The Ideal Truth of Forever

Chapter 12

A/N: the picture shows the outfit Touko wears during the event.

"I'm here now!"

"But we are so behind schedule right now! Quick, we need to get you ready for the show!"

I was pushed into the changing room by my manager. I sighed as I looked over at the outfit neatly laid out for me. It consisted of a short, white, lace dress that was paired with a small, white, lace cardigan, and low heeled shoes that were also white and lacy; it had been decided that I was to wear low heeled shoes after a small incident where I may have fallen onto a reporter, perhaps causing a domino effect where other reporters fell leading to there being quite a vast amount of broken equipment, such as their expensive cameras...

Hey, its not my fault. I blame those ridiculously high heeled shoes.

I smiled at the memory, but the smile didn't stay long as I remembered the current circumstances. I sighed once more as I sat down on a chair. I enjoyed watching Rosa's gym battle so much, but it had only allowed my mind to drift away temporarily, and now I was in the same situation than before. I at least wish I could've congratulated Rosa before leaving the gym, but I couldn't seeing as it really was late and I really did not want to be murdered by my manager. But still, that was my last chance to just be normal in front of Rosa's eyes, because the next time we met I would I be Touko the Champion.

I put my face into my hands and leaned down so that I was leaning between my knees. Everyone now saw me as Champion Touko, rather than who I was. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed being Champion as I got to have some intense battles and I could witness the bonds between trainers and pokemon, which meant the World to me. But why must everyone else make this role so complicated? At heart, I wanted to spend my free time helping Unova by traveling around it as I used to, but each time I suggested this my manager and those who worked with her would look at me weirdly, and then say "but that would ruin your image."

Because in their eyes that was all that mattered. My image.

I can even recall the conversation me and my manager had while I was getting ready for my first ever event as a Champion...

"Uhm, Miss. M., I don't think this outfit really suits me," I had told my manager, staring in shock at the, well, highly feminine outfit.

"How many times do I have to tell you to just call me manager? And what do you mean it doesn't suit you? t's perfect!"

"Ye-yeah, its very pretty, but I'm more of a tomboy you see. And I just don't think I would feel like myself in such an outfit."

She had laughed at me, then said, "who cares about that? You are the youngest Champion in the World and furthermore you are the Hero of Truth. Dressing you up like this means we can exploit both traits, making you look young, pure and innocent while dressed all in white, and also match your image of 'hero.'"

For some reason I felt ashamed when she called me a 'hero.'

"But isn't a Champion supposed to look strong and ready to protect their region?"

She laughed again, "you really are naïve. No, child, you need to find some kind of trait that is unique to you, and then exploit it to its full capacity. Its the only way of standing out."

I sat up and leaned back against the chair, my eyes closed. I felt like the real me had hidden somewhere deep inside me, and only came out when I was participating in or watching an intense battle. I was so ashamed of myself.

I slowly opened my eyes, and focused my gaze on the ceiling above me. I'm I a good Champion? Do I even have the right to call myself that? Ghetsis was somewhere out there, plotting an evil scheme to take over Unova, and what was I doing to help? Participating in some show in which my main job was to look pretty?