ASR End

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"Time and distance means so little, when you love someone so much."

Artist Comment:

Date: September 3, 2024

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(I think y'all can guess what my favorite panel is, hehehe~!! >v< )

Aaaaaand that's another chapter complete~! 8D I started this comic in 2018, and after 6 years of hiatus, it's finally done! THANK YOU to anyone who patiently waited for this story to be completed. ;v;

SO! Let's talk about my boy Gravel and his growth in this chapter!

Gravel is very hardheaded. Stubborn, and doesn't show his emotions easily.Way back when, Gravel would never openly admit his feelings-

In page 5 of ON, Gravel would typically just deny any sort of feelings towards Ram~ He'd fight tooth and nail to ever deny it, even though Ramset humors him about it.

In the last page of DnB, Gravel runs away instead of confronting and working through his problems. He isn't the type to accept help, and it has sadly resulted in many screw ups along the way. He's always held this "Us or them" or a "Me or them" mindset. And when he feels threatened, he'll double down or just remove himself- even it it means hurting others along the way. (As in, hurting Ramset's feeling when he left Kalmari)

And when Grave finally, FINALLY spills his guts after returning in page 47 of OMV....Ramset couldn't hear due to his broken hearing aid. ToT BUT it's progress. And any progress is good progress. =D

After the OMV arc, he's accepted that his life will have more than Ramset in it, now. Dragato, Falspar, Bate, Gordon- and all the others in their lives. And while Gravel tries to act like he doesn't care- everyone can see that he does; in his own, stubborn way. >v<

During the Candlemander incident, I think that's where Gravel has truly taken the steps to become a better Zoos. He risked his life to protect Dragato and Falspar, as well as confronting his past about failing to protect his Landia companion. And because of it, he prefers not to wear his helmet. He doesn't want to hide behind a mask anymore, and wants to grow and be part of something bigger than himself. He wants to be accepted, and he wants others to know he accepts them.

So, this final page takes place 1 year after the Candlemander incident. This will be the second time Gravel hibernates without his mask. (First time has been mentioned here) Gravel is finally comfortable enough to face his past about the shattered ruby incident long ago when Ramset presents him with it. He understand Ramset didn't forget about him. And no one is to blame for causing Ramset to miss it. He knows Ramset, and Dragato and Falspar all care for him. And even though he won't see them for several long months, they will always be thinking of him. For someone like Gravel to finally show, and feel and accept that kind warm and love...It's kind of amazing how far he's come. =)

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And he will continue to grow in the NEXT CHAPTER!!! 8D

SO!!! The next chapter will take place when he wakes up from hibernation! 1 page has already been made, but the comic was put on hold until I completed "A Shattered Ruby". The next chapter is called "Stars and Stone" and it continues to deal with Gravel coming to terms with all the stuff he's done in the past. It was originally doing to be a black and white comic, but I think I'll end up coloring it. >v<

But for now, time to get back to "A Matter of Time" Starting to outline it now, thanks for waiting~!

ANYWAYS!! That's the end of "A Shattered Ruby!" Thank you to all my watchers, readers, and I can't forget my live, studio audience!!! 8D I hope you guys enjoyed reading this old installment from the Gumball Warrior series. See you in the next chapter!