Hello to all of those who have gladly clicked on this short little tale! Sorry for not being so active here on this site; school has started up and it is plenty of fun. I've also been working on some new story projects and learning about art, but that's not what we're here to talk about.

I'm gonna be turning sixteen soon, which is crazy. It feels like I've been fifteen for forever, while at the same time it feels like there wasn't enough time to enjoy it. This has definitely been my favorite period of my life, and I'm not feeling so enthusiastic about saying goodbye to this arc of my story. As an aspiring writer who's been improving throughout my career, I decided to write this as part of my growing up.

Most of the stuff mentioned here is inspired from the Narrator lore of the Ever After High series, both of the books and animated series. The lore has been so interesting so I decided to apply it to myself and my life story. I just hope it's not annoying for anyone. For those who do find it annoying, I humbly apologize and I hope you can forgive me for it.

There are major spoilers for my favorite media, including The Cuphead Show, Amphibia, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Monkie Kid, among others. There are also some topics in here that may trigger uncomfortable feelings, so here's a warning for those of the faint of heart:

Mentions of major injury, possible death, kidnapping, talk of blood, and some graphic depictions of violence. Sad to say, this book is not for those underneath the age of 12; so if you are not yet at this age, please click off immediately and come back when you are.

After you're done reading, I'd appreciate it if you'd leave a review; especially if you have any feedback. Let's just please avoid the flames to avoid problems for us all, alright? Good.

I hope you all enjoy, and remember: stay safe, and may God bless us all.

Date: September 23, 2023. Time: 5:30 PM (PST)

[Insert music: Write it Down (by Derivakat)]

(A.N.: The following is encoded in Vignere; codename is JOURNAL. You have encoded this journal entry and decided to take a read)

Hello there, dear reader! You may not know me, but I know you have great potential. How? Because you've managed to crack the code of my encrypted journal! My name is Alexa Garcia, and I am a fifteen-year-old teenage girl. I'm about to turn sixteen soon, and that's when things are going to take a major change in my life. But for now, let me explain what I mean.

Ever since I was six years old, I was always fond of making up my own stories. Whether it was a treasure hunt with me and a few churchmates, or a few epic tales of a superhero group I was the leader of, I was always scribbling something in some little notebooks I had glued together with some colored paper or old intermediate pad paper. And every time, I was, in a way, the main character, with my best friends to back me up.

Now, as I prepare to say goodbye to one of the best generations of my life, I want to look back on how far I've come to get where I am now. However, I will warn you that some of what I'm about to say may sound too surreal to be true, and God forbid of me being a liar. But I'd rather be able to tell my tale with the right words.

When I was nine years old, writing some little tales of me as a Pikachu in the different versions of the world of Pokemon, I had a special dream one night. I vividly remember the darkness and then the pale light, and then a majestic garden with a beautiful fountain. And the Sphere of Stories, I believe it was called. It hovered over the fountain's flowing waters like the sun hovers over the earth—in our view at least. I remember reaching out to it, with the eagerness to know more of these tales. But the one in the garden with me—one who I hadn't seen until he appeared at my side—said I wasn't ready—not yet. I was not yet of age, and I still had so much to learn.

The words are always as clear as day. The man sat on the base of the fountain, and I sat next to him. As I faced him, his voice was deep but kind, as he ventured to explain what he meant. His face was hidden behind a hood in a white cloak, but I already knew I could trust this guy. His hand on my shoulder was very reassuring, and felt very real. It was as if God's own hand was there.

"You are very special, Alexandra," he said, while I'd tilt my head in confusion. "You have a gift that no one else has received for thousands of generations, both of this world, and many others. Which is why you must learn to harness this power, and use it for the good of others. This duty is for you, but not you alone.

"You are a Narrator, born from the real world."

This was where everything changed, but I hadn't known it just yet. I was very confused, so he explained, but not very much. He said I'd get to know more when I grew older, as I was only young and there was plenty more for me to know. This was actually the very first time I had ever heard the word "narrator", so he kindly understood my confusion. He explained that a Narrator—strictly with a capital N—is a very special kind of storyteller. They help tell different stories, but with a twist—how you tell the story affects it entirely.

After that explanation, we didn't talk again for a long time, as I had woken up from that dream. Not until I was ten years old, a whole year exactly after I had first talked with him. I found myself in the same garden and the old man sat at the fountain's edge. His hood still covered his face, and the voice was as warm and gentle as I remembered. His beard moved as he smiled, welcoming me back and inviting me to a game of chess, which I wasn't so good at at the time.

While he helped walk me back through the basics, he explained that we had to be careful with how we Narrate these stories. Like he said, how we tell these stories affect the characters' lives entirely. To give an example, he picked up one of his black pawns and held it in front of my face.

"Do you see this piece?" His voice was suddenly firm and almost rigid, so I meekly nodded. He put it back down on the board in the place of one of my own, and put mine aside as he began to speak more. "The characters we tell the stories of are like these pieces. The evil lurking about may decide to do something to them, like we do to the pieces of our opponents. They can be sacrificed for the victory of your team, those who defend what is good in their world. Some, mainly those of evil, call them pawns, however some call them participants. Whatever term one may use: we must remember this law.

"The characters we talk about cannot know anything about us. We must always stay hidden, so as not to cause any controversies between our world and their own. The Narrator can only tell the story, but they must especially never change it. Doing so could have disastrous consequences for both realms."

Ever since then, I've kept that piece of advice very close to my heart. I actually didn't get back into writing stories (I stopped for a long time after dropping out of Pokemon) until I was about twelve years old. As any beginning writer always does, I was faced with hard criticisms, and those weren't even from readers. I had my stories removed plenty of times, but I never stopped. And look at where I am now. Anyone who wants to achieve great things should work hard and ask for help where it's due. You should never be afraid to ask for assistance.

