[attr="class","header"]Wha- WHAT??

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Masha sat at the front of the classroom, waiting with all the other students for the ghost type trainer to arrive. They would be receiving a lesson from a guest instructor that day, none other than the Elise Calcifet. One of the most infamous ghost pokemon trainers in Hoenn and Masha's idol. Of course she had other people she looked up to as well. But this was different. As an aspiring ghost type trainer herself, she couldn't help but be almost vibrating in her seat as she awaited the arrival of the woman herself. This was going to be something she would remember for the rest of her life. If she was lucky, maybe she would even get to talk to Elise. She had already planned it out. She would wait for the lecture to end and go up to her, stark and courageous, she would ask a unique and intelligent question to get her attention. 
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It was a fantasy, yes. But it was important to Masha, so she didn't try to be too realistic about it. She let her imagination run wild with abandon, knowing that the scene in her head would never come to pass. She was realistic enough to understand that the odds of her being able to talk to Elise were slim to none.
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The door to the classroom opened and every body leaned forward in anticipation. None more so that Masha, however. She was practically falling out of her seat and crawling over the table as one of the most beautiful women she'd ever seen entered the room. She had long, red hair and large eyes framed by thick, dark lashes. She was followed by her pokemon, each one a ghost type that Masha knew by appearance alone. Many things could be said about her, but she was a good student. She always studied harder than anyone else, especially when it came to ghost type pokemon.
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The woman introduced herself and told them why she was there. Masha's eyes were wide as she listened, hanging on Elise's every word. She wasn't just interested or entertained. She was enthralled.

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Elise Calcifet

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[attr="class","header"]Wha- WHAT??

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Masha had known Elise was amazing. She could tell from reading about her and her pokemon that she was a fierce competitor and a person with an extreme sense of perseverance. She was, in essence, everything that Masha hoped to be one day. Elise wasn't just a teacher for her, she was an idol. A role model.
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It was all so amazing. The way Elise interacted with her mismagius was like nothing Masha had ever seen. Granted, her and Tabitha were close, but it was somehow different from what she was witnessing in that moment. Elise and her pokemon shared a bond, obvious and true. Would Masha ever have that? She'd had her Banette, Matty, the longest. But...there was something wrong there. There always had been.
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As the ghost pokemon trainer talked about her history with her pokemon, about her family and her abilities personally, Masha only became more entranced. Her mouth gaped, her eyes grew wide. She was starstruck, absolutely and without a doubt. She could hardly believe she was sitting so close to a trainer with such a history, with such knowledge and power. Masha stared at her like a fish gasping in the open air. She could hear the students beside her snickering at her expression, but she didn't have the ability to care in that moment.
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As soon as Elise asked if any of the students in class had a question, Masha's hand shot into the air. She didn't know what she would ask, she didn't even know she had raised her hand until it was too late. The rest of the class laughed outright at the silent outburst. But once again, Masha ignored them. Her full attention was still on Elise Calcifet. She was earnest in her expression as she slowly let her hand lower back down. She bit her lip in anticipation. What would she ask? She had to have a question! She just had to!
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It came to her quickly. Naturally. As if someone had planted the thought in her mind without her awareness.

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Elise Calcifet

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[attr="class","header"]Wha- WHAT??

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Masha was used to her classmates teasing her. It was something that happened often and it never went terribly far, so she'd learned to live with it. This meant she was surprised when Elise told the others to respect her. She said they must have been taught manners and Masha's eyebrows shot up her forehead. She stammered a moment as the older trainer said she had noticed how raptly Masha had been listening. She wasn't used to people paying much attention to her. At least, not in a positive way. Masha's lips parted, then closed. Once. Twice. She cleared her throat.
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Finally, Masha leaned back and rested her hands in her lap. "I uh...well...I was just going to ask how you cope with failure? Like...when something down't go well...a battle or..." Masha trailed of and cleared her throat again, her cheeks growing flushed. Her gaze fell down to the surface of the table in front of her and she gnawed at her lower lip.

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Elise Calcifet

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[attr="class","header"]Wha- WHAT??

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What the older ghost type trainer offered was valuable. But it wasn't quite what Masha had meant. She was more curious as to how the trainer was able to cope with failure on a personal, emotional level. Because if she were being honest, that was what Masha struggled with the most herself.
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She nodded and scribbled the words down in her notebook. "Yes, thank you," she said. But then she looked up again, her brows drawn together. "But...what about...when you make those mistakes, how do you move forward without dwelling on them?" Masha colored. "What I mean is...to have gotten as far as you have, you must have learned...how to live with yourself."
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No one was laughing now. If anything, there were several eyes trained on Masha with obvious shock at how direct she was being. There was a vulnerability there too that struck those who were present. Their gazes switched to Elise, curious as to how the gym leader would respond.

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Elise Calcifet

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[attr="class","header"]Wha- WHAT??

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Masha nodded as Elise spoke. She felt they were on the same page now. But then...
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The gym leader spoke and Masha's eyes widened at her admission. If possible, the classroom grew even more quiet than before. No one laughed. No one dared to breath it seemed like. Masha didn't know what Elise was talking about, but whatever happened...the event seemed to weigh on her terribly. She could see how the ghost trainer's shoulders dipped, how her eyes cast down a bit. It made Masha sad and embarrassed. But...
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"My aunts used to say that forgiveness isn't always a privilege we have. But..." Masha stopped, reconsidering saying anything at all. But then she screwed up her eyebrows and lifted her gaze to the gym leader once more. "But we can always release something instead." Masha bit her lower lip. "Being a ghost type trainer is hard. I don't think I would have been able to leave home without seeing it was possible because of you. And then I wouldn't be able to live with myself..."

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Elise Calcifet

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[attr="class","header"]Wha- WHAT??

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Masha didn't know what it must have been like for the older ghost pokemon trainer. She knew something had happened in the Galar region. But she didn't know what the repercussions had been or really even how Elise had been involved. All she did know was that there was such a thing as putting too much weight on yourself. That eventually, you could break under the pressure, and then what good were you? Masha only wanted for Elise to know she wasn't alone. And that forgiveness was an amazing thing, but not always possible. But that didn't mean you couldn't keep moving forward, right?
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Masha smiled as Elise spoke, wanting to encourage her to continue speaking to the class. Even then, no one was laughing. Masha was eager for the lecture to end, and when it finally did, she stood up from her desk and approached Elise as the rest of the class went their own ways.
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Masha approached the trainer a bit nervously, chewing at her lower lip as she stepped up to the batting plate. Once she was there, she felt herself flush before speaking. "I'm sorry if I made things difficult for you today," she said. "I didn't mean to. I only meant to get some advice" Her flush deepened. How was she supposed to tell Elise that she looked up to her? That she was someone who inspired her on her journey that never seemed to end?

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Elise Calcifet

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