Author's Note:

Well I wasn't kidding when I said I would upload two chapters a week if I got at least one review, and that included this week. This chapter is also short, but I promise you they won't all be like this. This chapter introduces my dialogue-heavy writing style. Personally, I like this chapter more than the last one, but let me know what you guys think.

Today is still 5/30/2015 and the chapter is another shortie: 800+ words.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, just dream it.

Chapter 2: Eon Valley Ways

"What makes it so hard to decide?" the red fox asked, her face crestfallen with worry. She and Kieren were trudging along with no particular destination other than where the worn forest trail would lead them.

"Well, none of the evolutions really appeal to me," Keiren answered, tossing a pine cone to the side with his paw.

"Not a one? Don't you want to be stronger?" Melody asked, facing him.

"Not if a new form doesn't match my character," said Kieren. He returned his gaze to the ground slowly passing beneath him.

"What do you mean? You're fast. Wouldn't that make you want to be a jolteon?"

"Jolteon is too prestigious and ambitious. I'm too relaxed."

Melody could detect the lie in Kieren's voice. His real reason for disliking jolteon was likely very personal. Perhaps it had something to do with his father? Recognizing the bitter consequences had she called his bluff, Melody let Kieren slide this one time.

"What about flareon?" Melody asked.

"Are you kidding? I'm no hothead," Kieren scoffed.

"Hey! Neither am I," Melody shot.

"I'm not talking about you. Your kind is that mystical kind of fire type. Flareons aren't even close to that kind of collectedness."

"Collectedness. I kinda like that word," Melody muttered, nearly falling into a dreamy trance. She quickly broke free of the thought. "No matter. Since you're so laid-back, what about vaporeon?"

"Too artsy."

"Hmm," Melody exhaled as she thought. She didn't like to admit it, but Kieren was right. Vulpix and ninetails were lucky. They didn't have to choose who they were when they evolved. Instead they could groom themselves in ways that matched their personality. First impressions weren't judged nearly as heavily based on their species. Eevee forms didn't have such luxuries. They had one chance to determine who they were and were stuck with that decision their entire life. But that was the trade-off for being able to evolve into different types. The Eon clan was powerful and well organized. They ruled the land they lived in, the Eon Valley Reserve, which had been dedicated to their ancestors after the fall of a massive human crime organization. Only the Lapras of the Lake actually remember the story, but the Eon tribe still celebrated its heritage. "Perhaps maybe the lapras would know what to do?" Melody thought to herself, but first she needed to know more about the traditions and what Kieren knew.

"Hey Kieren?"

Kieren snapped out of his deep pondering and turned his attention towards his best friend.

"Yea?"

"The letter Celestia sent you mentioned something about family heritage. What was that about?"

Kieren hadn't really thought much about it. If anything, being of such honor was more of a mocking and was only going to make the ceremony worse when he couldn't decide what to evolve into.

"I am from the lunar family line, one of the founding families of the tribe," he spoke humbly.

Melody gasped at him with awe. Why hadn't he told her this before?

"Wow! Kieren! I never knew you were part of such an important heritage. That is so incredible. So does that mean you're related to Celestia?"

Kieren snorted. "Celestia is from the solar family line, so no."

"Oh?" Melody asked somewhat confused. She should have known the system wouldn't be so simple. She was about to ask about it but Kieren told her first.

"The lunar family and the solar family were the original founders of our tribe. They were the descendants of very powerful eevee forms raised by a champion trainer. No one knows what forms they took on. They're kinda mysterious."

"Wow. So how did the solar family outrule the lunar family?"

Kieren perked up by her statement. "Who told you that?"

"Pardon my assumption. So how did Celestia become the leader?"

"Oh." Kieren responded, falling back into a slouch. The conversation was headed towards a touchy subject, but Kieren knew he had to tell Melody sometime. He sighed. "Melody, Celestia isn't the only alpha leader."

"Wait! What?" Melody asked. No one had ever told her this important detail. There were other leaders to the Eon tribe?

"There have always been two leaders to our tribe. One is Celestia from the solar family line."

"Then who is the other?" Melody asked, allowing her curiosity to get the best of her.

"My father, from the lunar family line," Kieren admitted solemnly. He looked up to see a very bewildered Melody, her tails split and nearly uncurled. He decided to continue explaining, whether she was listening or not. "My father isn't a strong enough leader for his job. That's why he isn't respected very highly. Celestia split his responsibilities among his different officers, the external affairs officers. One day I'm supposed to inherit all of those roles, but that will be hard to do if I'm not comfortable with myself." He looked at his friend, wondering if she had listened.

"That's quite a story," she told him, much to his comfort knowing she had. Melody didn't know what else to say. It was an unusual feeling for her since vulpix and ninetails were very learned creatures. Yet she couldn't help but stand silently and sort through what this new information meant. She knew Kieren did not have a very good relationship with his father. Kieren still suffered nightmares from the incident his father caused, and it all made more sense knowing that Kieren's father was in a position of power when it all started.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud rumbling noise. Kieren, unfamiliar with the noise scrambled up the nearest tree, but Melody knew the sound.

Humans.

Author's Note: Don't worry! This isn't one of those "all humans are bad" stories. The next chapter is rather anti-climatic. Another heads up, the first 10 chapters are all relatively short compared to the ones after that. I'm currently writing Chapter 24, and so far it is already longer than the first two chapters combined. Don't forget to review and tell me your favorite tidbit! ~Dreaming I'm Latios