Author's Note:
I hope you have been enjoying the longer chapters. I have finally got around to posting my chapter upload policies to my profile page. You will definitely want to check that out and then review the previous chapter proper! I still don't know if it is worth writing long chapters that may or may not make you laugh, so let me know if I did so I know to write more like it in the future. This chapter takes a little more serious route.
Today is 7/25/15 and this chapter is 3200+ words.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, just dream it.
Chapter 13: KAT-tastrophe
The shadows of the trees began to stretch and undo themselves as the sun began its descent over the horizon's edge. It was approximately five-thirty as the group of eevee and flareon walked along a well-worn path that traversed through their homeland.
"So what makes you so curious about Kat anyways?" one of the flareon asked the other.
"I don't know. I guess I miss that brave soul of hers. She had a lot of potential, and it would be awesome if there was a way to get her old self back while Kieren's gone. Has Kat ever talked to you about what she wants to do?"
"Not within these last two days. I don't really talk to her unless Kieren is around."
"She isn't planning on leaving here is she?" one of the eevee behind asked with a feminine voice.
"If she does, she's crazy! She can't survive out there," the other eevee answered matter-of-factly.
"You'd be surprised, Connor," the one flareon remarked.
"What do you mean? Trent?"
"Kat is incredibly independent. Very few things stop her from doing what she wants."
"She used to hang out with us when we were in training," the other flareon added. "She was probably the bravest of all of us and was pretty tough too. Suddenly though, she just stopped showing up to training and became very distant from everyone."
"She said she no longer had any reason to train and refused to say anything more. That's when Samantha exploded and made a mess of everything."
"Hey. I remember that!" Connor exclaimed. "She didn't defend herself either, just walked away and disappeared.
"She said, 'I'm not one for blood baths,' when she walked off," the other flareon recalled.
"Right Andy. The reason she quit training was likely really personal and our curiosity probably wasn't helping, but of course no one thought of that," Trent informed them. Andy drooped his head in sorrow in realization.
"What about Celestia? Why didn't she do anything?" the female eevee asked.
"Perhaps Celestia was related to what caused her to quit, otherwise Celestia either would have made a fuss, or would have provided some explanation to our training group," Trent answered.
"Do you think Celestia would talk about it?" the eevee suggested.
"That's not a bad idea, Paige," Andy noted.
"It would certainly pass time while Kat's sleeping. Let's go!" Trent decided.
The four of them walked onwards through the winding paths underneath the trees that filtered the late sun's rays. As they neared their destination, they spotted luscious vines that ornamented the area. Before long, they reached their alpha's home. The sound of a waterfall could be heard nearby, along with the taste of moisture in the air. The leaves and vines draped over the home from the large trees above, which made up much of the home's shelter.
"Well good evening young ones," spoke a distinguished feminine voice. "What brings you all here?"
"Why hello, Celestia," one of the flareon responded. "Are we interrupting anything?"
"Not at all, Andy," Celestia answered with a friendly smile. "I was actually just thinking of all of you." She shifted her gaze across the group until she reached Trent. "Trenton, I must say you really surprised me in your decision to become a flareon. How have you been? Are you comfortable?"
"I've been doing well, thank you. The transition has been quite seamless," Trent answered in formal gesture.
"That is great to hear, Trent," Celestia responded. "So back to my original question, what brings you all here?"
Andy was first to respond. "Your daughter has been acting different lately, and we were wondering if you knew anything about it? …that you wouldn't mind sharing of course."
Celestia's face retracted in bewilderment at the mention of her daughter.
"Katherine? She's not getting into trouble is she?"
"Not that we are aware of," Trent answered.
"Then what has she been doing that has caught your attention so suddenly?"
"We found out today she has been spending time with Aubrey," Trent answered, slightly mimicking Celestia's shocked expression.
"It sounded like she wanted to become learned or something," Andy added.
"Perhaps," Celestia sighed. "Katherine is a lost child. She rarely says a word to me these days."
"Not event when she comes home for bed or leaves in the morning?" Paige asked.
"No, Paige. Katherine has not even touched her bed since she quit training. I rarely see her outside formal events."
"Whaat?" the two eevee exclaimed simultaneously. Andy and Trent turned to each other, both wearing a face of shock.
