#zonessa

Zora tends to just talk about trap magic mechanics when he's hanging out with Vanessa (and only her, not that he realizes this.) Then one day, Zora walks right into a trap masterfully set by Vanessa that leaves him hanging upside down in her red string (like that one part of your chibi pack btw.) While he's hanging there she goes ahead and leaves her mark (kisses, writing 'Ness wuz here,' etc.) on his face.

Zora, while initially annoyed, starts to get all flustered as he realizes "damn, she really listens to me, huh?"

Yeah I've thought about that before IDEIDHOEIHDOEI ngl her pranks/traps would make his nerdass heart skip a beat

I needed to do that for the secret agents comic and now I needed it for- totally not suspicious reasons, and I was like did I ever post this?

(linking that at the end btw, just in case duzehudh)

Guys, like listen- walk with me WHAT IF I said their backstories are mirrored

So, first things first, I just wanna say I have no conclusion besides "it's mirrored" ZDHEUZDHUEH And I know some of the black bulls have backstory elements in common. Like for example: - Zora and Gauche both have betrayal and family member death in common -Zora and Nacht both have family member death in common -Vanessa and Grey both have the abusive mother/family theme in common, plus the same "and she ran away" element ...and so on. The thing is I don't mean this as "they have common themes or elements". It's literally mirrored, and it visually makes me scream cause wtf IT'S EPISODE 138 AND 139 ALL OVER AGAIN Idk if the right term is "mirrored" or if they just have a polar opposites thing going on? anyways yall will understand- So Let's start. (insert cool pic)

Let's put Zora's backstory first, and Vanessa's second even tho Vanessa's was on chapter 99 and Zora's later on chapter 129. Zora's will be referred as Side A, Vanessa's as Side B. Part 1: Intro

So before the flashback starts, we have on both sides “character + Asta + antagonist fight” setup going on. It's not much, but I'm just pointing it to start somewhere. Side A, Asta and Zora are up against Langris in crazy-bitch mode. Zora takes action. Side B, Vanessa is dealing with Asta and the Witch Queen (the crazy bitch). Vanessa is unable to take action for now. Side A, Zora claims that he is only taking action because he doesn't like Langris and doesn't understand why Asta trusts him. Meanwhile on Side B, the Witch Queen taunts Vanessa about her making bonds (also trusting) with such trivial people, imperfect people. Ironically, Zora was probably trying to convince himself it was all just trivial, he was doing that for his goal and that's it. However, he did end up making some kind of bond with Asta, with someone he considers to be a true magic knight. In another words, as if Asta is "perfect". So both sides touch the same topic but in different ways. Side A gets the flashback triggered because of the "fake magic knight vs true magic knight" conflict, while Side B it gets triggered because of "found family vs not family" conflict. Mentioning that cause it will be relevant later. Let's continue piece by piece:

In my opinion, this is probably the part with the strongest “polar opposites” impact of all. also not the ink before we get to the flashbacks mirroring as well- Side A, we start with present Zora looking down, and the flashback is triggered. We are introduced to warmth. To a welcoming memory, cozy even. To a simple home, a father and his son inside their own bubble. There's life and enthusiasm right there, there's closeness, there's a strong family bond. Side B has silence. Distance. Vanessa is closed off, trapped inside her own cage. Present Vanessa looks up and the flashback is triggered. We are introduced to emptiness, silence and a confinement like I mentioned. She only hears murmurs from the outside, until the Witch Queen shows up. Distant, cold. "Vanessa." "Queen!" Physically and emotionally distant. Formal and cold. The Witch Queen stands above, emphasizing the power imbalance, showing the difference between them and the emotional barrier between them. Meanwhile, Zora and Zara are on the same ground, physically and emotionally close, there's warmth in their interaction. "I'm home! Hi Zora!" "Welcome back dad" It’s almost like the mirror is inverted: Side A radiating closeness, family, and belonging, while Side B radiates isolation, hierarchy, and emotional distance. And visually, the contrast hits hard too emphasizing the polar-opposite dynamics between these two stories.

"You did the chores, perfectly again today! Thanks for always helping me out, Zora!" vs Vanessa not being able to use the power the Witch Queen wants, therefore she will stay there until she reaches it. In another words, Vanessa, aside from not being praised or encouraged, hasn't reached a "perfection level" that is meant to earn recognition.

