Out of the Spotlight

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Beginning

Hey guys! So... What if I told you that this is the VERY LAST CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK. BECAUSE IT IS. AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF WORKING ON THIS THING I CALL A BOOK, I AM WRITING THE LAST CHAPTER. And lemme say, it feels HELLA good. (also slightly sad because I don't want it to end but shhhh we don't need to think about that). Without further ado, here's chapter 23! Enjoy!<3

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Do you ever just step back and realize how lucky you are?

Think about it.

Somehow, through some insane stroke of luck, you came to exist. You got the chance to live. And beyond that, you've been given the chance to achieve and accomplish things in this life.

It's easy, however, to get lost in the process of reaching for more, bigger, better, and lose track of what you've already achieved.

I fell into that trap.

When I won my first Contest Ribbon, I was convinced I could never be happier than I was in that moment. Then I won my first Ribbon Cup. And then my second. And somewhere along the way, I forgot to feel happy about what I was accomplishing. Instead, I focused entirely on winning. I lost the magical feeling of success.

When I first came to Cherrywood Academy, I was prepared to streamline my way through the year, and win that trophy. What happened instead was that I gained a lot of friends... And a new peace of mind; about who I was, and where I belonged in the world.

I went into the School League Championships fairly confident I would do well. I still wanted to win, don't get me wrong. The only difference was that I didn't obsess over it anymore.

And when Azelf and Zorua collided during the final battle, I realized that I didn't need to win this thing to feel proud of my Pokemon, and myself.

And that was maybe the most important thing of all.

***

"And our two Pokemon on the field crash with frightening power! Only one of these Pokemon will come out on top! Who will it be?!"

I clench my fists.

Please be Zorua please be Zorua please be Zor---

Suddenly, the smoke cloud burst, and Zorua gracefully landed on his feet. While he was panting and obviously exhausted, he wasn't fainted.

Azelf was a different story.

She hovered slightly above the ground, the Red Chain in shambles around her.

Why isn't she moving?

Without warning, she looked up, the expression in her eyes furious.

"Where is the foolish human that trapped me?"

Melody, looking visibly alarmed, hastily tried to back off the battle field.

Azelf whipped around and laid eyes on her. "You!"

Sensing that the small legendary was about to completely lose her nuts, I decided to intervene.

While I very much dislike Melody, I certainly don't want her dead, and something tells me that Azelf is enraged enough to try to kill her.

"Azelf!" I call out, and the Being of Willpower averts her attention to me.

"Just go back to your home, please! Right now you're just angry and making brash decisions you'll regret later isn't something you want to do, right? Listen, Melody will get what's coming to her, don't worry. Just head peacefully back to where you live, I beg you."