descendantscritical

[descendantscritical]

It's extremely dark, so I won't name it, but knowing what life could be like on the Isle with the world's worst villains gave me insight on what Descendants would have been had it not been a Disney series.

I am finally going to begin writing my OC into Descendants. After much contemplation, I have finally determined what to include and what elements will be explored.

My fic will delve into and indulge:

AK interpretation and actual depth added to their characters, not just side pieces in Mal Bertha's story. Most importantly, Jane, Audrey and Ben. The three who will be indulged in the most because of their ties to Auradon as a whole.

Isle dynamics and problems not addressed in the films. Villains acting like villains and not like movie villains. It's going to be pretty dark.

Intricate glimpse into relationships, since most everyone in the Descendants universe are social beings and relationships are what build society as a whole.

Perhaps tinkering with Mal's psyche and why she acts the way she does. But ultimately her getting recompense for everything she's done.

Uma getting recognition beyond her spelling King Ben at Cotillion.

AK villains who are obvious and not the younger generation who are quite literally impressionable teenagers and young adults. (COUGH Fairy Godmother, Adam and Belle... COUGH.)

Featuring the other gods. Because yes.

TIME TRAVEL. Largely inspired by one of my favorite Baudrey fics.

Actually including moments from the books (after I'm done rereading all of them lmao) and trying to stay as lore accurate while adding in things that would be lore accurate.

A lot of Ben meta. He's going to be the main protagonist because I am salty and he's an amazing character outside of being Mal's pet.

It's going to be very ambitious, but I am willing to try my best. My estimate for the first chapter is around this December or January of next year, after appropriate brain-storming, outlines, writing, revision and beta reading.

[descendantscritical]

AO3. I am more familiar with AO3 and its easier to filter tags on there.

Also, another note that this will be a mature fiction. Descendants will be focused when everyone is 21+ and dark, mature topics will be explored. It will have been 3 years since the events of D3, so most everyone in the main generation (Sea Three, Core Four, Auradon Kids, etc) will be 21 or older. I am very inspired by one of the fanfics I read before and also by Arcane.

I am finally going to begin writing my OC into Descendants. After much contemplation, I have finally determined what to include and what elements will be explored.

My fic will delve into and indulge:

AK interpretation and actual depth added to their characters, not just side pieces in Mal Bertha's story. Most importantly, Jane, Audrey and Ben. The three who will be indulged in the most because of their ties to Auradon as a whole.

Isle dynamics and problems not addressed in the films. Villains acting like villains and not like movie villains. It's going to be pretty dark.

Intricate glimpse into relationships, since most everyone in the Descendants universe are social beings and relationships are what build society as a whole.

Perhaps tinkering with Mal's psyche and why she acts the way she does. But ultimately her getting recompense for everything she's done.

Uma getting recognition beyond her spelling King Ben at Cotillion.

AK villains who are obvious and not the younger generation who are quite literally impressionable teenagers and young adults. (COUGH Fairy Godmother, Adam and Belle... COUGH.)

Featuring the other gods. Because yes.

TIME TRAVEL. Largely inspired by one of my favorite Baudrey fics.

Actually including moments from the books (after I'm done rereading all of them lmao) and trying to stay as lore accurate while adding in things that would be lore accurate.

A lot of Ben meta. He's going to be the main protagonist because I am salty and he's an amazing character outside of being Mal's pet.

It's going to be very ambitious, but I am willing to try my best. My estimate for the first chapter is around this December or January of next year, after appropriate brain-storming, outlines, writing, revision and beta reading.

[descendantscritical]

I am finally going to begin writing my OC into Descendants. After much contemplation, I have finally determined what to include and what elements will be explored.

My fic will delve into and indulge:

AK interpretation and actual depth added to their characters, not just side pieces in Mal Bertha's story. Most importantly, Jane, Audrey and Ben. The three who will be indulged in the most because of their ties to Auradon as a whole.

Isle dynamics and problems not addressed in the films. Villains acting like villains and not like movie villains. It's going to be pretty dark.

