A/N: Excavation of the Heart (EOTH) is a soulsilvershipping fanfic that takes place during the gameverse. I focused my story around the pairing, rather than the gameplay, so certain events (including some gym leader battles) won't be described during the story. Even so, EOTH takes place from the moment you start a fresh game to completion of the game, and even beyond. Thank you for checking out my fanfic, Enjoy!
~Indianaviv
Chap 1
It was a beautiful morning in the small town of New Bark. The suns warm rays filled the morning sky as the coastal breeze swept through the town reminding its residents just how close they were to the gulfs clear waters. The sound of chirping could be heard from the surrounding forest as a flock of pidgeys began their morning routine. One particularly small pidgey ventured away from its home to explore the nearby town. After spotting a vacant windowsill, the small bird pokemon made its way to take a short rest before continuing its flight.
"THAT'S IT!" a feminine voice cried out into the silent morning air. "I AM OFFICALLY READY!"
Frightened by the sudden burst of noise the pidgey lost its footing and fell into the nearby bushes. After squawking undecipherable profanity the small bird took off to find the rest of its flock in the forest.
The voice belonged to a young teenage girl fourteen years of age wearing a black tee-shirt and a pair of overall shorts, the straps falling limping at her sides. Oblivious to the event that had just unfolded she stood with one foot planted on her bed and a fist in the air her brown pigtails bouncing slightly. "Today is the day I officially become a pokemon trainer!" she said to no one in particular. It had been her dream for as long as she could remember to one day become a pokemon trainer.
Scanning her scattered belongings for the umpteenth time she smiled. Arranged on her bed were her handbag, pajamas, a jacket, and her infamous marshmallow hat. Throwing on her red jacket and slipping her arms through the straps of her shorts she scooped everything into her bag and donned her cap. Excitedly she rushed towards the flight of stairs that led downstairs to the rest of her home. Pausing at the top of the stairway she nostalgically glanced back at her room. She knew that no matter what happened on her journey, things would never be the same again. With one last smile she ducked downstairs towards the kitchen.
A frantic woman in her early forties rushed between the kitchen and dining room trying to recall all the items she had left to pack. Staring up towards the ceiling as if asking for divine guidance she silently listed off her to-do list until her face twisted in remembrance. "Ah, that's it..." She trailed softly. Rushing towards a smoky kitchen, the woman opened the oven door releasing the plume of black smoke. Coughing she pulled out the baking pan (which now resembled a fire pit) filled with the charcoaled casserole. Grabbing the fire extinguisher from the counter she released the powdery white substance with expert use. "I forgot about Lyra's breakfast."
"M-mom?" Lyra hacked as she entered the smoky room. "What the heck is going on?" she looked around the hazy house until she spotted the kitchen window and opened it.
"Oh! Good morning sweetie!" Her mother smiled cheerfully. "I see you're finally up."
"Of course I am up!" Lyra spat as she heaved open the last window. "I see you're trying to burn the house down again." She added dryly rolling her eyes.
"Oh, nonsense, I had it all under control." She mother laughed waving her off.
Lyra took another look towards the kitchen. Now that most of the dark smoke had cleared she could see the oven, counters, floor, and even the ceiling was now covered in the white powder from the fire extinguisher. "riiight." Should she really be leaving her mother to herself?"
"Oh, honey, come here." Her mother said changing the subject. Drawing her daughter over with a wave of her hand to the dining room table she began handing her several items. "Okay, your trainer card arrived in the mail this morning so here you go."
Taking the card from her mother's outstretched hand she gazed at its details. Tilting it in the light she could see the imprint of the legendary Ho-oh and Lugia on each side. Each trainer card was uniquely watermarked according to its region.
"Also," Her mother added, interrupting her daughters' thoughts. "I bought this for you." Handing a small package wrapped in gift wrap she smiled. "It's a gift, for your journey."
Pocketing her trainer card Lyra graciously accepted the gift. Carefully tearing back the paper she gazed at the item for a moment. "A journal?"
