Questionable Collection

The Ye Siblings have gone through hell in both 2.4 and 2.5, and their story from start to finish(?) is one filled with tragedy and a hope for the future.

Let's start with the trauma that started it all: the deaths of their parents and the loss of their home.

The Ye family once lived near a mining community and had a happy life until the Fall, when a huge Hollow explosion ripped through the community and caused mass destruction. Banyue, who was living there at the time and was close to the family, tried to save all of them, but the Ye parents' health was already succumbing to Ether corruption, and that made their mother force Banyue to abandon them and instead save Shunguang and Shiyuan. Banyue did as he was ordered and saved them, and then he later placed them under the protection of Yunkui Summit, believing that place could give them security.

But Banyue's choice unfortunately caused them their next tragedy. A tragedy that might've made Banyue wish he had never placed them at Yunkui Summit.

Poor Shunguang and Shiyuan. They just lost their parents, their home, and all they needed was a new loving home. They probably thought that when they became disciples of Yunkui Summit and were regarded with great importance by the other seniors, this would be the life they needed. Yet, Lu Hengzhou, a bitter elder of Yunkui Summit who saw the deaths of all those he loved, had actually only seen them as potential wielders of the Qingming Sword after Yijiang's death, not caring that the wielder might die in the process. And Shunguang became the unfortunate 'Chosen One' after he tricked her into finding the Qingming Sword and touching it. The saddest part? Shiyuan was proud that it happened to his sister and was willing to fight by her side until he learned the truth.

Had Mr. Lu not forced destiny upon Shunguang, the Ye siblings might've had a happier childhood. Shunguang probably would not have been isolated, and Shiyuan might not have repeated nightmares or done dark mystical arts. They might've even understood each other better or known what the other liked, as the 2.5 Chapter and Qingming Realm Event have shown us that, because of the Qingming Sword's curse, the two don't communicate well anymore, with Shiyuan not listening to his sister, nor did Shunguang know that Shiyuan preferred other desserts.

Yet, that's not all! All this tragedy and misunderstandings happened because Mr. Lu took advantage of Yixuan's grief over Yijiang, and Yixuan fell for his lies.

It took Shiyuan calling her out on her negligence and avoidance of the Qingming Sword for her to see the consequences of bottling up her grief. Which I do think she needed to hear, Yixuan has mostly been stoic about her past, but when it comes to the Sword? She doesn't want to handle it. She doesn't even listen to Shunguang when Shunguang wants to show them that she is capable of being the wielder. All Yixuan sees is another victim that might become the next Yijiang, not the person.

Now? Yixuan is facing the consequences of her grief. Sure, she makes sure Mr. Lu gets the punishment he deserves, but she can't turn back the clock and stop Shunguang from becoming the next wielder of the Qingming Sword. I hope that after this, especially after the Qingming Realm Event with Yijiang's spirit coming to her in a dream, Yixuan might finally stop avoiding the Sword and instead actively help Shunguang with her and Yijiang’s knowledge of the Sword.

Lastly, I believe that all of these issues accumulated into the white-haired Ye Shunguang and the black-haired Ye Shiyuan. Their trauma from losing their parents, the loss of their childhood, and the negligence of Yixuan made them have split personalities, or more specifically, they might be the game's first characters with dissociative identity disorder (DID), as DID is a disorder that mainly arises when there is major trauma.

Now, I do have a digital copy of the DSM-5-TR, and the WHO-based ICD-11 is a free online database, so I will therefore use them as a reference for what I am seeing with the Ye Siblings. From both the DSM-5-TR and the ICD-11, the Ye Siblings do fit parts of the criteria of having DID, mainly Shunguang with her other self, but Shiyuan might also have it too.

DSM-5-TR DID:

"A. Disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states, which may be described in some cultures as an experience of possession. The disruption in identity involves marked discontinuity in sense of self and sense of agency, accompanied by related alterations in affect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition, and/or sensory-motor functioning. These signs and symptoms may be observed by others or reported by the individual. B. Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting. C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning." (American Psychiatric Association, 2022)

ICD-11 DID:

"Essential Features and Additional Features:

Disruption of identity characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states (dissociative identities), involving marked discontinuities in the sense of self and agency. Each personality state includes its own pattern of experiencing, perceiving, conceiving, and relating to self, the body, and the environment.

At least two distinct personality states recurrently take executive control of the individual’s consciousness and functioning in interacting with others or with the environment, such as in the performance of specific aspects of daily life (e.g., parenting, work), or in response to specific situations (e.g., those that are perceived as threatening).

Changes in personality state are accompanied by related alterations in sensation, perception, affect, cognition, memory, motor control, and behaviour. There are typically episodes of amnesia inconsistent with ordinary forgetting, which may be severe.

The symptoms result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning. If functioning is maintained, it is only through significant additional effort.

In individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder, it is common for one personality state to be ‘intruded upon’ by aspects of other non-dominant, alternate personality states without their taking executive control, as in Partial Dissociative Identity Disorder. These intrusions may involve a range of features, including cognitive (intruding thoughts), affective (intruding affects such as fear, anger, or shame), perceptual (e.g., intruding voices or fleeting visual perceptions), sensory (e.g., intruding sensations such as being touched, pain, or altered perceived size of the body or of part of the body), motor (e.g., involuntary movements of an arm and hand), and behavioural (e.g., an action that lacks a sense of agency or ownership). The personality state that is intruded upon in this way commonly experiences the intrusions as aversive, and may or may not realize that the intrusions relate to features of other personality states." (World Health Organization, 2019)

Shunguang definitely has DID because the other 'Ye Shunguang' acts like another person. 'Ye Shunguang' acts more direct and selfish than Xiao'Guang. Even her tone of voice sounds completely different despite having the same body. As for Shiyuan? It's more subtle, but you can see the difference; the dark-haired Shiyuan is more impulsive, more assertive, and less soft-spoken than regular Shiyuan. Furthermore, he can potentially control when he can switch to the other form.

With all these issues, it's definitely a miracle that the Ye Siblings ended the darkest part of their story with no one dying or fully turning to the dark side. Instead, both Shunguang and Shiyuan are alive and can still be a happy family. Yes, Shunguang is still under the curse, and Shiyuan left Yunkui Summit after learning the truth, but there's hope for their future. Shunguang's acceptance of the Sword enabled her to go into the Qingming Realm and one day learn how to reverse the effects of the curse when she becomes more powerful in her Voidhunter role, while Shiyuan can figure out who he is and what he wants in life while still researching about the cursed weapons of the Voidhunters. Hopefully, when they meet up again, Shunguang and Shiyuan can see that they now have the life they wanted for so long, even if it’s not the life they were hoping for.

References:

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Dissociative Disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).

cw: self-indulgent, possible OOC, fluff, female reader. tw: pregnancy (obviously). Requested by anon. Hugo with a daughter.

When it’s confirmed that you’re pregnant, Hugo goes still for a moment. Then his lips form a soft smile and he murmurs, “So… I’m going to be a father,” as rests his forehead against yours, cradling your face like you’re the most fragile thing in the world.

Becomes very attentive, watching you like a hawk, without making it too obvious, of course. He accompanies you more often, especially in public. 

Has become extra soft. Late at night, he holds you, his eyes fixed on the belly as his hand is softly rubbing it, he whispers: “I never thought I’d have something… so fragile, so important.” It’s one of the rarest moments when you see Hugo without a mask — in his most vulnerable state.

He hides it well, but he’s scared of something happening to you, of not being good enough. Kisses, encouraging words and a confirmation that he’s doing well from you can help drive away his self-doubt.

Still a gentleman. You’re not lifting a finger — he handles everything. He carries everything — your things, bags, groceries. 

Still a tease. Pregnancy doesn’t stop him from teasing, it just changes the target. “Well, well, someone’s getting spoiled. Must be nice having me around, hm?”

Talks to the belly. When you’re alone, he whispers to the baby in a mock-serious tone: “Listen here, little one. Once you’re out, we’ll plan your first heist. But right now, let your mother sleep, yes?”

Keeps all the ultrasound photos. He has a hidden place with every single scan and notes from doctors about your conditions and symptoms.

Once he understands that cravings are serious business, he commits. Dramatically. You crave a pickled strawberry tart at 3 a.m.? He’ll dramatically sneak out like he’s on a mission and return with exactly what you want, grinning from ear to ear like he just committed the heist of the century.

If you snap at him due to mood swings, he’ll take it with no offence. He’ll get down on a knee, take your hand and kiss it in a mock-sorrow.”How cold! So cruel! But I understand, you're merely possessed by hormones. A terrifying, beautiful, gorgeous goddess of wrath.”  After that you can’t be angry at him.

Or if you get emotional over silly things, he matches your energy. “This kitten is so cute!” As you sob over cat videos. “YES! AN EPITOME OF CUTENESS!” He mock-swoons beside you.

If you haven’t agreed on the name yet, he will call the baby ‘little bat’ as a pet name.

Absolutely panics when the labour starts. He may look calm outside. But inside? Screaming. But will never leave your side, he will be with you until he sees your masterpiece out.

God. Razamel is an interesting guy, don't get me wrong. But he really is a one-note villain the way he's been written into Smurfs lore. So I'll definitely wind up heavily adapting / changing his backstory as I write him or hang onto him as a muse. Because there's... a good few things about Smurfs 2025 that I'm not a huge fan of, to say the least.

:

It’s clear who’s the favourite child:(

But yeah. It would’ve been great to get a proper flashback with younger Gargamel and Razamel.