#and all because shuriki has shaped and influenced her just as profoundly as she has esteban

[notmoreflippingelves]

Elena definitely has a lot of potential to go very, very dark, which kind of gets ignored by both canon and the fandom. (Not sure I'd go so far as serial killer--or at least not the sort that kills for pleasure/fun/attention. I see her more as ruthless tyrant in the Shuriki mold. Allowing her anger and other emotions to take hold of her completely in horrifying ways and becoming so convinced of her own self-righteousness that she is able to justify the most appalling behavior because she is Queen and powerful and the ultimate "Good"™)

But anyway, there are a few specific points re: Dark Elena (or the potential for it) that seldom get brought up by the fandom that I wanted to acknowledge.

The first is the fact that Elena and Shuriki are very clearly and intentionally set up as foils throughout the show. And specifically in ways that magnify not only their differences but also more importantly their similarities. And what are those similarities?

Both are beautiful, magically powerful women who are far older than they look.* Both overthrew their predecessor on the throne of Avalor (via the aid of an Esteban who was acting out of a powerful combination of fear, loneliness, and self-interest). Both are bearers of powerful magical scepters with (apparently) equal yet opposite powers. (Yet, the scepter of Night is able to create its own fire...and fire is something associated with light primarily...which suggests that the scepters and by extension, their bearers may not be so very different after all). Both are quick to anger with dangerous tempers.

But most importantly, both are (or have the potential to be) incredibly ruthless.

I particularly want to bring up what I see as the clearest, most frightening indication of "Dark Elena" in canon. Namely, we need to talk about Carla.

I will concede that Victor and Carla were traitors and should have faced consequences for their actions, a punishment that fit their crime.

And while we technically got that on paper, the actual situation that the Delgados ended up in would probably constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" under psychological terms at least.

It's important to consider that Carla turns herself in, specifically under the impression that Elena and co. will reverse the spell that turned Victor to stone. She was willing to accept whatever punishment that Elena demands, as long as Elena brings Victor back to life. Although Elena is non-committal, the episode does end with the strong implication that this is what Elena will do.

We do not see Carla Delgado again until at about a year has passed. ("The Magic Within" takes place during Carnaval which puts it sometime in February. "The Lightning Warrior" takes place after "Sweethearts Day" and before "Dia de las Madres" which puts us somewhere between February and May of the next year.)

And in all that time, Elena has not restored Victor. Moreover, she intentionally positions Carla in a dungeon cell that is within direct sight of Victor's statue. For an entire year!

Yes, Elena really did the children's show equivalent of locking Carla up in a room with what is essentially her father's gravestone and magically-preserved corpse. For a YEAR!

Like, that's pretty much the dictionary definition of psychological torture--right?

And what's more frightening, Elena doesn't even seem to realize or care just how mentally and emotionally damaging such a thing would've been to Carla. Either she's detached enough that she's unable to consider Carla's feelings, she's aware of what this would've done to Carla and didn't care, or she just straight up forgot about the position that she left Carla in.

And all of these options are each pretty uniquely terrifying in their own way.

* Elena may be physically 16-20, but she has nevertheless lived (however incompletely and miserably) decades longer. As a result of her unique circumstances, Elena is mentally somehow a lot older than her biological age and a lot younger than her chronological age. She has life experience even if she lacks maturity/emotional control that should've come with age if she had been allowed to "age" normally in a healthy environment. Yet another similarity she has with Esteban, who is also emotionally stunted due to the trauma of the Dark Times.™

Im making a whole post on this cuz Tumblr is being doodoo and wont let me reply to comments, but based on my recent EOA post, yes ive seen season 3, but I didnt think it was ENOUGH drama and suffering for Elena cuz I am deranged. And the other thing when I said Elena is on track to becoming a serial killer, YES IM NOT JOKING, SHE IS ON TRACK. I recently did hours worth of research reading articles on what happens to the human brain during isolation, and the damaged it does, and applied that to Elena, and all that summed up, shes 🤏 this close to going into psychosis and going on a killing spree no joke.