"Yes. I thought it would be a good idea to keep a record of all your adventures and progress. When you get older, it will be nice to be able to look back on the days when you first began your training. I hope you like it." Her mother added her brows nervously furrowed as she began to worry that such a gift was too old fashioned.
"I love it! Thank you!" Lyra threw her arms around her mother's neck. Although her mother could be a bit airheaded at times, her heart was always in it. "Alright I gotta go! I am already running late, bye, love you!" Like a small whirlwind she was off.
Like father like daughter… her mother mused to herself while gazing at the front door. "hmmm…" The woman pondered while gazing at the ceiling again. "Oh! Lyra your pokegear! You forgot it!"
Taking a step outside Lyra deeply inhaled the refreshing gulf breeze while listening to the thin windmill clank rhythmically as it caught the wind. The rest of the neighborhood had already begun their morning routines and were nearly finished with most of them. "Oh man I am so late!" Lyra said to herself. Before she could break out in a run for the professors' laboratory she was stopped in her tracks. "wha- Marill?" The brunette gasped after almost stepping on the blue spherical pokemon.
"Marlil! Where are you?" A young boys voice called out. Turning the corner the owner of the voice sighed. "Maril, how any times do I have to tell you; don't run off when I can't see you!" The small pokemon shrank back apologetically as his owner continued fussing over him in a motherly fashion. Finally acknowledging the reason to his Marils running spree he smiled. "Morn Lyra! Off to see the Prof I take it?" He grinned ear to ear completely oblivious to the brunettes sense of urgency. He was always that way it seemed. So laid back, so calm and collected, if anything ever did bother him, he casually let it roll off of him. Secretly Lyra was always a little envious of that ability.
"Hey Ethan!" She smiled back to her best friend. "Yes I am. And I am actually running very late-"
"Well don't just stand here, hurry to the Professors lab before he goes on his lunch break!" Ethan belittled her while holding his hands on his hips. "You of all people should know how religious he is about them."
But you're the reason I got held up… "Right, okay bye Ethan, bye Maril!" Determined to not let anything (or anyone) hold her up further she took off in a dead sprint towards the lab, desperate to make it on time.
"Where could that girl be?" A worried pokemon professor asked himself as he drummed his long fingers on his computer desk. "I had asked her to be here by-" His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the sound of his door swishing open and a heavily-panting teenage girl slapping her hand against the wall for support.
"Here..." She heaved weakly fighting to gain back her breathing. Never in her life had she been so popular in town. It seemed everyone she passed found it appropriate to ask the rushed girl if today was her first day of training, what pokemon she wanted, what her goals were, and to finally give her their congratulations.
"I see." Elm stated. Deciding it was best to move on as planned rather than ask questions, he dove into his well-rehearsed speech. "Hi, Lyra! I have been waiting for you!" For abut two hours now… he thought silently to himself. "As you know, I deal with researching pokemon and how they grow and evolve. At the moment I am researching the difference in growth rates between pokemon stored in their pokeballs versus pokemon whom walk alongside their trainers outside of their ball; much like how your friend Ethan does. So I would like you to select a regional starter for yourself so that I can study its growth rate and conduct my research further!" Professor Elm beamed.
Lyra could care less for the reason behind obtaining her first pokemon, but the fact that it would also assist the professor mattered a great deal to her. From the day she first moved to New Bark three years ago, she did her upmost to help Professor Elm with his work. After a year passed of being his 'assistant' the professor promised to one day give her a pokemon so she could fulfill her dream of becoming a trainer. Walking towards the professor she stood in front of the large incubator-like machine containing the three regional starters of Johto; Totodile, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil. For years she had debated which one to choose as her very own. But now that each pokemon were in her grasp, she found it even more difficult to choose.
The sound of an incoming message dinged on the professors' laptop. Walking over to it Elm opened up the unread message and narrowed his eyes curiously. "It would seem my acquaintance, Mr. Pokemon, has made another unusual finding; perhaps an egg this time." Elm spoke half to himself half to anyone that listened. "Lyra," The Professor finally said addressing the indecisive girl. "Could you please do me the favor of picking up the package? His office is just North past Cherrygrove. I would go but..."
