This took forever to make, literally took years to make. Please tell me what you think! Explanation for the video is below:
This comics takes place right as Shadow and Maria are being introduced to each other. Shadow has just been born and Gerald tells him about his granddaughter, who he is going to be spending a lot of time with. The Professor tells Shadow about her disease, NIDS, and how if they don't find a cure for her, she'll never live a long life, in fact she'll never leave the ARK. Shadow was created to help find a cure for her disease. Shadow can't help but feel a strong sense of duty to fulfill what's expected of him. He's not sure what to expect meeting this deathly ill person. With this in mind, Gerald takes him to meet her.
At first, Shadow doesn't know what to think, this young girl surely doesn't look like someone who's on death's doorstep. She's warm, bright, and full of life. She smiles at him as the introductions take place, practically shaking with excitement at having a new friend. Before long, she snatches his arm, leading him away quickly with a giggle. The professor lets them go, knowing where she's leading him. When they finally stop, a beautiful view awaits them.
This is her favorite spot on the ARK, the biggest window and viewing observatory. The girl explains to him that this is the Earth, the planet that their space station is orbiting. She was originally from there, but was quickly moved to the station when she nearly died shortly after birth. Since then she's been kept in this clean environment. Sure living in space is fun, but all she wants to do is visit that planet again. She was too young to remember it, but she's read books and seen pictures of what Earth is like. She shares with Shadow about all the glorious things the people of Earth do on a regular basis, and how beautiful it must be. Shadow shares in her wonder, listening intently.
Finally she says, one day, when she's cured, she hopes to to go Earth and see it all for herself. Shadow seems upset. With what Gerald told him, she'll never be able to leave the ARK for risk of infection. Her immune system is much to compromised to deal with all that Earth holds. As he listens to her go on, he can't help think that this is all a hopeless dream, something she'll never accomplish unless he can somehow cure her...but how? He doesn't even know if he can.
The girl notices his internal battle, and gently puts a hand on his, disrupting his thoughts and bringing his attention back to her. She's no fool, she knows this may never happen, that she may live the rest of her short life aboard this dusty relic; that she may never even live to see adulthood, and yet she promises him something. She promises to see him on the Earth, years from now, both when they've lived long happy lives. She wants him not to worry, but be happy with the life he's been given, and vows that when they see each other again, she'll see his "laughter lines," the promise he's made to her to live his life to the fullest. He's overcome with emotion, and can't help but shed a few tears at the impossibility.
Fast forward time. Sirens are blaring, intruders are aboard. They want to take him away. He takes the lead, leading her away, and tries to find safety. The only one being to eject themselves into space and down to the planet below. But would Maria survive the decent? She's been moving slower, it's one of her bad days. He refuses to think of that as he tries to save her. But as he's battling with his demons again, she traps him the last escape pod available.
A gunshot rings through the air, and the girl shudders in pain. Shadow's trying to break the glass, to get to her side. He has to heal her, he has to help her. He doesn't know if he can, but he has to try! She stops his screams with a smile, gently soothing him as best she can in her bloody state. Remember their promise, she'll see him again. He'll have lived a happy life. He won't be the sad and concerned hedgehog she'd tried to make joyful; he would already be. He can't help but feel shocked at her statement. How can she be thinking of him in a time like this? He sees the life leave her eyes, the escape pod detaches from the ARK, and he plummets into darkness.
More time fast forwards. He's standing in an open meadow with a bouquet of flowers in hand, his comrades by his side who were worried enough about their friend to follow him into the cemetery on this anniversary of his childhood friend's death. Shadow remembers her words. She wanted to see him happy, wanted to see his "laughter lines." Although he's unable to age, it's the meaning behind it that counts. She would have much older now had she survived, had he have fulfilled his birth rite. Don't think about that now, she wouldn't want it. He smiles fondly in memory of their time together. As he lays the flowers on her grave, he can't help but feel chocked up. The girl who was so full of life and passion, extinguished much too soon.
He wants her to know he kept their promise, at least he could do that. As he feels the tears start to run down his cheeks once again, he shows her that he's finally learned how to smile, how to laugh, how to be happy. He doesn't need her to show him how anymore. It's because of her he's been able to. He's grateful to her. No matter how silly he may look smiling at the tombstone in front of his allies, he's doing this for her, and they don't make a sound to question him.
As he looks at the night sky, he can just barely make out the bright light of the space station above him. In space, in a young girl's old bedroom, you see an old faded picture on the dresser...
I think my heart just broke. The premise is beautiful it itself but the artwork reflects that tenfold. You've nailed the lost look in his eyes, and I love the addition of his friends by his side.
Just, super well done
I think my heart just broke. The premise is beautiful it itself but the artwork reflects that tenfol
Thanks so much!! That means a lot coming from you! You're a super awesome writer! I was in a rush to upload this so the explanation is a bit sloppy, but at least it still gets the point across. Thank you so much!!
Thanks so much!! That means a lot coming from you! You're a super awesome writer! I was in a rush to
