject him. (This also extends, to some degree, to their attempts to aid or block the growing romance between him and Tigress.) On the villainous side, the Wu Sisters are determined to make him their ally (and/or consort), Heian Chao is obsessed with the sheer amount of his chi and potential for darkness and (depending on whatever his claim of the day is) either wants him as his new [[TheDragon Dragon]] or a glorified power battery to help him [[TakeOverTheWorld Take Over the Empire]], and Vachir wants revenge for his rampage and the break-out from Chorh-Gom. He's also a ChickMagnet (Jia, Tigress, Mei Ling, and Xiu all being interested in him to some degree), and draws in new friends (Zhuang, Yi, Ning Guo) and enemies (Xiulan and Fu Xiao).
* PoorCommunicationKills:
** Crane and Mei again, though it is an example in which the lack of communication is actually in-character; it was established in ''Secrets of the Furious Five'' that Crane has confidence issues, and there also seemed to be a ShipTease between him and Mei which he was, of course, [[ObliviousToLove completely oblivious to]]. [[AWizardDidIt It also doesn't help]] when a HatePlague is making everyone suspicious and willing to jump to the wrong conclusions.
** Ironically, a villainous version appears where Chao's RightHandVersusLeftHand policy and Xiu's {{Pride}} and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood belief that Tai Lung could never fall in love]] result in the Wu Sisters not being told exactly what was planned for Tai Lung [[spoiler:via Monkey]] and Chao not being told about Mei Ling or the romance with Tigress.
* PoweredByAForsakenChild: While Chao can gain power from anyone's chi, he is made strongest by that of an innocent child.
* PowerOfFriendship: To go along with his other villainous traits, Heian Chao alternately mocks friendship (and love in general) as weak and pathetic or claims that in the end they will fail you, with yourself being all you can truly rely on. Tai Lung and Po prove otherwise, since their friendship and belief in each other not only allows them to continually stand up to him morally and emotionally as well as physically, but provides the power to withstand his dark chi when acting as BashBrothers essentially provides them a YinYangBomb of sorts. Even the completely unmystical (and non kung fu-related) friendship Tai Lung has with Zhuang acts in this manner, since it's the bull's devotion that in the end enables him to [[spoiler:provide the DyingClue that exonerates the snow leopard at the KangarooCourt]], thus completely undermining Chao's final gambit. Thanks to the nature of the villain's powers and plans, as well as Po's WideEyedIdealist, NiceGuy nature, it's not surprising this trope is played unabashedly--and justifiably--straight. Just like...
* PowerOfLove: Explicitly stated to offer protection to Tai Lung from Chao's dark chi, as despite the fact the latter is able to influence his emotions and soul through [[SympatheticMagic a bit of his fur]], Oogway's love for the snow leopard (as expressed through his holy chi), Tigress's love, and even Shifu's all allow Tai Lung to resist Chao's corruption. It's in fact noted that his love for Tigress, finally admitted during the battle at Chorh-Gom, is key to helping them overcome Vachir--as well as forgiving both him and [[spoiler:Monkey]] afterward. This also extends to Po and his AllLovingHero nature keeping him mostly immune to Chao (and Viper's sweet personality, for that matter), and helping Crane get a clear head so as to figure out how to save Tai Lung at his trial, after he and Mei Ling finally clear the air and become a couple.
* PowerTrio: Tai Lung, Tigress, and Po become this by the end of the story. Which makes this highly appropriate in an archetypal, [[AllPsychologyIsFreudian psychological]] sense. ([[FreudianTrio Id, superego, ego]].) It also acts as a form of AnatomyOfTheSoul, since Tai Lung would clearly be Body, Po is Spirit, and Tigress (despite her temper and ActionGirl nature) is a clever and intelligent fighter and therefore Mind.
* PrecisionFStrike:
** Po never curses. Never. And when he finally does say a single curse word (Bitch), "can of whoop-ass" doesn't begin to describe it.
** Also, when Tigress uses foul language on Tai Lung at Yunxian ([[NotWhatItLooksLike when it appears]] [[spoiler:he has attacked and nearly killed Po]]) is when the story starts taking a very serious turn: "You evil, fucking ''bastard''."
** Heian Chao gets the greatest example, however, when he lets loose a curse so foul [[ForeignCussWord it had to be written in Mandarin]] to avoid driving up the rating (it translates as, "Fuck your ancestors to the eighteenth generation").
* ThePromise:
** Early on, Tai Lung wants Tigress to ensure that if he [[ChronicVillainy ever falls into darkness again]], she stop him before he commits another rampage. Naturally, she is quite eager and willing to do so. But when, true to the trope, she faces the prospect of having to keep her word near the end of the story, ironically [[ToBeLawfulOrGood she is no longer so sure she can do it]] since by then she has come to love him. Luckily for her, her resolve is never tested since [[AllLovingHero other]] forces [[BigDamnHeroes intervene]].
** Chun and Jia also made one to [[spoiler:Bao]] to look after his son. Thanks to Xiu, they weren't able to keep it until late in the story.
* PropheciesAreAlwaysRight: While the possibility is raised by Tigress in her thoughts after Po gives her a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, Oogway does eventually reveal to Tai Lung that his words to Shifu in the first movie were a case of this--namely that the snow leopard, as a resident of the Valley, was included among the "everyone" the turtle claimed the Dragon Warrior would bring peace to. Moreover, he states he had used ExactWords when warning Shifu of his vision: he had said Tai Lung would "return" to the Valley (rather than that he would be killed, destroyed, or even defeated), in this case meaning he would return to who he used to be, a good and heroic warrior. He can even say he suggested as such, since he had told the red panda that Tai Lung's escape "''is'' bad news...''if'' you do not believe that the Dragon Warrior can stop him"--[[PropheticFallacy without mentioning what means Po would use to do so]].
* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: A curious inversion when it comes to the backstory of [[spoiler:Po's father]] and his actions as a highwayman vs. how everyone (including Emperor Chen) reacted to what was done to him to set him on his path, as upon first glance there seems to be a DoubleStandard here compared to how Tai Lung is treated throughout the narrative. On the one hand, the emperor did still agree punishment for [[spoiler:Bao]] was warranted, he likely would never have done the things he had if he hadn't been forced to desert, and there was much more going on with that bigoted general than it seemed on the surface. The author has also gone on in his sequel vignettes to show [[spoiler:Bao]] not only hasn't gotten off scot-free but knows he did wrong, regrets it, and believes his punishment was justified (so he isn't being forgiven [[spoiler:just because he's one of the heroes' fathers]]), and has shown more insight into him and that general. Despite this, Po does ''not'' [[EasilyForgiven instantly forgive]] [[spoiler:his father]] and in fact insists he do all he can to make it up to his victims or their loved ones. Everyone else either ''does'' forgive (or at least insists that the actions of the general were just as bad), doesn't know the full story of [[spoiler:Bao]]'s actions, or refuses to judge based on the fact HumansAreFlawed. Tai Lung, on the other hand, is not immediately forgiven (''except'' by Po, and to a lesser extent, Viper and Crane), including by some who did forgive or at least refused to make a definitive judgment of [[spoiler:Bao]]. So in a sense, the narrative is insisting on not instantly giving Tai Lung a pass, provides justifications for why [[spoiler:Bao]]'s actions need more context, and...then has the other protagonist not buy any of it, to the point that he even shows a shocking (albeit fairly oblivious) bit of initial callousness toward Xiulan over her quite-justified rejection of Tai Lung. Some of this stems from the fact Tai Lung was the ''villain'' of the original movie (and so shouldn't be easily forgiven if his redemption is to be at all convincing) and that Po, while an AllLovingHero, is written as a more nuanced character who is capable of accepting those who have done wrong ''as long as'' they admit it and do their best to atone for it (which Tai Lung is trying to do at that point). And the fact he has come to see [[MirrorCharacter a number of similarities]] between himself and the snow leopard makes it easier for him to sympathize [[spoiler:while learning his father was a murderous bandit [[HeroicBSoD caused him an emotional crisis]] that likely makes him overcompensate a bit in insisting on justice and a slower forgiveness of Bao]]. But overall the story seems to be making the case of a hero learning to hold others accountable ''[[spoiler:especially]]'' [[spoiler:because they are related to him]], a former villain learning that people have different thresholds for forgiveness, and comparative morality being complex.
* PsychicPowers: Chao can astral project. This is a key point, since it not only allows him fast travel, the ability to be in two places at once, and is what prevented him from [[AndIMustScream going even more insane while being held prisoner for nine hundred plus years]], [[spoiler:it's how he was able to keep himself fed on chi and alive all that time, and how he visited Tai Lung in Chorh-Gom, corrupting him and influencing his hatred and desire for vengeance]].
* PsychoForHire: Xiu is the most mentally unstable of the Wu Sisters, though technically all of them are for hire. Played with, however, in that the snow leopardesses are not merely working for money, but to earn [[YourHeartsDesire things they very badly want]] from Heian Chao: [[VanityIsFeminine eternal youth and beauty]], the TouchOfDeath, and power over ''[[LifeEnergy chi]]'' and BlackMagic in general so as [[ToBeAMaster to be the greatest assassin of all]]. Eventually [[spoiler:Jia and Chun both decide what they want is [[DealWithTheDevil not worth the price]] of serving Chao]], and Xiu ends up deciding ItsPersonal between her and Tai Lung as well as her and Po, and thus doesn't even care about the money anymore.
* PunchClockVillain: At many times, Chun seems to be an example of this, enjoying being an assassin solely because it's her job. (Noble AntiVillain.) This is helped by the fact she not only [[EvenEvilHasStandards definitely has standards]], but as is revealed once we get in her head (and is explicated further in the vignettes), she fully believes being an assassin can and should be a noble thing where methods most consider unsavory can be and often are the only way to end conflict and effect change without lots of bloodshed. So, a combination of NobleDemon and IDidWhatIHadToDo.
* PunctuatedPounding: After Vachir insinuates during the battle at Chorh-Gom that they are [[NotSoDifferentRemark not so different]], Tai Lung reacts with a furious, vicious denial, one that is accompanied by various physical blows and sound effects to match his words.
-->"''NO''! I am ''nothing'' like you! I may have killed a lot of people, but I had a damn good reason for most of them. You…you're just killing because you enjoyed it, to lure me out, to make a point! You think you're better, that you can throw your weight around and everyone will just fall down to obey you! You're nothing but a ''weak''—" ''Smash'', cracking the jaw at last. "—''pathetic''—" ''Slash'', clawing right over one eye until it was blinded with streams of blood. "—''bully''!" ''Crunch'', as his heel drove in like a battering ram, snapping two of the rhino's ribs.
* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: In [[MirrorCharacter yet another parallel]] between [[HistoryRepeats him and Tai Lung]], Heian Chao was once a good person, as well as Oogway's most promising and skilled student, with his arrogance and impatience at not being taught the mystical skills he believed he needed being what caused him to fall into evil. Interestingly, this puts Tai Lung in the position of [[MasterApprenticeChain being both]] the HerosEvilPredecessor for Po and the MentorsNewHope to bring down Chao, but where Po simply acted to save and redeem the snow leopard, Tai Lung has no intention to do anything but destroy the KungFuWizard. It's also a case where the MasterApprenticeChain has some side links (Po has to face Shifu's previous student, but Tai Lung has to face another of Oogway's, not Shifu's) and is being followed farther back in history so as to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong.
* PureEnergy: The Pool of Sacred Tears turns out to be this, as a gathering of holy chi. [[spoiler:Which is thoroughly corrupted by Chao's touch into a terrifyingly demonic force that lets him make PeoplePuppets of the whole Valley.]]
* TheQuietOne: For much of the story, Wu Chun doesn't talk much beyond dry, witty banter or cold, emotionless observations, and she does indeed enjoy killing a bit too much (albeit in a swift, surgical fashion). And when she does speak for much longer, it's indeed for very critical reasons (debating with Jia whether to turn on Xiu for the sake of Po and his father) or to impart important information (about Po's biological parents).
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: The Wu Sisters are for the most part the competent version of an ensemble of EliteMooks, just like WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender's Dangerous Ladies they're based on were (and something they even seem to have been designed to be by Dream Works during pre-production). Xiu is TheDragon to Heian Chao and the group's extremely effective leader, and while there are times when Jia, the group's resident CloudCuckoolander, is a bit ridiculous, in most cases the three snow leopardesses make for formidable opponents; the only times they aren't is when [[ForcedIntoEvil their hearts]] aren't [[ThePromise fully in it]] or Xiu is [[AxCrazy going completely over the edge of sanity]]. They also persistently dog the heroes throughout the story, facing them on five different occasions (and winning or fighting to a draw two or three times, depending on how they're counted, but always being difficult to defeat).
* RageAgainstTheMentor: As already seen under CallingTheOldManOut, Tai Lung is quite willing to lash out at both Shifu and Oogway for their treatment of him (whether real or perceived). While both of them were mentors to the snow leopard, Tai Lung's complaints toward Shifu more related to mistakes he made as a father, so it is Oogway who fills the mentor role to rage at--particularly when it comes to his {{Cryptic Conversation}}s and OmniscientMoralityLicense. A good portion of their first conversation is nothing ''but'' the snow leopard raging, and he even gets in some digs at the very end of the story when finding out just how much Oogway knew about his destiny but had been holding back.
* RaisedHandOfSurvival: Tai Lung does a form of this after the FinalBattle, when he uses one fist to punch through a rockfall that had buried him.
* RapeAsBackstory: {{Defied|Trope}} regarding [[PrisonRape Tai Lung's time in prison]]-- while a number of writers (and even fans) have posited the notion that Vachir and/or his men raped the snow leopard while he was in Chorh-Gom, this author refused to go that route (right down to having Tai Lung himself lampshade and mock it, even on a logistics level), instead pointing out what ''else'' can act as sufficient motivation for trauma, angst, and a desire for revenge in this sort of situation.