"Don't worry about it! I'll handle it!" The teenage girl beamed. Closing her eyes she blindly picked one of the three pokeballs. If she couldn't make up her mind, she figured fate could do it for it. Deep down she knew it really didn't matter what kind of pokemon hers would be, she would love it all the same. Excitedly she called out her first partner. "Alright, come on out, whatever you are!"
A pair of unseen red eyes had been watching the entire event in the laboratory unfold. He had been waiting for the past couple of hours to make his move and when he finally felt it was time, the noisy girl blundered in.
"Tch. Typical." He whispered to himself. He knew he wasn't the most social of creatures, but when it came to girls, he had little to no patience. His hearing couldn't reach beyond the thick glass of the lab but his ability to read lips made up for his lack of hearing. So far he had gathered that this was the obnoxious girl's first pokemon and that the professor had received notice about an egg or something. When he saw the girl make up her mind by choosing a pokeball at random he nearly choked. What person in their right mind chooses their first pokemon by random? Shouldn't she know you must always choose the strongest? The young man finally smirked after seeing which of the three she had selected. "It figures a girl would end up with such a useless and weak pokemon." He whispered once again to the air. Realizing his first choice now held the type advantage, the grinned. He would get the chance to personally show her how weak her pokemon was and how foolish her actions were.
Pressing the center button of the red and white capsule, the pigtailed brunette released her first pokemon. In a flash of red light, a small blue and beige pokemon with a flame on it back emerged.
"Cynda- quil?" The small fire starter asked, looking around curiously.
Lyra clasped her hands together, large brown eyes filled with admiration. "You're so adorable!"
The Cyndaquil curiously tilted his head to the side while looking up at his new owner.
"Oh! I almost forgot to tell you." Elm spoke up. "You can give a nickname to each of your pokemon when you first catch it. Its information and name will be recorded on your trainer card. Otherwise you will have to wait until you get to Goldenrod City to visit an official name rater."
"Oh that's right…" Lyra mumbled while gazing at her new pokemon. But what to name her newly acquired friend? After pondering for a few moments she grinned. "Alright, I got it. How about Fluffy?"
"…" Cyndaquil sharply shook his head back and forth in disapproval.
"Hmm alright then." Lyra pondered. "Flamey?"
"…" The small pokemon shook his head harder than before.
"Blaze?" She finally asked grasping desperately for any nickname her mind could come up with.
Thinking for a moment the small pokemon nodded his head. "Quil! Quil!"
"I think he likes his new name." Elm stated after a nickname had finally been agreed upon. Nodding to his assistant he continued. "Now remember to bring back Mr. Pokemons parcel to me as soon as you get it. After that you are off on your own!" The man smiled bringing his hands together. He couldn't wait to further his research. Not to mention start his overdo lunch break.
"Here are some potions. Don't be afraid to use them if your cyndaquils' health gets low. Although pokemon are powerful creatures, they are also very vulnerable in the beginning. Good luck." The aid handed over the 5 vials over to the teenage girl before waving and going back to his research.
"Thanks David!" Lyra thanked the aid graciously. Turning towards her started, Lyra threw her fist in the air brimming with excitement. "Alright, Blaze! Today marks the first day of our adventure together!" The pigtailed girl shouted happily, her young Cyndaquil joining in the cheering.
Professor Elm let go a deep sigh once again after the noisy pair had finally left, enjoying the peace and quiet of his lab. As much as he enjoyed having the teenage girl around to help, he had to admit he enjoyed it even more once she had left. Turning his attention to his lab, the professor hummed as he tidied up his work desk before heading off to enjoy his prolonged lunch break.
