everything critical abt. Disney's Descendants!

My fic will delve into and indulge:

AK interpretation and actual depth added to their characters, not just side pieces in Mal Bertha's story. Most importantly, Jane, Audrey and Ben. The three who will be indulged in the most because of their ties to Auradon as a whole.

Isle dynamics and problems not addressed in the films. Villains acting like villains and not like movie villains. It's going to be pretty dark.

Intricate glimpse into relationships, since most everyone in the Descendants universe are social beings and relationships are what build society as a whole.

Perhaps tinkering with Mal's psyche and why she acts the way she does. But ultimately her getting recompense for everything she's done.

Uma getting recognition beyond her spelling King Ben at Cotillion.

AK villains who are obvious and not the younger generation who are quite literally impressionable teenagers and young adults. (COUGH Fairy Godmother, Adam and Belle... COUGH.)

Featuring the other gods. Because yes.

TIME TRAVEL. Largely inspired by one of my favorite Baudrey fics.

Actually including moments from the books (after I'm done rereading all of them lmao) and trying to stay as lore accurate while adding in things that would be lore accurate.

A lot of Ben meta. He's going to be the main protagonist because I am salty and he's an amazing character outside of being Mal's pet.

They said I was defending a bully (Audrey) and when I pointed out Mal was a bully, they began bringing up stuff completely unrelated to my point.

Just imagine this: Fairy Godmother's daughter is the one to help Ben sort out the VK program. She's the one to initially trust the VKs, or at least Evie because of her picking up hostile vibes from Mal, and thus guiding the others to trust and befriend them too.

Leading to Ben forming a closer bond to the VKs because of Jane getting to know them better.

And her recognizing the love spell before it can even take off, preventing Ben from experiencing that sort of cruel torture.

Her advising him on Isle matters after hearing things from Carlos, Jay and Evie. And telling him its not his responsibility to chase after Mal, since she made her choice. That he wasn't the one to push her to be a perfect pink princess- mind you, incredibly misogynistic of her to say since those princesses both experienced awful things at the hand of their villain- or to use magic, especially on him.

Her in D3 not letting Mal call the shots, because she's not even queen yet and hello, she's the one set to use the wand instead of her mother now.

The story itself will be quite ambitious, with an attempt to explore Auradon and the depths of each AK and their parallel VK.

Lenore is Ben's foil, so they will spend the most time together in the storyline and influence one another heavily. Ben's past will be explored, as will Audrey and the other AKs, as themselves and their parents are a heavy influence over Auradon and should be treated as such.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Tired fingers trace through the seams of the gossamer curtain, an air of uncertainty flowing about through the chilled night and into the streets of the Golden Bright Palace. Lenore turns at the streak of lightning, dewdrop eyes brightening in the faint of light from the storm raging outside. "I was told you finally made your decision after all," They say curtly. "Or perhaps, you wished for me to return without haven reached a conclusion to your... predicament?" Sickly alabaster arms fold back in a horrific manner, all the more to scare the king before them.

Upon noticing the pale expression, Lenore merely quirks an assuring smile and strides towards him. As sharp and calculating as the waves and as quick as the tides, he's in their arms before he can muster up a response. Pearlescent, jagged fingers tangling in his mess of a hair, tossing his crown aside to the depths of his recliner. Icy wisteria eyes beaming down at him through burning coral reef lashes.

"You haven't a thing to worry about," Lenore proclaims, all too gentle.

There's something in the way they speak that strikes alarm and piques his interest. No good has ever come from a deathly calm siren.

They continue stroking him by his jaw, soft as the bracing breezes beyond the docks in Port Belle, a gentle caress befitting that of a worried lover.

"I told you," Lenore continues all too sweetly, pulling him close to rest his head in the dip of their flowing gown. Which he notes is unusually dry for someone who just departed from the depths of the seas. "We'll protect you."

"But-" Ben finds himself finally speaking up, an inquiry at the tip of his tongue. Far too heavy to speak. He feels as though he may sink and never return from these glacier depths. "-but that's never what I..."

"Did you want me to do it for you?" Soft dewy eyes narrow, hands stilling. "Come now, that's not what I taught you."

It's simply too freezing. A chill passes through him and never seems to fade. "I don't think I can." Ben twists himself out of their grasp. "You expect so highly of me."

"I do not." Lenore replies tersely. "I expect you to think for yourself, your Majesty. You are a king. What fool beckons for the seas to still? Why do you still allow them to speak for you?"

King Ben averts his gaze. A refusal.

They gently guide him to look not at them, but at the portrait of him the night he was crowned king. "All I can see is a boy who's still too frightened to bellow. You are not a prince, anymore. You are king."

"I'm not the king anyone wants me to be, I know that," He replies weakly. He knows his argument is soft. "I'm the son of King Adam and Queen Belle. I'll never be as great as them."

"No," Lenore says, primping King Ben's waistcoat by the collar. "You might not."

He can only find himself sinking.

"You'll be legendary."

As quick as lightning, his head zips up. "What?"