Turning Red: The Panda Conspiracy is a 2024 Turning Red fanfic writen by Redstoneprime, serving as the sequel to Turning Red: Secrets of the Panda. It follows Mei and Xia as they are both being hunted by the PCA due to being framed for a crime they did not commit. It can be read here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55277731
This fanfic features uses of:
- Ascended Extra: Mike Smith plays a more prominent and important role in this story than he did in the previous one, being one of few PCA higher-ups who isn't completely corrupt.
- Chekhov's Gun: both the panda in the glass tank, as well as the security camera dotted around Xia's house both come in useful for defeating Harvey.
- Cool Sword: Soul Slayer, an ethereal sword crafted by demonic forces. It is the only weapon able to outright kill the red panda spirits, making it an ideal weapon for someone like Harvey Vaugn.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Sarah Vaugn. She saw her mother being killed by a member of the Lee family, forcing her to live with her abusive father. She was then kicked out onto the streets, being forced to fend for herself.
- Death by Adaptation: Ming and Tyler die in this story while in canon, they are still alive.
- Heel–Face Turn: Sarah pulls one at the end of the story, helping Mei take down Harvey.
- Heroic BSoD: Mei has three throughout the story:
- The first is when she learns of her mother's death, causing her to break down and snap at Xia when the latter tries to calm her down.
- The second occurs after Xia is captured. It's at this point she completely shatters and realises she put the people she cares about in danger. It's so bad, she actually considers getting rid of the panda, only keeping it after she remembers all the good times she had with it.
- Her final one occurs when she sees Sarah kill Xia, not reacting when Harvey pulls a gun on her. She only breaks out of it when she sees Harvey take Sarah away, and realises she needs saving.
- Sarah has one of her own when she looks down at the sword in her hand and realises she'd just murdered one of her closest friends.
- My God, What Have I Done?:
- Mei feels remorseful after she realises her own actions (including her decision to keep the panda) ended up putting the lives of those she cares about at risk.
- Sarah becomes horrified after killing Xia, learning that she just killed an innocent woman.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Towards the end of the story, Sarah calls out her own father for his own deception and abuse towards both herself and others.
- Took a Level in Badass: While she already was a capable fighter, Sarah gains the ability to transform into a giant red panda, giving her an advantage over Harvey.
