Sixteen Years Ago

I couldn't do it.

I just couldn't.

There's no other explanation I can give.

When the King asked me to take his place today...

It was like every part of me was screaming "No!"

Why, though? Even I don't know.

I guess it's because...I'm only eighteen. And sure, I've gone on some pretty cool adventures by now, like the time Jason and I had to go save Ty, and Ty was there as a hologram (Why is Ty always a freaking hologram? It's weird), and there was butter everywhere for some reason, but...

I've been in this kingdom since I was seven. Notch, did our adventures start eleven years ago? Feels like just yesterday we were searching for the Snow Kingdom.

Geez, I sound like a grandpa.

I know that this place is safe, and it has so many good memories, but I want to leave.

Maybe it's just the rebellious-teenager phase wearing off, but I want to leave and go...make more good memories. Not have everyone trying to decide my future for me. Maybe I'll finally find a girl who's right for me.

Notch knows I've had bad luck with girls so far. I dated a girl named Dawn for a while, but every time I was with her, I just felt like we should just be friends. That's not a good sign, is it?

I know that the Kingdom will always be here for me if I need somewhere to go.

I'm planning on leaving tonight. I feel like if I wait any longer, I won't be able to escape.

I don't want the rest of the Team chasing after me. They're great friends, and I'll definitely be there if any of them need anything in the future, but I just want to live my own life for a while.

I know I'll see them again someday, but right now, I want to go see what's out there.

And one other thing.

I'm taking the box.

I know what's in it, and I definitely will never be tempted to open it. Plus, if I'm out on my own, there will be no one who will be tempted to.

I personally believe it's safer with me.

Because the last thing we need is for in a few years, a little kid who has no idea what's in the box go and open it.

I don't want him to ever get out again. He's hurt too many people, not just physically, but emotionally. We all saw what happened to Mitch after we claimed the victory. He didn't talk at all for almost a week, and then he did start talking again, but barely, for two more weeks.

It wasn't easy for any of us to see him like that.

He finally got back to normal after that, but there has always been something...off about him since then. There's something sad about everything, even his smiles.

I'm kind of worried about him.

But still, I just have to get away. I don't think I could manage another day here. Another day where people saw me as "Sky the Great" or "Sky the Future King" or "The Leader of Team Crafted" (even though I'm not Team Crafted's leader).

Those titles aren't the real me. The real me is just plain old "Sky". I'm a normal human being, just like the rest of them. Why can't they see that?

Everywhere I go, people look at me like they expect me to do a back flip or something. And if I make a mistake, I get people who yell things like "I thought you were better than this" or "What happened to the old Sky?"

When will people understand that there was no "old" me, and there isn't any "new" me? It's always just been me. Sky. The human being, just like them. I'm not some sort of robot who can do no wrong.

It feels like my future has already been laid out for me. I want to make my own choices.

...But will leaving solve everything? Or is there only one path I have? Can I change my future?

No. I have to trust that there's more than one path. Away from the Kingdom, maybe I'll get a fresh start. Maybe people will see me as human. Maybe I'll get to choose my own future.

But I guess I have to go in order to find out.

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What's up, all my chocolate chips?

Yeah, I kind of used this chapter to rant about stuff people say about Sky...#noregrets. 

So I'm sure you've noticed that this chapter is set the day Sky left the Butter Kingdom instead of during the time of the actual story.

I've decided that every once in a while, there will be a chapter like this so you guys can get a bit of info of what happened in the sixteen years between this story, and the epilogue of the last. Y'know, like clarifying stuff.

Also keep a lookout for hints of the future *wink wink nudge nudge*. 

I would love to get some feedback on this idea, because if it's too confusing, I can change it.

There will also occasionally be a song that goes along with each chapter, and I would highly encourage you to listen to them as you read the chapter. Sometimes they will give more insight into how a certain character is feeling. :)

This chapter's song is Fate by Our Last Night, the acoustic version. :)

BYEEEEEEEEEEEEE ALL MY CHOCOLATE CHIPS! JOIN THE COOKIE TODAY!