So there isn't enough Heartsoulshipping knocking around. I love these two together but they're hardly ever paired. This is a slight continuation of my previous oneshot, but it isn't necessary to read this one.
Ethan walked through Pastoria City's town centre, casually browsing the stalls of the Croagunk Festival. His travelling companions had gone off on their own to get souvenirs for their loved ones at home, something he was also doing. He'd picked up a wooden sculpture of a Croagunk for his mother, a guide on how to travel through marshland for Kris and a guide on teaching Pokémon how to use Poison Jab for Silver, but was stuck on something for Lyra. She'd never really been into the sorts of jewellery and makeup lining the stalls.
He dipped his left hand into the packet of Pokémon treats he held in his right hand, pulling two out and offering them to the Pokémon that occupied his shoulders, first his Cyndaquil, Cynder, and then his Aipom, Aibo. They had been his two most loyal partners, having been with him since his fifth birthday. His other four Pokémon that he had with him had been handed in at the Pokémon centre for a check-up.
He wiped his hand on his jacket as he put the packet back in his pocket, his eyes scanning over more stalls before finally landing on a stall with books, he walked over and cast his eyes over each of the books on the stall, quickly dismissing any fiction books. Lyra would appreciate something she could learn from a lot more.
"Anything catch your eye?"
Ethan looked up at the vendor, a woman with a Croagunk print on her shirt, "Nah, just browsing."
"Souvenir for someone?"
"Yeah actually," Ethan said, "I'm looking for something for my girlfriend."
"Lucky her," the vendor smiled, "Is she waiting for you at home?"
Ethan shook his head, "She's working towards her own dream like I am with mine."
He finally spotted a book that would work, Croagunk Venom - Extraction and Uses. He picked it up and handed it to the vendor, "This one please."
"Is she smart?" the vendor asked as Ethan gave her the money to buy the book.
"Basically a genius," Ethan smiled, "She's absolutely going places."
Ethan bade the vendor good-bye, putting the book in his bag and making his way through the market to the town centre, where Lucas and Dawn were waiting for him.
"Are we heading back to the Pokémon Centre?" Dawn asked him as he approached, "You want to call home right?"
Cynder and Aibo jumped down to where Lucas' Munchlax and Dawn's Piplup were gathered and playing, joining in the game. Dawn was sitting on a bench, Lucas stood opposite her, his hands in his pockets.
"We'll have food there then I can make my phone call to my mum," Ethan said, falling down next to her on a bench, "Lyra's on her research trip, so I don't know if I'll be able to reach her. I might see if I can get in touch with my other friends, I don't think I've called Kris or Silver since Hearthome City."
"They're all like you," Lucas said, "They're all busy working towards something."
"They are," Ethan nodded, but an uneasy feeling grew in his chest, "They all have goals and they're pushing towards them. Lyra's going to be a researcher, Kris wants to be a ranger and Silver wants to join the International Police to finally finish the final remnants of Team Rocket."
He closed his eyes and huffed a sigh out through his nose, momentarily clearing his head, "Let's head back, I'm starved."
Ethan had effectively put a pin in the conversation and they walked back to the Pokémon Centre, talking instead about the Gym Leader in the City and their strategies for defeating him.
As they entered the Pokémon Centre, Ethan's eyes turned to the front desk where Nurse Joy was, about to head over and ask how his Pokémon were faring when he noticed a girl around his age handing two Poké Balls over, a Bayleef and Azumarill standing either side of her. Her white hat was immediately recognisable, as was her brown hair, styled into pigtails.
The Bayleef noticed him first, crying out happily and bounding over to him, tackling him into a hug. Cynder and Aibo nimbly jumped to the ground moments before impact, but were quickly caught up into a hug from the Azumarill.
"I know!" Ethan laughed as the Bayleef nuzzled him, "I've missed you too Flora! When did you evolve?"
"We had some battles to pass the time on the ship over," Lyra said, walking over and holding out her hand for him to pull himself up. As soon as he was on his feet, he pulled her into a hug.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I may have told a little white lie about the length of my research trip," Lyra said as she pulled away, Ethan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, not quite ready stop touching her yet, "It's slightly shorter than I said it was and it's in Sinnoh, so I decided to come out and surprise you."
Ethan was about to pull Lyra into another hug, but he instead turned to his travelling companions, "I'll meet with you guys in the morning, sorry to ditch you but…"
"Don't worry," Lucas said, "We know how much you've missed her, we'll meet you tomorrow by the Gym."
Lucas and Dawn took their leave and Ethan pulled Lyra into another hug, "I missed you so much."
"I've missed you too," Lyra replied, "I was going to get something to eat before you showed up. Are you coming with me?"
Ethan nodded, dropping Cynder and Aibo off at the front desk for an overnight check-up and allowing Lyra to lead him to the canteen.
"So how have you been?" Lyra asked after they were seated.
"Okay," Ethan shrugged around a mouthful of noodles.
"Your mum said that you seemed out of sorts," Lyra put down her chopsticks carefully, "Part of the reason I came out was to see if you're okay."
"I'm fine," Ethan said shortly, but he couldn't meet her eyes.
"You're sure?" Lyra read him like a book.
"I just…" Ethan sighed, "You're working hard with Professor Elm to become a researcher, Kris is working hard to become a Pokémon Ranger and Silver is in training with the International Police. You're all working so hard to achieve your own dreams and think about your futures. It feels like I'm just avoiding it by continuing to travel."
"Bollocks," Lyra said, "Ethan, you're seventeen, you don't need to know what you're doing with your life yet. Besides, you've always wanted to battle. You love it and you're good at it."
Ethan looked at his food.
"When we first started travelling around Johto," Lyra continued, "I could tell that you caught the travelling bug, I know that you're not ready to settle yet. I don't want you to feel like you have to. As much as I miss you everyday, I know you'd hate being in one place for so long and come to resent New Bark Town. You're happier travelling. Your dream has always been to become Johto Champ, to be the very best. By continuing to travel, you're doing your best to reach that dream."
Ethan looked back at her, "You're right. I just got inside my own head, I guess."
"Dangerous," Lyra smiled, although she became more serious again, "One day you'll want to settle Ethan, and I hope that it's with me when that day comes, but that day isn't now. And I want to go on another journey with you again before that day comes."
"I'd love that," Ethan said, continuing to eat, "How long do I have you for?"
"A week, then I'll be based in Canalave City. The Gym Leader there is helping me study the difference in the composition of the hides of Steel-type Pokémon on Iron Island."
"We're taking a detour back to Hearthome City because Lucas couldn't win the Gym Badge there when we were last there, then Canalave should be next."
"Then I'll meet you again before I go back to Johto, then I'll try and get out here for the League."
Lyra set her chopsticks down again, this time because she'd finished her food, she stood up and took Ethan's hand, pulling him to his feet and leading him out of the canteen.
"What are we doing now?" Ethan asked.
"Ethan, I haven't seen you for four months. What do you think we're going to do now?"
Ethan smiled and his cheeks burned. He couldn't wait.
Moonlight managed to break through a small crack in the curtains as they'd been hastily pulled together. Ethan and Lyra had finally settled, Lyra's head on his shoulder as he pulled her into his side.
"I've really missed you," Lyra said, it came out slurred as she was on the cusp of sleep.
"I missed you too," Ethan said, tilting her face up so he could kiss her, "I love you Ly."
"Love you…" Lyra settled again, her breathing deepening.
Ethan dropped his head to the pillow, realising that he'd forgotten to give Lyra the book he'd bought, he decided to give it to her first thing in the morning and waited for sleep to claim him too.
He was going to make the most of this week.