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[[quoteright:308:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/im_cover_9846.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:308:Guys? You might want to turn around...]]

''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5829008/1/Imperfect_Metamorphosis Imperfect Metamorphosis]]'' is a AlternateUniverse ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' {{fanfic}} written by {{Tropers/TakerFoxx}}.

It's a beautiful first day of spring in [[MagicalLand Gensokyo]]. Everything is fine in this paradise, right? Cirno and friends, after making a fool of [[TheChewToy Lily White]], steal a strange box buried beneath [[TrashOfTheTitans the junk in Marisa's house]]. Opening it, they release a sort of [[BlobMonster jelly monster]] [[MoodWhiplash that immediately consumes Rumia]], [[NonIndicativeFirstEpisode bringing panic into the group who run to the Hakurei Shrine]]. While they request help from Reimu, the monster assumes the form of [[SuperPoweredEvilSide a darkened version of Rumia]] and begins making its way to the Bamboo Forest.

Everything either collapses or escalates from there, [[GambitPileup with schemes upon schemes and plans upon plans clashing and merging with each other]]. There's a reason there are so many spoiler tags below.

This DarkerAndEdgier FanFiction features some of the darkest elements of the games themselves (such as Gensokyo being filled with [[BloodKnight belligerent]], [[LetsYouAndHimFight distrustful]] maniacs), some {{Alternative Character Interpretation}}s popular amongst ''Touhou'' fanfiction writers (such as Eirin being a MadScientist, Yukari being a [[TheChessmaster scheming]] ManipulativeBastard, and Yuuka being a WickedCultured DepravedBisexual), and runs with it. It takes lot of time exploring the political games of Gensokyo and just how far a youkai's mind can be screwed. Yet, it still manages some occasional funny moments, and EarnYourHappyEnding is not out of the question (much like [[FanFic/TouhouIbunshu another]] ''Touhou'' DarkFic). It also uses the [[DummiedOut unused character Rin Satsuki]] from ''The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil'' as one of the principal characters.

''Imperfect Metamorphosis'' has a side story, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6191080/1/IM_Rhapsody_of_Subconscious_Desire IM: Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire]]'', which begins after chapter 12 of the main story. It focuses on the adventures of Mokou and Kaguya in DreamLand after their encounter with the [[BlobMonster jelly monster]]. LighterAndSofter than the main story, but with gruesome [[ImmortalLifeIsCheap Cheap Deaths]] and [[JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind self-examination]].

This fic also has three {{prequel}}s[=/=]{{Christmas Episode}}s, ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6588289/1/A_Very_Nineball_Christmas A Very Nineball Christmas]]'', ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7671354/1/ Over an Open Fire]]'', and ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9956327/1/The-Sorceress-s-Apprentice The Sorceress's Apprentice]]''. A one-shot humoristic side-story titled ''Touhous in SPACE'' was done for the two-year anniversary and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7940613/1/Touhous_in_SPACE can be read here]].

If you want to ask some questions, here are the [[http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=191626 first]] and [[http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/imperfect-metamorphosis-touhou-project-thread-2.253079/ second thread]] in Website/SpaceBattlesDotCom.

See ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' for the tropes of this universe.

----
!!Tropes contained in ''Imperfect Metamorphosis'':