Both kids ""work hard"", but only one has results, the other is frustrated with no results. One is praised and encouraged, the other is is frustrated and punished. Also it gives me the impression that Zora chooses to help his father out, acting willingly, not like Zara forces him to do it. Meanwhile the Witch Queen chooses for Vanessa and forces her to do what she wants. Again polar opposites.

Then we have that panel of lil Vanessa ;O; While (I didn't include that on the cut pic because I'm stupid) Zora tells us stuff about his dad. Side A, every expression is a smile (or silly) Meanwhile Side B is the polar opposite Everything is heavier Emptier and colder

Also Zara is portrayed in a very light, cheerful, humanizing way. Meanwhile the Witch Queen is just pure darkness, intimidating, oppressive and distant.

Part 2: "Saviors"

In this part, we meet the concept of “role models”, “saviors”, and so on... Right before the turning point where both characters are exposed to the "outside world" in their own stories. Here the moods start to shift while continuing to mirror each other. If Zora knew warmth, now it’s his turn to experience cold. Let's break it down piece by piece again:

DOLLS Side A, Zora is given the doll, full of personality (I mean UZDHEUZDHUEZ). Zara basically is trying to encourage his son to speak more and does that whole epic intro to the doll. Zora says "that's cringe, I'm 12 already" okay he doesn't say that- Anyways DUEHDIE Sorry I know this was getting serious but soon enough the stories will give me depression, I need to be stupid for a second ANYWAYS Side A: Doll, full of personality, black clothes, a gift, a symbol of encouragement Side B: Dolls... Shallow dolls, white, made, a symbol of how shallow Vanessa is right now.

(Also tiny comment, Vanessa made the dolls herself. And Zara made the doll himself.) Funny how one is encouraged to talk more, meanwhile the other is squizofrenic- I mean. Talking alone, very sad. One is encouraged to communicate with others meanwhile the other creates dolls to communicate but it's just talking to herself. One should communicate more, the other is stuck creating substitutes for communication. Vanessa remains in her lonely, cold energy, while Zora continues in his warm father-child dynamic. The polar opposites are clear: closeness vs loneliness, encouragement vs emptiness, life vs lifelessness But soon enough we will reach the shift.

not the same gomen pose

So the stories' mood meet briefly before the turning point. This is the “role model” / “meeting the savior” part, the classic “so this is the hero” beat in both stories.

Side A: Zora talks about his father, and Zara is framed in a pretty heroic, inspiring light Zara was Zora's biggest inspiration: Heroic, hardworking. Someone who stood up against "norms and rules" set by "higher forces". Someone who stood up against the "impossible". He never gave up. It’s safe to assume that, for Zora, his father was the ultimate hero figure. Side B: Vanessa suddenly meets Yami, who is also framed in a badass/heroic way. In the next panels, Vanessa is impressed that he fought the Witch Queen, a direct demonstration of heroism. This is only shows up on part 3 but it makes sense to mention it now: Zara and Yami share the same "I will go against the rules" energy. Zara defied societal rules set by higher-ups, did something that would be considered to be impossible by others. Yami defies fate itself, saying he will crush Fate and do whatever he wants. Something that is seen as impossible to escape from in Vanessa's eyes. Both are visually framed with a door to the outside world and light shining on them. Anyways back to this part. Zara says he fought alongside someone amazing today. And Yami mentions he fought a crazy bitch. Like even that mirrors? it's so wtf UDEHIUDHE And... ah yes the gomen pose.

Both stories shared briefly the same mood, but now they will be at it again and reverse. If all Vanessa knew was loneliness, coldness, emptiness Now is Zora's turn. Now the energies change, and this mirrored structure continues all the way to the end.

Let's go with Side B first now. It almost doesn't even feel like the same storyline anymore, now it's silly, lighter and this is the moment before the turning point in her life. Things are starting to feel lighter. Yami will be visually framed as the savior but he really just was the way out of her cage. He points the way, literally. In Side A, a grave. There's no savior for Zora. No savior, no way forward, no perspective on the future. "How are you going to protect anything, if you are dead." In both sides, the way out is there. The choice is there for the turning point. Yami comically points at it And Zora is about to hear to what will be his turning point. Before going to part 3, I also want to highlight something that crossed my mind: "I can't escape the Queen. I'm fated to stay here" is "how am I going to escape the queen, if I'm fated to stay here?" "How are you going to protect anything, if you are dead?" is "You can't protect anything, you are dead." Fate and Death, external forces. Also the fact that it was external people who caused a death and a child to believe they have an unfair fate. Both children believe they have no power, there is no point. Vanessa still believes it, Zora has just started to believe it.