-->'''Tai Lung''': Damn it all, is that all you ''ever'' think about? Why does everything have to be about sex...why does everyone have to jump to the worst possible conclusion? For your information, you witless little stick, that blasted shell on my back made it so no one could get to my arse, even if they wanted to! But that's not the point...the point is, there's [[ColdBloodedTorture a hell of a lot of things that can happen to you]] in a prison with a thousand men and no women, and they don't involve violation!
* RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic: Applies everywhere, [[ConvenientlyCoherentThoughts even characters' thoughts]], save for ones whose ways of speaking and thinking are different from the norm (Po's slang, Monkey's accent, Mantis using tangents and run-on sentences). [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools This actually allows]] for a subversion later when Tai Lung realizes the thoughts in his head encouraging him to go off the deep end again are ''too'' perfect and ''too'' pat, thus giving away that it was really Chao [[ManipulativeBastard trying to manipulate him again]]. Outdated, perhaps, but still an AcceptableBreakFromReality.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Thanks to his absorption of chi for over nine hundred years, Heian Chao not only never truly died, he still appears the same age he was when Oogway imprisoned him. LifeEnergy, it seems, is an excellent health tonic and way to [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful stay looking youthful]] if you don't mind [[PoweredByAForsakenChild the price]].
* RealMenDontCry: Tai Lung tries hard to keep his emotions hidden out of masculine pride and refusal to appear vulnerable. As such, he views crying as a weakness. Of course, as his CharacterDevelopment kicks in, he becomes more willing to be open about his feelings (even if he still tries to remain serious and no-nonsense).
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: [[TheGoodKing Emperor Chen]], who not only [[spoiler:pardons Tai Lung and Jia]] after fairly examining all details of the cases at hand, but also trusts the word of Tigress in her letter and believes everything he is told about Chao without batting an eye. This may be because he learned much more of the metaphysical than most rulers thanks to his being taught by Oogway.
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** Xiu gives the classic "villain addresses a hero to demoralize them" speech to Tigress in the birch forest just before their fight--not so much to break her, but to make her easier pickings due to her rage and because she genuinely is that contemptuous of Tigress; it consists of a detailed recapitulation of the ways the leader of the Five has failed (or believes she has failed) to live up to her father's expectations, prove herself better than Tai Lung or Po, and become a legendary hero.
** Heian Chao's multiple examples tend to be less detailed (except against Tai Lung and Po), but the series he uses against the Five during the FinalBattle are not only explicitly {{Breaking Speech}}es, they are backed up by his dark willpower to give that added "oomph", so it isn't required to do much but jab at their outdated ideals, failure to figure out his nature and how to defeat him, dependency on weak things like friendship and love, and so forth. (Though his attack on [[spoiler:Monkey]]'s jealousy and [[HatePlague what it enabled]] him [[DisneyDeath to do]] is especially harsh and effective.) Po's is more directed toward [[spoiler:his unknown ancestry]] and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero a big mistake he made]], while Tai Lung's relate to his being unloved and alone, and foolishly believing he could achieve what he desired via forgiveness and redemption instead of embracing the darkness again.
** [[CharacterDevelopment Po]] gives one, of the "tired of your friend's action/attitude" type, to Tigress after she chases Wu Jia into the birch forest and gets herself badly injured for no real purpose. His BrutalHonesty, which calls out her hypocrisy after [[NotAGame she had previously gotten after him]] for doing the same thing, helps to snap her out of it and start improving her attitude.
* {{Reconstruction}}: The author takes a large number of super villain tropes which, by themselves, have either nearly become {{Dead Horse Trope}}s or are usually always subverted and played for laughs...and shows just why they were originally so effective and, quite often, scary.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath:
** Even though it was not completely his fault (he still allowed Chao in, but it was under DemonicPossession), the disgusting murder spree [[spoiler:Vachir]] goes on undercuts the majority of good will he had earned over the years [[spoiler:leading the Anvil of Heaven]]; so while in the end Tai Lung forgives him and everyone else is able to still at least honor the hero he once was, it seems that his death was in fact necessary because there was no longer a place for him in the world, at least in this life (there would be too many demands for his execution by the populace). And considering he appears at the end of the story as a heroic warrior spirit who, due to the circumstances and his fighting against Chao from within, received a good judgment from the Lords of Death and will get to be reborn, it appears as if his death literally did bring him redemption.
** Subverted with Tai Lung, who despite the terrible acts he committed during his rampage is able to prove his willingness (and ability) to be a hero again, and also earns forgiveness from the people of the Valley, even from some of his harshest critics. Thus he redeems himself--but [[RedemptionEarnsLife he also gets to keep on living]].
* RedemptionPromotion: Tai Lung still loses in battle often enough to justify needing Po and the Five as his allies, and he has issues with [[HotBlooded controlling]] his [[FatalFlaw temper]] and ([[PersonalityPowers not coincidentally]]) his [[ElementalPowers Fire chi]], but in all other respects he remains as powerful, incredible, and badass a fighter as he was when a villain. The fact he isn't maddened or enraged all the time (and has gotten over his FreudianExcuse) also allows him to actually make use of those thousand scrolls he learned, and use them cleverly and effectively. The Fire chi and [[spoiler:the Golden Spear]] also count as power-ups for him. [[spoiler:Jia]], when [[HeelFaceTurn she changes sides]], isn't demoted either, remaining as awesome and skilled in combat as ever, [[TheDogBitesBack as well as]] helping [[InTheBack take out]] [[spoiler:Xiu]].
* RedemptionQuest:
** While it starts off as simply an attempt to teach Tai Lung how to be a true kung fu warrior again, make amends with the Valley, and restore his relationship with Shifu, the entire point of the fic ends up becoming a series of dangerous tasks to prove the snow leopard's worth on a larger scale--putting a stop to a bloodthirsty SerialKiller, bringing the Wu Sisters to justice (and ensuring Xiu especially does not gain power over chi), and finally the most epic and deadly task of all, eliminating Heian Chao. When he manages to survive all of them, this does indeed provide the final testimonial to regain his honor and prove he deserves forgiveness and a future no one can gainsay.
** Done in a relatively quieter way with [[spoiler:Jia]] at the end, where [[WalkingTheEarth Walking the Empire]] will allow her to try and make up for [[spoiler:her years of committing murders and other crimes as a Wu Sister and hurting those (like Mei Ling and Xu Mei) who loved her, as well as undo the mistake of letting herself be ForcedIntoEvil in the first place and (in her mind) leading to her father's death]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning: [[spoiler:Monkey]] ends up with eyes that glow red, and even become balls of hellish fire, thanks to DemonicPossession, although no one notices it until it's almost too late. Later on [[spoiler:the villagers, especially Xiulan, all end up with the same burning eyes thanks to Chao controlling them via the corrupted Pool of Sacred Tears]]. Finally, [[BigBad Chao himself]] first develops such reddish eyes in the flashback where he murders and absorbs chi from innocents, and it's strongly implied that the centuries he has kept himself alive by feeding off of others' chi have rendered his eyes permanently like this.
* RedHerring: When Heian Chao first appears in the story, it is within the ruins of Chorh-Gom, and while it is made clear that it is [[BarrierMaiden Oogway's death]] which has [[SupernaturalSealing freed him]] to attempt to claim Tai Lung and take over China, the scene seems to imply that like the snow leopard, he too had been imprisoned there. But it's also noted that he had only "dwelled" in the prison's abyss during the time of Tai Lung's imprisonment, and between the later revelations that Oogway had wanted to protect Tai Lung from his darkness (so surely wouldn't put them in the same place) and Chao had been plotting and scheming for [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld over nine hundred years]], something clearly doesn't add up. Eventually all is made clear when Oogway's ghost [[TheReveal admits the full truth]] to Shifu: [[spoiler:Chao had been imprisoned in the Vault of Heroes, underneath the Jade Palace and its mountain, and it was from there he was freed--not just by Oogway passing on but by Tai Lung's dark chi he brought with him and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Po using the Wuxi Finger Hold]]. His soul had been able for centuries to travel by AstralProjection by way of the [[ShadowWalker shadow world]]; his time in Chorh-Gom was merely ''visiting'' it so as to haunt Tai Lung, keeping him corrupted and unstable, and the release Chao thinks about in his first scene was that of his body from the Vault.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: Played with. Tai Lung is absolutely a Red Oni, seeing as he's HotBlooded, brawny, determined, a BloodKnight, a cynic, choleric, and TheLancer (most of the time)...but he's also very much ''not'' a people person, he's still quite intelligent and skillful (when he's no longer insane and raging), and thanks to his backstory is often more melancholy and brooding than enthusiastic or boisterous (though this shifts to some degree by the end of the story). Po, meanwhile, is hardly calm and logical like a typical Blue Oni, and in fact possesses the zest for life, extroversion, wild impetuousness, lack of sophistication, and people-oriented nature of a Red Oni...but he also has a more instinctive understanding of the spiritual aspects of kung fu, is far more wise (albeit often in a common sense manner), is generally less overly emotional than Tai Lung, is capable of a great deal of composed serenity when truly tapping into his Dragon Warrior powers, and is an optimist and TheHeart. And of course Tai Lung is the one PlayingWithFire while Po is MakingASplash, and while they start as rivals/enemies, they end up becoming VitriolicBestBuds.
* ReformedButNotTamed: Tai Lung ends up as this by the end of the story as well, although [[DownplayedTrope far less so]] than most examples. Still, he retains his DeadpanSnarker nature (which is often very biting), continues to carry certain resentments, and will always have a belligerent temper and some degree of arrogance.
* ReformedButRejected: Tai Lung is practically the poster boy for this trope. Although the crimes he committed during his rampage are serious and dark enough as to justify wariness and suspicion at the very least, the snow leopard was once a hero and noble warrior so it's still possible he could redeem himself. And while cynical and resentful at first, he is eventually convinced to [[TheAtoner try and change himself]] and [[MustMakeAmends his life]] for the better thanks to Shifu and Po's efforts...only to have Tigress and Monkey (and to lesser degrees, Crane and Mantis) be either extremely skeptical of his conversion or actively hostile and confrontational every step of the way. In addition, [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer very few of the villagers]] are willing to trust him and give him another chance, and he has at least two {{Inspector Javert}}s, Xiulan and Vachir, who refuse to believe he can change and are openly waiting for him to revert to form or goading him into doing so, respectively. In the end, however, Tai Lung has the strength of will to weather such attitudes and, after performing a number of heroic acts, is able to prove himself reformed to his naysayers.
* RelatedInTheAdaptation: In Chapter 20, Mei Ling is revealed to be related to the Wu Sisters; more specifically, she's their ''half''-sister. There's no indication thus far that she has any relation to them in canon.[[note]]This likely stems from early concept art for the Wu Sisters, with one drawing of the sisters strikingly resembling Mei Ling.[[/note]]
* ReplacementGoldfish: While this appeared to some degree in the movie as well, the implications of how Tigress was meant to replace Tai Lung in Shifu's eyes are explored more in-depth here, particularly when his return, Shifu's attempts to redeem him, and the subsequent reconciliation lead to her once more feeling pushed aside and forgotten, [[HisStoryRepeatsItself just as she had]] when Po was chosen as the Dragon Warrior. Leads to CallingTheOldManOut.
* RestrainedRevenge: During the training in Chapter 22, Tai Lung engages in a rather [[PlayedForLaughs playful]] (for him) form of this trope, as he unexpectedly uses his nerve strike to immobilize Po's limbs, causing the panda to fall flat on his back and Tai Lung to sit on his gut, where he teases Po about finally having gotten some payback over Po first defeating him.
-->'''Tai Lung''': So what now, big guy? Now ''[[CallBack I'm]]'' [[CallBack sitting on]] ''[[CallBack you]]''.
* TheReveal:
** After going almost the entire story never knowing Heian Chao's [[APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil real identity]], his species, or even [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen his appearance]] (thanks to either his [[EmergingFromTheShadows always being concealed in (and even composed of!) shadows]] or InTheHood), all are finally revealed in the flashback memory Oogway shows to Shifu.
** The backstory of Po's biological parents, how he ended up adopted by Ping, and how the Wu Sisters knew them and their secret, are revealed near the very end of the story, and in the very last chapter, the reveal is made of just why Tai Lung was a DoorstopBaby and ''his'' biological family's identities.
** Two {{Internal Reveal}}s occur when the other characters finally learn that [[spoiler:Monkey]] has been under Chao's DemonicPossession right in the middle of the battle at Chorh-Gom, and Mei Ling finally finds out it was Xiu who killed her father, not Jia. While both of these are things the reader has known for some time, the sharing of knowledge between characters and the actions which occur because of it are extremely pivotal to the story.
* RhinoRampage: Vachir actually gets to show off this time how badass he is...and not only [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown wipes the ground with Tai Lung]], but comes this close to defeating him. [[spoiler:If not for Tigress...]]
* {{Riddle}}: In the very last chapter, the ghost of Oogway explains to Tai Lung that one of the haiku the characters found in a book while cleaning his room acted as one of these: "The winds of Tibet/Come knocking on my doorstep/I must grow a peach." As usual, it makes use of a DoubleMeaning, as well as a subversion of a LiteralMetaphor: "the winds of Tibet" symbolizes Tai Lung [[NationalAnimalStereotypes (snow leopards coming from the region)]], but the turtle explains this refers to both his appearance as a DoorstopBaby and his escape from Chorh-Gom decades later; the peach, rather than referring to either the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom or the peach seed Shifu planted beneath it, is employed as a symbol of wisdom as it is in Chinese culture--both the wisdom he hoped to instill in Tai Lung, and the later wisdom of Po in reaching out to aid in the snow leopard's redemption. The reason for the multiple layers was due to both Tai Lung's dual role as villain and hero and Oogway hinting at the need for [[{{Foil}} him and Po]] to [[MirrorCharacter act as]] Yin-and-Yang BashBrothers.
