Tales of the Eeveelutions

The Teachings of Nature

Chapter 3

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Trace and Gabriel did as much research as they could with what little they could find out from any books they found in the leafeon city. They also asked different leafeons about how leafeons help keep nature in control, but they would tell very little information.
As the sun was setting on the 10th day, they barely had anything to go on besides the usual, leafeons are the caretakers of the trees, grass and many different plant life. Gabriel found that many different spices came from the leafeons that went into some of their favorite foods, but that didn't seem important enough to give to Princess Blade.
“At this rate, I'll be her slave for the rest of my life. And I don't want that!” Said Trace who held a pillow close to him.
“Trace, I wish you hadn't of made this bet.” Said Gabriel who was looking at his brother with worry in his eyes. “I’d have been okay if I hadn't evolved into a leafeon.”
“I know, but this is what you wanted and I don't see how it's fair that you get denied the chance to become what you want. I had to help you.” Said Trace rolling on to his side to face Gabriel.
They stood there in silence for a few minutes before Trace stood up and walked to the bathing area in his room.
“Maybe we need a moment to refresh our bodies and minds. You know what mom would say if we ever did over work ourselves.” Said Trace as he slid into the hot waters.
Gabriel slowly joined him and relaxed as best he could, but his depression seemed to dominate his relief as he looked into the water to see his reflection. All he saw was an Eevee who wouldn't be what he truly wanted to be.  
He shook his head and dunked it under what staying there for a few seconds before coming back up for air. When he wiped the water out of his eyes he saw Tara sitting on the edge of the tub.
“So any progress on your studies? Or do I need to tell mother that her youngest son is going to stay in the leafeon kingdom as a servant?” She asked.
“We haven't found anything yet, Tara. We will though.” Answered Trace calmly.
Tara’s eyes let up with frustration and a flash of fear.
“Trace, please just beg the queen for forgiveness. Don't continue this or you might end up losing everything.” Tara leaned towards her younger brother and held his chin up to make sure Trace wouldn't avoid eye contact.
“I'm not going to lose and I'm not going to back out. I will learn everything I can.” Trace said and pulled away to lay in the water again.
Tara huffed and her fur stuck up as she growled angrily in her throat at Trace who ignored the growl.
Gabriel looked at both siblings feeling upset as he knew this was all his fault. Had he just settled for a jolteon or vaporeon everything would have been okay, but he wanted to be a leafeon.
Trace slowly sat up and walked out of the water to dry off his fur. As he did, a knock was heard at the door. Tara went to it and slowly opened in to reveal their mother and two elderly looking leafeons at the door who went right inside without hesitating, followed by the two elders.
By the way she walked, she looked rather calm even when she turned to face Trace who was still drying off besides Gabriel.
“Hello mother. What are you doing here?” Asked Tara.
"Oh I came by to get a few answers about a situation that seems to have two of my eevees rushing around asking about why leafeons are important to nature.” She answered a bit to calmly, like the calm before the storm.
Trace shivered hearing his mother and slowly turning to her to make eye contact. As he did, he noticed her eyes were full of anger and they were waiting to unleash all their fury onto him.
"I, uh… made a bet with Princess Blade that I could learn everything about the leafeons in two weeks.” Said Trace admitting what he could so far as he was sure his mother knew most of the details.
"I know, now tell me, do you have what you need to know so far?” She asked still calm but a small twitch of her tail could be seen.
"I don't have all the information I need, but I'm trying and I still have four more days left.” Trace said quickly, feeling his heart beat faster.
"And what happens when you lose this bet?” Coral stood up making herself a lot taller than the three Eevees who all backed away slowly from her.
“I… I become Princess Blade’s servant..” Trace began to feel fear rise up inside him.   His mother wasn’t someone to mess with.
“Oh really?” She stepped closer to the eevees who trembled in fear of the powerful vaporeon. “Why didn't you talk them out of this Tara?!”
“I would have, but you know how Trace is. He jumps into things without truly thinking about it.” Said Tara cowering back to the wall.
“I was doing this for Gabriel! I had to because he wants to be a leafeon mom! I want him to follow his dream, so please don't stop me.” Said Trace suddenly finding a small burst of courage before realizing who he yelled at.
Before he could apologize, Coral pushed her son down onto the ground pinning him. He looked up in fear as his mother glared into his eyes.
“Mom, I'm sorry.” He said quickly.
“Oh you aren't sorry yet.” She said still holding him down. “You want to finish this bet with Princess Blade, right?”
“Yes mom, I do.” Trace said.
“I shall help you get through this. These two leafeons know several things that you need to learn and have agreed to teach you. I suggest you listen to them.” Coral said slowly getting off her son, so he could stand up.
Their mother was kind and loving to her children, but she could be stern. They knew she was a multi-time champion as well.
They stood their in silence until one of the leafeons stepped forward and cleared their throat.
"Ahem, if now.is not a good time to learn, we can leave and…” the leafeon began but was cut off.
