One of the main themes in 'Descendants' fanfiction is friendship. How the characters from different backgrounds become friends. In 'Once Upon a Time' fanfiction, the theme of forbidden love is really popular. Think of all the different fairy - tale characters who might not be supposed to be together in the original stories but are paired up in fanfiction. And then there's the overarching theme in both of reimagining the established stories. Writers like to take the basic concepts of 'Descendants' and 'Once Upon a Time' and turn them on their heads to create something new and exciting.
For 'Descendants', redemption is a huge theme. The kids of the villains trying to prove that they are not like their parents. In 'Once Upon a Time' fanfiction, exploring the backstories of minor characters is popular. Many fanfictions focus on characters like the Blue Fairy or Grumpy Dwarf and give them more in - depth backstories. Also, the theme of breaking curses in new and creative ways is also quite common in 'Once Upon a Time' fanfiction.
In 'Descendants' fanfiction, a common theme is the integration of the villains' kids into Auradon. It's about how they adapt to a new life. For 'Once Upon a Time', time - travel and alternate universes are quite popular. For example, stories where characters go back in time to change certain events in the fairy - tale world.
One popular theme is the relationships between the different characters from 'Descendants' and how they might interact with characters from 'Once upon a time'. For example, how Mal from 'Descendants' would get along with Snow White from 'Once upon a time'.
A common trope is the time - travel trope. Maybe a character from Once Upon a Time travels to the Descendants' world in the future or vice versa. Family reunions are also popular, especially when characters from the two shows discover long - lost family connections. And of course, the 'hidden power' trope, where a character discovers a new and unexpected power when they enter the other show's world, which they then have to learn to control.
One popular trope is the fish - out - of - water. When the Descendants characters are brought into the Once Upon a Time world, they're like fish out of water. For example, the VKs (Villain Kids) from Descendants are used to the Isle of the Lost, and in Storybrooke or other OUAT settings, they have to adapt to a whole new set of rules and cultures. Another is the family connection trope. Since both shows have characters based on fairy tales, finding out new family relations between the two universes is a common and interesting trope. For instance, if a Descendants character is related to an OUAT character in a way not explored in the original shows.
Family relationships are a big theme. Some fanfics focus on the family dynamics between characters like the Charmings and their descendants. There are also fanfictions that revolve around the theme of identity. Characters in 'Once upon a time' often have complex identities, and fan writers like to dig deeper into how these identities are formed and how they can change over time.
I found a really fun crossover fanfic where the villains from Descendants team up with some of the forgotten villains from Once Upon a Time. It's called 'Villainous Alliances'. It shows how they would interact and form plans to take over both their worlds. The character development in this fanfic is quite good as it gives more depth to the Descendants' villains who might seem one - dimensional at first.
One popular theme is alternate universes. For example, what if Emma Swan had grown up in the Enchanted Forest instead of our world. Another theme is exploring different relationships between characters. Some fanfictions focus on a deeper friendship between Regina and Snow White that might have developed under different circumstances. And then there are those that delve into the backstories of minor characters, like how the Blue Fairy came to be.
Redemption arcs are also quite popular. Given that many of the characters in 'Once upon a time' have complex backstories and have done bad things in the past, fans often write about their journey towards redemption. Family relationships are a big theme too. There are stories exploring the bonds between parents and children, siblings, etc., like the relationship between Snow White and her daughter.
One popular theme is the exploration of the relationships between the characters. For example, the relationship between Alice and Cyrus is often delved deeper into in fanfictions. Another theme is the expansion of the Wonderland world itself. Fans like to create new areas or add more details to the existing ones. Time - travel is also a common theme, as the show has elements of different time periods.
Love is a really popular theme. It could be the love between Snow White and Prince Charming, or a more complex love like Regina's struggle with loving herself. Redemption is another big one. Many characters in 'Once upon a time' have done bad things and are seeking redemption. Power and its corrupting influence is also common. We see this with characters like Rumplestiltskin who is constantly battling with his lust for power.
One popular theme is redemption. Belle often plays a role in redeeming Rumpelstiltskin. For example, in many fanfictions, her love and belief in his better self help him overcome his dark side.