Intricate glimpse into relationships, since most everyone in the Descendants universe are social beings and relationships are what build society as a whole.

Perhaps tinkering with Mal's psyche and why she acts the way she does. But ultimately her getting recompense for everything she's done.

Uma getting recognition beyond her spelling King Ben at Cotillion.

AK villains who are obvious and not the younger generation who are quite literally impressionable teenagers and young adults. (COUGH Fairy Godmother, Adam and Belle... COUGH.)

Featuring the other gods. Because yes.

TIME TRAVEL. Largely inspired by one of my favorite Baudrey fics.

Actually including moments from the books (after I'm done rereading all of them lmao) and trying to stay as lore accurate while adding in things that would be lore accurate.

A lot of Ben meta. He's going to be the main protagonist because I am salty and he's an amazing character outside of being Mal's pet.

It's going to be very ambitious, but I am willing to try my best. My estimate for the first chapter is around this December or January of next year, after appropriate brain-storming, outlines, writing, revision and beta reading.

[descendantscritical]

The way everyone will trash Audrey for "bullying" the VKs (the only one who actually was suspicious of them and only bullied Mal solely later on in the film after she'd been dumped by Ben in front of everyone at the Tourney game by asking Mal out), but make exceptions for Mal bullying a bunch of kids on the Isle. Audrey can't catch a break.

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Mind you the conversation was meant to be light-hearted, but looking back I see now they were being incredibly immature and petty.

They claimed Mal was bullied by Audrey earlier on in the first film, when originally she was shown to be tense and unnerved around the daughter of the woman who condemned a literal baby, baby's family and the entire kingdom to an eternal sleep. Maleficent was feared and proclaimed the worst villain in the land for a reason. Maleficent stated herself that she cursed entire kingdoms and shown to praise evil. Maleficent groomed Mal to be a perfect copy of her.

It was only later on when Audrey began bullying Mal. It was after Mal had publicly humilated Audrey by taking Ben.

My friend claimed Ben loved Mal after 2 days. No. A love spell does not make someone automatically love you. You strip them of their autonomy- their free will- so they are bound to you with adoration.

They dismissed Audrey being humiliated (despite saying they were bullied before and hate bullies) and dismissed her being ostracized and stripped down her reason for being in the Fairy Cottage as "boo, boy drama ;(". It was condescending and honestly seemed like a microaggression. Because her feelings were dismissed as petty drama.

I am a person of color and I have had my struggles painted white and black to fit someone else's agenda. This was majorly disrespectful and honestly, not it.

The most maddening thing that happened is that I pointed out that every single one of Mal's victims (the ones she's been most vicious towards) were both black women.

Uma and Audrey.

Both painted as either unfriendly or sassy. And always portrayed as the evil opposing force of Mal, the purest goody good in all of Auradon.

Then my friend had the audacity to say "please learn to understand that people can like chararacters, and not everything is racially motivated.". Despite willfully ignoring the misogynoir of Descendants and making excuses for their favorite white lead.

I began what I assumed was a civilized debate with a friend why I hate Mal Bertha. Then they began acting super passive aggressive and saying backhanded stuff.

They said I was defending a bully (Audrey) and when I pointed out Mal was a bully, they began bringing up stuff completely unrelated to my point.

This is why I hate Mal stans.

[descendantscritical]

I began what I assumed was a civilized debate with a friend why I hate Mal Bertha. Then they began acting super passive aggressive and saying backhanded stuff.

They said I was defending a bully (Audrey) and when I pointed out Mal was a bully, they began bringing up stuff completely unrelated to my point.

This is why I hate Mal stans.

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Okay but like, next to Night Falls showing Mal is so not ready to be Queen if she can’t handle not always being in charge, it also showed she really has the audacity to assume everyone would follow her/do what she wants…including Harry and Gil, even though they’ve pretty much made it clear by this point they don’t like Mal and obviously are happy Uma’s back.  But Mal still has the audacity to tell Uma: “’Cause I got a strategy, you (Uma) take the left-” and then her to the others, “-And the rest of you can follow me.” ‘Rest of you’ likely including Harry and Gil….like, she really expects them to follow her lead when they hate her and they loyal to their Captain, which is Uma.

