In 2003, Cassiopeia was introduced to five men. They were so young, so sweet in faces and pure in voice. They were practically boys. Over years, they would grow. Cassiopeia would watch their progression, from the most talented group in Korea, to the most talented artists.
In these years did we see a brotherly bond that tied the souls of the five into one - and Cassiopeia to become one with them in this love.
We saw smiles that couldn't be matched, smiles that made us smile with them. That bring tears to our eyes today thinking of these smiles.
We saw the most memorable ship in K-Pop form; the way Yunho protected Jaejoong as his love, the two separated by only two days.
In these years did Cassiopeia and DBSK share so much. We saw five men stand on stage and sing with true hearts and emotions, to please us. The way they held their hands together, in a line, bowing 90 degrees to the crowd. The most humble men, who gave everything - for us.
They saw Cassiopeia grow from a fandom to an ocean. DBSK gained support no one else in K-Pop has to this day; the numbers of the Red Ocean. DBSK heard us sing along with them. They heard us scream their names, and introduce ourselves as Cassiopeia to them. We become one with them.
Cassiopeia knew what it was like to be at the top - yet it came with a price. We learned what it was like to experience the greatest pain.
In a moment Cassiopeia never saw, a vision ended. Forces drove the ones we loved apart. Our Red heart lost one side. It broke with theirs.
Cassiopeia saw the tears in their eyes, watching, waiting to hear the news. Wondering what would happen, where would we be after the pain?
Soon the ocean once coloured Pearl Red was now drowning from tears. Separated now were the unbeatable forces that drove K-Pop forward.
A battle ensued. Cassiopeia lost those we thought were the most loyal, as we watched in the heartbreak our boys forced to fight /each other/. Imagine. Imagine being JYJ, taking on a company giant and thus your soul-mates. Imagine HoMin, forced to fight their brothers in SM's name.
The smiles we once saw - the ones that are still remembered as the legends of K-Pop, were gone. Instead tiredness and sadness were on their face. In those times, did Cassiopeia grieve too. We cried with our boys, we stood by their side, we never stopped believing we'd see five again.
We saw our boys broken both mentally and physically from the lawsuit. We saw our beautiful leader withdraw into a sad, empty shell.
Yet you know what is beautiful? How even in these hard times, when Cassiopeia witnessed the horror of the lawsuit, we never left their side. True Cassiopeia never took sides. We watched JYJ and HoMin in the lawsuit, yet all we could see was Dong Bang Shin Ki. Never a side.
Then, something happened. A ray of light in the Cassiopeia world - even though it was two, we got to see the name TVXQ in headlines again. Cassiopeia around the world screamed their loudest cheers like never before, as we watched HoMin on our screens, dancing without the three.
Even with tears streaming down our faces and our lightsticks nearly broken, we supported the boys like never before, to keep them going.
The Gods were back, but even with how much we supported them, it still felt empty. Two voices could never match the five we had heard before.
As I write this today, I think of what ten years has given to Cassiopeia. We've experienced every emotion to its fullest like no one else. Cassiopeia has experienced the purest love, yet the purest pain. The purest faith and strength, and the purest fear. We experienced it all.
Even with JYJ no longer part of TVXQ, our hearts never fail. We never stop beating Pearl Red, we never stop singing the songs from long ago.
We never stop doing the fanchants as HoMin help us remember why we're Cassiopeia for the five, we never stop believing in the Gods' power.
We're here to stay. Whatever Cassiopeia sees, experiences or feels, we're never going to leave. We won't stand back and never support them.
Cassiopeia is K-Pop's biggest fandom stretched across the world, and we stand here today, holding hands as one - remembering the Five. Our greatest emotions of happiness and sadness come from their songs. We sing Proud with yes, pride. Pride because we love them so much.
Do you see why we never lose faith, Cassiopeia? Do you see why though it hurts, even though we cry, we call ourselves Cassiopeia always?
Cassiopeia is a name that stays on our hearts forever cause of the emotion we have gone through. Memories tattooed in our minds permanently. Cassiopeia saw the greatest bond K-Pop has ever had, and no matter what, we will never let that die. We'll stand strong till we see it again.
So don't let your Pearl Red heart die, Cassies. Stay strong, and hold your lightsticks with pride. As you cry, never forget why we're here. Cassiopeia is what keeps our boys smiling, we are what keeps them striving for a better future, and to keep going when they are suffering.
So dear Dong Bang Shin Ki. We are Proud of you. We are proud of everything you have given us, every last song, lyric, moment, and smile.
Our promise, Dong Bang Shin Ki, is we will always keep the faith and hope to the end. Why do we do this, even though it hurts us in ways we can't express? It's because we do it for you. We will see that bond again... One day ♥