History FanFic / ImperfectMetamorphosis

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

See ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' for the tropes of this universe.

* 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 ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'', 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.

* ShoutOut: Some to popular [[{{Memes/Touhou}} 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,]][[{{Main/MemeticMutation}} sixty-one]]

** In the same part, Yukari mentions [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man]] and several other {{CreepyPasta}}.

* AngerBornOfWorry: Since many characters in the story are {{Jerkass}}es albeit heroic ones, this seems to happen a lot when their 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.

* PleasePutSomeClothesOn: Reimu's reaction upon seeing Rinnosuke wearing nothing but a towel. Unsurprisingly, [[BiTheWay Marisa is okay with it]].

* 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 [[BiTheWay bisexual]].

** GrayAndBlackMorality: When everyone's not trying to stab each other in the back, there's always Ex-Rumia and Yuuka.

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 Spacebattles]].
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* AngerBornOfWorry: Since many characters in the story are {{Jerkass}}es albeit heroic ones, this seems to happen a lot when their 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.]] Surprisingly, the scene afterwords is followed by a pretty big mix of SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} AND SugarWiki/{{Funny|Moments}} as 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.

* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: When [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] wants to rip [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]] out of her head, an [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesome one]] ensues.

** 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. Could count as a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.

* 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. [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome She is unperturbed, to say the least]].

* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: [[spoiler: Kaguya's imagination [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments turns Mokou into an]] IdolSinger]]

* {{Homage}}: ''IM: Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire'' doesn't only make {{shout out}}s. In chapter 4, the group meets [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/StarCraft Zerg]]. Yes. [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Fucking Zerg]]]].

--> Alice: "Medicine, did you actually just eat that ball of soot?"
--> Medicine: "It-was-not-bad-act-ual-ly."

* InnocentFanserviceBoy: Rinnosuke greets Reimu and Marisa wearing nothing but a towel. And he is oblivious to the fact Reimu is flustered about it.

--> 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."

* MysteriousPast: Mima.

--> Takerfoxx: I just made things more convoluted and confusing, didn't I? Goddamn it.

--> 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."

--> 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."

--> 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?"

--> 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."

--> 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."

--> Yuuka: "How dare you!"

* CaptainObvious: Yuyuko.

* WellDoneDaughterGirl: [[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]].

* [[WhatWouldXDo What Would Yukari Do?]]: 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]].

* AngerBornofWorry: Since many characters in the story are {{Jerkass}}es albeit heroic ones, this seems to happen a lot when their 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 Rarity, or perhaps a {{Hikikomori}} not too different from Satou.]] Surprisingly, the scene afterwords is followed by a pretty big mix of SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} AND SugarWiki/{{Funny|Moments}} as 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.

* HorrifyingTheHorror: [[spoiler:Yuuka]] is a genuine EldritchAbomination in the Lovecraftian sense, complete with LovecraftianSuperpowers 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]].

** [[spoiler: Initially, it looks like 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 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.]]

* WellDoneDaughterGirl: [[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, it [[GoneHorriblyWrong]].

* WhamEpisode: Well, it's a DarkFix 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.

* GambitRoulette: Yukari does this with basically everyone. The author even mentions it himself.

* AngerBornofWorry: Since many characters in the story are {{Jerkass}}es albeit heroic ones, this seems to happen a lot when their 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 Rarity, or perhaps a {{Hikikomori}} not too different from Satou.]] Surprisingly, the scene afterwords is followed by a pretty big mix of CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming AND CrowningMomentOfFunny as 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.

* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: When [[spoiler:Rin Satsuki]] wants to rip [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]] out of her head, an [[MomentOfAwesome awesome one]] ensues.

** 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. Could count as a CrowningMomentOfFunny.

* 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. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome She is unperturbed, to say the least]].

* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: [[spoiler: Kaguya's imagination [[CrowningMomentOfFunny turns Mokou into an]] IdolSinger]]

* {{Homage}}: ''IM: Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire'' doesn't only make {{shout out}}s. In chapter 4, the group meets [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/StarCraft Zerg]]. Yes. [[MomentOfAwesome Fucking Zerg]]]].

