It's something that has been weighing on your mind for a long time. You're unsure whether or not you're making the right decision, but you find yourself standing in front of the Pokémon League anyway.

As you take a few steps into the familiar waiting hall, familiar faces like Nurse Joy and the clerk at the shop greet you. All you can say is a halfhearted "hello", because you don't know if you're ever coming back.

The familiar door that leads to the Elite Four comes closer into view, when suddenly, everything stops for a moment. You wonder why have you stopped, and then, you look down and see your trembling legs that refuse to take another step forward.

A sigh escapes your lips as you silently admonish yourself, willing your legs to carry you through the door. Massive pillars of ice appear in your vision as you recount the numerous battles you've held here, right in this room.

A clipped sound suddenly catches your attention as you hear footsteps echoing from the room beyond yours. "Is that a challenger I hear? You brats, never listening to what I say. When I say that we're not accepting challengers, I mean it!" A familiar voice shouts, irritation lining every word.

Agatha, someone who you've always seen as family, looks surprised as she notices your presence. "Lorelei, my child, you're back," she says, relief evident in her tone. "When you suddenly stopped showing up, I was worried something had happened to you." The elderly woman strides towards you and notices your grim expression, your clammy hands, your shaking knees, which were so uncharacteristic of you because you were supposed to be the calm, intelligent Ice-type user of the Elite Four, but now, you were like a shivering child who was anxious, frightened, and couldn't live up to her name.

"Team Rocket, they...they attacked Four Island, my home. I noticed them lurking around in Icefall Cave, and with the help of Red, I drove them away. I can't help feeling responsible, though. To think that while I was absent, my friends and family could've been hurt..." You trail off, not bothering to meet Agatha's gaze.

The Ghost-type user is silent for a moment. Then, you hear, "You're leaving permanently, aren't you?"

You focus your attention on Agatha and nod slowly. "I don't want to leave. I love being part of the Elite Four, believe me, but home is my priority. I can't let anyone take advantage of Four Island ever again," you explain.

Agatha smiles wistfully and pats your shoulder. "Are you sure? You can take an extended leave of absence," she suggests.

You and her both know that it isn't possible. If you don't show up, challengers can't be accepted, and the Pokémon League will just end up falling apart.

A forced smile adorns your face as you embrace the woman. This is fine, you think as you recall when you got accepted into the Pokémon League, when you felt elated after defeating your first few challengers, when you finally achieved your dream that is now nothing.

This is fine.

***

It takes awhile for you to adjust back into the habits of your old life, but you manage. The support that you get from the residents of Four Island makes the process a bit easier emotionally.

On the night of Christmas, you realize that it's been almost three months since you left your position as an Elite Four member. Your heart begins to pound, nausea and vertigo kicking in and you want to berate yourself for making such a foolish decision before remembering that it was all for your home. As quickly as it came, it stops.

You remain seated at the old wooden table and decide to check the mail and package you previously received. With a fluid motion, you tilt the letter opener and watch as the silver knife makes a clean tear across the first envelope.

It's an advertisement for last minute Christmas deals. You set the flyer aside, hands automatically moving to open the next letter.

This one has a check in it, and a card. You don't bother to look at the check at the moment because you know it's part of your paycheck that you didn't bother to receive in person. Yet, there's something about the card that catches your eye. As you open up the card, you notice a picture of the current Elite Four. Three out of four faces are extremely recognizable; Bruno, Agatha, and Lance. One of them is not.

He has medium length purple hair and a funny looking mask adorning his face. You would laugh at the sight if not for the slight hurt tugging at your heart. It really didn't take them long to find you a replacement.

Besides the photo, there is a customary "Merry Christmas" written on the card, and some personal notes from Agatha detailing her interesting experiences with the new Elite Four member you now know as Will.

There is one final package on the table. As you tear off the tape that seals the package, your eyes catch on the unmistakable shape of your first Pokémon, Lapras.

There's nothing that says who sent you the plushie, but you only know one Elite Four member who knows your fondness for the cute stuffed Pokémon.

After picking the plushie up and cuddling with it for a few seconds, you put it back down and glance around the room. A fire is burning steadily in the fireplace, your Poké balls are carefully lined up against a drawer next to dozens of other plushies, and the snow outside is falling at a slow pace.

You can hear the cheerful laughter of children, the caroling of the adults, and the happiness emanating from the residents of Four Island.

This is fine, you think.

This is fine.

***

Contest entry for izayoix

Ew I think this is the first piece of fiction I've written in more than a year

Welp, guess I'm ready to get kicked out of the competition in the first round :')

Also, this was my first time writing in second person and I STRUGGLED SO MUCH TRYING TO REMEMBER TO USE SECOND PERSON AND NOT THIRD PERSON

It's all good tho