“No, no! Now is a good time. We also only have four more days to learn everything we need.” Said Gabriel quickly.
The leafeons looked at each other before turning back to Gabriel.
“You are sure you are ready for this? There might be more than you can take in just one single day. We can start tomorrow.” Said the second leafeon.
“Please, we need to learn everything we can now.” Said Trace.
The leafeons both looked at Trace and smirked at him.
“Fine, if you think it's so easy than we shall escort you to the forest so you may look around and learn for yourselves with what you can see.” Said the first one. “My name is Hako, and my brother here is Hakar. We will be your guides to the forest, now follow us.”
With that the two leafeons left the room followed closely by Coral and her three eevees. As they came to the forest a while later, Gabriel and Trace were amazed as to what they saw. The forest was absolutely beautiful as it always was, but this time they looked closer at three trees and saw what they never saw before.
Trace and Gabriel starred as some leafeons jumped from branch to branch in the trees helping trim the trees dead branches off.
Gabriel looked down towards the roots and watched as the leafeons checked the roots of the trees making sure to see if it could withstand strong winds or if it needed to be reinforced.
Trace spotted other leafeons working on bushes checking for berries that were ripe enough to eat, and planting seeds in certain areas to allow flowers and other plant life to grow.
Suddenly a small weedle fell to the ground in front of them causing Gabriel and Trace to jump back. The weedle rolled over off of its back and looked at the three curious looking eeveelutions and crawled off to climb a tree again. While they looked up so butterfree and beautifly flew by over head making them stare in awe at the beautiful creatures.
"Wow. So nature has a lot of different creatures helping. It's not just the leafeons. The leafeons just won this forest and other Pokémon come along to help them raise this forest to make it beautiful and for those who live here to have a home." Said Trace amazed at this new discovery that he didn't think of.
"Yes. Just like we Vaporeon have other Pokémon helping us out to keep the water clean and clear. It's amazing what happens when Pokémon come together to make something beautiful. So Trace, do you have your answer your going to give to Princess Blade and Queen Levy?" Said Coral.
Trace looked at his mother with a quizzical look. "Queen Levy? I thought it was only Princess Blade" he said.
"The Queen found out about this bet and decided to let it go since you and Princess Blade seem to have a nice little rivalry going on, she wanted to see if it could bring out any good out this like you and Gabriel being possible candidates for her outsider evolutions. The queen wants to be allies with the alliance, but she thinks that adding someone from outside of the Leafeon territory will help more than just signing a piece of paper." Said Coral with a lot of confidence. Trace and Gabriel looked at their mom confidence flowing through them.
"Mom, can we go see the queen now?" Asked Trace ready to announce to the princess what he discovered.
His mother nodded and they headed to the throne room where the queen and the princess were with some elites and maidens of their royal guard. When Princess Blade saw Gabriel and Trace she smiled expecting them to surrender.
"Well if it isn't the eevee who will be serving me the rest of his life." She said with a small laugh.
The maidens and elites parted ways on either side of the ambassador and her two sons. Trace looked at Princess Blade and only smirked before bowing to Queen Levy in respect and when he rose to make eye contact with the queen.
"Queen Levy, my two sons have something to announce to you." Said Coral before stepping aside and letting Trace and Gabriel step forward.
"Oh I am excited to hear this. I hope it is good news, for I am having an excellent morning and would like to continue." She said with her soft voice.
Gabriel trembled a bit and looked at Trace who looked back at him. "I think you need to tell them Gabriel."
Gabriel jumped up and shook his head. "I can't do that Trace. Your the speaker here not me."
"Gabriel, I think you need more confidence in yourself, especially if you want to be a leafeon one day. That's your dream and this could be step one in that journey." Trace said and put a paw on his brother's shoulders. Gabriel took a deep breath after staring into his brother's eyes and slowly turned to the queen and princess of the leafeons.
"Your highness, Trace and I have discovered the secret to the leafeons and what their important role in nature is. To put it simply, we found out that the leafeons aren't the only ones who help keep the beauty of nature, but have other Pokémon help them. The secret is, leafeons are just one of the many others of Pokémon who help with things." Said Gabriel.
The queen looked at Gabriel for a moment in silence, as he stared right back.
"I believe that is a fantastic and fair enough answer. Because there is no way for the leafeons to learn everything about nature since it consists of more than just trees and bushes. So Trace and Gabriel, you win the bet." Said Queen Levy which made Trace jump and cheer, while Gabriel nearly fell to the floor. Coral made Trace calm down who looked at Princess Blade and smirked in victory. Blade turned away and was about to walk off when her sister spoke up.
"Gabriel, since you displayed such charisma, how would you and Trace feel about evolving into leafeons and joining my royal army and possibly my royal guard?" Said the queen leaving everyone in the room in shocked silence especially Princess Blade, Trace and Gabriel.