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Audrey: *writing about her chrush on Ben, cheer squad, how Ben told her she looked pretty and left her little notes*

Audrey: *saying that she feels heartbroken because Ben left her, felt betrayed by her best friends and wanted to cry when Jane didn't invite her to her birthday*

Meanwhile, Mal: oml all she cares about is the crown, I mean how can she throw a fit over something she never really had, like she's such a brat and Jane and Lonnie could never be friends with her cause she's so stuck up anyways did you forget that I'M from the ISLE

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I don't ship Malvie because Mal canonically put her hands on Evie, and even when they become friends Mal was codependent in an unhealthy way & Evie reduced to her therapist/minion. So no, Evie deserves way better than that grape soda gremlin.

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I have nothing to comment because this is perfect as is and absolutely what should have been said in canon 

[descendantscritical]

The way Jane could have been Ben's best friend would have been PERFECT.

Just imagine this: Fairy Godmother's daughter is the one to help Ben sort out the VK program. She's the one to initially trust the VKs, or at least Evie because of her picking up hostile vibes from Mal, and thus guiding the others to trust and befriend them too.

Leading to Ben forming a closer bond to the VKs because of Jane getting to know them better.

And her recognizing the love spell before it can even take off, preventing Ben from experiencing that sort of cruel torture.

Her advising him on Isle matters after hearing things from Carlos, Jay and Evie. And telling him its not his responsibility to chase after Mal, since she made her choice. That he wasn't the one to push her to be a perfect pink princess- mind you, incredibly misogynistic of her to say since those princesses both experienced awful things at the hand of their villain- or to use magic, especially on him.

Her in D3 not letting Mal call the shots, because she's not even queen yet and hello, she's the one set to use the wand instead of her mother now.

Just: Jane having an more important role, over her being a patsy for Mal and a bland cheeky one-liner love interest for Carlos.

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As much as I love the VKs, they were rightly called out for their bad behavior in the first film. They never apologized to the people they hurt in the end and learned to do better because it was the right thing to do. They resorted to violence and Evie using the sleeping potion to make Chad fall asleep, who was the only one actively calling them out.

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Ended up getting an invite early from someone. Anyone up for being a beta reader for TTF?

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The Twisted Fates is a concept as of right now, but it features one of the six goddesses of chaos as the protagonist and simultaneously the antagonist, Lenore. Grandchild of the Goddess of Discord, Eris, and daughter of Sister Number Two of the Sirens Triad, siren goddesses and creations of Eris in her era of boredom during the time of peace when Auradon was established.

The story itself will be quite ambitious, with an attempt to explore Auradon and the depths of each AK and their parallel VK.

Lenore is Ben's foil, so they will spend the most time together in the storyline and influence one another heavily. Ben's past will be explored, as will Audrey and the other AKs, as themselves and their parents are a heavy influence over Auradon and should be treated as such.

I will attempt to explore how living in Auradon and the surrounding territories will be with Mal's influence and this will be greatly inspired by two fanfictions in total.

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Late response, but AO3 as soon as I get my invite and get my shit together for the drafts and whatever. It'll go into detail of classism, misogyny, etc and dissing the fairytale tropes and the horrendous writing that led to D3.

Will you read stories about the AKs and how they're developed? I mean, there's not much people writing about them and I highly highly doubt that the Descendants team will ever use them.

I may, some day. If I ever get around to actually writing out my fic ideas. 💀

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An exerpt from the ideas pile for my fanfic, featuring my OC, the grandchild of the Greek Goddess Eris, Goddess of Discord and child of one of the Sisters of the Siren Triad, Lenore.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Tired fingers trace through the seams of the gossamer curtain, an air of uncertainty flowing about through the chilled night and into the streets of the Golden Bright Palace. Lenore turns at the streak of lightning, dewdrop eyes brightening in the faint of light from the storm raging outside. "I was told you finally made your decision after all," They say curtly. "Or perhaps, you wished for me to return without haven reached a conclusion to your... predicament?" Sickly alabaster arms fold back in a horrific manner, all the more to scare the king before them.