* RightBehindMe:
** Inverted. Shifu is well aware of the fact that Crane is eavesdropping on his and Tigress's conversation; perhaps it's those enormous ears of his...
** A dramatic horror, rather than comedic, version occurs at Chorh-Gom, when Vachir forms out of the darkness right behind Tai Lung. Almost, but not quite, an EnemyRisingBehind.
* RightHandVersusLeftHand: Chao chooses not to share with the Wu Sisters the entirety of his plans for Tai Lung or Vachir, and nothing at all about his plans for [[spoiler:Monkey]], partly to keep his cards close to his chest, partly because he believes they will rebel if they learn the full story. He's right, since EvenEvilHasStandards, Xiu is [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]], and none of them would care for being a RedShirt. But keeping things from them ends up biting him in the ass, between PoorCommunicationKills, DidntSeeThatComing, and indirectly encouraging [[spoiler:Jia's HeelFaceTurn]].
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge:
** A chronic problem on Tai Lung's part which Po, thankfully, is able to help restrain somewhat. And when pointed at the right person...
*** When it appears he's about to be hanged for a crime he didn't commit, the snow leopard is on the verge of breaking free of his bindings and going on another rampage to save himself...and while it ends up averted thanks to the actions of Po and Shifu, he reflects afterward that he has no idea who all he might have injured or killed during the escape--i.e., not necessarily just the ones who were holding him prisoner and unjustly punishing him.
*** A more strictly vengeance-based example occurs at Chorh-Gom, when Tai Lung furiously, viciously, and bloodily does everything in his power to bring down Vachir--partially for all the killings he's been carrying out and for threatening Tigress and Shifu, but mostly as punishment for his ColdBloodedTorture.
*** And after everything he's done throughout the story (as well as his past involvement in the rampage and pushing him into instability and entitled resentment), the snow leopard also does his level best to bring down Heian Chao (as violently and [[PlayingWithFire combustibly]] as possible) during the FinalBattle, whether it's to protect Tigress, Po, or simply out of fury over [[ItsPersonal all the villain has done to him in particular]].
** Po himself employs the TranquilFury version on Wu Dan against Xiu for having kidnapped his father and killed [[spoiler:Zhuang]].
** Invoked by name when Shifu, after revealing [[spoiler:his ChewOutFakeout was a SecretTestOfCharacter]], claims this is what Mantis would have said he'd do upon discovering Tai Lung and Tigress together.
* RomanticFalseLead: When Mei Ling begins showing interest in Tai Lung ([[PoorCommunicationKills unknown to him]], for the purpose of OperationJealousy), Crane views the snow leopard as an outside intruder in his relationship with the mountain cat, whom he believes is meant for him (though [[UnluckyEverydude he can never]] bring himself [[CannotSpitItOut to confess to her]]). Unusually, Crane actually ''can'' understand [[WhatDoesSheSeeInHim what Mei Ling sees in him]] (partly thanks to his own low self-esteem), so that after being the GreenEyedMonster for a while, he eventually ends up encouraging them to be together out of IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy.
* RomanticRunnerUp: Although there's nothing wrong with Monkey (other than, according to her, [[InterspeciesRomance the species difference]]), and he's certainly funny, skilled, and likable, he ends up losing out to [[spoiler:Tai Lung for Tigress's affections]]. Granted [[spoiler:undergoing DemonicPossession and [[IfICantHaveYou having tried to kill her because she wouldn't choose him]]]] doesn't help his case, but this is also aided by the fact she had already let him down (somewhat) easy years earlier via LikeBrotherAndSister.
* RoomFullOfCrazy: [[spoiler:Monkey]]'s room is discovered to have its walls, floor, and even the ceiling covered with obsessive writing, mostly of Tai Lung's name over and over again but also some Buddhist and Confucian sayings as well as a random MadnessMantra [[spoiler:"I like (dead) bananas"]]. Unusually, it also contains imagery, namely drawings of Tai Lung and the rest of the Five being hanged on gallows. The creator doesn't catch those who stumble across it (Po and Jia) because [[DramaticIrony he's already on his way to Chorh-Gom with the others]] but it still acts as a disturbing reveal which only makes his presence with the others more worrisome.
* RousingSpeech: Variation. At the point in the story when this occurs, the BigBad has actually just suffered a major defeat, all the heroes are united and fully supportive of one another at last, and even the Wu Sisters have been captured. However, [[NearVillainVictory how close they came]] to another rampage, Tai Lung's death, and losing everything still makes this the fic's DarkestHour (yes, they won, but just barely, and they have no idea what they'll have to face next). And thanks to [[spoiler:Zhuang]]'s death, Chun and Jia telling everyone just what they're up against in Chao (but also that they don't know how to defeat him), and [[BrokenPedestal Po having learned the truth about]] [[spoiler:[[BrokenPedestal his parents]]]], everyone still needs to have their spirits lifted so they can overcome the overwhelming odds against them. Cue Tai Lung giving a hell of a speech that crosses TiredOfRunning with DareToBeBadass, listing all the reasons ItsPersonal to take Chao out as well as what they're all capable of if they only work together. While it doesn't directly quote the "It's time to take the fight to them" line, the result is a LockAndLoadMontage before all the heroes go to the FinalBattle.
* RousseauWasRight: Oogway fully believed in Tai Lung all along, and that if he could simply be freed of Chao's influence and learn from Po's example, the goodness and heroic nature he once possessed would reassert themselves, as they were who he truly was at heart.
** HobbesWasRight: Ironically, Po thinks this after learning [[spoiler:about his highwayman father Bao]], but despite his ability to be ruthless and fierce in battle, he finds his fears are unfounded and, instead of this being due to a VillainousLineage, he too has an [[IncorruptiblePurePureness inner goodness]] and heroic nature.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Mei Ling, since she is descended from the ruling clan of Kunlun Shan and is thus a noble. Also, Emperor Chen, who not only fought on the battlefield for years alongside his men, but who became personally involved in the case of [[spoiler:Po's parents]].
* RuleOfCool: Considering the universe of the fic is already one where the laws of physics are regularly bent if not broken for the sake of amazing fight scenes (the battle between the Five and Tai Lung on the Thread of Hope, the snow leopard's battles with Shifu and Po, and [[EstablishingCharacterMoment his very first scene escaping from Chorh-Gom]] come to mind), and that the kung fu genre in general is known for this, it isn't surprising there's a lot of WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief for the sake of awesomeness. While there are even minor moments which occur (for example, a bit in the kitchen where Tai Lung is able to catch a falling sack without ceasing his mixing, just to prove he's ambidextrous), all of the major battles [[SerialEscalation escalate in scope and results]] so that the first climax where Tai Lung, Tigress, and Shifu all face off against Vachir (who nearly wins) while the rest of the Five battle [[spoiler:the undead Anvil of Heaven]] ends up being just the opening act to the FinalBattle. The latter ''starts'' as four simultaneous one-on-one duels, followed by [[spoiler:an army of ghostly warriors versus an army of demons]], the usage of multiple mystical kung fu artifacts, gravity-defying struggles, and the manipulation of elemental forces before ending with a literal explosion of fiery dark chi.
* RuleOfThree: Aside from the [[MeaningfulEcho repetition]] of "Say hello to [X] for me" mentioned under GiveMyRegardsInTheNextWorld, a line of original movie dialogue is echoed twice in very different contexts: "So that is his name" (referencing Po) becomes applied by Tai Lung to the BigBad when he first learns of [[MeaningfulRename his assumed name]], and then finally appears at the very end when he learns from his birth family of his original given name. This last iteration is particularly meaningful, since while his original given name did have a badass meaning, it was a lot less obviously heroic and special than the one Shifu gave him--[[CharacterDevelopment and him recognizing and embracing this is the final proof he has gotten over the obsession with being the Dragon Warrior, and the best, that had driven him for so long]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes S-U]]
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Zhuang.]] Although he is a minor, extremely likable character whose death is a GutPunch meant to show the villains are DeadSerious, he is not throwaway (his friendship with Tai Lung is the first outside of anyone at the Jade Palace, offers the snow leopard a window into an ordinary world that might not involve kung fu, and opens the way to much deeper connections with [[spoiler:Xiulan and Yi]]), and he also performs pivotal roles in the plot ranging from being a SpannerInTheWorks for the villains to helping the heroes out in key critical moments [[spoiler:(the birch forest, Chang's house, his DyingClue)]]. And his death is most certainly a WhamEpisode which changes the way the rest of the characters behave and pushes Xiu over the MoralEventHorizon InUniverse, particularly for Po.
* SadisticChoice: [[spoiler:Die for a crime [[ClearMyName you didn't commit]], or go on a second rampage to save yourself, thus [[ReformedButRejected proving everyone right about your unrepentant villainy]] and giving the BigBad the inroads to corrupt and possess you.]] Tai Lung can be very grateful there was a third option.
* SandInMyEyes: Tai Lung, who naturally refuses to display vulnerability of any sort [[TheStoic (especially not the emotional kind)]], uses the excuse of his allergy to all the dust in the air thanks to cleaning Oogway's room, when the turtle's secret cabinet has been opened and revealed he did love and care for the snow leopard, to cover for the tears forming in his eyes. Amusingly, Tigress uses the same excuse in the very same chapter, when they discover a set of dominoes among Oogway's things which are strongly implied to be the same ones Shifu used to help her train her strength as a cub in ''Secrets of the Furious Five''.
* SatelliteCharacter: Several, though not as many as in most fanfics. The two most obvious would be Zhuang and Xiulan, but although it is true their story mostly revolves around their reaction to Tai Lung and his possible redemption, they also have their own subplots relating to Tigress, Ping, and Chang (another SatelliteCharacter). Also of note is that both Xiulan and Chang are that rare form of the trope, the one full of all-consuming rage, bitterness, vengefulness, and outright hatred.
* SayMyName: While the usual example happens a few times (the most notable would be Tai Lung screaming Tigress's name along with a BigNo when they both fall into Chorh-Gom's abyss), an amusing inversion occurs as a RunningGag throughout the fic of a character being snapped out of a {{Flashback}} memory by their name being spoken--the one saying it isn't emotionally invested, instead it's the person being spoken ''to''.
* SealedEvilInACan:
** While Tai Lung was the "horrible criminal escapes from prison" version of the trope in the movie, Heian Chao is the more conventional version, seeing as he was sealed away by Oogway nearly a thousand years ago and, with the turtle's death [[spoiler:[[NiceJobBreakingItHero plus Po's usage of the Wuxi Finger Hold]]]], he breaks free to wreak havoc once more. Interestingly, the two end up being somewhat related, since one of the reasons for Tai Lung being locked in Chorh-Gom in the first place [[AdaptationalExplanation turns out to have been]] keeping him away from Chao's corrupt influence--which unfortunately didn't work since he could still haunt him for twenty years anyway thanks to AstralProjection. And it was Chao who enabled Zeng's feather to reach Tai Lung, making for an inversion where the GreaterScopeVillain is the one to release the (previous) BigBad from his TailorMadePrison before eventually getting free himself.
** [[spoiler:[[OurDemonsAreDifferent The yaoguai]], though they seemed to be a RedHerring earlier in the story, are summoned to the Vault of Heroes for the FinalBattle by Chao. It isn't clear if he simply released them from the physical prison Tai Lung's rockfall had sealed them in or if the snow leopard had actually banished them to a spiritual one, but since he did use a mystical kung fu weapon to do it and Chao summons them through what appears to be a gateway between dimensons and not simply a portal to another part of the world, it seems to have been both in some manner.]]
* SecondPlaceIsForLosers: Very much Tai Lung's attitude at not receiving the Dragon Scroll. Somewhat justified by him believing that earning it [[WellDoneSonGuy would make Shifu proud of him]], and that after having been led to believe that he would be the Dragon Warrior, the people of the Valley resumed [[BullyingADragon taunting and rejecting him]] for [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer being an orphan trying to rise above his station]].
* SecretTestOfCharacter: [[spoiler:Shifu]]'s ChewOutFakeOut with Tai Lung and Tigress after catching them in a compromising position also turns out to be a downplayed example of this, for while it doesn't take place in the middle of a larger challenge of courage, strength, or skill, nor does it involve performing something morally reprehensible (unless one subscribes to SexIsEvil), it is the case that they are challenged on whether they will continue their relationship no matter what anyone else in the Valley or empire thinks or whether it will put them in danger from the BigBad to do so. And after a typical usage of ExactWords, it turns out that [[spoiler:Shifu]] was actually testing their commitment to one another, whether it was real love that would withstand any obstacle or simply lust/a passing fling that would be abandoned the minute things got rough or unforeseen consequences occurred.
* {{Seers}}: Meditating allows Shifu, [[LegacyCharacter like Oogway before him]], to have [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling visions and premonitions of the future]]. The one depicted in-story, aside from being [[{{Symbolism}} ominous]], rather [[PropheciesAreAlwaysRight portentous]], and [[PropheticFallacy vague]], is also enough to nearly make him [[FaintingSeer pass out]].
* SeeYouInHell: Variation: Tigress tells Chao to 'drop dead', to which he replies, "I already tried that and it didn't agree with me."
* SelfDisposingVillain: Or at least, [[PlayingWithATrope Villain-Disposing Villain]]. But while what happens to Xiu ([[spoiler:ConvenientComa]]) is [[DevourTheDragon thanks to Chao]], it would never have occurred if she hadn't gotten DrunkOnTheDarkSide and begged Chao to [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor give her his power]]. Though Po [[SpannerInTheWorks interfering with the transfer]] may also have had something to do with the results.