"Do you know why she quit?" Connor asked.
"She wasn't satisfied with the idea of becoming a warrior. That is for certain," Celestia spoke with a sarcastic-sounding voice. "I don't know what other option she has besides being lost like she has been. …Unfortunately there is nothing else I can tell you about her," she told them with a sigh.
"If we discover anything would you like us to inform you?" Trent asked.
"It is none of my concern anymore," Celestia answered abruptly. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No, but thank you for your time," Andy answered.
"Take care," Celestia returned with a huff as she turned around and disappeared inside her home. The four made haste to leave the vicinity.
"Wow," Trent exclaimed after reaching a safe distance away from the alpha's home, "I can see why Kat became so isolated.
"What makes you say that?" Andy asked.
"Celestia's last comment that her daughter wasn't of her concern is a bit off for a parent to say. Don't you think?"
"But she sounded like she had a good plan for Kat," Paige pitched in. "It sounds like it's Kat's issue."
"Celestia didn't tell us the whole story," Trent argued.
"How do you know that?" Andy asked. His tail flickered in a new pattern as an expression of his surprise.
"Well for one thing Celestia's sudden change of attitude told me that there was likely some kind of argument between her and Kat. Also don't you think that if Kat was truly lost, she would have told us so and why? And probably would have gotten a little more respect for her decision to withdraw from training?"
"That's true. She was quite open back then. Dang, Trent. Where did you learn to be so sharp? "
"Future officer you're talking to," Connor pepped in, teasingly.
"Anyways, back to the topic before I forget my thought," Trent began. "Kat couldn't be open about something if it brought shame to the alpha. She would have lost all respect she had built up, although despite her cautions I don't think she planned on Samantha going off on her."
"This makes sense. Hmmm," Andy mused. "I feel bad for leaving her with Kieren."
Trent sighed as he stared at his feet depressing the sand into the earth with each step he took. He had hoped the commotion of Kat might have brought Kieren up to the same light, but now realized it had done the opposite, for it was when Kieren left that Kat began to act up so suddenly.
"So what do you think Kat really wanted?" Paige asked, disrupting Trent's dismal trance.
"I'm not exactly sure," he answered, quickly recovering, "but my gut tells me she wanted something more distinguished than being a warrior. Her parting comment to Samantha fits the theory too."
"'I'm not one for blood baths'," Andy recalled. "That certainly fits with what Celestia told us, yet whatever she wanted, she was training for it. While the whole learning thing makes sense, why just now?"
"Something recent must have given her some new motivation," Trent answered thoughtfully after a short pause.
"What could that be?" Paige asked.
"The poachers!" a voice answered.
The meadows were brilliant and vibrant in the mid-day sun out on the edge of Eon city. Soft pridging of the pidgey relayed the relaxed atmosphere of the afternoon.
"Yea. I was a little surprised too," a young eevee conversed with his vulpix friend, the two of them each carrying bags filled with golf clubs as they set out towards their next destination, hole 17.
"What did the others think about his decision?" the vulpix asked.
"I never heard, but watch Caleb not even come near him anymore," Kieren joked.
"Oh my gosh, I can just picture Trent walking along by the garden and Caleb jumping out shouting, 'SAVE THE PLANTS!' and just tackling Trent out of nowhere," Melody spoke, laughter carried with her speech.
"Yea, except he would probably burn himself because he practically is a plant," Kieren cracked. The two burst out laughing as they reached the tee-box for hole 17. "Let's see," Kieren thought aloud. "If I can hit it low enough to go under that tree, than I can let it bounce up and roll down that hill to the left so I don't have to worry about that second tree at the top of the hill." Melody watched in disbelief as Kieren spun around in a circle before launching his ball out and beyond. The ball neared the first tree but instead of bouncing off the grass underneath as Kieren hoped, it bounced off one of the tree's long roots, which caused the ball to rocket off towards the second tree. An echoed 'PFT' was heard as the ball pinged against the second tree and bounced down the hill to the left. "Close enough," Kieren remarked. Melody sighed and shook her head. Kieren was doing way better than she was, and she was starting to feel a little embarrassed.
Melody took her shot and was delighted to see that her ball made it to the top of the hill and out of the way of the trees, which was all she wanted. "That made me nervous," she commented.
