Tales of the Eeveelutions

The Ice Melts

Tara woke up before stretching and yawning. As she stood up in the bed she looked over at Trace who kept his eyes on her.
"Stop. That's weird watching me like that." She said and jumped off the bed. She went to where there was warm water and began to wash her face.
Trace sat up and kept silent, unsure of what to say or talk about. Should he tell her he stayed up listening to their conversation, or about his dream?
He decided to just stand up and go to the window again. He sat down beside it and looked up at the sky. The sun was the only thing up there besides a few clouds. The warmth of the sun seemed weak in the glaceon territory, but what he got was most appreciated.
Tara finished drying off and walked over to her brother.
"What's gotten into you? Has everything I said yesterday finally sunk into your head?" She asked hoping he was coming to her side of the situation.
All Trace did was remain quiet, his head spinning with all the different things he was thinking about. He had heard her, but refused to answer her.
Tara growled and pushed Trace.
"Answer me! This isn't like you to be so quiet!" She said and looked his face over.
He kept a blank look on his face as they made eye contact with her.
"Trace, please answer me." She begged. "Please tell me what's on your mind."
But he didn't answer. He got up and walked to the water bowl Tara just went to wash her face.
Tara couldn't believe the way her baby brother was behaving. Did she mess up yesterday? Was it too late to fix it?
Before she could do anything else the door opened and two glaceon guards followed by Prince Hailstorm, Princess Neol, the king, and than Prince Asta who had chains around his feet and ribbons. Four guards surrounded him as they all entered the room.
"Good morning you two, I hope you slept well." Said King Zerro.
"We did, thank you for your hospitality your majesty." Said Tara who bowed.
Trace though didn't bow. He remained where he was seated as if ignoring the group that came in. He did however see Prince Hailstorm out of the corner of his eye. King Zerro noticed this and coughed into his paw.
"Seems like someone doesn't have any manners this morning." Said King Zerro.
He motioned two guards to go over to Trace and force him off the seat he was on, pushing he into a bowing position on the floor.
"There we go, that's better. If only you would comply things would go much more smoothly Trace. Perhaps you will feel better after breakfast. I even made sure to allow room at the table for you two and our slyveon friend." Said King Zerro.
"Thank you your majesty, once again for your generosity." Said Tara.
Trace still remained silent, staying in the position he was in. This angered Prince Hailstorm who walked over and swatted Trace behind the ear.
"Say thank you King Zerro! Or else we may just leave you here go starve until dinner." Said the prince.
Trace slowly looked up at the prince before turning to King Zerro. He bowed again and said, "thank you... Your majesty. For your generousity..."
"Was that so bad?" Said the king rubbing the top of Trace's head. "Now come with me and try to enjoy our time together. I have some news I'd like to share."
King Zerro began to walk out the door followed by his elite guards and his family. Trace and Tara followed them with Prince Asta and the other four guards behind them.
When they made it to the dining room, Trace and Tara were sat at the end of the table while the royal family sat at the head of it.
Once everyone was seated at the table along with Prince Asta who remained in the chains he wore, some servants come fourth and sat plates infront of each member at the table. After that, fruits were put on each plate.
Trace looked the fruit over for a minute studying the different colors he had not seen before with blue and white berries and a yellow citrus. He didn't the glaceons could grow anything inside this winter wasteland.
"These look wonderful. I hope they taste as good as they look." Said the queen.
"They were freshly picked last night and given time to ripen. I hope you enjoy them your majesties." Said a glaceon wearing a funny hat.
The royal family had their fruits in different designs on their plates with what appear to be chocolate on the side of each plate.
The glaceons nodded and for a silent moment, Trace thought they went to sleep at the table. They all began to eat right as soon as the king began to eat his fruit, everyone remaining in silence for a moment before King Zerro spoke up.
"So Tara, I see you enjoy being here? I am so sorry you have to be locked in your room" he said.
"Oh it was understandable your majesty" said Tara eating some bites of the fruit.
Trace just kept poking the berries watching them roll around on his plate. Some of the white berries looked like the moon when it's full.
As he continued to think, he was poked hard in the side by someone and when he looked up, he saw that all eyes were on him.
"Trace, the king asked you a question. Do you want to be put in a call too?" Hissed Tara.
"Was that the question?" Asked Trace.
"No! King Zerro wanted to know if you wanted to go to the library and look around. He mentioned it to me while you were off day dreaming." Tara said.
"Oh. A library? I didn't know the glaceons had one." Trace said and went back to his fruit.
Tara looked like she was about to strangle her brother as her tail swayed behind her in a fast pace. If it wasn't for Hailstorm speaking up that Tara may have done something.
"Trace, you are being invited to go to the library here in the castle. If you were wise, you shouldn't decline this offer." He said a bit more calmer than his normal tone.
Trace looked up at the prince, surprised that of all the glaceons, Hailstorm was the one who Trace didn't expect to be calm.
"I'll take a look at it, thank you your majesty." Said Trace before going back to his food.
Tara shook her head before going back to her breakfast as well. The rest of the morning was quiet while they are. Once they were done the royal family waited in the dining hall as Tara, Trace and Prince Asta come over to them.
"Are you ready Trace?" Asked King Zerro.
"Yes your majesty." He said.
"Trace, what I want you to learn today is the history of the glaceons. Keep a open mind." Said Prince Hailstorm.
Trace nodded and followed them down the hall towards the library. Once they were there, Trace was taken to a table where books were already laid out.
"My king, how do glaceons have resources for books?" Asked Trace.