* SelfParody: The action figures scene, which makes fun of both certain elements of Taigress fics and Tai Lung redemption fics as well as the author's own fic. An in-story example would be one only mentioned in passing: in the "Truth or Dare", when asked to praise Po, Tai Lung adds in an extra of himself speaking of Po when he faced the Five on the bridge and [[LargeHam hams it up for good measure]].
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan:
** Po and Tai Lung, respectively, are moderate examples. The panda is chubby rather than skinny (though this still makes him rather unathletic, a big reason for his difficulty in learning kung fu initially), his mannerisms are more childish and silly than effeminate, and while he loves (and is extremely good at) cooking, he's also utterly devoted to kung fu which is considered a very masculine sport in Eastern cultures and settings (and over time has come to be viewed similarly in the West, if not on the same level as being a soldier, warrior, or contact-sport athlete). But he's also literally InTouchWithHisFeminineSide due to having more affinity for Yin, the feminine side of the ''taijitu'', and is of course more emotional, kind-hearted, and an all-around NiceGuy. Tai Lung, meanwhile, is about as butch and virile as can be, ranging from his well-muscled HeroicBuild and aggressive, generally rough nature to his overall dismissal of most things feminine (whether cooking, fashion, and the arts or being loving, gentle, and sympathetic to the needs and emotions of others), as well as having an affinity for masculine Yang. However, over time he does soften his views and attitudes so that, even while he remains manly, he no longer disparages femininity and becomes more caring, gentle, and friendly (though always retaining that biting snark).
** Crane also views himself and Tai Lung in this manner, when [[ObliviousToLove harboring under the belief]] that the snow leopard and Mei Ling [[OperationJealousy are pursuing one another]]. He specifially makes mention of the two Chinese philosophies of masculinity, ''wu'' (physical combat, battle prowess, and military strategy) and ''wen'' (scholarly education, political knowledge, and refined demeanor), and while the two ideally are meant to be in balance, he sees the philosophy he has embraced as making him weaker, or at least less appealing, than Tai Lung as far as Mei Ling is concerned.
** Ironically, something of this division also exists [[{{Foil}} between Tai Lung and Heian Chao]], which the latter points out when approaching the snow leopard in his cell after [[spoiler:Zhuang's murder]], with the BigBad describing the snow leopard as "barbaric and brutish" but still praising his ferocity as making him a perfect weapon to carry out Chao's plans, and describing himself as more refined and only directing others to use the aggressive, harsher mindset because it is [[NecessarilyEvil "necessary"]]. Interestingly, he then invokes the trope's implied positive aspect by stating that [[WeCanRuleTogether if Tai Lung joins him]], they can balance each other and thus be greater than either could be alone. Of course the snow leopard [[{{Hypocrite}} calls him out on this]], considering all the horrific slayings and other cruel acts Chao is guilty of...and in point of fact Tai Lung is more balanced between the philosophies than would otherwise seem apparent on the surface.[[note]]It's noted early in the story that he was a voracious reader, studying diligently and debating ethics and morality with Oogway, and he also [[RealMenWearPink had great skill at playing the flute]] (even if [[UnmanlySecret he tried to hide or disparage it as unmanly]]) which the turtle had encouraged. The snow leopard's ''wen'' aspects were naturally lost or at least suppressed during and thanks to his rampage and imprisonment and so need to be re-learned and embraced (and while he notes to Po he ''can'' be refined and tactful in diplomatic situations, it's understatedly "not [his] thing"), but he can eventually achieve this balance on his own, the same as he can his Yin-Yang balance.[[/note]] Meaning once again, Chao is seeing things that aren't there, whether due to his own flaws and arrogance or as another means of villainous manipulation (although [[AllWorkVsAllPlay this is explored]] a bit [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope differently]] in the vignette addressing his backstory).
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: It's a good idea to keep a dictionary open in another tab while reading this. That said, the...uncommon words are used correctly, and in almost all cases are actually more of a precise fit than their everyday equivalents. In-story, this also applies to Chao's speech patterns because he's from an earlier time.
* ShadowWalker: Heian Chao is able to use his dark chi to transport his spirit-form through the shadows. This allows him to cover days worth of distance in a few seconds, and even act in two places at once.
* ShamingTheMob: Subverted. Shifu and Mei Ling each attempt to talk down and eventually fight off the growing mob of villagers in the Valley, both during the trial and the impending execution afterward, when they are dead set on hanging Tai Lung, but thanks to [[spoiler:Chao's chi manipulation]], no one listens to them.
* ShipperOnDeck: Viper and Mei Ling both work to bring Tai Lung and Tigress together as a couple throughout the story; while Tai Lung already realizes his true feelings, he does need to be taught how to properly express them (and deepen them beyond lust and possessiveness) and learn how to pursue romance in general, while Tigress has to both realize and act on her emotions. The serpent is focused on setting up situations where Tai Lung can do heroic or romantic things or putting them in close quarters/compromising situations so nature can take its course, as well as just giving him advice; Mei Ling just employs OperationJealousy. To some degree this is also true of Po, although he limits himself simply to wishing for them to finally get over themselves and admit the truth, and cheerleading from the sidelines.
* ShootTheRope: Variation, as [[JustInTime just when Tai Lung is about to be hanged]], [[spoiler:Crane flies in and cuts the rope with his bill]].
* ShoutOut: [[ShoutOut/ADifferentLesson Has its own page]].
* ShownTheirWork: As should become clear with even a cursory reading, the author did some serious and extensive research on ancient China. Among the many topics which are addressed, and either appear as brief asides or are gone into in great detail, are: ancestry and the treatment of orphans; Yin and Yang, as well as numerous aspects of Buddhist and Taoist beliefs and sayings, the Chinese gods and other spiritual beings, and several holidays (the Midsummer Ghost Festival and Chap Goh Meh); food and clothing; artwork, literature, and history; flora and fauna, as well as geography; burial practices and funerals; widows and marriage rights; trial proceedings; roofing practices; kung fu (of course!); and even the sacred directions.
* ShuttingUpNow: During the "Truth or Dare", when Tigress tries to refuse kissing Tai Lung with the excuse that since they were both adopted by Shifu this technically makes them brother and sister, Crane points out this isn't really a taboo since there's no actual blood relationship. Cue both cats (plus Monkey) glaring at him, at which point he hides under his hat along with "I'll be over here now."
* ShutUpHannibal: Although (as per the trope description) the FinalBattle has a number of moments where a hero interrupts a villain--either verbally or physically--when they are in the midst of ranting at them with TrashTalk, a ReasonYouSuckSpeech, a BreakingSpeech, a NotSoDifferentRemark, or some other form of EvilGloating (Po, Tai Lung, and especially Mantis get in plenty of mocking digs on Chao), the snow leopard also responds with a sarcastic, cold, and dismissive rebuke when Chao pulls a JustBetweenYouAndMe, WeCanRuleTogether in his prison cell.
* ShutUpKiss: In textbook fashion, Mei Ling kisses Crane to silence him twice--once when the bird is (he believes) [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy gallantly stepping aside so that she can be with Tai Lung]], and once when he's babbling about the PowerOfLove and how it has protected various characters from Chao. [[spoiler:At the very end of the story, Jia comes close to similarly kissing Po, when she reveals she loves him and he stammers in disbelief just before she tackles him.]]
* SickeninglySweet: Tai Lung is enheartened by his welcome back to the Jade Palace after accepting Shifu's deal...and then realizes that his optimistic thoughts are far too saccharine and over-the-top:
-->''He had never been a morning person, never would be, but something about this morning seemed full of hope and new promise.''
-->''He'd remember those thoughts much later, and between smacking his forehead hard and laughing mockingly at himself would wonder exactly how much sugar the panda had put in his bean bun dough...and how he possibly could have kept from gagging on it.''
* SignOfTheApocalypse: When both Tai Lung and Tigress agree on something (in this case, that the "Truth or Dare" game is a bad idea), everyone is shocked and stunned, and Po comments in his thoughts, "Should I be [[TotalEclipseOfThePlot checkin' the almanac for an eclipse]]? Or lookin' out the window for [[CometOfDoom a red comet]]?"
* SilverFox: Despite being as old, if not older than Shifu, Emperor Chen is basically an anthropomorphic version of Sean Connery built like a professional bodybuilder.
* SlapSlapKiss: Aside from [[MasochismTango the overall progress]] of Tai Lung and Tigress's relationship, this actually happens literally during Tigress and Tai Lung's confrontation in the cave--thanks to their argument about his trying to help her and Shifu reconcile, Tigress ends up slapping the snow leopard twice (for a vulgar comparison, but also because she's furious at him for being right), and after several more heated minutes of sniping at each other, he kisses her forcefully to prove he loves her. She kisses him back, and after several more exchanges it goes to the next level.
* SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror: In grand kung fu tradition (see ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina''), the fic begins with the comedy (and action) seen in the movie, then gradually introduces horror elements as the BigBad and his lackeys become more prominent in the story. MoodWhiplash is also deliberately invoked a few times (the "Truth or Dare" immediately followed by the first murder victim being found, [[spoiler:Shifu]] catching Tai Lung and Tigress in bed and Tai Lung fetching birth control bookending [[spoiler:the corruption of the Sacred Pool by Heian Chao]], the MushroomSamba following the trial). But in the end, the comedy mostly acts as effective breather moments between the most terrifying horror scenes, and taking over again completely once the BigBad is defeated. Overall it seems mostly balanced rather than one or the other dominant.
* SlouchOfVillainy: When Shifu finds Chao in the Vault of Heroes, the KungFuWizard is slouching atop a throne-like boulder in a niche while his BlackCloak of shadow flows and undulates all across it and onto the floor. Somewhat unique in that the description of the boulder implies it was also the site where Oogway had imprisoned him for the last nine hundred years, in which case his lounging is not only showing badassery, sliminess, and superiority toward Shifu, but contempt for the turtle as well.
* SoProudOfYou:
** As might be expected, a number of times throughout the story Tai Lung has his achievements, his redemption, or simply his skills and talents celebrated by someone telling him they are proud of him--from Shifu (though this time, unlike in the movie, the snow leopard accepts and is moved by it), but also from Oogway at the very end, which considering how long he hated and resented the turtle for denying him the Dragon Scroll is especially meaningful.
** [[spoiler:After finding out the true history of his parents and why he was adopted by Ping, Po isn't especially eager to even meet them, let alone have them be proud of him, but after he helps defeat Heian Chao and then receives a letter from his biological father, telling him he's proud of him not just for his actions but for being more honorable and heroic than he ever was, it's not at all surprising Po breaks down in tears.]]
* SpannerInTheWorks: Shen Zhuang. Not only does he rescue Tigress and prevent the Wu Sisters from killing Ping, but [[spoiler:his rescue of the Weis deprives Chao of power at a crucial moment, allowing Vachir and Monkey to be defeated and freed, respectively]]. And all without him even knowing he was doing it...[[spoiler:save for [[DyingClue leaving a message behind to name his killer]], which most certainly ruined Chao's plans.]]
* SpitefulSpit: In an utterly badass moment, Zhuang spits in Xiu's face [[spoiler:when she, possessed by Chao and [[{{Glamour}} made to look]] like [[LieToTheBeholder Tai Lung]], [[KilledOffForReal kills him]]]]--not only is he showing his general contempt for her and her evil, he's letting her know he can see the truth and understands about the {{Frameup}} being arranged.
* SquishyWizard: Averted, since Chao [[spoiler:can heal himself of any injury so long as he has dark chi to draw upon, and]] is a skilled and powerful kung fu fighter in his own right.
* StartOfDarkness: Not only does Oogway tell Shifu a fairly-detailed rendition of the reasons for Chao's descent into villainy near the end of the story, he actually shows him a {{Flashback}} vision raised from the very walls of the Jade Palace. Although the turtle reveals that he was APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil and thus [[FallenHero was once an honorable kung fu warrior]], the vision in question only shows his BloodbathVillainOrigin in which he ended up slaughtering [[WouldHurtAChild all the child students]] [[spoiler:as well as his fellow masters and [[KickTheDog former friends]]]].
* StayInTheKitchen: Averted. Not only does Tai Lung (wisely) never expect this of Tigress, but when Crane and Mei Ling get together, he follows her on a kung fu adventure across the empire. (This is contrary to some of the men Mei has known in the past, who were threatened by her ActionGirl status.) And Po, of course, is the one who will stay in the kitchen when he isn't being the Dragon Warrior.
* StealthHiBye: Late in the story, Shifu is searching the scroll room at the Jade Palace for information on Heian Chao. Oogway's ghost appears and points out to him which scroll he should read, causing [[DelayedReaction the red panda to absentmindedly thank him]] before doing the requisite DoubleTake. What makes this funnier (and even more in character) is that considering their personalities, it's highly likely the turtle pulled this sort of thing on Shifu even when he was alive.
* StealthPun: While it's not clear exactly how this would work in-world, or if something like this is even possible, a very naughty implication is made in this scene at the apothecary:
--> '''Ning Guo''': Really? Well, nothing to be ashamed of, sonny, happens to all of us at the worst of times, doesn't mean anything about your masculinity. I could give you my own special brew...''a certain weed I mix with something fresh from yours truly''... [[spoiler:Ning Guo is a ''goat''.]]
* StormingTheCastle: Both the finale version and pre-climax version appear. About two-thirds of the way through the story, the heroes receive an ultimatum note from Vachir, a case of a villain actually ''inviting'' (or taunting) his enemies to come and face him, and while he doesn't have a home base as such, Chorh-Gom was once his and the Anvil of Heaven's fortification. In any event, its status as his former prison certainly drives Tai Lung to comply, and while they leave Po and Mei Ling behind (and they don't gear up in any particular way), there is the threat that the awful killings will continue unless they obey. The FinalBattle is a textbook example, since it involves every single kung fu warrior at the palace descending into the Vault of Heroes to face Chao, bringing along numerous powerful mystical kung fu artifacts, and going up against all of his various dark forces to save the Valley and all of China.