* AGodAmI: Marisa, when high off of [[WaveMotionGun massive]] [[InterplayOfSexAndViolence destructive]] power.
** [[spoiler: Ex-Rumia]] is like this too. She even calls herself the "Alpha and Omega" in Chapter 18.
** Considering [[spoiler: the Shadow Youkai]] is the avatar of Azrael, it could actually be coming from him instead. Since Azrael is a fallen angel, this would make a lot of sense.
* AdaptationalBadass: Kotohime. In her short canon appearance, she was an insane princess who thought she was a police officer. Now? She's a police officer who was able to arrest ''[[PersonOfMassDestruction Marisa freaking Kirisame]]''. Granted, Kotohime was having a very, very bad day. [[spoiler:And she had Yukari helping her.]]
* AlternateUniverse[=/=]AlternateUniverseFic
** Gensokyo was founded some centuries before the date in {{canon}}.
** [[spoiler:Yuuka found out about the existence of infinite {{alternate universe}}s when her soul temporarily merged with Yukari's. After that event, she effectively knows about the different Gensokyos, the many Yuukas... [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou She also knows about the universe we call reality]].]]
* AllStoriesAreRealSomewhere: [[spoiler:After TheReveal, Yuuka wonders whether the universe she lives in is real or just a fantasy inside the writer's mind, or if all the alternate universe she has seen exist or not]]. So far, this hasn't been neither confirmed nor denied.
* AlmightyJanitor: [[spoiler:Genji]] is implied to be this. We still don't know to what extent, though, but [[spoiler:he's apparently older and more powerful than Yukari]].
* AmbiguousInnocence: Yuyuko acts rather childlike frequently, not seeming to understand that things like [[spoiler: eating Mystia and forcing her to remain alive throughout entire process]] are wrong. Her ObfuscatingStupidity makes this even more ambiguous.
%%* AngelsDevilsAndSquid
%%* AngerBornOfWorry: Since many characters in the story are {{Jerkass}}es albeit heroic ones, this seems to happen a lot when they're not teasing each other or genuinely malicious. Reimu becomes this after The Storm arc, and even Alice sort of counts, but another big one happens in the beginning of Chapter 38 with Patchouli to Remilia. [[spoiler: This happens because of Flandre being killed (or captured) by Yuuka during The Storm arc.]] As tragic as it is, Patchouli notices she's a bit too over dramatic over it which does not fit her reputation, becoming a drama queen much like [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rarity]], or perhaps a {{Hikikomori}} not too different from [[Anime/WelcomeToTheNHK Satou.]] Patchouli practically becomes a hero despite all of Remilia and Sakuya's snarking just before she's about to go to bed. The funny part comes from the fairies' reactions.
%%* AntiMagic: The Mykr's Sirens have this effect.
* ApocalypseCult: It is revealed in Flandre's mindscape, that a Doomsday Cult [[spoiler: wanted to use her destructive powers to achieve their goals (bringing forth the apocalypse).]] It backfired on them horribly.
* AssholeVictims: [[spoiler:Remilia]] beats [[spoiler:Patchouli and Sakuya]]. Even if she didn't exactly do it for noble reasons ([[spoiler:she was more upset about the fact that they agreed to keep Rin in her house without telling her anything than the fact that the two took part in Eirin's experiment]]), they really deserved it. Also, the KarmicButtMonkey treatment that Mima or Yuuka inflict on [[spoiler:the [[MadScientist Asakura sisters]]]].
* AudienceSurrogate: Yuuka's guest during ''The Storm'' chapters plays this part. [[spoiler:It eventually revealed to be a magical construct used to talk directly to the readers.]] This guest makes a reappearance in Chapter 56 as well.
* AuthorAvatar: [[spoiler:Yuuka]], after [[spoiler:The Storm arc]] is this, in a very twisted way. She [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] and [[DiscussedTrope discusses]] it herself. It's very easy to compare how she makes other people suffer for no apparent reason with how the author hits the characters with every kind of calamities for the enjoyment of the readers. Or the fact that she constantly seeks to breed conflict. And we all know that [[TrueArtIsAngsty without conflict, there is no story]].
* AuthorCatchphrase: "'Until next time, everyone!'". In chapter 31, Yuuka uses it.
%%* BatmanGambit: This story is 50% composed of {{Batman Gambit}}s.
%%* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: When [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] wants to rip [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]] out of her head, an awesome one ensues.
* BeingGoodSucks: Well, more like being good is HARD, but Reimu finds it difficult to be a "people person" with how much harder the incidents in the story are to solve. Notably in Chapter 34 she realizes that rather than being anti-heroic, some the allies working together are more like villains working under an EnemyMine and that being selfish and evil seems to make things a lot easier... Of course, because of things like her concern for Marisa following under the acquaintance of Mima, she'd still take the path of good.
* BerserkButton: Marisa and her hat.
** In chapter one:
-->"Play her for a fool, steal her box, shoot her in the face, all these she could forgive. But never, ever touch her hat!"
** Also, mentioning her father.
** Throwing a snowball at Lily White on the first day of spring will send her from joyous to foaming at the mouth in no time flat.
* {{BFG}}: Eirin's kappa-modified [[BlackMarket black-market]] [[SawedOffShotgun sawed-off shotgun]].
** She later gets a whole shipment of upgraded variants off of Nitori.
* {{BFS}}: Ex-Rumia's.
* BigBadDuumvirate: So far, there's the Shadow Youkai and Yuuka. Honestly, it's kind of hard to know whose stronger despite the premise, but everyone believes it's still the Shadow Youkai. [[spoiler: Then it turns out the both of them are WAY stronger than they appear, with the Shadow Youkai actually being an avatar of Azrael whose a fallen angel all just from its sword and Yuuka is an Eldritch Abomination most likely straight out of a H.P. Lovecraft story. Yukari thinks it's an Outer God while Mima thought it was a Great Old One. Confirmed by Chapter 41, The Shadow Youkai, whose only an AVATAR of a fallen angel is stronger than Yuuka.]]
** TheDragon: Regardless of that fact, Elly is still TheDragon to Yuuka. One has to wonder if she's terribly misguided and ObliviouslyEvil, especially since Yuuka acts oh so nice when she's not ripping someone to shreds.
* BigDamnHero: In the last part of ''The Storm'', we have the sudden arrival of Youmu, who frees Marisa from Yuuka's {{combat tentacles}}.
--> '''Marisa (happy)''': "DOUBLETROUBLE!"
* BlessedWithSuck: [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] currently has the ability to adapt to any magical attack and can absorb other people to gain their powers. Thus, she has gained [[IncendiaryExponent fire manipulation,]] eternity manipulation, [[{{Immortality}} immortality]] (times two), VoluntaryShapeshifting (also time two) and is just scratching the surface of [[SuperPoweredEvilSide Ex-Rumia's]] [[DarkIsEvil shadow powers]]. All this has turned her into Gensokyo's public enemy #1. And as Gensokyo is filled with SuperpowerLottery winners...
%%* BlobMonster: [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]]
%%* BloodKnight
%%** ''Marisa freaking Kirisame''
%%** Yuuka Kazami
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Yuuka, [[spoiler:which is to be expected, considering what she is.]] By The Storm arc, it even says she loves both the best and worst in life, and she's quite literally capable of pulling off both just for the hell of it. Even the few morals she has are flexible, as [[spoiler: Marisa finds out too late.]]
* BrattyHalfPint:
%%** Flandre.
** [[spoiler: The old Rin]] is like this too. Reisen can't even remember that she used to be like that when she reads her diary after The Storm arc, hoping it's just a phase. By Chapter 39, she rereads through it again and realizes that Rin doesn't discover it until 4 years later when Tewi stole it for unknown reasons, with Rin herself admitting she was a brat and being surprised. Reisen is obviously relieved.
* BreakTheCutie:
%%** [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] has gone through many ordeals. In [[spoiler:chapter 24]], she has definitely snapped.
** [[spoiler:Yuuka]] pretends to be Remilia to drive Flandre towards the DespairEventHorizon, before [[KillTheCutie killing her]].
* BreakTheHaughty:
%% ** Yukari does this to [[spoiler:Remilia Scarlet and Tenshi Hinanai]].
** The ultimate fate of Yuuka Kazami. [[spoiler: Mima's gambit, compounded by her slow descent into insanity after killing Marisa, reduce her to no more than a ''sixteenth'' of her initial self. And that tiny shard is not only haunted by the mocking laughs of the audience, but has fallen into the hands of Shinki.]] Realizing she has truly lost everything and can only look forward to an eternity of torture, the shard goes truly insane and [[LaughingMad joins the laughs]].
%%* BreatherEpisode:
%%** ''Chapter 32: The Aftermath'' is well named.
%%** In the form of an Abridged Story Summary, Chapter 43 is also this, but PlayedForLaughs instead of relief.
* BrickJoke:
** Turns out that Patchouli actually does keep her porn stash in a box identical to the one Rin was sealed in. [[spoiler: Said box is used to reseal Rin.]]
** More of a dark humor moment than anything else, but in chapter 42, Yukari remarks that she might consider Reimu a junior member of Those Who Have Seen Death once Marisa goes insane and Reimu is forced to kill her. Sixteen chapters later, [[spoiler:Reimu is forced to annihilate the zombified body of Marisa.]]
* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: The overall result of the battle with [[spoiler:Yuuka.]] In chapter 57, [[spoiler: Yuuka]] attacks Marisa Kirisame. While Marisa won, it wasn't without its costs: one knocked out Reimu and one broken neck. Which is a shame, since she won the battle.
* BuffySpeak: Marisa's impression of anime: "[W]hat'cha call 'em again? Those illusions with stories on that clunky screen?"
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Reimu's reaction to Meira's insistence that she dishonored her in battle and so must suffer vengeance.
* ButtMonkey: [[spoiler: Remilia Scarlet.]] No one takes her seriously after Yukari [[BreakTheHaughty dealt with her]]. Dips into JerkassWoobie after "The Storm".
%%** Nyoron, the fairy from GPF.
* CameBackWrong: When Mima shreds the [[spoiler: Strutter]] after [[spoiler: Yuuka]] overrides it, [[spoiler: Yuuka]] just brings it back...as what is essentially the plant equivalent of a cyborg.
* TheCameo: [[Webcomic/TouhouNekokayou Masha Kinoko]] makes a brief appearance in chapter 22 to give Team 9 directions.
%%* CantHoldHisLiquor: Chen, notably during Chapter 11.
* ChandlersLaw: In chapter 39, right after the fight between [[SpiderTank the Strutter]] and [[HumongousMecha the Hisoutensoku]] has been ended and Reimu is trying to convince [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] that she's there to help her, Yuuka lets Tenshi pass through the crowd control and later helps her recover from the missile that Mima shot to her, and later uses the Strutter to challenge Reimu and her team. Why? [[ItAmusedMe For shits and giggles, of course]]. {{Tropers/TakerFoxx}} himself admits to using her to get the plot moving.
* CharacterDevelopment: Reimu, much to her displeasure, is forced to admit that she's becoming more of a "people person".
* TheChewToy: Lily White is Team Nine's favorite fool, and all their interactions are treated with humor. After Rumia gets eaten by a strange jelly monster and everything goes to Makai in a handbasket, though, [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere she decides to take her leave and come back again next spring]].
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: While in {{Canon}} she is everything but this, Reimu actually finds out that she just ''can't'' [[spoiler:stand back and let Yukari kill an innocent child, if she can choose to stop it]]. Of course, Marisa lampshades it.
* ClusterFBomb: The story itself, all the time, and the story is only rated T, among the other dark aspects such as implied rape. Takerfoxx himself was wondering about amping the story to an M-rating early on but by 51 Chapters, the story is still only rated T. It seems the ratings might actually be done by the site itself, not by the author's intentions. If not, then the rating is possibly Non-Indicative.
* CombatTentacles: Yuuka's favorite use of her vines.
* ContinuityNod: Chapter 24 has one to ''A Very Nineball Christmas''. When [[spoiler:Yuuka]] takes Team Nineball to her mansion, Daiyousei's snowglobe is among their possessions that [[spoiler:Yuuka]] has brought over. There is later a rendition of Lovely Little Tomboy that involves one snow globe, one Team Nineball, and (would you believe it?) one Rin Satsuki.
* CoolSword: Reisen eventually finds [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]]'s sword. It's described as obsidian black, with nasty-looking blades sticking out of everywhere.
%%* CrossoverCosmology: See FantasticNatureReserve below.
* CurbStompBattle:
** Most of Gensokyo's powerhouses join together near the beginning of the story to take down [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]]. It doesn't end well.
** [[spoiler:Satori]] literally gets curbstomped by Yuuka during Yukari's attempt to permanently get rid of her.
* CuteAndPsycho: Yuuka smiles almost constantly, and most of the time is almost pleasant to be around. Then she kills people because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, were in her way, or just to make a point. She used to be a lot worse about this: Yukari said she'd murder whole villages because she'd think it'd be funny.
%%* DarkerAndEdgier[=/=]DarkFic
%%* DarkAndTroubledPast: Elly. When being taken in by ''Yuuka'' is the best thing that has ever happened to you, something's gone very, very wrong with your life.
* DeaderThanDead:
** The Kirin have access to a way of killing youkai and faeries and ''keeping'' them dead. [[spoiler: They did this to Rin's biological parents as punishment for the scandal and treachery they performed.]]
** Yukari is also capable of this, by crushing a being's 'essence'. This causes the target to be incapable of reforming its body. [[spoiler:Yuuka walks it off.]]
** The influence of Mykr's Sirens can prevent a youkai or divinity from regenerating from bodily disruption if there's enough of them around. Fortunately they'll come back once the Sirens have been weeded out. [[spoiler: In ch. 39, this is the only hope for Kanako and Nitori.]]
* DeadlyDoctor: Eirin, through supplementing her very weaponizable medical know-how with MoreDakka.
%%* DeadpanSnarker:
%%** Everyone has a go at this sooner or later, but [[CuteAndPsycho Yuuka]], [[EvilOverlord Mima]] and [[LittleMissSnarker Rumia]] are the most frequent ones.
%%** Also, all the protagonists of Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire.
%%* DeathByGenreSavvy: [[spoiler: Satori]] is the first one to "die" (in the sense of having her essence captured) in The Storm.
%%* DeathSeeker:
%%** [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]], ever since her BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind, but she doesn't realize it until Rumia figures it out herself and yells at her over it.