Stepping out into the afternoon sun the brunette smiled. She had waited her whole life for this. Even when she was a little girl she dreamt of one day becoming a great pokemon trainer. As she grew, her dreams grew with her. The thought of being free having an adventure, having the companionship of your trusted pokemon, facing challenges was exhilarating and… terrifying. Was she ready for this?
"Marill-mar!" The familiar blue pokemon sang happily while bouncing up and down.
Startled from her thoughts, Lyra smiled down at Ethan's marill for the second time this morning. Catching the blur of black and gold she looked up to meet her friends face smiling at her.
"So Lyra, you chose the Cyndaquil huh? That's great! Now you can start your own adventure like how you have always wanted!" Ethan flashed his award winning smile at her although it seemed less natural than usual and almost forced this time.
"That's right!" Lyra said cheerily. "Blaze and I are going to have the adventure of a lifetime, aren't we?" She turned her attention to her cyndaquil whom had been curiously sniffing the maril in front of him.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Ethan mumbled while reaching in his shorts pocket. "You forgot this, your mom asked me to drop I off to you before you go." The raven haired boy extended his hand to Lyra holding her newly fixed pokegear.
"Thanks!" Lyra said while reaching for her gear. As her hand touched her pokegear Ethans fingers wrapped around hers. The brunettes' heart skipped a beat at his unexpected action and turned her eyes to his. Brown orbs locked with gray ones for a few moments before the boy spoke.
"Lyra… be careful." His normally carefree face was now laced with concern. Before he let his friend have the chance to speak he released her hand and took off, his marill following after him.
The pigtailed girl stood dumbfounded while holding her pokegear, her cyndaquil gazing between his owner and the mysterious boy curiously. "Cyn.. daquil?" He finally asked breaking Lyra from her thoughts.
"Right! Are you ready, Blaze?" Lyra asked eagerly choosing to brush off the odd event.
"Quil!" Blaze responded eagerly.
"Then let's do this!" The girl shouted in the afternoon air. Her adventure, however, had been cut short when she noticed the slight movement of red catch her eye. Turning her head in the direction, Lyra peered through the heavily shaded ally next to Professor Elms' laboratory. Walking towards the mysterious figure she saw the red belonged to a redheaded boy about her age, possibly a year older, looking through the labs window. He must be waiting for the professor to get back so he can get his first pokemon too. "Good luck!" Lyra called out as she reached hearing distance.
The redhead sharply whipped his head in the direction of the voice and narrowed his red eyes. He immediately recognized the girl, or rather her ridiculous hat, and took a step forward intending to shove her away from his sight. The last thing he needed was to be caught by someone official.
"You're waiting to get your first pokemon from professor Elm, right?" She continued innocently.
The boy stopped just inches away from her and paused before responding. "Yeah." He smiled cruelly.
"W-well good luck then!" Lyra repeated nervously. Upon closer observation she could see that the redheaded boy was at least fifteen and stood several inches taller than her. Why was he so close? She wondered frantically. Blaze arched his back protectively, his back flames growing as each second passed.
After what felt like an eternity, the boy dropped his hard gaze and averted them back to the window. Deciding that was her cue to leave, Lyra ushered Blaze to leave the strange boy behind so they could quickly run Elms' errand.
After putting good distance between herself and the boy with red hair she let out an audible sigh. "Well that was very strange!" She concluded. Blaze nodded his head in confirmation. "But never mind that! We need to train you up so you can be big and strong! How does that sound, Blaze?" Lyra asked eagerly forming her hands into fists.
"Quil-quil!" Blaze shouted affirmatively.
"Alright, lets' go find us some wild pokemon to beat up!" Lyra laughed while running into the grass, her eager cyndaquil following closely behind.
Omg I have no idea how to write small chapters. Also! I am going to be updating this every monday. ^_^
Thank you to all of you who took the time to read my first chapter! It's been some 6-7 years since I last wrote a fanfiction and a good year since I wrote anything in general. (I promise my writings will improve!) So if you find any errors or quirks, please let me know so I can fix them right away.
If you're willing to stay for the ride, I have some rather exciting plans for this story. Enjoy!