Gretel Growing up

Well, this took slightly longer than I thought it would.
Anyway, here’s a redux of a really f*#king old picture I did back when I still worked primarily with good ol’ pencil and paper.
This was a neat experiment, seeing how much my style has changed over the years; not much has greatly been redone about Gretel's design other than her horn style, but my style in general definitely looks a lot….rounder and shorter than it used to.
And I’m down with that.

The story hasn’t changed all that much if you already know it, but I don't think I ever actually posted it to Deviantart, so have a read if you'd like

TLDR version: Gretel has had a messed up childhood.

Age 0-4: Gretel was born the way most monsters are in the Underlands; Cold, scared, alone, but functional. Infants born in the hellish realm must be capable of moving and even running at birth, which they instinctively know to do, lest they quickly be eaten (often by their own parents.) It is at this age that Gretel is at her most helpless, but manages to survive.

Age 5-8: Gretel has gathered a few souls under her belt, mostly through self defense, and can now wield a little bit of magic. Just tiny fireballs for now, but any small advantage in the Underlands could mean the difference between life and death. She thinks her parents from time to time, and how they seemed to happy to be together. She wonders if there is someone or something out there to make her happy, too.

Age 9-12: Life is still incredibly hard, but Gretel gets used to it more each passing year. She still remembers her parents: their joy and happiness, how peaceful their lives were compared to hers, and how she wishes she could also have such peace. This envy had been with her since birth, but only now does she have the free time to think on it, and let it fester into bitter hatred.

Age 13-18: Gretel notices an odd change in the world around her. Her enemies are fleeing from her now, not chasing her. She is no longer scared all the time, just angry. The tears that streamed down her cheeks every day for the past decade and a half are finally beginning to dry. She has power now, and the world recognizes this. At last, she has control, and she demands retribution.

Age 300+: No more tears. No more fear. No more helpless little girl hiding in the shadows. She has become one of the demons that the Underlands are famous for, reaping a bounty of blood and souls daily. Here, she builds her castle, her army of lesser demonic minions, and her own territory within the Underlands. Still, she is angry and bitter, unable to find the happiness she saw in her parents. Her newfound power has brought her no joy: only greater anger to fuel her rampage. Despite all she has accomplished, she is still unhappy and alone, and it eats at her like a void.