%%** Also somewhat implied with [[spoiler:Eirin]], out of guilt for [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]].
* {{Deconstruction}}: Kotohime was crazy [[spoiler:because of her DarkAndTroubledPast, after her family was killed by youkai]].
%%* DefrostingIceQueen: Reimu, whether willing or not. Marisa was surprised about this one.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Marisa kills [[spoiler:Yuuka]]. Granted it was only one fourth of her, but it still counts. And then, for added emphasis, beats the other 3/4ths in a battle. [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu and still manages to suffer immensely. Far more than the first battle.]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: Yuuka, despite everyone in-universe saying she's unpredictable, has a method to her madness. She only lashes out when someone breaks etiquette. An example being when she killed the couple in the hotel room, because they screamed in terror upon seeing her instead of giving her a proper greeting. Another example being that she didn't attack any of Yukari's backup teams until they attacked her, thus breaking the rules of her engagement with Yukari. [[spoiler: Kanako]] picks up on this and manages to talk Yuuka into going home for the day.
* DoorStopper: The word count is over 1,3 million. That's longer than the whole ''Literature/HarryPotter'' saga or all the books of "In Search of Lost Time" (which is considered to be one of the longest novels ever).
* TheDreaded: Nearly everyone reacts to the news that Yuuka is becoming involved with abject horror at the possibility. Their reactions are entirely justified.
%%* DreamLand: Two examples which are overlapped with JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind.
* DumbIsGood: [[TheDitz Utsuho]], very childlike and naive but also the only character to befriend Flandre, [[spoiler: and go offer condolences to Remilia (who had been rather abrasive towards her) after Flandre's death/capture.]]
%%* DummiedOut: Referenced InUniverse with a dream done by Rin Satsuki.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: The entirety of chapter 57. As ways to go out are rated, [[spoiler:defeating an eldritch abomination, forcing it to break its own rules, then rubbing your victory in its face with your last words]], definitely ranks high.
%%* DysfunctionJunction: Nearly everyone is messed up. Thankfully, we have some persons like Reimu.
%%* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler:Cirno and Rumia are the only ones to forgive Rin Satsuki for what she has done.]]
* EldritchAbomination: [[spoiler:Yuuka]] is [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos a (former?) Outer God]], and her true form seems to be a flower described by H. P. Lovecraft out in space, going everywhere. Satori saw it, which caused her to blank out. Later, [[spoiler:Yuuka]] explains to [[AudienceSurrogate a guest]] that what Satori actually saw was but a ''watered-down version'' of [[spoiler:Yuuka]]'s true horrific visage, and at the height of her power, [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm she was even nastier.]] [[spoiler: Yuuka]]'s true name is eventually confirmed to be Yidhra from the Franchise/CthulhuMythos.
* EloquentInHerNativeTongue: Whereas the Kappa normally speak with an accent appearing to be a bizarre fusion of Jamaican and Dutch, the conversation between Sanae and Nitori in the Kappa's language displays a ridiculous level of articulation.
%%* EnemyToAllLivingThings: [[spoiler:The Shadow Youkai.]]
%%* EnemyWithin: [[spoiler:The Shadow Youkai.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Yuuka repeatedly tries to express her... standards:
** When she makes a promise or deal, she will go out of her way to make sure that both sides live up to it.
** To Yuyuko and Youmu:
*** When she finds out that Yuyuko [[spoiler:ate Mystia alive once]], she's actually shocked and disgusted.
*** She find their use of a KirkSummation on [[spoiler:Elly]] to be absolutely ''disgraceful''.
** To Yukari:
*** She outright states that there are those worse than herself out there. [[spoiler: And considering she was once an all powerful Outer God...]]
*** Yukari is systematically destroying any flora in an attempt to prevent Yuuka to infiltrate her little spies. She considers that it is murder.
---> '''Yuuka''': She will pay dearly for that crime.
** Yuuka does genuinely seem to care for Elly and possibly Team Nineball, remarking that outcasts should stick together.
** All of these things are mainly due to her BlueAndOrangeMorality. However, she has been known to turn back on her morality once in a while...
* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Reimu mentions that she regularly has to shut down corny "seduction" attempts on her by youkai of both sexes when talking with [[MistakenForGay Meira]].
* EvilBrit:
** Yuuka, [[WordOfGod apparently]] has a British accent.
** And [[spoiler:Elly]] actually IS British. Though she's not actually ''evil'', it's just that she's loyal to Yuuka above everything else.
%%* EvilMentor: Mima to Marisa, causing several other characters to worry.
%%* EvilVersusEvil: Yuuka vs. The Shadow Youkai. Well, if Yuuka can even be called truly evil if she has a bizarre set of standards.
* EvilVersusOblivion: Yuuka vs. The Shadow Youkai might be this. [[spoiler: Since the premise revolves around the Shadow Youkai, it might not be a spoiler for her to be said to be even stronger than Yuuka, but The Storm arc is 4 chapters long and Yuuka is still alive. The Shadow Youkai is just getting stronger too because of the inevitable power of Rin Satsuki copying legendary people's abilities.]]
* ExtremeOmnivore:
** Yuyuko. Eats everything... [[spoiler:youkai included.]]
** Medicine Melancholy too actually, by Chapter 51. It's a long story, [[spoiler: involving Marisa being close to killing someone because she was going to get arrested]], but Marisa and Alice are pissed at each other with Alice refusing to talk to her for a long time. Marisa gets fed up and tries out all sorts of odd antics, one of them trying to give Alice's "friend" a black ball of soot. She actually EATS it. This is because she's a living doll, so she can eat anything, really.
--> '''Alice:''' Medicine, did you actually just eat that ball of soot?\\
'''Medicine:''' It-was-not-bad-act-ual-ly.
%%* FallenAngel: [[spoiler:Shinki and Sariel, as well as Azrael.]]
* FanGirl:
** Patchouli was incredibly eager to meet Mima, having read all her books, and obsessively studied all of her theories.
** In Ch. 38, Sanae is utterly unwilling to let Reimu try to stop the scuffle between [[HumongousMecha the Strutter and the Hisoutensoku]], or move from her vantage point. Why? ''It's a '''[[InstantAwesomeJustAddMecha MECHA FIGHT!!!]]''''' Then, when she gets to ''commandeer'' the Hisoutensoku in Ch. 40, she convinces Mima to let the main theme to ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' play in the control space. [[spoiler: So it's only natural that she finishes off the Strutter in ch. 41 with a Giga Drill Breaker.]]
%%* {{Fanservice}}: Rinnosuke in Chapter 47. Takerfoxx even says he based it off of an Old Spice commercial.
* FantasticNatureReserve: In chapter 39, Mima implies that Gensokyo is not the only FantasticNatureReserve in the world: there seem to be others for other mythologies. Seeing how it has already been made clear that in the Imperfect Metamorphosis universe [[spoiler:both the Judeo-Christian God and Lovecraftian Outer Gods exist]], it seems likely that these reserves really exist. This is confirmed in chapter 42: apparently [[spoiler:they were created when YHWH took over and offered to let the old deities live if they agreed to stay there]].
* FantasticRacism: Nearly every denizen of the Human Village has this with youkai. They shun Reimu despite her being one of their few protectors because she's friends with youkai (as opposed to, in ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', simply [[DudeWheresMyRespect not acknowledging her efforts]]). They shun the GPF despite them being the first organised law enforcement agency in Gensokyo's history because they also protect youkai. And Master Sonozika outright ''hates'' youkai, especially Yukari, and anyone who associates with them under a fairly standard "all youkai are the same" mentality.
%%* FauxAffablyEvil: [[spoiler: Yuuka]] in spades. It just makes her all the more creepier.
%%* {{Flashback}}[=/=]PensieveFlashback: ''The Storm'' chapters.
* ForbiddenZone: The Garden of the Sun (which, in {{canon}}, is populated by fairies who help the garden grow by pointing them towards the sun) and a city that was nuked to Hell and back by Yukari are considered like this.
* ForegoneConclusion:
** The plan to kill Yuuka is being told by Yuuka herself. This is being told after the actual attempt itself.
** A brief aside after [[spoiler: Reimu evicts Yukari from the Hakurei Shrine]] goes as such:
--> "[[spoiler: Yukari]] kept her promise. They never saw nor spoke to each other again, save for one last time, right before the end."
%%* ForScience: Eirin's other rationalization for being such a JerkAss.
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou:
** [[spoiler:When Yukari dealt the final blow to Yuuka, Yuuka saw ''every single reality that we created with our imagination for just about everything''.]]
** On our side, [[spoiler:Yuuka]] reveals that the person she was talking to is the reader, and that she knows about us and [[Fanfic/ImperfectMetamorphosis a certain something that has two words and eight syllables]].'' Though as it turns out, it goes both ways. After killing Marisa, [[spoiler:Yuka]] is starting to suffer from some SanitySlippage. Why? Because [[GoMadFromTheRevelation she realized]] we're laughing at her misfortune, and not in the way a clown gets people to laugh at them. Admit it, [[YouBastard you did.]]
* FreudianTrio: Played with: at first Reimu, Byakuren and Yukari seem a classical FreudianTrio with [[TheHero Reimu]] as TheMcCoy, [[TheHeart Byakuren]] as TheKirk and [[WellIntentionedExtremist Yukari]] as TheSpock. As the story goes on, though (and thanks to Reimu's CharacterDevelopment), we see that things are a bit different: Reimu, for example, in the beginning of the story is apathetic and easily annoyed, hates talking and mocks Byakuren's big speeches, while Yukari is cold, calculating and particularly fond of [[ShootTheDog shooting the dog]]. As the story progresses, though, we see that Yukari is actually as irritable as, if not even more than, Reimu, and while she hides everything under a mask of aloofness, she's as emotionally involved as Reimu is, if not more. Reimu, on the other hand, learns to make [[ZombieAdvocate impressive speeches]] and even [[spoiler:convinces Yukari to go along with her plan]] by using logic. Byakuren, on the other hand, has stayed pretty balanced throughout the whole story so far, and has been one of the catalysts for Reimu's CharacterDevelopment.
* FromBadToWorse
** The four chapters of ''The Storm'' are basically a simple situation --a battle-- which rapidly degrades. The results and the full implications of this battle are downright impressive: [[spoiler: Satori was {{mind rape}}d, killed by Yuuka and sealed in her team's crystal, Flandre was mentally tormented by Yuuka before being killed and sealed too, Sakuya and Remilia are terribly wounded and depressed, Yuuka is [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos an Outer God]] and she learned about other dimensions, Yukari's soul has been corrupted...]]
* GambitPileup: Everyone wants [[spoiler:to use the Shadow Youkai to their advantage, or destroy it,]] or somehow save face in front of everyone else. Just try to count all the different plots, gambits, and motives running in this story. And it's not over yet.
%%* GambitRoulette: Yukari does this with basically everyone. The author even mentions it himself.
* GenreSavvy: Yuuka. So much that [[spoiler:she eventually comes to possess MediumAwareness [[NiceJobBreakingItHero after Yukari tries to meld their essences to kill her]].]]
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Patchouli does this to Remilia in chapter 38 to snap out the latter of her [[spoiler:grief over Flandre's capture at the hands of Yuuka]]
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: {{Subverted}}. [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] had these when she was trying to make amends, after having swallowed up the wrong person.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Many sides have justifiable reasons to intervene in the conflict. Some are more valid than others. {{Discussed}} by Reisen in ''Chapter 37''.
%%** BlackAndGrayMorality: When everyone's not trying to stab each other in the back, there's always Ex-Rumia and Yuuka.
* GodIsEvil: Or at the very least a big jerk, seeing [[spoiler:how he treated the ancient deities he defeated, or the fact that his angels have glassed entire planets whenever the avatar of a fallen angel appeared.]]
%%** GodAndSatanAreBothJerks
** According to WordOfGod, [[spoiler: YHWH]] is not a case of GodIsEvil or JerkassGods and he was placed more to provide a backstory for the Shadow Youkai. It also must be considered that only Yukari and others with equally negative opinion of YHWH manifested their opinion on him.
* GoneHorriblyWrong:
%%** [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki is full of this. You can thank Eirin.]]
** Most of what [[spoiler:Eirin]] has done as seen by herself. A defense program that she was involved in while still on the moon created a nearly indestructible monster species that got loose and continued to terrorize the Lunar Capital to this day. Kaguya, upon drinking the Hourai Elixer, was supposed to bring fame and fortune to both herself and [[spoiler:Eirin]], but instead was disowned and banished to Earth because if it. Rin Satsuki is just the latest on a long list.
* GoodIsNotDumb: Byakuren.
--> [[LampshadeHanging "Reimu, I may be an idealist. That doesn't mean I'm an idiot."]]
* GoodScarsEvilScars:
** Reimu gets some scars on her face [[spoiler:during her fight with Nue]]. Though [[DepravedBisexual Mima]] thinks that they are [[ScarsAreSexy sexy scars]]. Reimu '''isn't amused''' [[DefiedTrope and asks her to remove them]].
** Yuka refuses to heal her eye for reasons of her own after the events of ''Storm''. [[spoiler: She also has scars from where Marisa's [[ArtifactOfDoom mordite blade]] nicked her as of ''Deep Within: Part 4'']]
* HarsherInHindsight: An in-universe example during Chapter 33. [[spoiler: Rin had a dream that she wrote down in an old diary that she didn't exist but she was supposed to, and when she brought it up to people they didn't care and just ignored her. Reisen was reading through them and felt choked by it. Yeah... (TearJerker)]]
%%* TheHeart: Byakuren.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Meira]] does this to save Reimu and Marisa from the Strutter. [[HeroicBSOD Reimu doesn't take it well]]
* HopeSpot:
** At the end of the Hide and Seek arc, it looks like things are going to get better: Reimu has managed to [[MagneticHero assemble a team]] of unlikely allies to help Rin, who in the meantime has managed to avoid capture and shut down the [[WalkingWasteland Shadow Youkai]]'s death field. In chapter 38, they meet and this time, Rin '''doesn't''' [[PoorCommunicationKills run away]]. They get ambushed by Yuuka, but they manage to defeat the people she roped in (as well as a plant-enhanced [[SpiderTank Strutter]]) by [[ThePowerOfTrust actually cooperating]], which is impressive, given how things have been going so far, and Reimu even convinces [[KnightTemplar Yukari]] to give her a chance to solve the situation without [[ShootTheDog hurting anyone]]. Great news, isn't it? Too bad that [[spoiler:Rin thinks that Yukari will never be convinced and her fate is sealed, so she storms off to the SDM to at take revenge at Patchouli and Sakuya. She ends up getting trapped in a magical box by Patchouli's IndyPloy. Then, Remilia sells the box to Yuuka, hoping to get Flandre back. Of course, Yuuka, having never promised anything else than the bounty money, gives her that in addition to a verbal and physical beatdown.]]
** Also, Yuuka gave one to Ran, in which she allowed herself to lose her in a arm-wrestling match in order to get Chen back. She does, [[spoiler:but Chen was already contamined by Yuuka's spores]].
* HonorBeforeReason:
%%** Meira. [[spoiler:Poor girl...]]
** Also, Yukari thinks this of Reimu. The catch is that she's not acting very rationally herself, despite what she thinks.
* HorrifyingTheHorror: [[spoiler:Yuuka]] is a genuine EldritchAbomination in the Lovecraftian sense, complete with {{Lovecraftian Superpower}}s and BlueAndOrangeMorality, and yet [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] manages to give [[spoiler:her]] an OhCrap moment. And apparently, [[spoiler:she]] ''doesn't like'' to be in contact with [[spoiler:the Shadow Youkai]].
** And [[spoiler:she]] already had one of this moment in the end of The Storm, [[spoiler:when she learns she's fictional. See MindRape below]].
* HumongousMecha: ''Two'' of them--the Asakura sisters' [[SpiderTank Strutter]] and Nitori's refurbished Hisentensoku--battle it out for the rights to capture Rin. [[spoiler: It ends in a draw--piledriving the Strutter caused too much wear to the Hisentensoku's legs.]]
* IdiotBall: [[spoiler:Reimu]] gets the bright idea that she can talk Rin Satsuki into compliance, or at least more willing to accept help. Rin Satsuki's paranoia and madness, unfortunately, just make things worse, forcing Mima to save Reimu. {{Tropers/TakerFoxx}} openly admits that he's doesn't usually like this {{Trope}} unless they are well written.
%%** VillainBall: Telling Yukari [[spoiler:how you learned of her assassination plan? Really, Yuuka? Really?]]
%%* IdiotSavant: Utsuho and her nuclear fusion.
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: [[spoiler: Yukari]] says this to [[spoiler: Marisa]] in Chapter 20. Subverted though in that it's not what it sounds like. [[spoiler: She's just trying to get Marisa arrested because Remilia was pressing charges. She even steals her witch and puts it on her head, saying the trope name.]]
%%* TheInfiltration: [[spoiler: Yuuka manages to pull this off with ''spores.'']]
* InnocentInnuendo:
** It's a misunderstanding. Really!
--> "Uh-huh. Only problem is that it's wicked hard even when I've only got one person inside me-"
** Chapter 47 is like this too, when Reimu thinks Marisa and Mima [[spoiler: are having sex.]] Marisa is actually just exercising though. In a way it's DoubleSubverted because in the past, [[spoiler:Reimu actually DID witness her having sex once]], quoted as being to "Reimu's disgust, Marisa's delight, and a poor farmer boy's absolute horror."
* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: Marisa finds the use of Yukari's ''[[WaveMotionGun And the Sun Rises Red]]'' Spellcard to be nearly ''orgasmic''. Well, well, Marisa, are you cheating on your Master Spark?
* InnocentFanserviceGuy: Rinnosuke greets Reimu and Marisa wearing nothing but a ModestyTowel. And he is oblivious to the fact Reimu is flustered about it.
* ItAmusedMe:
** The reason why Yuuka joined the fray, combined with WorthyOpponent and thinly-veiled lust for Team Nineball.
** Mima's justification for helping in Reimu. Interestingly enough, the "it" in question is not [[spoiler: Rin Satsuki]], as was initially apparent, but rather [[spoiler:Reisen's ability to act as an UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom]].
* ItsAllMyFault:
** Reisen's self-esteem was quite low to begin with, but after Mima's cruel BreakingSpeech, she snaps in chapter 45. Luckily, [[TheHeart Byakuren]] is always ready to help her get a grip on herself.
** Remilia was feeling quite guilty after [[spoiler: Yuuka took Flandre away and after her plan to take her back (by giving her Rin Satsuki, no less!) failed, but she is broken after Yukari's BreakingSpeech and after realizing that while she was mourning Flandre, things got FromBadToWorse and she accidentally ruined Reimu's plans to solve everything pacifically. Hearing Reisen calling her and Sakuya out of it does not help.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: A lot of people took a level in jerkass in this fic.
** Affable RealityWarper Yukari, who at least [[IDidWhatIHadToDo does what she has to do]].
** MadScientist Eirin, who constantly treats Reisen like shit, even after [[spoiler:fucking up her adopted daughter]] for minor trivialities, and quickly starts arguments over who's responsible for Ex-Rumia. Reisen calls her out on it at one point.
%%* JerkassGods: Some deities also are this trope.
* JerkassHasAPoint: [[spoiler: Tenshi]] in Chapter 15. During a council meeting, [[spoiler:Tenshi]] makes a point that while magical attacks may not work on the Shadow Youkai, physical attacks might, since Suika seemed to have done the most damage. Kanako even says "As much as I hate to admit it, she has a point."
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Reimu and Marisa. During Chapter 32 called The Aftermath after The Storm arc, Reimu is actually starting to care about people more which surprises even her. Marisa on the other hand despite taking lessons from her EvilMentor Mima has a lot of standards, such as caring for her friends like Alice. Heck, she even considers Yuyuko and Youmu as friends. Also, when Reimu visited Marisa and Mima when Marisa was sick, they actually laughed at how Reimu was worried about them, and Marisa felt bad to see Reimu having to leave so soon since there's a lot of people she had to visit (or felt like she had to, much to her annoyance.) It's actually pretty damn heartwarming.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: Mima. She may have her PetTheDog moments with Marisa, but this is usually combined with giving her a stern lecture. On a more serious note, there's her rivalry with Yukari. [[spoiler: When Yukari is beaten within an inch of her life against Yuuka from spiritual poisoning, she can barely form coherent sentences until Mima helps her. However, she didn't get rid of the pain which Yukari brought up. Her response was "Do I look like the altruistic type?" Yeah, she's kind of a bitch. Her final speech at the end before leaving was also rather rude.]] Even Yuyuko finds her to be still be rather unpleasant.
%%* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: Rumia had done this in the ''Deep Within'' chapters. Kaguya, Mokou [[spoiler:and the Shadow Youkai]] are doing their own one in ''IM: Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire''.
* KarmaHoudini:
%%** Mima is a prime example: despite everything she's done, she is still free and hasn't suffered any consequence whatsoever. She even [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded it]] herself.
%%** Another example would be [[spoiler:The Asakura sisters and ''especially'' Eirin. While the Asakura sisters later in the story are on the receiving end of a ButtMonkey treatment and Sakuya is forced with Remilia into exile at the Hakurei Temple when she gets called out by Reisen. Eirin also seems this, at first, but her case it's a bit of a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]]. Yes, she never gets called out on it, despite her being the one most involved with the Satsuki experiment, but it's shown at a point in the story that she's been [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone consumed by remorse]] for all the nine years after the incident, and has never stopped trying to find a cure to undo Rin's transformation. It's actually a very humanizing moment]].
** Initially, it looks like [[spoiler: Sakuya and Patchouli]] would be this, having participated on the experiment that led to Rin's horrific [[FateWorseThanDeath condition]], but later on, the latter was brutally murdered by Mima as part of her revenge for Marisa's death, and [[spoiler: Sakuya]]'s survival was more of a CruelMercy, as she's forced to confront her mistress with the fact two of her closest friends crossed the MoralEventHorizon under her roof, one of them is dead, and her sister has abandoned her and has no intentions to return.
* KickTheDog: [[spoiler: Yuuka]] makes sure to reduce Flandre to a wreck by giving her a ReasonYouSuckSpeech using her sister's voice before piercing a stake in her heart.
* KillTheCutie: [[spoiler:Subverted, but still a reader punch. Yuuka pierces Flandre's heart with a wood stake. Thanks to Youkai Immortality, there is her essence left. And then, Yuuka seals her.]]
* {{Knight in Sour Armor}}:
** Byakuren knows that her ideals won't be quite achievable, not to mention how the rest of Gensokyo lives, yet, she doesn't renounce her ideals, living by them while accepting reality,however, she is one of the more polite examples.
** Reimu is a more classic exemple: she is definitely more jaded and cynical than Byakuren, and keeps a cold and harsh façade ([[DefrostingIceQueen at least initially]]), but after [[spoiler:Reisen asked her to help Rin]], she finds out that she simply can't [[spoiler:stand on the sidelines watching while everyone tries to kill Rin because they think she's too dangerous to be let alive]]. This is also [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] often by Marisa:
--> '''Marisa''': But still. You do have a really bad hero complex. Sure, you bitch up a storm every time you gotta go outta your way to help someone, but you still do it, ze. It's who you are.
%%* KirkSummation:
%%** Byakuren's shtick - she even manages to convince [[spoiler:[[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids Kanako]]]].
%%** All her speeches must have rubbed out at least a bit on [[spoiler:Reimu]], if what happens in [[spoiler:Chapter 42]] is of any indication.
%%* LampshadeHanging: Well, {{Tropers/TakerFoxx}} is a Troper...
* LaserGuidedAmnesia:
%%** Yukari did this to [[spoiler:the Shadow Youkai]].
** [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]] does this to [[spoiler: Rumia]] at the end of the latter's JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind. {{Tropers/TakerFoxx}} admits that this may be seen as a DeusExMachina, but also goes on to say that it was too soon in the story for [[spoiler: Rumia]] to do much about it.
* LaserGuidedKarma: The tarantula youkai who harasses Cirno and gets frozen for it in chapter 4 had previously [[spoiler:stolen Daiyousei's money and gotten her kicked out of the Youkai Market in ''A Very Nineball Christmas''.]] And when he tries to get back at Cirno in chapter 15, [[spoiler:Yuuka shows up and casually vaporizes him.]]
* LiteralMinded: Reimu, a little bit in Chapter 47.
--> '''Marisa:''' ... Yukari sapped my mojo like the cheap bitch she is and sicced her talking monkey on me?\\
'''Reimu:''' Yukari has a monkey?\\
'''Mima:''' She means Kotohime Sonozika.\\
'''Reimu:''' Oh.\\
* LogicalWeakness:
--> '''Elly''' (while fighting Youmu and Yuyuko): Even in this world, where all rules are lightly enforced, there are certain predator-prey constants. Fire will burn, wolves will prey upon rabbits, scissors will beat paper, and against ghosts, Shinigami will always, always win. It's the circle of life and death.
%%* LovableSexManiac: Marisa and, surprisingly, [[spoiler:Genji]].
%%** [[spoiler: Actually, considering the frequent use of LampshadeHanging and ShoutOut used in the story, Genji being a DirtyOldMan wouldn't be too surprising.]]
* LovecraftianSuperpower:
** Originally, [[spoiler:Rin]] can adapt (slowly) to any magical projectile. Then, at the cost of her body, she gains the power of MegaManning. By absorbing other people in a gruesome way.
** When Yukari poisoned the ground to prevent Yuuka from growing plants in the battle field for her to exploit, [[spoiler:Yuuka]] brought them in by useing herself as the carrier. {{Justified|Trope}}, due to being an [[EldritchAbomination Outer God,]] albet an extremly weakened one.
* MadScientist: Eirin, of course. [[spoiler:She wanted to do some experiments and studies on her pet's adopted daughter. It created the BlobMonster.]]
%%** The Asakura Sisters, to a slight degree.
%%** Mima is hinted to be the magical version of this.
* MadnessMantra: [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] degenerates into this, whenever someone [[spoiler:usually Normal!Rumia]] even suggests that [[spoiler:the Shadow Youkai]] may still be alive.
* MadwomanInTheAttic: Flandre. While the source material isn't definite as to how it applies to her, in ''Imperfect Metamorphosis'' she is this trope all over, introduced singing ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vz2AEJFVtg Sweets Time Midnight]]'' while using dead rats as marionettes.
* ManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:Azrael, or its essence, or its soul, is behind the Shadow Youkai.]]
* ManipulativeBastard:
%%** Reimu sees Yukari as this, and not without reason.
%%** Remilia tries to be this to Yukari. [[spoiler:It doesn't work out.]]
** [[spoiler:Genji was able to trick Yukari into not going after Reimu when she picked up the IdiotBall.]]
%%* MeaningfulEcho: "Reimu, I may be an idealist. [[GoodIsNotDumb That doesn't mean I'm an idiot]]"
* MegaManning: [[spoiler:Rin can absorb other people. By doing so, she will reproduce a combination of their bodies and can use their powers and abilities.]]
* MindRape:
** A consequence to what happened to [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] due to the BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind between [[spoiler:her and Ex-Rumia]].
** What happened to Satori when she looked into Yuuka's mind.
** [[spoiler:Yuuka]] gets one at the end of ''The Storm''.
--> [[spoiler:'''Yuuka''': [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm "It can't be. Just words on a page. It's all paper.]] [[TheInternet And not even real paper."]]]]
%%* MindScrew
%%** Rumia's dream sequence is pretty damn weird, especially considering [[WordOfGod every detail is meaningful]].
%%** The AuthorAvatar entry, though, really takes the cake.
%%* MoralityPet:
%%** Team Nineball to Yuuka.
%%** Also, it is mentioned briefly that Alice might be this for Marisa. And, debatably, Rinnosuke.
%%* MoodWhiplash:
%%** Done at the end of chapter one. Done each time we have a silly event in the middle of a serious event.
* MoralMyopia: Yuuka considers Yuyuko's use of psychological attacks against Elly to be unforgivable, but she did the same thing to Flandre. And what Yuuka did was about a thousand times worse.
%%* MotorMouth: Chen seems to talk this way a lot.
* MundaneUtility: Alice is shocked at Mima using a [[PortableHole pocket dimension]] as a vomit bucket for Marisa.
* MyGreatestFailure: Reisen's is [[spoiler:Rin's confinement]].
%%* MysteriousPast: Mima.
* NeckLift: A favorite of Yuuka's, once ending in a NeckSnap for poor [[spoiler: Marisa]].