Part 3: The turning point

We have reached the turning point. This is the moment that motivates both characters and we see what they met from the outside world. By “outside world,” I mean that: Zora was living in his cozy, safe bubble, and then he met what exists beyond it. Vanessa was trapped in her cage, and then she met the world outside it. I hope that makes sense?

On Side B, Vanessa is given the chance to make a choice to live a life at it's fullest. To actually start. Zora, on Side A, has the choice to stop and surrender to despair upon hearing that but he chooses a rebirth and restarts. And tbh, for me, this moment and the very beginning are my favorite parts of the mirrored stories

Zora reaches his hopeless state, while Vanessa reaches her hopefull state. What Vanessa hears from Yami becomes the inspiration and motivation that pushes her toward her turning point. And what Zora hears from those bastards is the trigger that forces him to confront his situation and reach his own turning point.

Both characters have a choice at the same time. "Make your own choice" And they both do.

Yami became a symbol of hope/freedom for Vanessa. And the doll became a symbol of rage/justice for Zora. Vanessa chooses to set herself free from the unfair punishment she believed she deserved from Fate/Witch Queen. Zora chooses to punish those who believe they are free to commit injustice without consequence. Vanessa rejects her unfair punishment, meanwhile Zora becomes someone who punishs who's unfair.

She chooses freedom for herself, defying her unfair punishment the Witch Queen took liberaty to decide for her. While he chooses justice for others, punishing those who mistake freedom for the right to do harm. It's like, even if they are two embodiments of freedom for me. It's like... Vanessa is Destiny and Zora is Karma/Fate-adjacent? Destiny often viewed as something more positive, is influenced by choices and actions. Fate is often viewed as something more negative uncontrollable and inevitable. Journey vs predetermined ending. Then there's karma, the law of cause and effect, where actions define future consequences. In another words, Vanessa brings out the "world of possibilities" , "I refuse to suffer for what I didn't choose" concept and Zora is like "I'm gonna make you suffer for what you DID choose" concept She is Destiny, a life path reshaped by choice, relationships etc etc He is Karma/Fate-adjacent, he enforces inevitability after choice has already been made I mean her spell is literally that, and his counter trap works like karma UZDGUZEGDUEZ

A small note: Both are framed like the dolls from earlier, Zora is literally the doll now, Vanessa was literally one shallow doll until now. However Vanessa grew pass it. Zora embraced it. Vanessa breaking free and becoming her own agent of change. Zora embracing the identity and becoming his own agent of change. Well, now What they got from the outside world:

Zora outside his familiar bubble met: Injustice, betrayal, the harsh parts of life.  Vanessa met love and family, trust and the good parts of life. The outcomes are mirrored: Now the lonely one is Zora, a deliberate choice fueled by grief, rage and hunger for the justice his father never got. While Vanessa is never truly alone, because of her choice and she met the connections, love, and hope she never got before.

One found rage, the other found love.

Part 4: Back to the present

btw haha

Hahha not one crying because of the family he lost, and the other crying just by thinking of the possibility to lose the family she got. So the final parts of the flashbacks hit, more harsh reality vs welcoming reality and...

Both reject, Zora rejecting fake magic knights who were his turning point. Vanessa rejecting the one who was her stagnation.  "fake magic knight vs true magic knight" conflict, "found family vs not family" conflict end because they reject what invalidated them in some way at somepoint. This is so weirdly framed I don't even know what to say. I also would like to say that in the beginning, Zora's story was lighter and became darker. Vanessa's was darker and became lighter.

also tiny extra comparison

...

So Haha glad you made it here so the conclusion:

That's it case closed But like seriously after episode 138/139 being a weird mirror, their backstories also having that weird thing going on I need answers UZDUEZGDEZGD they have a lot of weird shit going on

...;-; Like why are they framed in the same way And I don't even mean just the expression they make ;-; I mean like The ones they consider their family on top One afraid to lose that family And the other already lost it ;OOOO;;;;; A happy memory ;O;

they should like idk nap as a date