I’ve been mulling over how the curse was lifted. And I’ve been shifting between two (three?) modes.
A) Apple and Darling had a relationship pre-curse that wasn’t shown because Darling was introduced late. (And if yes, how friendly were they?)
B) Apple likes the branch of Charming’s we are familiar with and Darling was the one option she was actually ok with (because, she’s gay).
C) Like B but if any of her friends tried what Darling did. (Raven, Briar, Ashlynn etc)
I love these ideas!! I personally subscribe more to B, and think that the destiny's in eah are much more personalized to that generation of fairytale successors than people realize. (Much more under the cut!)
By that I mean because Apple is a lesbian, her true love and fated Charming would be a girl, and because Daring acts very self-centered and conceited, he would fit the role of the Beast better. I like to think their Destiny's are much more fluid and dynamic than people tend to think (due to the rigid and somewhat traditional way of thinking of their parents and general society).
I think this because I feel like it would HAVE to be like this to make the fairytales continue to be engaging, and because each fairytale kid IS their own person. Like I feel like what eah was leading up to is that their destiny's are fluid and at the end of the day are written by themselves and their decisions and lived experience, and that has always been the case even for their parents. That the Rebels and the Royals aren't all the different because living your life and being your authentic self is their TRUE destiny. Just before now, their society was telling them their fairytales had to go a specific "acceptable" way.
Because let's take Apple as an example right. In the original Snow White story, Snow White lost her father and was raised by her stepmother who became the (evil) queen and sole ruler due to his passing. Her stepmother resented Snow White and her beauty so much she forced her to live the life of a servant, until she eventually tried to have Snow White killed by the huntsman. That was the original Snow Whites lived experience growing up.
Apple White? She lives a life full of privilege and expectations, her struggles in life is feeling like she wont be able to live up to her mother's fairytale footsteps of being a great queen of their land, and when Raven rebels, if she will even have her fairytale at all. Her life and struggles are SO far removed of that of the original Snow White its a little comical.
So what does their magical fairytale universe do in my opinion? They change up the story to fit the person! A big struggle Apple would face that would make a very interesting story and compelling moral, would be if she lived her life always trying to fulfill expectations, but there was an innate part of her that isnt able to conform (being lesbian), and her being forced to confront herself, her identity, and everything she thought she had to suppress, by her Charming being a woman. It would be a fairytale about overcoming adversity, always being true to yourself, and finding your true love. Those morals are exactly what the original Snow White is about!
If Apple like, literally followed in the footsteps of the original Snow White and lived her exact life, there would be no morals, no lesson. It would just be the status quo, which isn't really a story worth telling.
Same with Darling, her having to be her true Princely self in private, because that is unheard behavior for a woman (let alone a princess), and then the thought of her being recognized for her genuinely selfless acts of bravery and courage by being given the fairytale honor of being the Prince role in the Snow White story? I love that sm. It is much more interesting for her to be the Prince Charming because she's saving Apple out of her genuine want for her to wake up and to save her from an eternal slumber. Not Daring doing it because that means he gets to be King. No lesson is learned if Daring is the Prince. If Darling is, the audience learns that anyone, specifically women, can be a courageous and chivalrous hero if they truly want to be, and it's something that is earned, not something that your born with.
Now I really like Rapple as well, but I love Dappling because I feel like it feeds into the lore of their world and the story being told by EAH as a piece of media more imo. And I like to think of them being together as Apple coming to terms with who she is, that she doesn't have to be this idealized straight Snow White she's always been told to be, and Darling learning to be her true authentic self publicly, and that she shouldn't have to hide who she is and all the good deeds she does.
I do also like the idea of them having some romantic tension pre dragon games too, I wish that was shown or explored more. I've actually started writing a fic about that, but I need to start over since I hate how I wrote the first chapter lmao.
Sorry this is soooo incredibly long, I have so many EAH thoughts swirling around in my head. Tysm for the ask this was a lot of fun to answer!!!
Fillia- hey Skye, someone wants to tell you something… Nishi?
Nishi- … *gives a wooden bird to Skye* here… you can keep it… *embarrassed and blushed* I-Im sorry about your bird… I bought this one for you… anyway, I think I’m going- because I don’t know if you want to talk to me right now… hehe
Skye- Nishi
Nishi- *he stopped* yes?
Don't apologize to me for getting angry with you. I'm not sad because it's my bird, I'm sad because a living thing dies. Nezt time think about it that way, okay?
Fillia: humm I see… I’m not surprised about this, Nishi had this costume of killing animals since he was 8 years old, he killed a cat with one of dad’s knifes… I remember that day, I tried to save a squirrel who was dying, and Nishi smashed it with a stone and he said:
“To end their pain… now he is in the Sky”
He got this side from our father, he don’t like animals. I’m sorry about your bird, I’m sure he will say sorry to you
But that bird is not in the pain, if this cute thing in the pain, I would know that!
My god, his mom is so lovely woman. Why he's thinking like his father? This sounds so stupid!
At least you're not like that, Filia, please don't be like your brother. I'm not saying he's a bad person, but you see Nishi. Your family is with you and you were brought up quite well. I can't understand why this is so. Even if it were, that wouldn't be an excuse!
Fillia: *she is singing and walking, and then noticed Skye* hey auntie Skye… you look sad, is there any problem?
*She showed the bird in her hand* Nishi killed that cute bird because it's came to his room. I can't understand, why didn't he call me for this. I can take this cutie from there.