* NeverMyFault: Despite being one of the main causes of the meaningless infighting throughout the story (by doing things like shutting down Eirin when she was trying to solve the situation peacefully), Yukari never even thinks she did something wrong. She even goes as far as to blame the riots in the Underground on Reimu, when ''she'' had been the one who had the brilliant idea of [[spoiler:bringing Satori to the battle against Yuuka]], and Reimu wasn't involved in any way in it. She finally gets called for it by the Dream King, and later things manage to blow up badly enough for her to start fully blaming herself.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Yukari calls this on Marisa for stealing the box containing the BlobMonster, [[spoiler:and thus unleash the GPF on her. Actually, it's only a method to coerce her.]]
* TheNicknamer: Marisa, calling Youmu "Doubletrouble" or "Bodypillow", Yuyuko "Yugogo", Sanae "Mossy", and more.
* NonIndicativeFirstEpisode: The first chapter is absolutely not in the same tone as the rest of the story.
* NoodleIncident: A prank Rumia pulled on Reimu. [[LampshadeHanging It involved noodles.]]
* NotNowKiddo: Yukari commits a truly epic one near the beginning, turning Eirin's objections into the setup for a PreAsskickingOneLiner. This does not end well for either.
%%* NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering: The Ring Leaders. Yukari thinks she is the ReasonableAuthorityFigure among them.
%%* OCStandIn: The DummiedOut Rin Satsuki.
* OffingTheOffspring: [[spoiler: The Kirin society]] strictly, ''strictly'' controls who gets born when. As in, conception has to go through bureaucracy first. ''Literally''. Rin? She wasn't just born out of [[ButWeUsedACondom misgauging]]; she was the result of a noble child's affair with a commoner, with the elopement occurring ''right'' when an ArrangedMarriage was supposed to be finalized. And let's face it--to [[spoiler:the Kirin]], illegitimate children are a ''severe'' abomination. Despite what Reisen might have hoped, because of the layers of Things Meant to Never Happen, not only does Kirin society at large not want Rin back, '''''they want her dead.'''''
* OhCrap:
** Everyone who faces Ex-Rumia or Yuuka has ''at least'' one of these reactions. And on a few occasions hearing the latter's ''name'' is enough to provoke one.
** And in chapter 41, [[spoiler:when Rin gets serious, Yuuka suddenly realizes that she's no longer the biggest fish in the pond. And she's appropriately ''terrified'']]
* OffstageVillainy: Subverted with Mima. She has retired from her EvilOverlord business, so we just hear of her past misdeeds of which she is very much unrepenant and even proud. Then, in chapter 28, we see her nearly slaughtering the GPF agents because [[spoiler:they arrested Marisa]]. And she would have, if Reimu and Marisa hadn't stopped her.
* OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: [[LampshadeHanging Yukari has the urge to generate smoke and hand out hoods whenever she's with Mima and Eirin.]]
* OneSidedArmWrestling: [[spoiler:Yuuka]] was just playing with Ran and, after some talking, lets Ran "win", breaking Ran's arm off in the process. In fact, Ran still obtains what she has came to, but still...
* OriginalCharacter: The named Rabbit Guards, 'Tony' and Hunter. [[spoiler: Subverted with Hunter. The disguise may be original, but that's actually Nue, whose supposed to be working for Byakuren but is going in the opposite direction.]]
%%** Jun is another example.
%%* OurAngelsAreDifferent: With a whole explanation of why they are different.
* OutOfCharacterAlert: A big part of how Reimu catches on to the fact that [[spoiler: "Yukari"]] is actually an impostor in ch. 39: [[spoiler: since when does Yukari speak in such a grandiose fashion?!]]
* OoCIsSeriousBusiness: Chapter 44 shows that Elly has noticed the change in Yuuka's behavior since the events of ''The Storm.'' The poor reaper has worried herself almost to the point of insanity because she knows something is wrong with her master, but has no idea what she can do to help her.
* PaintingTheMedium: This exchange between Sariel and Reimu on pronouncing the name of God:
-->'''Sariel''': Do not refer to Him as he. Refer to Him as He. With a capital H.
-->'''Reimu''': What? How in the flying hell am I supposed to pronounce a capital letter? And how can you tell if I am pronouncing a capital letter? It all sounds exactly ''the same''!
* PetTheDog: Two important antagonists, Yuuka and Elly regularly get some sweet scenes together.
%%* PersonOfMassDestruction: [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki,]] as well as the series' usual suspects.
* PleasePutSomeClothesOn: Reimu's reaction upon seeing Rinnosuke wearing nothing but a towel. Unsurprisingly, Marisa is okay with it.
* PinnedDown
** Yukari & Co. tried this on [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] at the Battle of Eientei. It didn't work.
** Tried again on Yuuka Kazami. Not good.
* PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou: [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] has shades of this after the BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind. [[spoiler:Turns out she's a DeathSeeker.]]
* PoliceAreUseless: [[ZigZaggingTrope Played With]]. Kotohime and the GPF are kind of serious and 'efficient', in spite of gathering some eccentric characters, but they have to deal with people like [[PersonOfMassDestruction Marisa]] and Yuuka.
* PoliceBrutality: [[spoiler: Alice]] calls Yukari and Kotohime on this when they barge in her home in Chapter 20 when they try to arrest [[spoiler: Marisa]]. Although she thought karma must be catching up to her and that she sort of deserved it, saying she was involved not even misdemeanors but "numerous felonies", she believed they were going too far in their actions. Furthermore, Yukari even tries to stop Kotohime from attacking the suspect after [[spoiler: Marisa vaporized Nyoron, after that already happened because of Yuuka. She even thought of pressing further charges with "murder".]] Could count as a WhatTheHellHero Moment. Of course, [[spoiler: Mima]] is also pissed about the whole thing.
* PornStash: Team Nine at first ''thinks'' this is what's inside the crystal box. Later, it turns out Marisa ''also'' thought this was how Patchouli would be hiding her porn. In ch. 34, it turns out Sanae has her own stash (whether portraying men, women, or both is not revealed)...or ''did'', until Suwako noticed it.
* ThePowerOfLove: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]].
--> "It is amazing, the sort of things people will do for love," Yukari murmured. She brought the teacup to her lips and slowly sipped the steaming liquid. "Even the proudest, the most uncontrollable, the most erratic of creatures can be swayed by its power. [[spoiler:Mima is no different.]]"
--->-- ''Chapter 27: Wheels Within Wheels''
* PrecisionFStrike: [[spoiler:Satori]] in the epilogue. A small part of Yukari thinks that everything that happened over the course of the fic might've been WorthIt just to hear [[spoiler: Satori]] curse.
%%* PromotionToParent: Reisen in the backstory.
* TheProtagonist: The main characters are Rumia, Reimu Hakurei, Yukari Yakumo and Rin Satsuki.
* RapeAsDrama:
** It's heavily implied (if not outright stated) [[DateRape Yuuka's raped several people before via placing substances in their tea.]] Wriggle knows this first-hand, apparently. If that's not enough, Yuuka also briefly plays with the idea of raping Kotohime while the latter is unconscious, only to decide against it when she starts to wake up. She also [[PaedoHunt loves children "in more ways than one"]].
** [[spoiler: This is also flat out implied in Chapter 49. Remilia honestly believes that Yuuka is going to rape her sister Flandre after capturing her in what could best be described as her MoralEventHorizon. Even Remilia didn't deserve that... In fact, her BreakTheHaughty moment has caused her to TookALevelInKindness and give Reimu a huge PetTheDog moment by offering the bounty money to her after capturing Rin Satsuki.]]
%%* Reality Ensues: You thought that [[spoiler:[[BigEater Yuyuko]] eating [[ChewToy Mystia]] ]] was funny? It wasn't. Not for [[spoiler:Mystia]], and not even for [[spoiler:[[MyMasterRightOrWrong Youmu]].]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure:
** Yukari likes to ''think'' she's this, and that [[SurroundedByIdiots everyone around her]] is a shortsighted idiot. Unluckily, while the Ringleaders aren't exactly the image of open-mindedness and selflesness, [[WrongGenreSavvy she's not much better]]: her [[KnightTemplar arrogant attitude]] actually caused nearly as many problems as Team 9.
** Kanako, on the other hand, is very much this. She complains a lot, but helps Reimu anyway, and she's not as cold and calculating as she wants to appear.
* SanitySlippage: After killing Marisa by cheating in a fair fight, [[spoiler: Yuuka]] is taunted by Marisa's last words and starts distrusting everyone. It goes to the point that she punishes Team 9 by locking them underground just for a minor offense, and she starts dreaming of Marisa slicing her into pieces while laughing mockingly.
* SarcasmBlind: Rin Satsuki, all the time. It gets on Rumia's nerves a lot...
* {{Satan}} a.k.a Lucifer: Implied to be the leader of the Angels that rebelled. Azrael was implied to be almost as bad as it was, but was too busy with killing everything it could to take control itself.
%%* ScienceIsWrong: If you ask Reimu, in any case. And, this being Gensokyo and all, she might be right. [[spoiler:Blame Eirin.]]
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Lily White, upon seeing how badly the reception to her announcing "'''IT'S SPRING'''" as well as the attacks by Ex-Rumia, decides to try again next year, hopefully by then everything will have calmed down.
* SealedEvilInACan
** The BlobMonster was this before being released by Team Nine. [[spoiler:Almost an InvertedTrope, because Rin was more of a Sealed Woobie In A Can but ''was'' sealed for being dangerous]].
** [[spoiler:The Shadow Youkai]] is a textbook example. As soon as the story is explained Yukari is forced to defend her decision to "only" seal it.
* SecretTestOfCharacter: [[spoiler: Mima]] of all people gives this to [[spoiler: Reisen]] in Chapter 37. Also, she wants the person to answer honestly by instinct, not from what she believes is the most logical and what the mentor in question wants to hear, although she'll ironically also state what she believes to be correct or incorrect. Go against the rules though and she'll get rather pissed...
** Q. Who is the most evil being in Gensokyo? A. [[spoiler: The Shadow Youkai]] [[spoiler: Reisen first thought about Eirin, Yukari, Yuuka, and even Mima herself to fit the answer, but then she said it was the Shadow Youkai. Even Mima quickly agrees to this.]]
** Q. Who is the most deadly (powerful) being in Gensokyo? [[spoiler: Mima]] [[spoiler: Reisen believes it might be Rin as much as she hates to admit it, but Mima believes it's actually herself, which scares the crap out of her, which leads to her wanting to use the same answer for the next question.]]
** . Q. Who is the most dangerous being (most likely to cause harm) in Gensokyo? A. [[spoiler: Reisen]] [[spoiler: Reisen feels like saying Mima again to the point where Mima gets pissed and is about to strike her with lightning but ends up giving her a stern lecture instead about answering correctly. She then says it might be Reisen herself.]]
* SelfDeprecation: Takerfoxx himself, maybe, especially notable by the end of Chapter 43 which is the Abridged chapter. This is in the form of writing a very long and complicated story that he himself isn't sure how to fix all the time.
--> '''Takerfoxx:''' I just made things more convoluted and confusing, didn't I? Goddamn it.
* SelfDestructMechanism: Okuu's Third Leg has one. A very polite one.
* SociopathicHero: Mima, not quite having gotten over her EvilOverlord tendencies but still firmly on the heroes' (or, at least, Marisa's) side. Would easily qualify for TokenEvilTeammate, except that her side has some other very morally grey characters. Much to Reimu's dismay, Marisa takes after her in this aspect, if her encounter with Kotohime is any indication.
* ShadowArchetype: Mima to Marisa. Apparently, Marisa takes after Mima a lot, so they are similar in many ways, such as their love of [[BloodKnight fights]] and [[StuffBlowingUp explosions]], their flirtatious behavior, and their [[TheNicknamer calling everyone with nicknames]]. But where Marisa is straightforward, friendly, boisterous but well-meaning and certainly not a cold-blooded killer, Mima is sneaky, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], ruthless and has absolutely no qualms about killing or horribly maiming anyone who gets in her way. Reimu's concerns about Marisa becoming like Mima certainly aren't unfounded.
* ShooOutTheClowns: Lily White has decided to get out of there and only come back next year. Cirno's gang appears sporadically, depending where we are on the SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness. The more they interact with Yuuka, the more their apparition are near the Seriousness end.
* ShoutOut: Some to popular [[Memes/TouhouProject Touhou memes]] and/or other works.
** In the first chapter, one of [[{{Main/NonSequiturThud}}the random things Cirno says after getting clonked in the head by an iron kettle]] is [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty I need scissors,]][[MemeticMutation sixty-one]]
** In chapter three:
--> "...she [Reimu's mother] had the thing with [[Manga/DeathNote the guy with the killing notebook]], then that [[Franchise/CodeGeass mind-controlling revolutionary,]] and then [[Manga/ElfenLied yet another genocidal girl, this one with invisible arms]], and the list goes on."
** A ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' reference in chapter five.
** {{Tropers/TakerFoxx}} is a major fan of Creator/NeilGaiman. He even throws in a blink-and-miss-it reference to ''Literature/AmericanGods'' in Chapter 10.
** Yukari, during the second part of The Storm chapter, goes "[[Film/JurassicPark Clever girl...]]"
** Yuuka's separated forms are described to have [[VideoGame/{{Prototype}} whipfists, hammerfists...]]
*** And a blade arm too. The vine tentacle arms might also count, but the other three weapons are the more obvious references.
** ''The Storm'', last part:
--> "[Yukari has] not been this roughed up since her encounter with [[Literature/{{Animorphs}} that Ellimist fellow]] who had fell out of that black hole two centuries ago."
** In the same part, Yukari mentions [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]] and several other CreepyPasta.
--> "Maybe one the humanoids? Like WebOriginal/{{Zalgo}}? No, that doesn't make sense. The Operator? No, that slender fellow's also accounted for. Literature/TheRake? Unlikely, but he may know something. Make sure to look him up."
** Also in ''The Storm'', the password to unlock Utsuho's RestrainingBolt is [[Film/WarGames Falken's Maze.]]
** In Chapter 32, two Eientei guards are named [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Sayaka and Hitomi.]]
** Chapter 35: Well, didn't expect Yukari to bring up Website/TheOtherWiki, but then again. Yukari's gonna Yukari.
** Chapter 37: Yuugi mentions that Suika's rebuilt gourd can make mead, just like "[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim those fellows with the horned helmets and the weaponized shouting]]"
** Chapters 40 and 41: Sanae's mecha fangirl streak culminates in a magical loudspeaker blaring [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Libera Me from Hell]] [[spoiler: while she's piloting the Hisoutensoku]].
* SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness: A really serious fic... but we can laugh, sometimes.
