This is one of the places where I met my fursona. Yes, I met my fursona in my dreams. I was in 7th or 8th grade at the time, possibly during summer vacation. Yes, my fursona was originally a mentor and friend I made for myself, and no matter what anyone says, I'm glad I made him. This is the view from where his restaurant and arcade with dancing stage sits. If you opened the front door and stepped out, this is what you'd see.

Originally, this was just a personal piece, but I decided to give it to my Dad for Father's Day for a few reasons: 1) I wanted to do something for him that no one else could, and 2) We've been through a lot since 2010, from homelessness to being abused by our immediate family, and it's caused me to feel a ridiculous amount of rage at how unloving people can be. I've always looked to others for approval to follow my dreams, and my dad has always said "yes, you should," so I felt that if there was anything I could do for him, it would be to share what is my stepping stone from dependent to independent.

Astute viewers may notice that my signature is different. Time will tell what that means, but suffice it to say: I'm not letting anyone hold me back any more.

Maybe it was Pentatonix's "On my way Home" or Mo's "Underestimated" that spurred this, but the truth is staring me right in the face: "you've been working towards this for your whole life. Don't give up now, even though your family was torn apart, even though hatred and malice were thrown at you, even though your family tried to control you, and even though you almost lost all faith in yourself and anything else. Maybe those who attempted to hurt you and your father will demand thanks and praise for "pushing you to succeed," but that's arrogance and pride talking, because the only one who truly never had a problem with you is your Dad, so...

Thanks Dad, and: Happy Father's Day. I wouldn't trade you for anyone in the world.

---

Tools used:
•My memory
•My dreams
•My imagination
•My undying passion for fantasy
•Kuretake Watercolor Pocket set from Jetpens.com
•Pigma manga pen set including brush pen and chisel point pen
•Sakura Gelly Roll White Gel pen (all the stars and water reflections)
•An absolute FUCKTON of "music that I've always loved but which got family and peers to try to make my life hell, but which I'll never stop loving because nothing they say ever mattered and never will matter," Progressive Trance, Techno, and other Electronic music
•Persistance
•Faith that good things can happen if you never give up
•Talking things out with friends when things got tough (you know who you are, and thank you all)