Friendship Ring

I lack any good titles for this piece. o.O Oh, using for the theme 'Teamwork', though I'm not entirely sure if this piece could count towards the 'challenge.

Anyways, my entry for 's contest, which was to base it off of the theme 'Winter Love'. Now, for whatever gods forsaken reason, I'm in one of two modes to draw- really big shoujo moments and chaoism. Well, for my primary entry, I dared to be different! I went for the chaos. So, through whatever course of events, six chao (one is in the egg and the other on the other side of the egg out of sight), I suppose, disobeyed their owners and snuck away from their garden (Crystal's, more than likely), to have fun. Through any course of adventures, the six basically were taken far north because of ice flows, into the Jhiyonagushi Mountain Range. The mountains were treacherous, of course, that time of year, and the six were stranded. To make matters worse, one of their members, Roxy, was old with age, and died on the mountain- it was all the friend's efforts to beg and plead that she would come back as they sent her as much love as possible. Thankfully, she reincarnated, though she was still hibernating in the egg. In order to make sure that she didn't die from freezing to death, each of the chao- as seen here- quickly huddled together around the egg, using their own bodies as shields from the cold to incubate the egg.

Now, we have the kissy-huggy-romantic-and-overly-popular-lovey-dovey relationships. Hey, that's fine. That's what keeps life moving in this world. I think that that love is great, and that everyone ought to experience it. But for gods' sake, people! You're overlooking more than likely the most important love of all, the strongest that can overcome any obstacle without being asked to!

Friendship.

Why must we be so intimate in relationships, huh? What's wrong with hugging a friend, and letting them know you care just by hanging out with them, laughing at their jokes, sharing their heavy heart when it is burdened, and going above and beyond the expected for them? Why do we feel the rash rush to get so physical? Is it to replace the hollow space that lacks a true friendship? That space isn't going to be filled with a one-night stand, folks. No, true friendship comes to life on its own, when you least expect it, and the ties it brings can only be bested by the deepest and truest love for your mate. Ha, that's right, there's only about 50% of the married population that remained married and don't get a divorce, but that may be just for physical or financial issues, not emotional. I pity those who are blind-sided with those attributes, and hope that someday they can enjoy the peace and love that comes with a low-cost, high-yield friendship.

That, my fellow artists, writers, poets, sewers, metalsmen and women, music-makers, friends and foes alike, is why I have done this picture in such a fashion, and using chao. Chao, as some of you may be aware, are ficticious creatures, but much like real-life pets, they love pretty much unconditionally the friends they make. Sure, they may have a few quarrels, and their shouting matches and nasty throw-downs, but all in all it ends with a laugh, right? Something along those lines. They give and give, and share that love and friendship with one another, willing to sacrifice themselves to make others of their kin happy. Then again, that is how I would see the chao as if they were real. Cats and dogs, though, are much in the same way, and thus my analogy. The fact that they're ficticious doesn't matter- it is the fact that they have that friendship, that bond for one another. They don't worry about the physical aspects of a relationship. They just want to be loved, and give love in an offer for that love. And that, my audience, is what beauty lacks in today's world.

...

I have no idea why I just went crazy like that. Oh, man, the fatigue must be getting at me. I always get rather psychological and whatnot and try to prove whatever stupid point I'm out to make when it gets late at night and I address a single crowd, be it the SA art community or just one of my friends in a dazed sort of conversation. So now you know the reason behind the art. >.> Whoo. Kudos to those who read that and even more to those who might actually agree with me. :3 I don't think it'll help in judging, though, noooooo. Only the art itself matters, and not the important message it may hold. *is pissed off at that* Ah well. It'll still more than likely get some people's attention.

Anyways, I sorta kinda half assed the background and the snow. They're supposed to be stuck in a white out at dusk. >.> Shhh. I know I'm ng at backgrounds. >< I tried, dammit! Oh, and I'll upload a piece soon that doesn't have the snow and dark blue overlay so you can see everything.

Oh, and I might want to list the chaos and their owners here, haha. ^^';
Counterclockwise, starting at the top- Grace, belonging to , Melody's long-time friend (and partial rival), Danny, belonging to moi (I named her after my first real friend, so it's very appropriate), Melody, again my chao, being the most developed of them all, and last but certainly not least is Pinball, belonging to . Pinball is in there, well, because he came over for a visit or something. I dunno. I wanted something with a little more warmth to bring out the few colors in the storm. And Pinball's definitely a colorful little dude. Oh, and the two that weren't shown? Roxy is in the egg (mine) and Rascal (mine too) is the one that got them into the whole mess, which is why he's hiding in SHAME behind the egg and holding on the tightest, more'n likely. All chao © to their masters and mistresses, and the chao design and concept © to Sega blah blah no one really cares.

...dammit, when I'm going to hold a deep and meaningful contest, I'm gonna judge dearly on the meaning behind the piece. >.>