** Combined with the witty writing one might sometimes forget this is a dark fic.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: The characters cover more or less the whole scale: [[WellIntentionedExtremist Yukari]] is probably the most cynical, while Byakuren and [[spoiler:[[TheHero Reimu]], post CharacterDevelopment]] are the most idealistic. Yuuka and the [[spoiler:Shadow Youkai]] are in [[AxCrazy a category]] [[BlueAndOrangeMorality of their own]].
** The story itself, on the other hand, is still ambiguous: while, being a DarkFic, it's almost required to have some cynical elements, the more cynical characters have been shown to be wrong, and the idealistic solutions [[GoodIsNotDumb aren't always the least practical]]. Of course, seeing how the fic is still ongoing, this could change at any point...
* TheSociopath: Koishi. [[LackOfEmpathy She manipulates everyone in the Old Hell in order to attack the Garden of the Sun and kill Yuuka, not caring at all that she has hostages and will probably slaughter most of the army with ease]].
* SpeakOfTheDevil: Murasa uses this expression when Reimu shows up. Reimu is not amused.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Yukari and Yuuka. Even if Yukari is one the main characters and Yuuka a chaotic element who only want to wreck havoc in the story, their interactions and confrontations have taken more and more screentime in the different chapters, culminating into ''The Storm''. [[spoiler:After that, Yukari's soul corruption and Yuuka's injuries will take them out of the story for quite some time, and the plot was refocused on Rin and Rumia.]]
%%* StraightMan: Youmu takes this role in Chapter 27.
%%* SuperpoweredEvilSide: Ex-Rumia, [[spoiler:AKA the Shadow Youkai]].
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Yukari often tells Reimu that she's not trying to be a queen or anything of the sort... even when doing something that the head of a government would, like [[spoiler:ordering death sentences, jailing people or diffusing interviews]]. Also, she's adamant about not letting oneself be involved emotionally... but is very emotionally involved in the whole affair, as both [[spoiler:Reimu and Dream]] point out.
* TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: [[spoiler:The ghosts Yuyuko and Youmu]] win their fight against [[spoiler:the shinigami Elly]] via a KirkSummation.
* TarotTroubles: During Rumia's JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind, she runs into Mima, who proceeds to read her past, present, and future, as well as that of several other characters ([[spoiler:implied to be Rin, Yukari, Reimu and Reisen]]) through Tarot Cards.
** Rumia: The Fool (Past), The Moon (Present), The Devil (Future)
--> '''Mima:''' "The Fool symbolizes the end of a journey, someone who is setting forth without fully knowing or understanding the hardships that await them. That's not a bad thing either, as it implies a certain amount of innocence... The Moon. It seems your days of carefree mischief are over. Now you are lost and unsure of your path. You are without a reliable guide, and do not know where your steps will lead... The Devil, the destroyer from within, will rise up and take control. Something... crippling. Perverse. Perhaps even evil. Usually it signifies some sort of flaw that you are allowing to hold you back through inaction. But here in Gensokyo the evil could end up being quite literal. I would watch my step if I were you."
** [[spoiler: Marisa]]: Eight of Pentacles (Past), The Seven of Swords (Present), The Ten of Swords (Future)
--> '''Mima:''' "The Eight of Pentacles. The apprentice who desires to learn more. You have studied under a master but still wish to learn more. Ambitious, aren't you? The Seven of Swords. It would seem that despite all of the power you've accumulated, it isn't protecting you from the wiles of others. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that you are being betrayed, though not by someone you trust anyway. And now... Oh dear. The Ten of Swords? I'm sorry, but it looks like despite all that you do, it will be all for naught. Failure is your only option."
** [[spoiler: Yukari]]: The Empress (Past), The Hierophant (Inverted) (Present), Death (Future)
--> '''Mima:''' "The Empress. The creating spirit. And you've done quite a bit of that, haven't you? In addition, you are quite protective of what you've created. However, I would be careful of becoming overzealous... The inverted Hierophant. The false teacher. Except you aren't the one to take on a mentor, false or otherwise, are you? Well, I suppose this must mean you. Manipulative and deceptive. But is it for the greater good? A necessary evil? ... Unfortunately for you, your path leads to... Death. The end of an era. Depressing, isn't it?"
** [[spoiler: Reimu]]: The High Priestess (Inverted) (Past), The Seven of Cups (Inverted) (Present), The World (Future)
--> '''Mima:''' "The inverted High Priestess, the concealer of secrets. Are you keeping secrets to yourself, or has someone been keeping secrets from you? Or perhaps it is to be taken literally. After all, you're not exactly known for being vigilant about your job... What's this? The Seven of Cups? It's inverted as well! Looks like someone is getting a little fed up with deceptions and machinations! Good thing too, as this will lead to... The World. Ascension to something greater."
** [[spoiler: Reisen]]: The Fool (Inverted) (Past), Ten of Swords (Present), The Hanged Man (Future)
--> '''Mima:''' "The Fool inverted. You've had your naivete taken advantage of, haven't you? Innocent to begin with, but that hasn't exactly turned out well... Ah, you have a Ten of Swords as well. One wonders if things can possibly get any worse. I'd beware of asking that question, because it usually can. But all is not lost. For here we have The Hanged Man. Not as dismal as it appears. Look at the smile on his face. A sacrifice will be made, but it will be made gladly, and just might be beneficial toward you."
%%* TechnicalPacifist: Byakuren, wavering between this and ActualPacifist.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: The ''entire story''.
** [[spoiler:Rumia is forced to stay within Rin Satsuki and sees every collaboration with her as this.]]
** Reimu is gathering allies to achieve her objective, but these allies don't get along very well.
** There's enough animosity between the Ringleaders (especially against Yukari and Mima) to ensure that nothing at all is likely to get done in anything less than an end-of-the-world scenario, and even then only with difficulty. Other than Yuyuko, Satori and her own Shikigami, almost all of the groups Yukari collaborates with have either one or both sides thinking ill of each other at best, or at worst actually betraying each other. [[spoiler:And Satori's mostly cooperating for personally pragmatic reasons, to give her and her pets an exemption from being drafted for a task she thinks is worse]].
** And the crown jewel of the story's TeethClenchedTeamwork is the group Yukari drafts to kill Yuuka--one pair is genuinely on her side [[spoiler:but is partly there to keep an eye on the least trustworthy combatant]], one team is pragmatically cooperating, one team was blackmailed into it and their leader is pissed off at everyone who wasn't, one member was [[spoiler:hunted down and offered it as an alternative to prison, then agreed willingly just because she wants to fight]], and one member is royally pissed at Yukari and is only there because of another teammate. Fortunately the plan involves very little interaction between the teams [[spoiler:and the way it goes OffTheRails involves even less]].
* ThatCameOutWrong: It happens a few times with Rin and Rumia.
--->'''Rumia''':''Every time you [[MindProbe stick your fingers in me]], bad things happen''.
* TheNeedsOfTheMany: Yukari gives this speech to Reimu [[spoiler:who then proceeds to turn the tables and show that Yukari's dictatorial attitude is what has prevented a peaceful solution and why [[ShootTheDog her solution]] is the one most likely to cause gruesome collateral damage and losses]].
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Yuuka gives a very cruel one to [[spoiler:Remilia at the end of chapter 42]]. Especially cruel because she [[spoiler:mocks Remilia about Flandre's "death", rubbing salt in the wound.]]
* ThenLetMeBeEvil: [[spoiler: Rin Satsuki]] to an extent in Chapter 40. She actually sucked in Mamizou on purpose partly because she wanted to, not just because she needed her shapeshifting powers.
* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: Eventually {{subverted}}. Someone reviewing the "Yuuka assassination team" could say that Yukari is going a little "overkill" when she recruited [[spoiler:Flandre Scarlet, Okuu and Yuyuko]] among others [[PersonOfMassDestruction persons of mass destruction]], but, know what ? [[ForegoneConclusion It's not enough]]. When fighting Yuuka, let's say that a ''big'' WaveMotionGun is the least you must bring. [[spoiler:Eventually, the contained power of the Sun itself is not enough for killing her.]]
* ThisCannotBe: Subverted. It ''looks'' like Yuuka is pulling one, but it turns out [[spoiler:that it's her reaction to realizing that she's fictional]].
* TitleDrop: A genuine one is done in ''Chapter 37: All the Right Reasons''.
--> '''Mima:''' ''"Every second she runs free, countless lives teeter on the brink, all thanks to her imperfect metamorphosis!"''
* UnreliableExpositor: Several characters as well as [[WordOfGod TakerFoxx himself]] state that Mima is well known as a liar.
* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: We hear all the details of Yukari's plan to kill Yuuka. And [[ForegoneConclusion we know from the start]] that it [[EpicFail didn't work]].
%%* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: {{Invoked}} by Mima on [[spoiler:Reisen]].
* VampiresAreSexGods: DiscussedTrope by Yuuka Kazami to Remilia Scarlet, while talking about the vampire kind.
--> "...and don't get me started on your reputation as godlike lovers. It seems that whenever you're brought up, people are either deathly afraid of you or they want you to throw them down and jump their bones. Sometimes both."
* VillainProtagonist: Yukari Yakumo is a main character beside Rumia, Rin and Reimu. The "villain" part comes from her conviction that the safety of Gensokyo overrides ''[[AboveGoodAndEvil everything else]]''.
* WalkingWasteland: Even touching Ex-Rumia is a risk of death, and is certain death to beings below a certain level of power.
%%** Utsuho, after [[spoiler: her Third Leg was broken. Only temporarily, though.]]
%%* WaveMotionGun: ''And the Sun Rises Red''.
* WebcomicTime: By admission of [[WordOfGod the author himself]]: the story has currently been around for twelve years. In universe, only three or four months has passed.
* WellDoneSonGuy: [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] desperately wanted [[spoiler:Eirin]]'s (her [[ParentalNeglect Neglectful Adoptive Parent]]) approval. To the point where [[spoiler:she agreed to participate as a test subject for Eirin's crazy experiment]]. Of course, that [[GoneHorriblyWrong went horribly wrong]].
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Yukari, with emphasis on Extreme. Views on exactly how extreme or sympathetic she is varies among readers, but she is certainly capable of some very morally grey acts for (in her mind) the greater good of Gensokyo. As an example, Yukari pulls a (fully crewed) oil tanker off Earth and blows it up as a weapon against Yuuka.
* WhamEpisode: Well, it's a DarkFic so there may be numerous examples of this, but Chapter 45 is a pretty big one. It's all about what really happened when [[spoiler: Rin Satsuki]] came to be the person that she is now. It's a pretty big case of NightmareFuel and {{Tearjerker}}. [[spoiler: Yuuka was the one that relieved those memories for her, and she said it was more painful than actually turning into the BlobMonster that she currently is because all of those experiences were happening in a matter of seconds as she recalled all of those things.]] And if you think that is heartbreaking, chapter 58 will leave you in tears. [[spoiler: Marisa is dead, and Reimu kicks Yukari out of the shrine.]] Enough said.
* WhatWouldXDo: Inverted with Reimu: when she asks herself if she really could commit evil or at least morally dubious acts to protect Gensokyo, she answers that she'd become [[KnightTemplar exactly like Yukari]].
* WhoDares: Yuuka, all the time. It's one of the ways to see through her facade when she gets pissed off.
--> '''Yuuka:''' "How dare you!"
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: It's stated by Yukari that one of the reasons why she's the jaded, cynical ManipulativeBitch she is is actually this. This, and [[FreudianExcuse various other unpleasant experiences she had during her life]].
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: {{Subverted}} with [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]], since that almost everyone who at least know about her backstory believes her to be this, with Byakuren initially being the only exception. In chapter 12, Eirin even asked Reisen what she thought would happen if "she stumbled upon some human family out on a picnic", while it is shown later in the story that when [[spoiler:Rin]] does stumble upon a helpless human, eating her by mistake, she promptly reforms her body and runs away apologising. Though it is understandable why everyone thought this after the battle of Eientei, as [[spoiler:she was under the Shadow Youkai's control at that time]]. That doesn't stop her from wanting to go "full bad-guy" if she has too. At the very least, it's pretty tempting. Despite Reimu trying to help her because of Byakuren and Reisen, even she doesn't believe she's that good of a person, yet she condescendingly yet sympathetically thinks of her as a kid. Technically, she's actually about 19.
* WorthyOpponent: Yuuka sees Yukari as this and starts harassing her and interfering with her plans, partially out of this and partially because it's amusing to her.
* WroteTheBook: Mima practically wrote the book about cheating [[MagicAIsMagicA with magic]]!
* XanatosSpeedChess: Mima [[LampshadeHanging states]] near the end of chapter 39 that any plan that she and the others might cook up is almost certain to fail initially, and that is why it is important that they start with a serviceable plan based on what they know at the moment, and when it fails, improvise.
* YearInsideHourOutside: Mima has a spell to this effect of the 'TimeStandsStill outside' variety. She can use it to have extensive conversations.
* YouMeddlingKids: Mima says this about the events of Mystic Square when it comes to ruling Makai in Chapter 37 saying she was only stopped because of Reimu. "That meddling shrine maiden".
* YouMonster: Kazami Yuuka is treated as such - her very name frightens and disgusts people. Yukari states this reputation is well-deserved, since she used to destroy villages on a whim and it's very heavily implied she rapes and tortures people that wind up in the Garden of the Sun. [[spoiler: And it may be because of [[EldritchAbomination something else]] about her...]]
* YouNeedToGetLaid: [[DepravedBisexual Mima]] suggests that [[CelibateHero Reimu]] really needs to vent off her sexual frustration. Reimu ''is not amused''.