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike:
** At one point, to keep someone from knowing what he actually had on his mind, Tai Lung says, just like [[{{Foil}} Po]], "What was I thinking about? Er...noodles."
** Another form of this crosses with SpeakInUnison when Tai Lung, [[MushroomSamba doped up on opium]] and fresh off his KangarooCourt, near-execution, sees Po after the latter has returned from a major fight on Wu Dan [[ItMakesSenseInContext draped in unconscious snow leopardesses]]: "What happened to ''you''?"
** A third example occurs a few chapters earlier. When Tai Lung tells Shifu to start carrying around [[ChekhovsGun Oogway's staff]], Shifu tells him he'd better not think this means he can call him old and crotchety, and the snow leopard blandly denies he had any such intention: because, just like Po and his daring comments to the lousy tipper wolf only being "in my mind", Tai Lung notes to himself he can think whatever he likes "in his head."
** And as a CallBack to ''very'' early in the fic: when Tigress had [[IResembleThatRemark quite angrily insisted]] that all of them (and especially [[MyGreatestFailure Shifu]]) should not [[{{Hypocrite}} allow themselves to be blinded by emotion where Tai Lung was concerned]], Po retorted, "Yeah, like you're all nice an' Zen right now." Much later, when Chao visits Tai Lung in his cell and calls him barbaric and brutish in comparison to his own [[WickedCultured refinement]] (as [[BaddieFlattery a compliment]], and also a precursor to suggesting [[WeCanRuleTogether they join together]] to make a balanced whole), the snow leopard points out he just asked him to murder Emperor Chen and his family (and had [[TheManBehindTheMan been behind]] the victims of Vachir's killing spree): "''So'' refined, yes, all so nice and Confucian of you."
* StrawNihilist: Chao definitely has [[{{Pun}} shades]] of being this kind of cynical villain. While it isn't gone into in great detail, and it is often difficult to know how much is genuine belief and how much self-serving lies to manipulate/intimidate his victims, it becomes clear after a while that he considers life to be either empty, meaningless, and worthless, or else filled with nothing but pain and loss, which explains both why he'd be against the cycle of reincarnation and would wish to keep living forever while controlling the lives and wills of everyone around him. (Prevent others from causing him pain, derive meaning from being the only one who can decide who has worth and who deserves to suffer.) As a result, he shifts between FauxlosophicNarration, WhatIsEvil, VirtueIsWeakness, and OmnicidalManiac, and he's most definitely a case of TheSociopath and TheUnfettered. [[TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget How much of this stems from his original motivations]] and how much is due to [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil his corruption]] by [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the powers he unlocked in his studies]] is also unclear.
* SummoningRitual:
** During the FinalBattle, Chao summons [[spoiler:the demonic yaoguai]]; unlike most such examples, there doesn't seem to be much actual ceremony to it, perhaps because the sheer amount of dark chi and other mystical knowledge he has unlocked allows him to bypass the need for such. He does, however, at least chant in another language that seems to have a very infernal sound to it, and it does create a gate between realms/dimensions.
** Interestingly, the BanishingRitual Mantis and Monkey have to use seems to have a bit more to it, since it not only requires the use of a mystical kung fu artifact but also its own chanting in Mandarin, as well as the creation of hanzi symbols in mid-air to act as a form of GeometricMagic.
** When Mantis calls the Warriors of Tenshu, this is also a SummoningRitual of sorts, though it also consists of only chanting in Mandarin: [[spoiler:calling their SurvivalMantra / BadassCreed into the Urn of Whispering Warriors]].
* SuperPowerLottery: Chao (which is rather unsurprising for a BigBad). He is a BodySnatcher and can create PeoplePuppets due to DemonicPossession; can [[PsychicPowers astral project]] and [[VillainTeleportation travel]] via [[ShadowWalker means]] of [[HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace a world]] of [[DarkWorld shadows]]; can incite a HatePlague and use MoreThanMindControl to influence others; has powers over [[CastingAShadow darkness and shadow]] [[spoiler:and [[AnIcePerson ice]]]] as well as some ability with illusion; and can both [[{{Necromancer}} raise the dead]] and [[SummoningRitual summon]] [[spoiler:demons]]. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] due to being a KungFuWizard and master of ''[[LifeEnergy chi]]'' (which could be used for anything related to life, the soul, or the mind, as well as perception thereof), as well as using BlackMagic to extend his life and generally discovering [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow Things Man Was Not Meant To Know]].
* SurpriseWitness: [[spoiler:Ning Guo]] acts as this--not at Tai Lung's [[KangarooCourt trial]], but his execution, although by that point his words are only an additional confirmation rather than the linch-pin since [[spoiler:Crane]] had already brought [[DyingClue the evidence]] to [[ClearTheirName exonerate the snow leopard]] and Shifu had [[spoiler:exorcized the PeoplePuppets of the village so that they could actually listen]].
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Po's first battle after facing Tai Lung (in the fic's timeline) is against the Wu Sisters. Does he have potential? Of course. Is he a fast study and learner? Absolutely. Did he beat Tai Lung? Yes, by keeping his wits and being extremely unorthodox when facing an opponent who was both extremely traditional-minded and also increasingly maddened and desperate, a tunnel-visioned opponent whose thought processes were clearly skewed--when he was even thinking at all, not just reacting. But he's still just a beginner at martial arts, and goofing his way through fights won't cut it with all opponents, especially ones with a clear head. So what happens? He loses to the Wu Sisters ''big time''. [[spoiler:In fact he gets badly beaten up, his throat slit by a garrote, and nearly dies.]]
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: How Po attempts to convince [[spoiler:Jia]] he wasn't about to declare his love for her: although she just came upon him with an orange he was marking with her name for the New Year festival, and she knows exactly what this means, he tries to claim it's just because he's hungry and hasn't gotten to eat while working at the noodle shop, and it "wasn't for the festival or anything, of course not..."
* SustainedMisunderstanding: Crane and Mei. She's trying to explain to him why she is [[spoiler:seemingly pursuing Tai Lung]] and not letting him in on it, he believes she is confessing to [[spoiler:loving Tai Lung in order to help him earn Tigress's acceptance]], and it only gets worse when her bringing up [[TheMatchmaker Viper]] makes him think the whole thing is actually a conspiracy (not necessarily against him, but one he wasn't a party to). Occurs not because he is dim, but [[ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe thanks to him genuinely thinking she could never love him]].
* SweetTooth: Tai Lung. He doesn't like to admit it, but he'll blissfully chow down on any sweets he can get his paws on.
* SympatheticMagic: In order to influence Tai Lung, and everyone around him, into acting on their darker impulses, Chao makes use of some of the snow leopard's fur. While he isn't as successful as he'd like thanks to [[SpannerInTheWorks Oogway intervening]] with his chi mixed with Tai Lung's inside his staff, he's still able to affect things enough to bring his plans close to fruition.
* TakeAThirdOption: Chao [[XanatosGambit arranged things]] so that either Tai Lung would be captured, [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured]], killed, and/or corrupted back into a villain by Vachir, or he would in turn kill Vachir and [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim become just like him]] thanks to RoaringRampageOfRevenge, ThouShaltNotKill, and JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope rendering him susceptible to DemonicPossession. Instead, Tai Lung does the right thing [[spoiler:after Vachir is freed by Tigress fatally injuring him, by both [[RedemptionEqualsDeath granting him forgiveness]] and a MercyKill]]. Cue BigNo and VillainousBreakdown.
* TakingTheBullet: Tai Lung dives between Tigress and [[spoiler:Monkey]] to keep the latter from stabbing her with a knife at Chorh-Gom. The BigNo doesn't come up until they both fall in the abyss, he ends up on his knees next to her rather than in her arms, and the attempted killer doesn't get to try again because he was restrained by others.
* TakingYouWithMe: When Vachir demands Tai Lung to ComeAlone for a DuelToTheDeath, the snow leopard considers performing some sort of HeroicSacrifice--partly because he believes such a thing may be the only way to stop the rhino, partly because he sees it as the only way to fully atone (protecting the Valley from both of them). Thankfully, despite attempting it when he knocks both of them off a bridge in Chorh-Gom, it ends up not happening.
* TalkToTheFist: Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, [[CombatPragmatist Tai Lung]] punches Heian Chao during the FinalBattle, as a means of [[ShutUpHannibal shutting him up while villain monologuing]]. Despite this, it's actually delivered with a dismissive drawl (and the oft-heard words "You talk too much"), not in a temperamental rage.
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: While there are a number of battles where the characters seem to spend more time talking (or even thinking) than should be possible in the time period in question, especially while still employing certain rapid combat moves, at least once this is subverted: at the end of the fight between Vachir and Tai Lung at Chorh-Gom, the latter does not take any time for gloating ([[EvilGloating evil]] or [[UnsportsmanlikeGloating otherwise]]), nor does he otherwise delay--he [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim does just punch him]] (to [[ImpromptuTracheotomy rip out his throat]], no less). But then it gets DoubleSubverted when Vachir [[ShadowWalker dissolves into black mist]] at the last second so as to [[VillainTeleportation teleport away]].
* TamponRun / TrojanGauntlet: Tai Lung being sent to the apothecary by Tigress to fetch birth control herbs straddles the line between both of these tropes, seeing as the item in question is for the female character, but both Ning Guo's misunderstanding questions and Tai Lung's reactions fall under those for buying condoms, and his embarrassment is not only for the actual thing he's getting but also for exposing the fact he's having sex at all. The scene works because a) Ancient China, while sexually permissive, hardly had the same openness when it came to private, intimate issues as generally exists in modern times b) the choice of words adds to the hilarity c) Tai Lung's shyness and modesty make perfect sense for a virgin ([[UnexpectedVirgin especially at his age]]) and d) [[RuleOfFunny it's just funny seeing this happen to such a badass character]].
* TellMeAboutMyFather: Both Tai Lung and Po are interested in learning about their biological families, although the snow leopard is far more determined to do so, aided by his [[CallingTheOldManOut less-than-stellar relationship]] with Shifu as opposed to the panda's devoted closeness to Ping. One is quite happy with what he learns, the other...[[BrokenPedestal isn't]]. [[spoiler:And it's not who you think.]] Interestingly, in both cases it's ''both'' parents the asker is concerned with, although Po ends up more focused on his father than his mother in the end [[spoiler:(because he's the one who turned out to be somewhat villainous)]]. Also, in one case it was simply a matter of not wishing to disturb him in the new family he had come to love (and the death of [[SecretKeeper the one character who knew the secret]]), not any attempt to hide the truth from him, while for the other it's a case of [[spoiler:the ''DisappearedDad'' being the one who wants his child LockedOutOfTheLoop because ''he'' doesn't want him to TurnOutLikeHisFather, and thus making Chun and Ping swear an oath of secrecy]].
* TemptingFate: [[spoiler:Monkey]] learns that he [[CassandraTruth really should have listened to Po]], and not mentioned the possibility of [[DemonicPossession spirits taking him over]] the night of the Ghost Festival... Crane also skirts the edges of the trope when, right before Chao first leaves Chorh-Gom to implement his plans, the bird comes just a couple words away from [[YouJustHadToSayIt thinking to himself]] the old (apocryphal) Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times", as well as wondering [[NothingExcitingEverHappensHere "Do I even want to know what will happen next?"]]
* ThatManIsDead: Thanks to [[EvilIsNotAToy the dark chi powers]] he has been [[TheCorruption corrupted with]], Heian Chao is no longer the good kung fu warrior he once was under Oogway's tutelage, and the turtle says as much. When Shifu calls him by his original name during the final battle, Chao naturally responds with the trope name, followed by the contemptuous "And good riddance to him!" [[spoiler:Interestingly, despite this it turns out this may not be exactly true, since Tai Lung's usage of the [[OnlyThePureOfHeart Golden Spear]] along with [[HolyBurnsEvil the chi in Oogway's staff]] manages to resurrect some portion of his old self as a hungry ghost who must work off his penance, as revealed in the sequel vignettes.]]
* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Variation. Although Tai Lung is confirmed to have killed a number of people during his rampage, and he does eventually come to regret and feel remorse for this, it's actually ''almost'' killing someone that has the snow leopard staring at his paws in despair and horror "as if they belonged to someone else, as if he could not believe what they had done, or almost done." Considering this is in reference to him [[SelfMadeOrphan nearly killing his own adopted father]], Shifu, near the end of the first movie, and that he later explicitly recalls how terrible it was to feel the red panda's neck within his grip and what would have happened "if Po had arrived just a few minutes later", this is completely understandable.
* ThirteenIsUnlucky: Despite the story taking place in ancient China, Chapter 13 is when the Wu Sisters are first introduced and the BigBad's villainy is made clear. [[SubvertedTrope On the other hand]], this same chapter also includes one of the most touching and heartwarming moments in the story between [[HeterosexualLifePartners Po and Tai Lung]], and Tai Lung having something of a MeetCute with [[spoiler:his past cub self]] to reassure him he still has goodness in him. It also ends up being the thirteenth day of the month on which Tai Lung's trial and near-execution is held, [[SubvertedTrope but also when]] the heroes go down into the Vault of Heroes to face the BigBad--and despite some distressing and worrisome moments, Chao and his forces do end up destroyed and/or defeated.