"So how has your family been?" Kieren asked as the two began to march off towards the trees.
"Well my father has been busy refinancing everything after the Evelescence Ceremony."
"Well what about your brother?"
"He's been playing in town the last few days before school starts."
"Your brother goes to school?" Kieren asked, lifting his head back in surprise.
"Yea. Some pokemon researchers wanted to see if a Pokemon that talked could do well in a school with humans. It is an honor really that they think of my brother that intelligently," Melody beamed.
"Interesting. Didn't your mother want to teach or something?" Kieren asked, jogging his recollection.
"Yea," Melody answered. "She's pushing forward with the idea more than ever."
"Isn't she busy with sales?"
"Well she used to be, but because business with the reserve has become pretty well established lately, she has had more free time. She was hoping to start a school for Pokemon that wanted to become learned rather than battle. Which reminds me," Melody paused, looking down at the earth beneath her, "she mentioned something last night during the ceremony about starting math lessons today with Kat. That's probably why I missed so much of the ceremony."
"Hold on, Kat?" Kieren asked in shock.
"That's what I heard," Melody confirmed. "I know, right? I couldn't pay attention after…"
"Then she wasn't kidding," Kieran interrupted.
"Huh?" Melody gasped, reorganizing her thoughts. "Kidding about what?"
Kieren inhaled a long breath of the relaxed summer air, calming himself before dropping the bomb on his friend. "Kat wants to learn telekinesis."
"WHAT!" Melody exploded. She eyed him carefully looking for a hint that Kieren was messing with her.
Kieren nodded to confirm his statement.
Melody's face lifted up in both shock and near-laughter. "Seriously? So first Caleb wants to become a tree, and now Kat wants to become a psychic?" Kieren nodded again as she spoke. "Oh my gosh! So what do you think Celestia will do?"
"Won't be a factor," Kieren contended.
"Why not?" Melody asked with sudden concern.
"Melody," Kieren exhaled shaking his head, "the two haven't spoken a word to each other for months."
"What?" Melody gasped again. Her tails nearly unfurled to the tips. "You need to tell me this story! Now!"
"Alright, alright," Kieren gave in. "I'm kinda surprised you don't already know, but I will warn you, that family is not all pride and glory. It started one day during training, or more specifically, Battle Day, where all the eevee faced off in a double elimination tournament. Kat was on fire that day. She single-handedly took out Caleb, Andy, and Samantha and even beat out Trent in the finals to win the whole thing."
"She was that good?"
"Yea. She was a helluva force. She went home that day with her trophy…"
"Mom, I'm home!" yelled a young Kat.
"I'm coming," responded a motherly Celestia upon hearing the news. "Oh my! What is that?"
"I won the Battle Tournament! Mom!" Kat declared excitedly.
"Kat. That is awesome! You are going to make a fine warrior someday."
"A warrior?" Kat whimpered. Her enthusiasm subsided upon hearing the word.
"What? You don't want to be a warrior?" Celestia asked a bit horrified by the sudden change of behavior.
"I want to be a leader," Kat answered, "like you, Mom." Celestia's face saddened.
"Kat. You know already that your brother will be the next alpha."
"Can't I be one too?"
"I'm sorry. Only one alpha can come from our family. That's the rule," Celestia admitted.
"Oh…" Kat answered, frowning, but she returned to her giddy smile with another thought. "Well where else can I be a leader?" she asked, regaining her same excited cheerful attitude.
"What do you mean?" Celestia asked confused, having believed she had ended the discussion.
"Aren't there other leaders, too? I mean…maybe not as important as an alpha, but still a leader, like…the officers?"
"What's wrong with being a warrior?" Celestia asked in astonishment.
"All they do is fight," Kat complained. "I mean, fighting is kinda cool, but there is so much more I could do if I were a leader. I could be a strategist, distract enemies and send in a secret ambush unit, or I could go on special missions to trade with and befriend distant tribes…"
"No!" Celestia scowled. "Kat. You can't. The best you can be is a warrior. You weren't born to be a leader."
"What do you mean I wasn't born to be a leader? I am your daughter you know, and I am willing to do anything to be a leader. Can't I at least try?"
