i can't get over this...

INCLUDES MINOR SPOILERS!!!  If you don't want spoilers for your Fire Emblem Awakening play through, run away!  If you don't care or have already finished the game, keep reading.

Now, this video is the one I've been waiting for.  Since the moment Emmeryn was first introduced as the kind, gentle, peace-loving ruler she is, I knew that something like this was going to happen.  When I read the title of Chapter 9, I knew she was going to die, and was mildly surprised that they brought her back.  But, come on, how can Emm and Gangrel be on the same side now and not talk.  It's absurd.  I only wish Emm could support more people, or marry someone beside the Avatar and live a happy life.  I mean, come on, if anyone deserves a happy ending, she does.  If you are unfamiliar with Fire Emblem, Awakening, permit me to clarify.
Emmeryn is kind, gentle, and peace-loving.  In chapter nine of the Game, she sacrifices herself for her brother, sister, and people.  This is a truly heart-wrenching scene--King Gangrel of Plegia had scores of archers trained on Emmeryn, and offers Emm's brother, Chrom, a choice:  hand over the Fire Emblem (a legendary treasure that could save the world in it's darkest hour) or watch his sister be skewered with arrows.  Emmeryn, knowing her country needs the Fire Emblem and unwilling to let her brother live with the guilt of sacrificing his own sister, literally throws herself off a cliff.
You think she's dead...until you find her two years later, with severe brain trauma.  She can only speak in small sentences, and remembers nothing of her past, but her compassionate spirit is still intact.  After saving her from some brigands, she will join Chrom and his friends once more as they continue on a new quest:  using the Fire Emblem to save the world from the evil dragon, Grima.  On a bonus mission, Chrom will discover that Gangrel is still around (even after being dethroned and forgotten shortly after Emm's sacrifice).  Gangrel is full of remorse and pretty much insane.  He wants to die, only to find that he is incapable of doing so.  If you play the bonus scene through the right way, Chrom will convince Gangrel to join them.  Be aware, at this point, the world is teetering on the brink of disaster.  Chrom may not want to work with Gangrel, but every sword helps when you're in the middle of an apocalypse that can only be averted by two people in the entire world (Chrom and Robin).

Still, this conversation made me understand Gangrel's character much better.  I actually feel sort of bad for him...in a I-still-want-to-beat-you-to-a-pulp-but-maybe-a-little-less sort of way.

kingdomhearts

Hi, guys!
For those of you who don't know, one of my A3 pals and I have made the Great Exchange.  (sorry, inside joke.  At our church, that means you've traded your sinful life for a life with Jesus.  Which we have, only I'm talking about a different Exchange.)  That's right.  He has let me borrow a slightly dysfunctional DS and Kingdom Hearts Days.  I have, in return, lent him my 2DS and Fire Emblem Awakening.  It's been a wild ride so far, but we're both having a lot of fun.  Still, I like to think of this temporary trade as a testimony to our friendship.  It takes a truly special friend to let someone else borrow your DS, let me tell you!
So, in tribute to this, I will now post Xion's Theme from (can you guess it?) Lizz!  This musical master was one of my main soundtracks and inspiration while I was sketching our characters from A3, so it seems only that she should sing for us, now.  Plus, let's face it, Xion's theme is totally beautiful.  Look through Lizz's uploads for her remixes.  They're a lot more techno-sounding, for hose f you who enjoy video game themes.

final character sketches revealed!

Go A3!!!  Thanks to these people, my skill with digital media has vastly improved, and I've also had the immense privilege of being able to draw our five heroes, Djinn, Soran, Wysk, Alma, and Malik!  All five of these characters are important, each a unique Wizard with their own brand of magic and their own awesome skills.  I can't wait to dive into comic construction.  But first, I'll say thank you, thank you, thank you A3.  You guys have been inspirational, not only true friends but also great partners in collaboration.  Let's give it our best and try to make this the greatest comic ever written by a team of teens--something that would make Joe Shushter and Jerry Siegel proud!  As usual, sorry for the wait, and here it is:  A3 finalized hero poster.

summersong

Summer is ending.  It's hard to believe that at this time last year, I was sitting around and wondering what my life would be like.  I was that girl who liked books better than people.  I didn't have that many friends, and to quote Bilbo, I liked less than half of them half as well as they deserved.  But last year was, quite possibly, the best year of my life.  I met a bunch of amazing people, who dragged me into their worlds with a wholeheartedness and exuberance that helped me remember what it really means to be happy.  Some people I had "known" for years, but just ignored, like TD and the World Destroyer (you guys know who you are).  Some folks jut sort of turned up, and somehow or other stuck around so that I can no longer imagine life without them.  Others came blasting in full-force and decided that we were being friends whether I like it or not!  So that's that.

In a few weeks, I will be a Sophomore.  And my friends will be there too.  Maybe a few faces will be missing from that table, but there will be new people, and we'll remember everyone who's out there, facing the world before us.  So, here's to a year as good as the last--hopefully even better.

Summer is ending.
With a basket of watermelon rinds
On the cracked blue tiles
Of the counter in the kitchen--
Where we watched
The bright, yellow sunflowers
Peek through the darkness
And warmth
Of the earth
And take root, and grow.
Where my sisters laughed
Over a thousand episodes
Of whatever they could find.
Where I hid away
With a pencil and a paper.
How strange to think,
That Summer,
Which embodies life and light
Is fading into a Fall
That feels like Summer.
Perhaps because I know
What warmth awaits me in colder weather

And now, from one of my favorite bands--June Hymn.  Great song :)

GOODBYE SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

poster preveiw

all complaints will be listened to carefully, and then ignored.  JK!  If something really bugs you, let me know.  This is not the final project, just my black-and-white line drawings of what I plan on coloring in for our character's finalized appearances.  Thanks go to A3 (all two of you), and all other contributers, as we are finally prepared to begin our scripting and comic-construction phases.  LET'S DO THIS THING!

villains for A3

AH!  I'm short on time, but here you have it, concept art for our four villains, Urreil, Fauna, Terra, and Styke.  Each of them is being secretly controlled by our mysterious Greater Evil (which we haven't really figured out yet....), but none of our protagonists know!  Fauna is an animal wizard, Terra earth, and Styk Card.  I forgot what the last guys does, but drawing dreadlocks is a lot of fun, so I forgive him...