Upon noticing the pale expression, Lenore merely quirks an assuring smile and strides towards him. As sharp and calculating as the waves and as quick as the tides, he's in their arms before he can muster up a response. Pearlescent, jagged fingers tangling in his mess of a hair, tossing his crown aside to the depths of his recliner. Icy wisteria eyes beaming down at him through burning coral reef lashes.

"You haven't a thing to worry about," Lenore proclaims, all too gentle.

There's something in the way they speak that strikes alarm and piques his interest. No good has ever come from a deathly calm siren.

They continue stroking him by his jaw, soft as the bracing breezes beyond the docks in Port Belle, a gentle caress befitting that of a worried lover.

"I told you," Lenore continues all too sweetly, pulling him close to rest his head in the dip of their flowing gown. Which he notes is unusually dry for someone who just departed from the depths of the seas. "We'll protect you."

"But-" Ben finds himself finally speaking up, an inquiry at the tip of his tongue. Far too heavy to speak. He feels as though he may sink and never return from these glacier depths. "-but that's never what I..."

"Did you want me to do it for you?" Soft dewy eyes narrow, hands stilling. "Come now, that's not what I taught you."

It's simply too freezing. A chill passes through him and never seems to fade. "I don't think I can." Ben twists himself out of their grasp. "You expect so highly of me."

"I do not." Lenore replies tersely. "I expect you to think for yourself, your Majesty. You are a king. What fool beckons for the seas to still? Why do you still allow them to speak for you?"

King Ben averts his gaze. A refusal.

They gently guide him to look not at them, but at the portrait of him the night he was crowned king. "All I can see is a boy who's still too frightened to bellow. You are not a prince, anymore. You are king."

"I'm not the king anyone wants me to be, I know that," He replies weakly. He knows his argument is soft. "I'm the son of King Adam and Queen Belle. I'll never be as great as them."

"No," Lenore says, primping King Ben's waistcoat by the collar. "You might not."

He can only find himself sinking.

"You'll be legendary."

As quick as lightning, his head zips up. "What?"

"The Fates have made their decision." They're smoothing a crease out of his dress shirt, their eyes meeting. "It's time for you to make yours'."

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Imagine the outrage if the roles were reversed. Poor Ben.

I’m still not over people still forgiving and making excuses for Mal from the first movie. She had her “friends” (moreso minions, if you’ve read the books then you know full well how she treats them like shit) at her disposal and was undoubtedly groomed into a perfect manipulator or bully, ranging on what Maleficent used on the Isle besides her reputation and name alone to get people to either avoid or appease her and Mal. Why resort to magic? It’s apparent that love magic, when forced on someone else, is known as evil. As seen in the third Cinderella movie, A Twist Of Time, when Lady Tremaine spells Prince Charming into loving Cinderella’s step-sister Anastasia, instead of Cinderella herself.

Mal never admitted the real reason why she did it. She still wrecked a relationship and poisoned Ben with a love spell, also publicly humiliating Audrey.

And oh no, her mother’s victim isn’t happy to meet the daughter of her perpetrator, the one responsible from ripping her baby from her life, having her be raised by fae? How dare they not trust Mal, especially after using MAGIC to gain and garter the trust of the girls? Something even Fairy Godmother doesn’t use, nor Jane does, especially being her daughter? This led to Mal wanting to steal the wand again.

Let’s not forget her also threatening to spell Audrey because of her rightfully being angry that Mal stole her life and lover from her? And the other girls who felt awful for what happened to Mal?

Mal’s “motivation” for being good was being in the best position in Auradon. Stealing someone else’s life in a high position of power, guaranteed to marry the king and still bullying people and only furthering her own goals.

Mal never apologized or owned up to what she’d done in the book (the whole reason why Descendants even premiered was because of the books!) or to Ben and Audrey.

Mal didn’t earn Ben’s heart. She stole it. How do we know he isn’t still spelled? He has no agency whatsoever.