ok but have you seen these new-ish stills 👀👀👀 can’t say any of them give too much away but the last one is definitely them trying to hide something. new year same totally innocent looks lmao
YES and confirmation that Serena is a Furi??? Insane
kind of unrelated to the art i need the current trend of a new furi showing up every season to continue because if serena willingly stopped unicorn riding furi didn't do enough to get totally disowned what the actual fuck did regina do
She is literally the best antagonist in the whole show. Serena steals Ravenzellas very one dimensional villain show with her charisma, manipulation and ruthlessness. Shes a force of Nature, which the main villain of the show could learn something. Serena has a clear motive why she longs for the crown. She’s literally a mirror of her younger cousin Val of what she could have become with the treatment of her grandmother. Also I really admire her design. The red, purple and white goes so beautifully well with all of her. A glamorous pop icon you should not mess with. A storm that you can’t outrun. She was a Star who has fallen deep. Her death was literally emotionally devastating especially for Valentina, who still believed in the good in her. But I don’t think she could come back to her family after what she had done, she would have been banished, which would have added even more to her anger. Regardless of what would be the outcome Serena would never be truly accepted by her family for the path she had chosen. Which makes everything attached to her even sadder.
The Furi family is not homophobic. Not outwardly at least. In a general sense, yes, gays, lesbians and all the other letters are fine, so long as it's not one of them.
To carry on the Furi name, their legacy, their BLOOD, well, a same-sex relationship just won't do. Surrogacy? Adoption? No, no, the old-fashioned, traditional way is correct.
Infertility? Hm, well that's more of an issue. Become an amazing unicorn rider, above even the Furi expectations, and we'll let it slide. (Or even become a teacher to ensure future Furis' aren't left unsupervised, that will make up for a lack of children).
The three Furi rules (for family, but the staff must also make sure not to do anything to contradict these, or new employees can be found):
Be the best unicorn rider of your generation! Our family's history is steeped in Unicorn Island. To waste that is to waste the Furi name, Serena.
Understand the importance of friendship! What? No! Not like that! Don't be sappy! Know who has the influence and the power to boost the Furi name, don't squander it by befriending commoners, non-Legacies, or any other unsavoury/uncouth characters.
Carry on the Furi legacy! We have been here since the beginning of the Island, and we will be here when it ends! You must start a family and raise them to support the Furi name! Any problems? Dedicate your life to the training of your extended family so they don't embarrass us!
Anyway, so Valentina gets raised in this environment. One Solstice, she's about 8, she sees two female staff members embracing under mistletoe, or the Unicorn Island equivalent.
She's 8, she thinks nothing of it. She doesn't understand biological children are impossible that way.
She goes back inside, where all her family are, and Grandmamma makes a passing comment asking where one or both of the pair are. Valentina explains, and everyone panics.
Neither staff member are seen again.
Valentina asks Auntie where Elena and Luna went, because Auntie knows a lot and seems quite alarmed by their disappearance (firing).
Auntie quietly explains that girls CANNOT kiss other girls. It is wrong, and goes against everything the Furis' stand for. She would be disowned if she was ever caught doing that. Valentina nods solemnly and holds that belief and fear close to her heart.
Fast forward six years, and Valentina has followed those three rules to a T. She's one of, if not the best in her class. Delia and Jacinta are, annoyingly, not in her dorm, but she has made the correct friends. Most importantly, she knows better than to think she's going to marry anyone other than a man.
Then she gets sorted into Sapphire Dorm. And she slowly starts to befriend them, even Rory, with his ridiculous pranks. So much so, her parents have quietly suggested he might be a good match for her, if he were to mature. Valentina loses her appetite at dinner.
Now, Sophia's a pain in the butt. She keeps getting them tangled up in adventures that are tarnishing the Furi name. And she's a Mendoza! Because of them, Grandmamma lost an eye! However, she is NOT as good a rider as Valentina, so she can let it go.
Isabel Armstrong, on the other hand, this loud, brash, competitive, annoying, messy, uncivilised being, is actually a decent rider. And she's so cocky, she thinks she can best Valentina.
Well, she's a fool, but it's nice to have some decent competition for a change.
So Valentina humours their rivalry. She competes against Isabel in any and all contests. It's so enjoyable, Valentina finds herself becoming flushed with adrenaline every time Isabel dares to challenge her. Like any good competitor, she's the first and last thought on her mind when she wakes and sleeps.
And, you know, it's perfectly normal for rivals to dream about each other. Even if they're not competing in the dreams. And it's normal, even mundane, actually, for her skin to buzz for hours after brushing Isabel's. That's just the adrenaline. And of course, Valentina wanting to spend time alone with Isabel is just common sense to learn her rival's weaknesses.
Everything is fine.
Until the start of the new year, when Grandmamma asks her to help with the Solera Festival, and Serena's performance, and gifts her the Fairy Tiara.
Flying back to school, Rory and Sophia have raced on ahead, back from their ride by the Unicorn waterfall. Isabel floats up in a bubble beside her, and hops into the boat/ship/plane.
River runs off, and it's just the two of them. They're smiling, talking, getting back into their rivalry now that school's restarted.
Then something happens. Valentina trips, or there's some turbulence, and she careens into Isabel. Who grabs her waist and hand to support her. And actually, it's not so bad. So the pair stay like that as they descend, talking quietly about everything and nothing, barely anything between them.
Over Isabel's shoulder, Valentina sees Ruby Dorm reuniting as well. Jacinta and Delia are there. They see her. See Isabel. See their positioning. They start whispering and laughing to the rest of their Dorm. Valentina blushes, although she doesn't realise why they're laughing.
Then she sees Ava pointing them out to Sophia, Layla and Rory from the dock, smiling widely. Ava, with her rainbow hair clips. Ava, with two mums.
Suddenly, that Solstice so many years ago comes rushing back, and Valentina recoils from Isabel, until half the boat is between them. Unconsciously, Valentina starts brushing herself down, trying to get any implications off her.
Isabel doesn't see that though. She has no such problems with being close to Valentina. And she certainly supports gay rights, although she's too focused on beating Valentina to realise what her motive for being around her actually is. So what she sees is Valentina dusting herself off after being near her, too messy and dirty to get close to Her Royal Prissyness, Miss Valentina Furi.
Annoyed, she snaps at Val, tells her not to worry because it won't happen again. Val's confused, then sees herself as Isabel saw it, and is filled with regret. She tried to explain, but Isabel jumps off the boat and rejoins her friends, oblivious to their kind-hearted teasing.
At that moment, the Fairy Tiara doesn't seem so important to Valentina, and she's struggling to remember why it's so dangerous to kiss a girl. What's the quote Layla said after she first met Grandmamma?
