I'm afraid I have to draw this parallel, mostly because it just kind of hit me how fun it would be to write this AU. So, hear me out here, TorseWell Strange Magic AU. I know, okay, Strange Magic was a weird movie. Most people I've talked to have never even seen it, but. The parallels between The Bog King and Marianne, and Maxwell and Torse are actually so strong.
Maxwell does start out finding wonder in Zood. (See his reaction to things like the fighting pit in Tabira, or Monty's first interaction with the Zoodian Zebra) Marianne starts the movie completely (naively), enchanted by the kingdom that she will one day rule, and the man she wants to rule it with.
Zern is very much the Dark Forest to Zood's Fairy Kingdom. This, I feel, is fairly self-explanatory.
There are so many parallels between Torse and the Bog King. They both have the capacity to feel so deeply, and yet because of circumstances they've experienced, they are slow to make their affections known.
Maxwell quickly begins to feel out of place in Zood, as Marianne (after Roland cheats on her), begins to feel out of place in her own love-loving kingdom. She hardens herself, dedicating herself to becoming a violent protector of her sister.
Watching the subplot-kind of the main plot of Sylvio Dufresne get the love potion to make Wealwell fall in love with him in the first place will be hilarious. (I know a lot of the Fandom ships Wealwell/Freyja/Dawderdale, but I, for one, love Brennan's choice to put Wealwell and Sylvio together, and having Sylvio as Sunny and Wealwell as Dawn is too hilarious)
The scene where Marianne and the Bog King become closer over describing how much they hate the frivolities of love is such a TorseWell scene.
So, I may have been inspired to make an AU that no one strictly asked for, but it will be fun to write and read (Hopefully. I still have to do some outlining. I have no idea who Roland or Torse's first love will be).
