11.) Sadness-Hurts to Say Goodbye

Lives lost; Loves lost
your soul now set adrift
we'll meet once more, departed friend
within the Cosmic Rift

And though you shan't remember me
I shall remember you
for mem'ries I hold close to me
will always guide me through

An ancient Marlier song, traditionally recited after a battle in memoriam of those lost. In the modern age the song is commonly recited in military funerary services for fallen Alliance soldiers. This piece her depicts a young Cephilia Galaxia in the worst days of her life. Cephie had never known loss of such magnitude until the war against NOVA, almost her entire squadron lost under her command as well as the death of the one closest to her wracked young Cephie for months. While the Alliance rejoiced in their victory she herself was responsible for she mourned endlessly. Emotionally compromised; Sergeant Galaxia stepped down from the Alliance Military. It wasn't until her fateful encounter/adopting of Tracie that she regained a grip on her life. Though even then the scars took years to heal, as evidenced by this piece. Cephie accompanied by "Uncle Mambo" her closest friend, and one of the only left alive following the wrath of NOVA whom is watching over dear little Tracie, both Cephie and Tracie are very young in this image. It seems not even the ever-stern and strong Mambo cannot help but tear at the sight of such friends lost.

In all seriousness this might be one of the ugliest things I have ever uploaded.
This image was a disaster, it was initially drawn with a black pencil and given some beautiful shading and was a very moody piece I hoped to highlight with blues to imbue a sad tone. Unfortunately, I guess I should have practiced on a separate page BEFOREHAND because the blues completely erased all of the shading I worked on. And it wasn't going to have outlines either, but after I screwed up so miserably with the colors it was unbearable to look at so I caved and just threw a Sharpie outline on it. Blech.

Thank you to any and all who serve any nation's military. Sacrifices are not forgotten.