* ThisCannotBe:
** Chao thinks "This cannot be!" to himself after his plans for Vachir at Chorh-Gom go pear-shaped; perhaps because he doesn't speak it aloud, this is actually only a setback for him and the next stage of his plans goes off without a hitch until [[NearVillainVictory nearly the last second]]. He does utter it aloud twice during the FinalBattle--once at the start when he learns Oogway had blocked his ability to possess or perform PeoplePuppets, and once at the end (naturally) during [[LastWords his death scene]]. For an ArrogantKungFuGuy and TheChessmaster that he is, this is to be expected.
** Xiu says the phrase at Wu Dan in the middle of her VillainousBreakdown after Po uses Tai Lung's nerve strike to paralyze her (since, in her {{Pride}}, [[DidntSeeThatComing she could never believe]] the panda [[TookALevelInBadass had excelled in his training enough]] to defeat her).
* ThisIsReality: When the true nature of their adversary is revealed thanks to Vachir, Po is taken aback at the notion of a dark chi wizard who can possess and control the souls and wills of others, calling it something that "only happen[s] in stories." (And this [[ArbitrarySkepticism after learning that zombies actually exist]]--although [[ShownTheirWork according to Chinese mythology, they do]]--and admitting it would explain several in-story events.) Cue Tai Lung saying "it's not just a ghost story, it's real life." Considering the kung fu genre can vary from being LikeRealityUnlessNoted to full-on supernatural with numerous mystical artifacts and powers, and that other than the Wuxi Finger Hold nothing is really depicted in the first movie which tells the viewer just how "real" the KFP world is, having the snow leopard say this does open up the setting to more of what is possible.[[labelnote:*]]None of the artifacts in the Hall of Warriors are ever used in battle, let alone shown to have the powers Shifu or the Wiki claimed they did. The TV series, as well as both sequel films, do in fact open up the world to many mystical and supernatural items/creatures/powers in the same way, but these didn't come out until after the fic was finished.[[/labelnote]]
* [[ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself This Is Something He's Got To Do Himself]]: Thanks to their past history together (Chorh-Gom and the ColdBloodedTorture the rhino and his men subjected him to) as well as his current siege of slaughtering innocent victims around the Valley, Tai Lung views dealing with Vachir as something only he could, and should, do--whether as a form of atonement, ItsPersonal, because he is the target of Vachir's {{Revenge}}, or because [[{{Protectorate}} he doesn't want the rest of the Jade Palace crew hurt by that point]]. Somewhat ironically, despite the personal connection he also shares with the BigBad (being his target for corruption and him being the one behind Vachir, the snow leopard's instability and darkness, and much more), Tai Lung does not employ this with Heian Chao, instead being only one of three who takes him out (though he does deliver the actual killing blow). Not that he didn't attempt taking him on one-on-one prior to that, of course.
* ThisIsWrongOnSoManyLevels: When the Five, Tai Lung, and Po are cleaning out Oogway's room and see the contents of [[BrainBleach the turtle's more explicit love letters]], they react, whether verbally or physically, as if [[NoodleIncident whatever they read]] is just too hard to describe in how wrong it is.
* ThouShaltNotKill: Po is the only one to play this straight; he doesn't kill anyone, and this is all but stated to be the reason why he chose to spare Tai Lung's life when subjecting him to the Wuxi Finger Hold. Meanwhile, all the other characters play with this when not outright averting it; Tai Lung refrains from killing only so he doesn't become susceptible to Chao's DemonicPossession, while Viper chooses to spare Chun's life during their fight at Wu Dan as she insists [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim it wouldn't make her any better than Chun or the rest of the Wu Sisters]].
* TheThreeFacesOfEve: Because they are inspired by ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'''s Dangerous Ladies, the Wu Sisters fit this trope as well--Jia, the sweet and affectionate, [[FunPersonified playful]] and, despite her backstory, [[WideEyedIdealist innocent]] Child (while her sisters are casing the noodle restaurant in preparation for assaulting Ping, she's bouncing excitedly over the menu and [[FurryReminder begging for salmon]]); Chun, the sensible and capable Wife who save for two points in the story remains eternally cool, calm, and collected (and actually would make a good wife, as shown in backstory by a conversation she had with her father); and Xiu, the ManipulativeBitch Seductress (though Jia also has aspects of the latter, note the scene where she suggests a bondage threesome with herself, Tai Lung, and Tigress).
* ThroughHisStomach: Apparently food is one of the ways in which Po succeeds in befriending Tai Lung, since not only does the snow leopard become ever more friendly, amenable, and accepting of the panda the more times he samples Po's cooking, but their very first interaction involves a bowl of noodles and broth in Tai Lung's cell; their next closer bonding occurs when they're eating together at Ping's restaurant; and when the snow leopard's paws are burned by his Fire training at Wu Dan so that he can't handle chopsticks, Po actually feeds him dumplings. It's also while Tai Lung is taking care of Po after the injuries he receives in Yunxian (including feeding him [[CordonBleughChef the questionable meals he's prepared]]) that the snow leopard finally admits to himself he's starting to see the panda as his friend.
* TinkleInTheEye: Though not actually in the eye, this otherwise happens when Tai Lung, conscripted into helping Tigress at the day care, has to do the dreaded [[TheDiaperChange Diaper Change]]--from [[LaserGuidedKarma a red panda cub, no less]].
* TitleDrop: Technically the title is dropped right in the fic's opening blurb ("Can a father undo his past mistakes? Perhaps, if the snow leopard can be taught...A Different Lesson"), but it is properly referenced at least three times in the fic itself--the first time during the training on Wu Dan where it emphasizes what Tai Lung has to do differently and how he should view the world and his place in it if he wants to be a hero, the last time at the very end when he is reflecting back on everything he's gone through. The second time, in a sinister variation, is spoken by the BigBad, implying [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow what he will offer]] if Tai Lung [[WeCanRuleTogether joins him]].
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: Despite no one ever coming out and saying it, some might consider [[spoiler:Zhuang]] to be this, considering he has a number of Gary Stu traits (though thankfully not fully becoming one due to not taking over the story), he has next to no flaws, and it is his death, among other things, that galvanizes Po to fight the Wu Sisters, sends Tai Lung on his RoaringRampageOfRevenge against Xiu and Chao, and even gets Xiulan and the rest of the Valley's support behind Tai Lung [[NiceJobFixingItVillain once it comes out who really killed him]]. The trope is still played with at least, since he does not get a long, drawn-out death scene (though there is a MeaningfulFuneral and a DeadPersonConversation before he moves on to the next life--albeit for Tai Lung's ears alone) and the BigBad not only doesn't reflect on it, he dismisses him as [[TrashTalk a mere peasant]] whose death was LaserGuidedKarma for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and [[ButForMeItWasTuesday a simple byproduct]] of his plan to TakeOverTheWorld.
* TookALevelInBadass: At a certain point, Tai Lung shows that when cool and collected, he could defeat Po, probably easily at that. But after some time, lessons and new tricks from both Shifu and Tai Lung, combined with Po's natural talent, and... well, let's just say you also don't want to see an angry panda.
-->''But then, as [Xiu] was about to slam a Tiger Fist into Po's face--with enough force, it looked like, to break his nose--the panda suddenly rallied, and with a speed that seemed impossible brought one paw up to catch her fist just inches away from his muzzle. Staring at her past the meaty, black-furred appendage, he growled softly. "Big mistake." His fingers closed around her paw, squeezing--and suddenly Xiu was screaming, trying to jerk her paw out of his grip.''
-->''Only when Po relented and allowed her to escape was she able to stagger back, cradling her paw against her chest and glaring at him in pure, molten hate, and Viper's jaw dropped: with his strength, the panda had come that close to crushing every bone in Xiu's paw.''
* TooSlow: When Xiu is fighting Tai Lung at Yunxian and is able to easily dodge one of his blows by bending swiftly aside, she [[IShallTauntYou taunts him]] with the StockPhrase "Too slow, [[MaliciousMisnaming Tai]] [[InsistentAppellation Tai]]."
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Tai Lung absolutely adores candy and desserts of any kind, though he's very secretive and does not like people to know about it.
* ATruceWhileWeGawk: During the fight between Tai Lung, Po, and the Wu Sisters in Chapter 19, unexpected laughter suddenly interrupts, causing both Tai Lung and Xiu to stop fighting so they can turn and stare. It turns out Jia has also stopped fighting to laugh at Po stepping on Chun's foot and shoving an apple in her mouth "as if she were trussed up and ready to serve for dinner." As if that isn't enough, Po then starts throwing a whole armful of apples at ''Jia''. For a few moments Tai Lung and Xiu actually discuss the panda's antics (with Tai Lung mortified and the assassin [[TrashTalk mocking whoever trained him]], whether it was Tai himself or Shifu). Unexpectedly, it's seeing Chun coming for Po with a meteor hammer that causes the snow leopard to rejoin the fight, and only then does Xiu take advantage [[CombatPragmatist to attack him from behind]].
* TrueCompanions: Although at first his relationships with those at the Jade Palace range from openly hostile (Tigress and Monkey), to neutral and cool (Mantis and Crane), to compassion and tentative friendship (Viper and Po), over time spent together getting to know one another as well as facing down the increasingly deadly and villainous threats of Vachir, the Wu Sisters, and Heian Chao, Tai Lung eventually learns to see all of them (except Tigress, to whom he becomes [[LoveInterest even closer]]) as deep friends he can depend upon in a crisis--and they come to view him the same.
* TryNotToDie: Tigress uses a snarkily dry variation of this in Chorh-Gom after having saved Tai Lung from falling off a collapsing bridge; because of the SlapSlapKiss, MasochismTango [[BelligerentSexualTension nature of their relationship]], this rather than the usual plaintive, emotional version makes sense--for them, this ''is'' a heartfelt prayer to come back to each other.
-->'''Tigress''': Try not to fall again...I might not be there next time to catch you.
* {{Tsundere}}: Tigress is a quite intense example of the Harsh Tsundere; while she is generally cold, aloof, and fierce with others, [[DefrostingIceQueen her opening up to and getting to know Po during the first movie has softened her a fair degree]] so that now she more comes across as a grump...''except'' when dealing with the snow leopard, who even when she isn't suspecting him of foul play and being a FalselyReformedVillain is constantly treated with nasty, vindictive, malicious insults as well as violence when she feels the occasion warrants it. And as she starts falling for him (and realizes it) this behavior becomes even more pronounced. Once she isn't able to deny the truth any more, and the two of them are able to declare their love and become a couple, she finally mellows out and becomes sweeter (well, for her), but there are still times when Tai Lung is able to set off her trigger, to his great regret (and fervent intention to avoid in future). The snow leopard himself is a male example, though also a JerkWithAHeartOfGold (he's fairly harsh, dismissive, and even cruel at first to almost everyone, with a heart that's genuinely capable of warmth and affection as he works to redeem himself, but his attitude toward Tigress remains the same as hers toward him until he too finally softens and relaxes as they draw closer).
* TwiceShy: [[BetaCouple Crane and Mei Ling]] are [[WillTheyOrWontThey kept from hooking up]] for the longest time because the bird is [[ShrinkingViolet incredibly shy and awkward]], while the mountain cat [[PoorCommunicationKills thinks]] he only [[LikeBrotherAndSister sees her as a dear friend]], and neither of them [[CannotSpitItOut can admit how they really feel]]. In this case the outside force which gets them to come clean (after initially adding to the confusion) is OperationJealousy, the breaking of Chao's chi power over the Valley, and the KangarooCourt against Tai Lung.
* UnexpectedVirgin: Tai Lung, due to both his age (almost forty years old) and his badass, tough-guy exterior, but it turns out that he simply never bothered with romance in his single-minded pursuit of the Dragon Scroll (that, and he was imprisoned for 20 years).
* UnluckyEverydude: Crane. Although he is (at least in this story, and extrapolating from information revealed in ''Secrets of the Furious Five'') around the same age as Tai Lung, his utter shyness, cluelessness with women, insecurity, and lack of any close family leaves him completely floundering out of his depth when it comes to Mei Ling. (The fact he's the last of the Five to figure out what's going on between Tigress and Tai Lung, however, shows his issues extend beyond just the mountain cat.) And since he's otherwise extremely skilled with kung fu, intelligent, and insightful when it comes to social interactions and reading other characters, this one flaw marks him as the ButtMonkey when it comes to love.
* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Subverted. Shifu tells Tigress and Tai Lung exactly what he intends to do to stop Vachir. Despite this, the plan itself works perfectly--Vachir just happens to survive it is all. Also, despite Chao telling the Wu Sisters his plan for Tai Lung and the Five, it comes very close to working with only [[spoiler:Oogway's protection]] preventing it. However, it is later played straight when Chao tells Tai Lung what he intends for him to do as his servant, which of course never comes to pass.
* UntoUsASonAndDaughterAreBorn: When Tai Lung and Tigress's children are shown [[BabiesEverAfter at the end of the fic]], they're revealed to be boy-and-girl fraternal twins. The trope is played with in that the boy has Tigress's tiger pelt and the girl Tai Lung's snow leopard pelt, while still having the same eye color as their same-gender parent, but otherwise it follows all the right beats.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: Aside from the way this already applies to him in the movie, the scene where Tai Lung and the others discover the portrait of him as an adorable cub in Oogway's room is an OldShame / PlayedForLaughs variation. Except that instead of Tai Lung bemoaning the ruining of his VillainCred, he's attempting to head off InUniverse BadassDecay. Despite the fact he remains a badass for the rest of the story, amusingly, no one seems to believe him when he calls his cub self a hellion...[[MirrorCharacter except Tigress]].
