Chapter 1: The Dream of Many but not my Truth

"Ooooooh and that's a CRI-TI-CAL HIT! That move was SUPER effective! How WILL the trainer come back from this?!"

The roars from the TV echoed into the night as I watched the battle unfold before my eyes.

The thrill of the fight, the tension of the battle… and the passion between the trainers!

I couldn't help but keep my mouth wide open and my eyes glued to the screen, excited to see what would happen next.

I cheered as the presenter declared, "CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST POKEMON CHAMPION!".

As they interviewed the trainer, I heard mum yell from down the stairs, "Touko! It's time for bed, you promised!".

I sigh and switch off my TV. I fall back onto my back and stare at the ceiling, replaying the battle in my head.

'Pokémon are amazing creatures…' I thought to myself.

'I hope… I can have my own adventure one day!'

I, along with hundreds of children, probably all had the same thought that night.

That we were the chosen one, destined to become the champion, but not before going through a great harrowing journey to get there...!

But… I soon realised I wasn't that special.

.

"Well class, I'll be handing out your test scores now." The teacher began making her way around the classroom, placing sheets of paper on each student's table.

I picked up my sheet. 65/100.

"Wow really? 99/100?! That's amazing."

"The championships are going to be a cinch for you."

"Yeah, no one's going to be as good as this guy."

I turned towards a group of students huddling around another student. He was the top of all our classes: Battle Studies, History, Art, Languages, Home Ec. – you name it.

I scrunch the paper in my hands.

I think it was during this time that it started to dawn on me that I was average.

Throughout my life, I was never the smartest, the prettiest, the sportiest, the funniest, nor did I stand out in any particular way.

I was just… normal.

"Hey hey Touko!" a preppy and lyrical voice called out to me.

"Hmm? W-what is it, Bianca?" I responded, trying to hide the dissapointment in my voice.

"What did you get in your score?" she asked, waving her paper around frantically, "I got 36!"

"Uhh I got 65…"

"Ehhhhhhhh no fair!" she whined, "Cheren taught us the same thing so why did you get a higher score than me?"

"I can only do so much for you Bianca…" an irritated voice interrupted.

"EH? What's that supposed to be mean?!" Bianca asked, pointing at him accusatorily.

Cheren walked up from behind my desk, bringing up his hand to his forehead, "Please don't make me say it... I mean, you at least know the answer to that, right?"

"Cheren, you meanie!" Bianca started punching Cheren.

I giggled. These two always managed to make me laugh.

Cheren and Bianca were my childhood friends. Our parents knew each other from when they were young and grew up in Nuvema town together. Even though our personalities were quite different, we somehow ended up stuck together.

"Toukoooooooo, Cheren's being mean!" Bianca whined.

I watch as Cheren's forehead veins gradually begin to grow as Bianca continued to shake him. I should probably step in before he does something he regrets.

"Now now Bianca…" I pull Bianca off and manage to distract her by talking about the new Pokemon plushies that were being released.

"Ehhhh?! Really? Let's go!" she hooks onto mine and Cheren's arms and drags us out of the classroom by force.

"W-what?! Why me?"

"Shut up Cheren, you owe me a plushie!"

.

It's probably thanks to these two that I managed to get through school. Actually maybe they're even the reason I still decided to become a Pokemon Trainer once we left.

Because we made a promise to try our best and reach the Pokémon Championships. And... I still held a little hope back from my childhood watching those trainers on TV that I would become like them. At least, the three of us were going to start our Pokemon journey together.

.

"I'm sorry but we only have two starter Pokémon left."

What?

Professor Juniper held out two Pokéballs in each hand.

The three of us looked at each other, unsure what to do.

"Ehhh…" Bianca smiled weakly as she looked at us, "Touko and Cheren can…"

"No no." Cheren interrupted. "Don't worry about me, you and Touko should-"

"Noo please! I think you-"

"Bianca, don't be difficult-"

"I-it's fine!" I yelled, trying to stop my voice from quivering. "Just take the Pokémon guys."

They both stopped and looked at me in silence.

"Really.. it's fine." I smiled. "There's always another day!"

"Touko…"

They both nodded and took the Pokémon.

"Thank you Touko!" Bianca smiled brightly, holding the Pokéball with both hands.

I give her a wide grin and turn to leave the lab as Professor Juniper continues her speech to the other two.

I keep smiling even when I exit. Of course, I smiled. What else could I do? Cry?

...Of course I wanted to cry. Who else would this happen to?

You would never hear any of the interviews of Pokémon Champions start with "So my professor ran out of Pokémon!"

It was at this point that I thought, why bother?

That was when it really hit me. I wasn't special. No matter what anyone said, I was never going to amount to anything.

.

So why…

"Your Pokémon look happy…" the man with the long green locks looked up at me.

"You have been chosen, you know. Does it surprise you I said that?"

Why was it when he said those things…

"I need you! No matter what anyone says, you're special TO ME."

… did I believe him so?

.

AUTHOR COMMENTS:

And that's the end of my prologue. I hope it wasn't too boring or confusing! It's my first time writing a fanfic so hopefully I can get the ball running in the next chapter! If you have any critiques, please feel free to do so!