"We have trees that grow here, for centuries eevelutions have found ways to make books out of something. Notice how ours is a bit more unique." Said the king.
Trace went and touched one of the books. He saw that the paper was covered in some kind of substance that protected the pages. He looked back at the king who was smiling at him.
"We call it sno-paper. Like ice can preserve different items, we had some of our brightest minds invent this to make our books and papers last much longer." Said the king proudly.
Trace for the first time that day felt impressed. He turned back to the book and read the cover. The First Snow: The Beginning of the Glaceons.
He started reading going through the well written pages of the book. The story was so detailed and poetically written that it made Trace's imagination run wild. After awhile he finished the first few chapters of the book and looked up at King Zerro who moved right next to Trace.
"You must enjoy reading. What do you think about the history?" Asked the king.
"It is interesting. I wasn't sure what to expect, and surprised at the beauty of the story." Said Trace.
"I take it you would like to read more." Said the king taking the book and putting a book mark in it. "Than take it and make sure to read more. I want you to be prepared for what you will hear about us glaceons. Also I'd like to tell you more about what happened between us and the slyveons."
Trace sate there and listened to whatever the king had to say.
"The slyveon prince that was mentioned, he was a rather cruel and hateful being. My ancestors didn't want to give their princess to a tyrant like him. Of course when he disappeared the slyveons used him as a reason to take a valuable piece of our territory, all in the name of Prince Zane I. Please Trace, believe me when I say my ancestors didn't want war and we don't want it now. My people suffer while the slyveons live their lives."
Trace was about to speak when Princess Neol spoke up.
"That is what Prince Asta wants to stop. He and I met and talked about our differences. I told him what was going on and he said he will do what he can to give us back our land." She said.
The royal family all turned to her with the king growling in frustration. He slowly walked over to his daughter and sat in front of her.
"Are you sure he wasn't lying to you?" He asked.
"I am sure. I can see it in his eyes and it hurts me to see him in chains. Take them off and give him a chance please." Begged Princess Neol.
"No! I refuse to let a slyveon run free in my territory!" Said the king loudly.
"Father..." Princess Neol was about to begin but was slapped by King Zerro.
"I said no!" Said the king. "Now stop interrupting me!"
Princess Neol looked at the wall as her father turned away from to go back to Trace. Trace couldn't read the expression on the king's face.
"All I can say now Trace, learn what you can and make your own opinion on this. When we take you to the border in a few days, you will see how the slyveons have destroyed what we once had." Said King Zerro who got up and walked out of the library not even looking at his daughter as he passed her.
The guards took Prince Asta away, as he passed Princess Neol, they both made eye contact before Prince Asta was pushed towards the door. Princess Neol was about to do something, but her brother stopped her from doing anything.
"You know you do anything, father will do more than slap you." Said Prince Hailstorm.
"I know..." Said Princess Neol who began to tear up.
Trace remained where he was feeling the stress and pressure from the royal family. He turned to Tara and was about to say something, but saw she was looking at Prince Hailstorm.
Her face gave away her feelings for him, making Trace realize last night was more than just the two of them talking. Tara was in love with Hailstorm, and it was obvious Hailstorm felt something for Tara.
In fact, Tara seemed like she was changing.
When Hailstorm was done comforting his sister, he walked over to Trace and Tara.
"If you two need anything let me know okay. I'm here to help if it is needed. But do not interrupt me if I am dealing with military or political work. Because I won't be happy." Said Prince Hailstorm.
Tara bowed respectively to the prince as did Trace. Prince Hailstorm paused for a moment to look into Tara's eyes before leaving the library.
Tara slowly turned to Trace, and cleared her throat.
"So what are you going to do now?" She asked.
"Continue reading and hope to get this all figured out. I also hope this situation can get solved, but I have a feeling it will get worse and worse." Said Trace.
"Do you think we can help?" Said Tara.
"I have no clue. If we do help the glaceons, we will have to go against mother and father." Said Trace.
Tara shivered but not because she was cold.
"I need to tell you something Trace." Said Tara who came over to her little brother and hugged him. "I'm scared Trace. I am scared to fail the glaceons and I am scared to go against mother and father. Please be my little brother and let's not fight like we did."
Trace held his sister for a moment and sighed.
"It will be okay, we won't fail them. You go get some rest, I will read what I can." Said Trace giving Tara a reassuring smile.
Tara wiped her eyes and smiled back before leaving the library leaving Trace alone in the cold library.
He turned back to the books and began reading the hours away, the history and the different things the glaceons had done.
Trace was amazed at all the things he read, and before he knew it night had fallen once again. He rubbed his eyes and almost got up, but started to feel dizzy. He tried standing up but couldn't for some reason. As he struggles to stay awake his head fell to the table making him pass out.

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He felt light for some reason as if he could jump higher than before. A light shined down on him from above and a voice spoke to him.
"For one so small, you are very strong Trace. That is why I am choosing you." Said the voice.
"Who are you?" He asked feeling scared.
"I will reveal who I am in due time. For now, keep being strong Trace. That is all I can reveal to you." The voice said with the light slowly fading and leaving Trace in the dark.

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Trace woke up again and looked around. He saw he was still in the library with the books laid out. He got up from the table inserting two books into a bag near the table and lift for his room to try and sleep.