I don’t know who still plays Dragon Quest XI, but I had thought, and y’ll gotta listen;
So we all know Jasper went evil cause he was jealous, yeah? Hendrik hadn’t realized his brother/best friend was suffering, so Jasper didn’t have anyone to save him from the darkness and Mordegon. Sad story that tugs at your heart. But you know who could’ve shared the same fate as Jasper? Serena.
Now, hear me out with this.
During the first visit to Arboria, we learned that Serena is Serenica’s sicon along with Veronica. They share the sage’s power. Before the Yggdrasil event, Veronica calls Serena slow (of course it’s more teasingly and affectionate), and Serena does agree during Act 2 after the funeral scene. The Arborians also call her slow, but they kept calling her slow even as a child to the point they almost sent Serena away because she couldn’t cast a spell until she was 10 (revealed in the voice drama episode for the twins). It’s clear they perfer Veronica, who got Serenica’s offensive magic compared to Serena with Serenica’s defensive magic. Unlike Veronica’s teasing, it’s more stern and disappointing. They have no faith in Serena, even after she gained Veronica’s magic.
Serena had to live with this knowledge since she was a fucking child. A nine year old child overhearing she might be shipped off who the fuck knows where because she can’t cast a spell like her twin sister. Serena most likely felt envious of Veronica for not only having the talent but Arboria’s undying approval and along with having them constantly comparing the two— just like Jasper felt envious about Hendrik’s talent and Heliodor’s approval.
The only difference? Veronica realized Serena’s jealousy and pain and did something about it. Hendrik failed to notice Jasper’s jealousy and pain. The girls grew closer, and the boys drifted apart.
Been replaying Dragon Quest XI, again, and though sadly I don’t think I have time to make some new fan art at the moment, it did get me thinking about the PJO AU I made for it last year, and how I never posted anything but a couple of doodles. So here are last year’s drawings, with some info. I’ve got ideas for the rest of the party and Jasper too, but a few don’t have drawings so they’ll be along later, I think