** 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 [[CthulhuMythos an Outer God]] and she learned about other dimensions, Yukari's soul has been corrupted...]]

** Another example would be [[spoiler:Sakuya, Patchouli, 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, Patchouli not only does not suffer any consequence whatsoever, she and Sakuya don't even show the least hint of remorse for what they've done, apparently not caring in the slightest about the fact that they basically condemned an innocent child to a FateWorseThanDeath. 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]].

** 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.]]

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 the 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 politics 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 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 began 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[=/=]ChristmasSpecials, ''[[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-years anniversary and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7940613/1/Touhous_in_SPACE can be read here]].

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

** She also [[{{Lolicon}} loves children "in more ways than one"]].

** [[spoiler: Considering the Shadow Youkai is the avatar of Azrael, it could actually be coming from him instead. Since Azreal is a fallen angel, this would make a lot of sense.]]

** Chapter 35: Well, didn't expect Yukari to bring up the [[{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]], but then again. Yukari's gonna Yukari.

* TokenEvilTeammate: [[GenreSavvy Kag]][[WrongGenreSavvy uya]] [[DiscussedTrope explains this]] to Mokou, describing [[spoiler:Ex-Rumia]] as this, although none of the group are exactly paragons of virtue.

* [[spoiler: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]] [[EvilOverlord of]] [[KnightInSourArmor unlikely]] [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits allies]] to help [[TheWoobie 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 [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot 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 [[KarmaHoudini Patchouli and Sakuya]]. She ends up getting trapped in a magical box by Patchouli's IndyPloy. Then, Remilia [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter sells the box to]] [[MagnificentBitch Yuuka]], hoping to [[BigSisterInstinct get Flandre back]]. Of course, Yuuka, having never promised anything else than the bounty money, gives her that in addition to a [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech verbal]] [[CurbStompBattle and physical]] beatdown.]]

* {{Homage}}: ''IM: Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire'' doesn't only make {{shout out}}s. In chapter 4, the group meets [[spoiler:[[{{Starcraft}} Zerg]]. Yes. [[MomentOfAwesome Fucking Zerg]]]].

** In the same part, Yukari mentions SlenderMan and several other {{CreepyPasta}}.

* GoodScarsEvilScars: Reimu gets some scars on her face [[spoiler:during her fight with Nue]]. Though [[DepravedBisexual Mima]] thinks that they are [[ScarsAreSexy sexy]] [[FetishFuel scars]]. Reimu '''isn't amused''' [[DefiedTrope and asks her to remove them]].

* [[spoiler: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.

* [[spoiler:EasilyForgiven: Cirno and Rumia are the only ones to forgive Rin Satsuki for what she has done.]]
* [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination: 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, Yuuka explains to [[AudienceSurrogate a guest]] that what Satori actually saw was but a ''watered-down version'' of Yuuka's true horrific visage, and at the height of her power, [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm she was even nastier.]]]]

* [[spoiler:FallenAngel: Shinki and Sariel, as well as Azrael.]]

* [[spoiler: OffingTheOffspring: 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 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.''''']]

* [[spoiler:EldritchAbomination: Yuuka is [[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, Yuuka explains to [[AudienceSurrogate a guest]] that what Satori actually saw was but a ''watered-down version'' of Yuuka's true horrific visage, and at the height of her power, [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm she was even nastier.]]]]

--> "...she [Reimu's mother] had the thing with [[Manga/DeathNote the guy with the killing notebook]], then that [[CodeGeass mind-controlling revolutionary,]] and then [[Manga/ElfenLied yet another genocidal girl, this one with invisible arms]], and the list goes on."

---> "--there would be no rescues courtesy of [[{{Narnia}} messianic lions or gallant warrior mice.]]

* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Yuuka. [[UpToEleven So much that]] [[spoiler:she eventually comes to possess MediumAwareness [[NiceJobBreakingItHero after Yukari tries to meld their essences to kill her]].]]