"Katherine! You can't be a leader and that's that," Celestia responded sternly.
"Well what if I became the strongest warrior in the tribe. I would be in charge of something then, right?"
"It doesn't work that way, Katherine!" Celestia answered with annoyance.
"Why? At least let those who work really really hard be in charge of something!"
"I'm not changing anything because of your stupid little dream, Kat."
"You get to be a leader. Solano gets to be a leader. And when I want to be a leader it is a stupid little dream?"
"I'm not going to argue with you anymore!" Celestia screamed.
"Fine!" Kat answered. She took a deep breath and regained her composure, before speaking softly. "I am going out to the cove on the other side of the lake to calm down. Come by when you are ready so we can talk about my future, because if I can't be a leader, then I don't know what I want to be anymore." Kat began to walk off slowly, using every part of her willpower to maintain what composure she could muster. It did not prevent the tears that leaked from her eyes from falling down her furry cheeks.
"You'll be waiting forever!" Celestia screamed. "My answer will never change!"
"My offer still stands," Kat spoke, trying not to stutter as she departed. "When you become a real leader that can give your own daughter a better future than a bloodthirsty fighter, come find me." With those last words she disappeared out of sight.
"You weren't serious when you told her you would never come?" Solano approached from behind.
"I was damn right serious!" Celestia snarled.
"My gut tells me you'll regret this one day, but I am sure you have more important things on your mind. I will make supper."
"Fine. You still have things to learn, but at least you aren't lost like her," Celestia huffed before returning to her room behind the draped foliage.
Back on Eon Cityside Country Club stood a very bewildered and heartbroken vulpix. In her gaze was the eevee that had faithfully recaptured the story he had learned so well over the past years he had spent with Celestia's daughter. Boran wasn't the only alpha Kieren wanted to overthrow, but that was outside his power, at least that he believed.
After a moment of silence between the two and a successful birdie putt by Kieren which helped distract his mind from the depressing story he had just told his best friend, Melody brought herself together to ask what she wanted to know in the first place.
"So why does Kat all of a sudden want to become a psychic now? It is kind of sudden of her after all these years."
"You remember the poachers, right?" Kieren asked, quickly responding to her question.
"Yea. You guys were having a lot of trouble with a metagross," Melody recalled.
"Right. A psychic tore right through nearly every tactic we threw at it."
"Kat told you this right after I left when my father called, didn't she," Melody postulated. Kieren nodded.
"With that kind of power, Kat would easily be able to unsettle if not disrupt the tribe," Kieren explained.
"Why would Kat want to do that? Won't everyone hate her?" Melody asked, concerned by the logic of everything going on.
"Kat's concern is Celestia. Celestia prefers to play with numbers, which would put an end to anyone that opposed her."
"Except psychics!" Melody exclaimed. "I see her rationale, but is such a feat possible?"
"A metagross did it," Kieren answered.
"No, no," Melody dismissed, "I meant is it possible for an eevee to learn and master psychic powers?"
"I doubt it," Kieren answered, sulking his head. "Unless there is more power in our species than I know of…which who knows at this point. I've already learned there are a couple of secrets in our tribe." He quickly snapped his head back towards Melody. "Anyways, I kinda wanna finish up this game so we can go see that Zach kid," he said to her, gaining excitement. "I wanna know what he thinks of me."
"Well this is the last hole," Melody added.
"Exactly, and I am already on the green!" Kieren bragged.
"Shut up. I will be closer to the hole once I hit the ball out of the sand," Melody teased.
"Not if I beat you to the green," Kieren challenged. The two of them bolted off, filled with excitement for what was to come. Kieren arrived first, and was prepared to sink his putt before Melody could hit her ball out of the sand.
"One more tailow for the win!" Kieren crowed as he danced about attempting to bring a laugh out of his friend.
"KIEREN! LOOK OUT!" Melody screamed.
It was too late.
A large pain pounded through his head before everything went black.
Author's Note: We are starting to get into the chapters I haven't revised as much, so let me know if you spot any mistakes (I spotted quite a few from last upload)! Everything you need to know about me and my policies are on my profile page. I tried to make it very organized. I hope you are enjoying your summer. Only a few weeks left before I disappear for a while, so let's make them count! ~Dreaming I'm Latios