!!Tropes contained only in ''IM: Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire'':

%%* AsteroidsMonster:
%%** [[spoiler:Kaguya herself.]]
%%** In the finale, [[spoiler:Mokou as well.]]
* BystanderSyndrome: [[spoiler:Kaguya's subconscious]], when agreeing to let Rumia break free, says it's someone else's problem.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Kaguya's trial in chapter 6, though contrary to her expectations, the dream goes after her (long since settled) {{Gayngst}} rather than her acquisition of immortality. She is unperturbed, to say the least.
* TheCameo: [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Oktavia]] from ''Fanfic/ResonanceDays'' appears in a fish tank in Prime Minister Kaguya's office.
* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: [[spoiler: Kaguya's imagination]] turns Mokou into an IdolSinger.
%%* DarkAndTroubledPast: Mokou's and Kaguya's are explored.
%%* DecapitationPresentation: [[spoiler: Mokou's brother]], in a flashback.
* DeusExMachina: The way Kaguya, Mokou and Rumia are saved from the Zerg in chapter 4: a giant storm pops out of nowhere and slaughters most of the Zerg [[spoiler:Subverted in that the storm was, in fact, summoned by EX-Rumia, who has... less than noble intentions for Mokou and Kaguya. [[OmnicidalManiac And for the rest of Gensokyo]], too.]]
* EveryoneIsBi: Well, not ''everyone'' literally, but in the author's notes at the end of Chapter 6, {{Tropers/TakerFoxx}} provides us with an insight about youkai sexual orientation in Gensokyo, and while Youkai who reproduce through conventional means like the Satori or the Kirin can have any sexual orientation, just like humans, and the same applies to Youkai derived from animals (they retain whatever orientation they had as animals), Youkai derived from concepts or inanimate objects are all bisexual.
* ExpendableClone: Rumia's opinion about Kaguya once she starts losing her temper. Also, [[spoiler:Mokou's plan for the finale]].
* FemmeFatalons: [[spoiler: EX-Rumia]] uses these to horrific effect when separating a rabbit guard and his face.
* ForegoneConclusion: {{Downplayed}}: we know that [[spoiler:neither Kaguya and Mokou nor Rumia Yagami have managed to get out of Rin's body]] because the TimeSkip in the main story does not affect Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire, which means that by the time the TimeSkip has happened, [=RoSD=] has already ended. We still don't know what has actually happened, though.
* GoodThingYouCanHeal: The maiming and regenerating of our immortal protagonists simply ''does not end'', and they're so entirely used to it that they don't even care (many minor injuries aren't even noticed until they physically impede whatever the victim was doing). The one with the least regenerative power suffers the least injury, however.
* {{Homage}}: ''IM: Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire'' doesn't only make {{shout out}}s. In chapter 4, the group meets [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/StarCraft Zerg]]. Yes. Fucking Zerg]].
* HormoneAddledTeenager: Kaguya, despite being some millennia old, behaves like a very narcissistic version of one.
* IdolSinger: In Kaguyaland, [[spoiler:Mokou]] is one.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: [[spoiler:Mokou]]'s plan for the finale, twice.
* IronicEcho: Rumia warns [[spoiler:one of Kaguya's figments]] not to try stabbing her in the back with some pithy one liner like "Here's your exit!" Later, it literally stabs her in the back while shouting the same line.
%%* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: Literally, as that's where Rumia thinks they need to go to get out.
* KillItWithFire: Aside from Mokou's [[PlayingWithFire usual shenanigans]], the villagers employ this tactic against her in turn.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: Why Kaguya's subconscious thinks that [[spoiler:it's better to let Rumia Yagami escape]].
%%* LipstickLesbian: Kaguya
* NotHerself: Mokou eventually finds [[spoiler: Kaguya's mental respresentation of Eirin]] to be a pitiful mock up of the actual deal, and [[FacePalmOfDoom reacts accordingly]].
* OffWithHisHead: Several accounts, though only the one listed above sticks. Notably, it takes longer to [[HealingFactor come back from]] than most deaths.
* ReallyGetsAround: Kaguya apparently had this reputation among the rabbit tribes.
%%* RecycledInSpace: Again, [[spoiler:'''lunar''' sand worm.]]
* RememberedICouldFly: In chapter 4, [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]] and Mokou are going down a steep path, and her companion has to remind Mokou that she doesn't have to descend on foot. {{Justified|Trope}} in that Mokou's flight had been disabled before, on two separate occasions (in chapters 1 and 2). She does it again during the very next encounter, much to her embarassment.
* SandWorm: The dreadful velmick is a bioengineered sand worm. A lunar sand worm.
%%* ScrewYourself
* ShoutOut:
** In chapter 2:
---> "What does she think she's doing?" she asked herself. "Does she expect to find [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda rupees]] or something?"
** In chapter 5:
---> "--there would be no rescues courtesy of [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia messianic lions or gallant warrior mice.]]
* TokenEvilTeammate: Kag[[WrongGenreSavvy uya]] [[DiscussedTrope explains this]] to Mokou, describing [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]] as this, although none of the group are exactly paragons of virtue.
* WorldOfSnark: Given that the only ''real'' characters here are Gensokyo's three biggest {{DeadpanSnarker}}s, and the whole sidestory takes place ''inside their minds'', it's bound to happen. Every time someone opens their mouth, one time out of three it will be to snark about one of their travelling companions.
* WrongGenreSavvy: Kaguya takes the whole JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind as a JRPG. Although she might be questioning that after chapter 4.