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Chao uses a promised glorious future as his reason (excuse!) for [[spoiler:murdering his friends and fellow masters, as well as a group of child kung fu trainees]]--believing that only by committing such acts, and [[PoweredByAForsakenChild absorbing the chi released in the process]], can [[WellIntentionedExtremist he save all of China]] and [[VisionaryVillain remake it in the image he believes will be best for all]] [[spoiler:by eliminating the tyrannical emperor who is crushing and controlling everyone's lives]]. And he is willing to commit whatever other atrocious acts may be necessary to unlock still more mystical secrets which will help him succeed. By the present he still appeals to this motivation, except that now he claims the world he will create is one without [[CrapsackWorld pain or loss]], where none need die or be denied love and a prosperous future...if, of course, [[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans they will only obey him]], give [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill their wills to him]], and [[TheNeedsOfTheMany allow him to eliminate those who would stand in his way]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes V-Z]]
* VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Vault of Heroes]] has shades of this, being an [[ElaborateUndergroundBase underground location]] with [[SceneryPorn epic architecture and statuary]], lots of [[BossRoom space for fighting]], and an impressive name. [[SubvertedTrope However]], not only is the name [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace the exact opposite you would expect]], the place was never intended to be the location for a BossBattle, since it was a hall built to honor fallen heroes and a nexus of holy spiritual energy; it only becomes this trope due to being the place [[spoiler:where [[SealedEvilInACan Oogway imprisoned Heian Chao]]]]. Its choice for the FinalBattle, on the other hand, is also a reference to its original intention as such for the movie.
* VictoriousChildhoodFriend: Variation, since the school they attended together was a kung fu academy and not, as far as we know, an actual common educational institution, and from the ages given for the characters they were older than the usual trope examples. But in terms of spending critical formative years together, [[JustFriends how]] they [[LikeBrotherAndSister viewed one another]] (albeit [[ObliviousToLove mistakenly at times]]), and their lack of being HighSchoolSweethearts, Crane and Mei Ling both qualify--particularly since, after the fifteen years they spent apart since graduation, meeting one another again is what jumpstarts their relationship to the next level.
* ViewerGenderConfusion: Lampshaded, [[InvokedTrope invoked]], and parodied: when the characters stop at a bookstall in a marketplace and discover a scroll detailing the "legendary" events of the first movie, among the numerous parts the writer [[GossipEvolution got wrong]] is Tigress's depiction as a man. This is a meta reference to the fact that thanks to a lack of TertiarySexualCharacteristics, many prospective fans viewing trailers or pre-production materials were similarly confused (until seeing the casting news/hearing the voice work of Angelina Jolie).
* VillainBall: While Chao is usually not found carrying one of these, he does do so in at least one respect: [[spoiler:inflaming Jia's lusts for Tai Lung so that she comes to care for him too much, while at the same time encouraging Monkey and/or Vachir to kill him]]. And he doesn't expect this to cause any difficulties with Jia. Not the smartest move. [[spoiler:[[UnspokenPlanGuarantee Confessing his great plan to Tai Lung in his cell also counts]].]]
* VillainousBreakdown: Xiu at Wu Dan, and you can see every step on the way to it. Heian Chao has one too, albeit more drawn-out: starting from after Chorh-Gom when things start going wrong for him (see DidntSeeThatComing, XanatosGambit, and TakeAThirdOption), [[FromBadToWorse getting worse]] after Tai Lung is exonerated, and culminating when he discovers Po is not only still involved in the battle despite his [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Father]] ultimatum but had also [[spoiler:cleansed the Pool of Sacred Tears]]. Watch Chao go from [[WickedCultured suave, sophisticated]] [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] to psychotic, [[PrecisionFStrike raging]] apocalypse.
* VillainousLineage: Thanks to [[BrokenPedestal what he learns about his ancestry]], particularly [[spoiler:his father Bao]], and [[TheChosenOne despite being the Dragon Warrior]], Po is afraid he has inherited his love of battle from a place of darkness and bloodlust, making him once again not that different from Tai Lung. But of course, since he's still one of the main heroes, [[SubvertedTrope his fears are unfounded]]. The Wu Sisters Jia and Chun, meanwhile, are convinced being assassins is in their blood and will always make them evil and distrusted; the former has fallen into TrappedInVillainy because of this, while the latter seems to have simply accepted her lot in life/karma and does her best to [[PunchClockVillain treat it as a job]] that, while [[DirtyBusiness somewhat dirty]], is still [[NecessarilyEvil necessary]] and can serve a larger purpose as long as she is [[NobleDemon neutral and honorable about it]]. [[spoiler:They both discover they are mistaken and [[TheAtoner can follow a path of heroism]], although it takes Chun until the very end of the series to fully commit to it.]] Their sister Xiu, at least, is absolutely an heir to their black-hearted mother's cruel and vicious ways, and seems to have [[InbredAndEvil inherited]] her [[AxCrazy insanity]] as well.
* VillainsActHeroesReact: At first played straight, then later averted. When the BigBad first appears in the story, all of the plot-driven elements come about due to him or his lackeys, with the Heroes either trying to stop him, put an end to his crimes, or protect Tai Lung, Po, and the people of the Valley. But after one too many schemes, before Chao can recover and launch an even worse attack, Shifu decides to be proactive, learn who and what and where he is, and go take him out--and after learning of him from the Wu Sisters, the rest of the Heroes decide the same thing.
* VillainsNeverLie: During the final battle, Heian Chao [[BreakingSpeech confronts Po]] with [[VillainRevealsTheSecret two very unpleasant truths]]: that [[spoiler:his father, a once-good soldier but something of a BloodKnight who became a thief, highwayman, and murderer, became such by his own flaws and inner darkness, not anything the BigBad did]] and that [[spoiler:Po using the Wuxi Finger Hold to cleanse and purify Tai Lung [[NiceJobBreakingItHero is what freed Chao from Oogway's prison]]]]. Other than an initial refusal to believe him, the panda doesn't question whether what he's been told is true, instead [[HeroicBSOD falling into despair]] over his own supposed inclination toward darkness. Justified in-story, however, by the fact he had already learned about [[spoiler:his father]] from the Wu Sisters and thus been primed to accept Chao's word on the matter, and that his already established insecurity (and [[LetsGetDangerous recent willingness]] to [[PragmaticHero cross lines]] and [[TookALevelInJerkass take darker actions]]) makes him willing to believe the worst about himself. It's also aided by Chao being willing to admit the role he ''did'' play in inflaming the Manchurians' actions during the war, a believable detail that makes the rest of what he said have the ring of truth.
* VillainsOutShopping: Subverted. What seemed to be the Wu Sisters out for dinner at Ping's restaurant was actually them casing the joint to get info on Po.
* VirginShaming: Nicely subverted with [[UnexpectedVirgin Tai Lung]]. Although there is a certain amount of teasing and mockery on Mantis and Monkey's parts over it, the rest of the Five, especially Tigress, seem to commend him for his status and the story never suggests or implies the snow leopard is anything less of a warrior or man for this. In fact [[spoiler:Tai Lung loses his virginity just before the battle at Chorh-Gom...and ''still'' loses to Vachir, undermining the notion that a change in his sexual status suddenly made him a better fighter]], while after [[spoiler:he and Tigress finally become a couple and start frequently sharing a bed]], he is still only one member of a team that helps save the day. [[spoiler:He does defeat the BigBad, but only with the help of Po and Tigress--so the PowerOfLove and the PowerOfFriendship trump losing your virginity.]]
* VitriolicBestBuds: In the "only one friend" variation, Tai Lung will not miss an opportunity to snark at, poke fun at, and sometimes even threaten Po with physical harm, and while Po is ''not'' oblivious to it (most of the time), the panda [[NiceGuy just takes it all with good humor]] and continues to be as friendly, warm, and caring as can be--except if Tai Lung insults Mr. Ping and his soup or restaurant. On occasion Po does return the teasing and snark right back, but only in a gentle, lighthearted way, naturally, and this tendency increases as the story progresses and Tai Lung's companionship influences his CharacterDevelopment; by the end they're a bit closer to FriendlyRivalry.
* VoiceOfTheLegion: Whenever Heian Chao [[DemonicPossession possesses]] someone, his voice underlies theirs during moments when he reveals himself (or his control simply subsumes his host's will completely), and the blending of voices (even when his host's voice [[EvilSoundsDeep is also deep]]) is remarked in-story as being quite unnerving and chilling. His own voice also contains a reverberating [[PowerEchoes echo]] from time to time, and even seems to be backed by other layers of whispers; it isn't clear what exactly causes this effect (one of the sequel vignettes suggests it's at least partially a simple auditory trick performed via chi manipulation), but the implication is that at least some of it stems from darker spirits he unleashed during his chi studies, perhaps even that some of them may have [[ManySpiritsInsideOfOne taken up]] residence [[FusionDance within him]].
* WeCanRuleTogether:
** Heian Chao offers Tai Lung the chance to become "the greatest of his servants", partly as an alternative to him killing him and everyone he loves, partly to offer him unique powers and a legendary status he's craved his whole life. Despite the threats, the PTSD which stems from being imprisoned again, and the SadisticChoice Chao is placing him in, the snow leopard is tempted thanks to his InferioritySuperiorityComplex (and his belief everyone has either turned on him or is helpless to save him)[[spoiler:--but in the end he refuses]].
** Xiu offers to have Tai Lung join the Wu Clan, both when they first meet in Yunxian and during the FinalBattle, with the added bait of [[TellMeAboutMyFather learning about his family]] and why he was a DoorstopBaby, but he refuses.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Xun Chao, before [[spoiler:becoming Heian Chao]], wanted to use his mastery of chi [[VisionaryVillain to bring order to China by overthrowing the Emperor]]. To do this, [[spoiler:he needed to [[PoweredByAForsakenChild murder children and absorb their chi]]]]. [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil By the time he tried to follow through with it]], he was quite clearly out of his mind...and thanks to TheCorruption, TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget, and (it's implied) LoveHurts he has dispensed with things such as love, compassion, and [[WhatIsEvil morality]] as [[GoodIsImpotent pathetic]] signs of [[LoveIsAWeakness weaknesses]], instead merely using appeals to them to justify his actions and manipulate others while not even believing in them any more.
* [[WhamEpisode Wham Chapter]]: Chapter 34. Nuff said, and Chapter 30 as well. [[spoiler:The first one is the chapter where Zhuang is murdered, Ping is kidnapped and Po informed of it, and Shifu has his frightening premonition just before the CliffHanger of Tai Lung's arrest. The second starts with Zhuang discovering the blinded Chang and his wife being [[EmotionEater fed off of by Chao]] and warned about Vachir, then has the zombie Anvil of Heaven, the fight with Vachir, the revelation that Monkey was possessed (and DisneyDeath of Mantis), and the stabbing of Vachir that led to the explosion of dark chi and Tai Lung and Tigress falling into the abyss. Whew!]] Chapter 34 also counts as a DramaBomb since, unlike Chapter 30, it takes place after a breather in the plot and what seems to be things mostly better or on the rise toward resolution.
* WhatIsEvil:
** Seeing as he's a StrawNihilist and WellIntentionedExtremist who went JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope into TheDarkSide because UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans, it isn't at all surprising Heian Chao would use moral relativism to try and sway others to his side. At the same time, it seems fairly obvious at certain points that he is indeed aware of what evil is--or at least how others define it--he just believes the ends justify the means, that [[{{Pride}} no one else can understand]] the truth of [[IDidWhatIHadToDo what must be done]], and that those who get hung up on right and wrong are missing the point when it comes to what he wants to achieve.
--->'''Heian Chao''': Cease prattling about morality and ethics, you and I both know those are simply words we use as masks, facades to present to the world to keep the weak and misguided from interfering while we do our work.
** Unsurprisingly, Xiu holds a similar view which she inherited from her mother and the assassin's code, but Chun points out that it isn't a matter of not being able to ''define'' evil, but one of perspective.
* WhatWouldXDo: As mentioned under IceCreamKoan, Tai Lung ends up trying to think like his OldMaster Oogway when it comes to giving advice and comfort to Tigress while they're trapped on the ledge in Chorh-Gom. Unfortunately, while he's forgiven the turtle by this point, his long history of dismissing much of what he said (plus Oogway's [[EccentricMentor inherently confusing thought processes]]) makes the snow leopard rather bad at it. Also comes with a bit of ICantBelieveImSayingThis, when he finds himself having to ask such a question in the first place.
* WhosLaughingNow: Another motivation for Tai Lung's rampage, besides claiming what he had been led to believe was rightfully his--to get back at [[TooDumbToLive those who had mocked him for not becoming the Dragon Warrior]].
* WickedCultured: Until [[VillainousBreakdown he loses his temper after the failure of his plans]], Chao has this trope written all over him--suave, eloquent, often with a [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness polysyllabic lexicon]], urbane and florid in his mannerisms and gestures, a very dry and sardonic sense of humor, and overall a keen intelligence and sophistication. Some of this likely stems from his having lived nearly a thousand years in the past, but it also clearly relates to his elite education--and probably his class as well, since Oogway notes his family was of the nobility.
* AWizardDidIt: Used quite literally to explain and justify such things as [[spoiler:why Tai Lung conveniently forgets about Chao for a while, why the Five become increasingly argumentative, why Mei Ling doesn't tell Crane about her plan to make Tigress jealous, why PoorCommunicationKills, why Tai Lung thinks it's a good idea to reconcile Tigress and Shifu in the middle of a HatePlague]], and so on.
* WizardsLiveLonger: Despite the setting and the fact he is a BlackMagic user, [[KungFuWizard Chao]] is nine hundred plus years old. That said, the kung fu genre has numerous examples of mystical villains unnaturally extending their life/preserving their youth and health, and in Chao's case the fact he's drawing upon LifeEnergy from countless others would only further augment and sustain the Five Elements flowing through his body; Oogway mentions that if not for this he would have decayed long ago, with the implication that it would be due as much to his use of the dark arts as because of his age and lich-like status.