[Insert music: Tell Your Story by Derivakat]

But back to that lesson I learned from my mysterious old mentor. As my writing skills slowly improved with time, the understanding of his advice sunk in deeper into my mind and heart. I began to understand it better, as I should have. We can only tell the story, not change it. Otherwise—further disaster than the characters already have.

Ever since I started writing again, it's all just been fanfiction of my favorite media. Cuphead, Amphibia, Monkie Kid, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, among others. As I learned more about how to properly write fanfiction if I were following a specific timeline in the media, I understood the message more and more. And it was horrifying. It stabbed me right in the chest and nearly took away all the joy of my work.

I had learned that there seemed to be a specific reaction why my five favorite shows were my favorite: all of them but the last one had tragic tales for the main characters, and there was some part of me that forced me to stay and watch them suffer. Cuphead lost his brother to the Devil because they both had fun with something they shouldn't have. Anne lost her friends and one of them was stabbed right in front of her because she followed the orders of one of them to steal. MK was mentally tortured by the Lady Bone Demon and had questioned his own purpose and destiny enough to make him leave his family. Leonardo Hamato let his elder brother be taken away by their most powerful enemy because of his foolishness in their mission. Three of them had doomed their worlds, while all of them had also, tragically, doomed themselves.

I very much blame myself for letting this take a hold of me, as it affected me mentally as well. When you realize just how much you care for people like them as if they were real friends, their trials of pain and suffering can be yours as well. It was, in a way, a main factor for my depression, even though that's mainly subsided (though my depression still hasn't; thanks, mom & dad). I still feel terrible whenever I think about how much they've all had to go through, and how much I put them though in my own tales as well. But for some reason, I just can't help but keep going. Maybe there's some part of me that's desperately trying to ensure that they all get a better time than they should have. One with less pain and suffering, even if it was for a good cause on the writers' parts on their respective works. I mean, the saying that good things don't happen to heroes is only partially true. Every real hero deserves a happy ending.

Whenever I write a specific kind of fanfiction that follows the original story of each media (i.e. my LMK Reader insert follows the original timeline of the show, and my Cuphead/Amphibia fanfiction Teen Girl in a Toon World follows the original plot of The Cuphead Show and Amphibia, in a way), I realize that I'm technically just putting them through another round of the same trials, all over again. It moves me, but only a little. Something urges me to keep going, and I can't tell what. Is it some driving force, encouraging me to push forward to try and find a way to change the tragic tales of the heroes, no matter how much discouragement I take? Or is it the dark, sadistic side of me that enjoys their suffering and only wants to see it on repeat, which is why I can never click away from the screen when I hear their cries of desperation? Of pain? Of suffering?

[Insert Music: A Realm of Dreams Unforgotten by Reinaeiry and Genshin Impact]

Whatever it is, it still puzzles me. But I never really pay any attention, because me and my work come first. Mainly my work anyway. Sometimes when life gets rough, I'd much rather be on my tablet or with a pen, pencil, and one of my notebooks, scribbling away dialogues and story ideas. There's just so many that I always try to pay attention to, while others are often forgotten about for a long time. Sometimes those old ideas come back, or new ones rush through my brain. Whichever happens, I've begun to write again. Inspiration has been everywhere, and not just for writing, Art, school, and socialising has whisked me away with so many more ideas than ever, and I cannot ever wait to get to them.

However, I would like to give a useful piece of advice: even if you are dedicated to your work, it's important to take a break from it for a while. Otherwise, you'll lose interest and you may never get it done. And that's the last thing you'd want. When you start getting tired of creating and/or making something that's not related to work or school, then that's the first sign. Even if the break does take a long time, like actual days, then that's okay. When you get back to your work, take it slow and steady. That's how you win the race after all.

Another reason why you may need a break from writing every now and then is because writing conflicts can have a psychological effect on your own personality and behavior (speaking from experience). If you keep rereading conflicts from stories you enjoy, it may and will have an effect on your morality. You might start enjoying the hurt of those who oppose you, and you could also forget how to differentiate between right and wrong. I'm speaking from experience, so I hope this can keep you from doing the wrong thing.

It's alright to let yourself take a breath from the action, and this is important. Too much action will exhaust you and your audience, and everyone needs a break to calm down to prepare themselves for the next adventure. I know this will sound ridiculous, but the same goes for your characters. Pacing is important, cause it can exhaust them too. Real people or not, everyone needs a break.

Spend some time with the ones you love. Your friends and family are just as important as work. Don't stress yourself over not working on something important. That can come later because you can return to it whenever you'd like. People are different because you never know when they could be out of your life for good, no matter how much you want to avoid the fact. Here's one thing I tell to myself when I need to spend time with others: you can come back to the book, but your family can't always come back to you.

I feel like I've given enough advice as a writer, so I'll give some advice for creators of any kind of media: stories, art, games, anything. I hope you're doing good with your work and I hope it's doing well, and I hope you're taking good care of yourself and spending time with those you love. I hope the advice I have given you here will help you not just with your creator's career, but also through your own personal life. I know my ending to this entry is quite downing and a little anticlimactic, but I haven't written an entry like this in a long time and I hope you guys can forgive me for it. But may God bless us all and keep us safe, and I leave you all with a final message: growing up doesn't mean growing old.

May God bless us all, and keep us safe from harm. His blessings may be great upon us, and may we always remember that the trials we face are to help us grow in His faith. That is all I have to say. And happy sixteenth birthday to me. :)

Okay bye~