!!Tropes contained only in ''A Very Nineball Christmas'':

%%* ChristmasSpecial
%%* {{Prequel}}

!!Tropes contained only in ''Touhous in SPACE'':

* AllJustADream: A daydream to be exact. And they lampshade it relentlessly.
* FreudianTrio: Being a Franchise/StarTrek parody, it's pretty much mandatory to have stand-ins for the original Franchise/StarTrek FreudianTrio. Here, this role is filled by [[TheKirk Orin]], [[TheSpock Satori]] and [[TheMcCoy Koishi]]. The characters, though, don't seem too happy about their roles, and [[LampshadeHanging constantly snark about it]].
* RedShirt: As expected from a Star Trek parody, they get abused to hell and back. [[spoiler:In the end the Red Shirts get used as ''fuel''.]]
%%* ShoutOut: It's basically one long shout out to Franchise/StarTrek.
* UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny: The crew of the ''Earth Spirits'' VS Legate Yukari Yakumo's flagship.

!!Tropes contained only in ''The Sorceress's Apprentice'':

* AwesomeButImpractical: The Receptacle for evil magic users. Not only does it take 50 years to "charge up", its requirements for a sacrifice are very precise (see PoweredByAForsakenChild), all for destroying any physical object in an untraceable way.
* ChildProdigy: Mary (aka Marisa), who has no magical ability whatsoever but instantly grasps runes better than what most adults ever manage.
%%* {{Gonk}}: Roccio.
* PoweredByAForsakenChild: The Receptacle not only requires you to sacrifice a child, you have to get the child to ''trust'' you, since it runs off the sense of horror and betrayal.
* {{Prequel}}: Specifically showing how Marisa came to be Mima's apprentice.