* [[WontTakeYesForAnAnswer Won't Take Yes For An Answer]]: How Po reacts to [[spoiler:Jia]] revealing she has feelings for him, too--immediately launching into all the reasons he believes, in his insecurity, that she (or any female) could never be interested in him that way (being fat, being immature, lacking in confidence and badassery) before realizing what she'd actually said.
* TheWorfEffect: As proof of what a serious threat the villains of the story are--Exhibit A: the Wu Sisters come this close to defeating Tai Lung during their first encounter, [[spoiler:nearly kill [[TheChosenOne Po]]]], and do succeed in beating [[ActionGirl Tigress]] the first time they meet her; Exhibit B: Vachir gives an absolute NoHoldsBarredBeatdown to Tai Lung at Chorh-Gom and succeeds in holding Tigress hostage; and just before the FinalBattle, during Heian Chao's series of {{Breaking Speech}}es to the kung fu warriors, we see from Tigress's POV just how powerful the shadow mage's chi is, since he comes quite close to breaking [[{{Determinator}} her]]. In the end, though, all of this merely allows for multiple examples of HeroicSecondWind as Xiu is eventually defeated by first [[TookALevelInBadass Po]], then Tai Lung, Vachir is dealt a fatal blow by [[spoiler:Tigress]], and not only is Chao killed, but his army [[spoiler:of demons]] is taken out by the Five, led of course by Tigress.
* WorldsShortestBook: Inverted example on Wu Dan, where Xiu taunts Tigress with the knowledge she possesses of what's going on back in the Valley that the kung fu master doesn't have. (Although Tigress gets a good rejoinder in by mocking Xiu's age, as not having enough time to tell her.)
-->'''Tigress''': Wait a minute--what do you mean, "I should be worrying about Tai Lung"? What's going on? What do you know that I don't?
-->'''Xiu''': Oh, that could fill whole mountains of scrolls, Master Tigress. Are you sure you have the time to hear it?
* WorthIt: During the "Truth or Dare" game--despite the fact it results in him being chastised, threatened, and forced to endure two dares or questions in a row, Tai Lung murmurs to himself that it was worth it just to make Po attempt to touch his toes and witness the results.
* [[WouldntHurtAChild Wouldn't Hurt A Child]]: While he brutally injured and even killed many innocent people during his rampage, Tai Lung never once harmed or killed a child--from his thoughts it's clear [[EveryoneHasStandards he considers this a point of honor for him]] as one of the few parts of the kung fu code he managed to retain. As a result it's also a BerserkButton for him if you suggest that he would, as Monkey discovers. Jia also notes that is a line the Wu Sisters have never crossed, [[EvenEvilHasStandards not even Xiu]]. Chao, however, [[WouldHurtAChild has no such compunctions]].
* WronskiFeint: Crane pulls a clever move on Heian Chao during the final battle, flying straight at one of the walls of the Vault of Heroes and then veering away at the last second so that the villain crashes into the rock; for maximum effectiveness he does this by bringing his feet up, driving them into the stone, and then shoving himself away up and at an angle so Chao has even less time to correct course.
* XanatosGambit: Chao, being GenreSavvy, tries pulling one of these off on Tai Lung at Chorh-Gom, figuring that he'll either kill Vachir out of rage and be open to being corrupted, or get killed and serve him as a zombie; either way he would win. Similarly, no matter which way Tai Lung resolved the SadisticChoice which Chao had set up via [[spoiler:the murder of Zhuang]] and the trial [[spoiler:(be executed for a crime he didn't commit, or go on a second rampage to save himself, thus [[ReformedButRejected proving everyone right about his unrepentant villainy]], both of which would again leave him open to possession, corruption, and necromantic control)]], he would gain the snow leopard's service and power, and win...except for [[spoiler:Zhuang's DyingClue]] which Crane found and brought as evidence, and Po [[spoiler:cleansing the Sacred Pool]] along with Shifu's use of Oogway's staff to [[spoiler:free the villagers of their PeoplePuppets DemonicPossession]]. The fact it took so many elements to bring down this second scheme shows just how well-plotted it was, and [[DarkestHour how close]] it [[NearVillainVictory came to succeeding]].
** BatmanGambit: [[DidntSeeThatComing He didn't count on]] [[spoiler:Tigress TakingAThirdOption and stabbing Vachir herself, [[EvilCannotComprehendGood nor did he foresee]] Tai Lung actually ''forgiving'' the rhino, thus letting him [[MercyKill die an honorable death.]]]]
* YankTheDogsChain: After the confrontation at Chorh-Gom, and despite matters such as the death of [[spoiler:Mantis]], [[spoiler:Monkey]] being locked up, and Chao and the Wu Sisters still being on the loose, it looks like [[HopeSpot things are finally looking up]] for Tai Lung--everyone has accepted him at the Jade Palace (even Monkey), he and Tigress have finally declared their love for each other and are a couple, he's proven he's changed and is being forgiven. Naturally, this all occurs right before the fic's DarkestHour, with [[spoiler:Zhuang]]'s murder, Ping's kidnapping, and Tai Lung's trial and near-execution. Tai Lung himself lampshades the trope when at dinner with Tigress:
-->''"...he was convinced that someone out there, whether Chao or the gods, had it in for him, were offering him the chance at redemption, peace, love, and family [[StatusQuoIsGod only to swipe it away from him]] just when he believed he had everything he ever wanted, that he finally had a place to belong. It was too good to be true, it could not last..."''
* YinYangBomb: The Wuxi Finger Hold turns out to be a variation, since depending on the intent of the user it can either be a force for destruction (as Shifu claimed it was in the movie) or salvation (as when Po used it to take away Tai Lung's rage and insanity, purifying his soul and thus giving him the chance to change and redeem himself). The two are mutually exclusive, since the latter application also repaired the damage to the village...though it did [[spoiler:[[NiceJobBreakingItHero free Heian Chao from Oogway's prison]]]]. [[spoiler:The third film reveals the hold actually is a forced [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Ascent To A Higher Plane Of Existence]] (specifically, the Spirit Realm), but considering this doesn't match Shifu's claim that after using it there would only be a "mess" to clean up, it is still uncertain whether there is more than one version (or result). Unless Shifu was simply lying/exaggerating to scare Po, or didn't actually know what it could do...but that begs the question how Po did learn or figure out what it did by the third movie.]]
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: A number of people, but most especially Po and Oogway, insist this is the case whenever Tai Lung is ready to disparage himself and believe he is only and always a villain...and in the end, [[RousseauWasRight they're right]]. This same appeal gets turned back on Po when he starts losing faith in himself [[spoiler:thanks to what he learns about his family]], and Mei Ling most definitely appeals to it in order to [[spoiler:get Jia to finish her HeelFaceTurn]].
* YouAreNotAlone: After going so long without anyone to love or support her, constantly under Xiu's thumb, ForcedIntoEvil, and believing she has no worth or value because she will always be a hated assassin, [[TragicVillain Jia]] is told during the final battle by Mei Ling (who has finally learned who really killed their father) that she will stand by her and defend her from Xiu, Chao, the Emperor, and anyone else who tries to bring her down. [[spoiler:It's this, along with [[AllLovingHero Po]]'s support, that finally pushes Jia to complete her HeelFaceTurn]].
* YouAreNotReady: Applies to both Tai Lung and Po, though stated specifically by Oogway as the reason he didn't tell Tai Lung sooner of his destiny. This was also what Oogway told Chao when he wanted [[LifeEnergy the secrets of mastering chi]] so as to [[WellIntentionedExtremist defeat the tyrannical emperor]]; naturally [[{{Pride}} Chao didn't listen]], and [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow the rest]] was [[TheDarkSide history]].
* YouCantFightFate: Played with. Tai Lung eventually [[ForgottenFirstMeeting learns/remembers]] that [[spoiler:he had saved a very young Tigress from the ruins of her quake-collapsed house]], suggesting he and Tigress were always meant to be together and be there for each other, but Oogway later states that their romance is something Tai Lung did all on his own. So while there may be no accidents, the future is clearly not set in stone either.
* YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood: While no one actually stated the trope name aloud, let alone directly to Chao, Oogway did observe (as did Shifu in his thoughts) that the chi master could have been the best healer in the empire, perhaps even the world, had he stayed on the path of good, and that it was a shame he did not, respectively.
* YouDidTheRightThing: Variation. After Chao reveals [[spoiler:that the Wuxi Finger Hold is what freed him]], Po is distraught that doing the right thing by sparing Tai Lung's life and making it possible to redeem himself had awful, unforeseen consequences. Viper snaps the panda out of his HeroicBSOD by pointing out that he couldn't possibly have known what would happen, that saving Tai Lung ''was'' the right thing to do, and now he can help them get rid of Chao once and for all. So in this case justice absolutely was served, and the hero ''was'' satisfied by the rationale given.
* YouExclamation: Chao gives one of these when he realizes Po is a) still with the heroes instead of dead or sitting the FinalBattle out on Wu Dan and b) the one who [[spoiler: cleansed the Sacred Pool]], thus breaking his power and ruining his final gambit. To say he is displeased is [[PrecisionFStrike quite]] the [[VillainousBreakdown understatement]].
* YouFightLikeACow: Xiu uses this tactic a lot on Tai Lung and Tigress (IsThatTheBestYouCanDo comes up, unsurprisingly), though at times, especially when she is angry or on the verge of losing, this degenerates into TrashTalk. Tai Lung eventually turns it back on her, and to a point so does Po to Jia.
* YouFool: Like his other usages of high-class language to suggest his elite education and arrogance, Heian Chao uses the word "fool" a great deal against his enemies, whether dismissing their ability to harm him/put a stop to his plans, because they are mortals far below his power level, or as mockery of their childish/pathetic ideals and stubborn refusal to bow to or join him. He also tends to use it a great deal [[TrashTalk during battles]].
* YouHaveFailedMe: Lampshaded and averted. Chun wonders why Chao is okay with the Sisters failing to kill Po at Yunxian, until Chao reveals he's surprisingly patient for an insane BigBad. However, he later does consider pulling this, as does Xiu, although the latter borders on YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness.
* YouHaveToBelieveMe:
** Although he isn't quite as unhinged, desperate, or vague as most characters are in such a scenario, when Shifu tries at Tai Lung's trial to convince the people of the Valley of Heian Chao's existence and powers, he does end up making the mistake of invoking the trope by insisting they simply must trust and believe him. In his defense, he doesn't really have any way to get proof, time is rather of the essence (the snow leopard is already in the hangman's noose!), and the villagers won't exactly give him time to explain carefully or in more detail [[spoiler:since they're all under MoreThanMindControl DemonicPossession at the time]]. So naturally he fails.
** Subverted. Jia appeals to Mei Ling during the final battle regarding their father's murder, and thanks to being able to provide careful, step-by-step analysis of how the evidence matches up with her claims (in the middle of combat, no less), she is successful. Although the fact she had fifteen years to think (or rather, brood) about the situation and what she'd say to Mei if she ever had her where she would listen to her, and that by this point Mei was already doubtful enough to be half-convinced, certainly helped.
* YouJustToldMe: Used in humorous fashion early on when Tigress is made to admit to her deep and abiding distrust for Tai Lung by Shifu. Humorous because Tigress acts as if she genuinely thinks anyone couldn't figure out her desire to flay the snow leopard [[{{Tsundere}} or at least give him a tongue-lashing]].
* YouKeepTellingYourselfThat: An interesting variation, since the characters involved are a former villain (BigBad turned TheAtoner) and a former hero (InspectorJavert who is JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope [[spoiler:thanks to DemonicPossession]] into HeWhoFightsMonsters). At Chorh-Gom, when Vachir tries taunting Tai Lung that [[NotSoDifferentRemark they are not that different]] (and that Tai Lung will always be a hated villain), the snow leopard furiously goes into a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, denying it via PunctuatedPounding. The rhino's response is to sneer that he's only fooling himself and can't ever really change. While [[{{Hypocrite}} he is in no position to judge]] thanks to all the murders he's committed to lure Tai Lung into his clutches [[spoiler:and the fact it's actually Chao saying these things gives his argument even less merit]], [[GrayAndGreyMorality there's enough truth in his words]] (either when it comes to the people of the Valley or the snow leopard's own guilty conscience) to give Tai Lung pause. It's certainly true that while most of what Vachir has done is in reaction to Tai Lung, the snow leopard is the one who chose villainy as his reaction to Shifu and Oogway's decisions.
-->'''Vachir''': Awww, ya made it sound all so noble too, tough guy. I'm really proud of ya. Maybe, if ya keep sayin' it long enough, ya might actually manage to convince somebody [[BelievingTheirOwnLies besides yourself]].
* YouKilledMyFather: Mei Ling's [[ItsPersonal motivation]] in pursuing the Wu Sisters. Turns out his killer [[ManipulativeBitch wasn't]] the one [[{{Frameup}} she thought it was]], but in the end she gets her {{Revenge}}...[[spoiler:albeit indirectly through enabling Jia's HeelFaceTurn, and by tossing the dagger half of the Sword of Heroes to Tai Lung]].
* YouShallNotPass: When the Wu Sisters attack the Jade Palace to try and kill Po while the others are away at Chorh-Gom, Mei Ling keeps Xiu and Chun from getting through and ganging up on the panda by blocking the stairs to the arena and bunkhouse. She doesn't die in doing so, thankfully, although she does injure her leg, but her actions make it so Po only has to face Jia. [[PetTheDog (Not that she was actually interested in fighting him at that point.)]]
* YouWatchTooMuchX: Po's thought regarding Viper, when she decides to use the "Truth or Dare" game to [[TheMatchmaker help Tai Lung and Tigress hook up]]. A rare example where the genre in question is not that of the work it appears in. (In this case, that she was "reading too many romance novels".)
[[/folder]]