For the rest of the day, Sapphire was completely silent. Much to his concern, she wouldn't let him reestablish their psychic link. He had no choice but to let Sapphire remain rested on his shoulder.

When they stopped for the night, Rustfur was determined to find out what was wrong with the Leafeon.

"Sapphire, will you please tell me what's wrong?"

Sapphire gave a deep sigh. "All right, fine... It's just that I'm irritated that my father hid the fact that he knew Team Galactic from me. They've affected too many Pokemon; my parents, your mother and father, his parents and brothers, you. Need I go on?"

"You're right, Sapphire. Unfortunately, that's just how some humans are. I'm sure your father didn't tell you because he didn't want to scare you."

"I hadn't thought of that... But still, I don't think it's right to hide anything from your daughter." Suddenly, an unnerving thought slipped into her mind. Her connection was still closed, so Rustfur didn't share it. She turned to the Espeon, her eyes troubled. "I don't mean to offend you, Rustfur, but... Is your Trainer one of those humans?"

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't want any other Trainer."

"Oh, sorry, Rusty. The only humans I've known are the Team Galactic members and J. They aren't exactly the best examples of humans..."

"I'll second that." Rustfur added. "Don't worry though, Eric is probably the nicest Trainer you could want."

"That's good, although I don't really need a Trainer. You're all I need, Rusty." she murmured into the Espeon's ear.

"I feel the same way about you, but, all the same, you'll be much safer once you have a Trainer." Rustfur lay down and pulled his tail up to his nose.

Sapphire lay alongside him and gently licked his ear. "Good night, Rusty. I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night, Sapphire." Rustfur mumbled.

The bright sun falling on her pale fur warmed the Leafeon and woke her up. She stood up and stretched luxuriously. "Are you hungry, Rusty?"

There was no answer.

"Rusty? Rusty?"

After calling several times and still not receiving an answer, Sapphire became worried. "Rustfur? Rustfur, where are you!?" she called frantically.

The young Pokemon spun around at the familiar voice. The familiar figures of her parents appeared from within the trees. She was overjoyed to see them, until a thought flashed through her mind, and with it, anger through her azure eyes. "Are you alone?" she asked sarcastically.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Gemini inquired.

"Are you alone?" Sapphire repeated. "Or is Team Galactic with you!?"

Behind her mate, Luna flinched, her crimson eyes wide with shock. How... How did she find out about that?

Gemini put voice to Luna's thoughts. "How did you find out about that?"

Sapphire's tone was still abrasive as she continued. "Do the names Swiftclaw and Rayne sound at all familiar?"

"Yes, I remember them; an Espeon and Vaporeon. But why does that matter?" Gemini was barely keeping a calm tone in he heat of his daughter's fiery temper.

"Obviously Swiftclaw thought it all right to tell me that my own parents knew Team Galactic! So far, Fireheart and Leafpool have done a better job as my parents!"

Luna took a step back, as if she had been struck. Her gentle, sable-furred body began trembling, and tears welled in the corners of her eyes. "S-Sapphire... I...I...I never wanted you to find out about th-that..." Emotion finally overcame the Umbreon, and she turned away.

Seeing his mate so distraught, coupled with the shot at his parenting, infuriated him. The fact that it was his daughter that had caused it didn't matter. "Sapphire! Don't speak to us like that! Fireheart and Leafpool might be filling in for us, but they aren't your true parents!"

"At least they're still alive!" Sapphire retorted loudly. "They've never lied to me either!"

"I kept that from you so you wouldn't be scared, Sapphire!"

"Well, I was pretty scared when they attacked and killed you! You know, I'm glad that I don't have to deal with you anymore! I hated all that training you put me through! Since I was a week old, every day! You barely gave me a break!"

"Sapphire! I did that so you would be able to defend yourself, so you wouldn't end up like-"

"Gemini, no!" Luna hissed to her mate.

Sapphire was so furious, she didn't hear her mother's urgently whispered interruption. "So I could defend myself!? That's why you did it!? I think you did it because you had no idea how to raise a daughter!"

"I did the best I could, Sapphire! Apparently, it wasn't good enough."

The Leafeon's temper was reaching dangerously high levels. She bared her teeth and her tail took on the familiar green glow. "Oh, you think so? Then let's find out." Her voice was dangerously low.

"I might be angry with you, but I am not going to fight you." Gemini declared, turning away.

That answer wasn't what Sapphire wanted. She disappeared, having executed Aerial Ace.

Before Luna could even call out, a barrier had shot up around her mate.

"Ow!"

The barrier stopped Sapphire's attack dead, placing her roughly on the ground. Gemini looked coldly at her. "I might have trained you, but I didn't teach you everything I know..."

Sapphire scrambled back up, glaring daggers at her father's back. She made to step towards him, but was stopped by her mother's gentle tone. "Sapphire...stop... Please..."

"Mom..." Sapphire's voice dropped to its normal level.

"Your father did a good job teaching you about combat, but you needed a mother to teach you to let out your emotions, not keep them locked up inside. I'm sorry..." Luna finished, barely above a whisper.

"Mom... It's not your fault..." Sapphire comforted.

"Sapphire, it is my fault. I couldn't stay alive to keep you safe and happy." The Umbreon's voice was shaking, and fresh tears were working their way into her troubled scarlet eyes. "If you ever have kits, never, ever let them grow up without a mother."

Sapphire was speechless for a moment. "You mean have Rustfur take a new mate? Mom, I-I couldn't do that, and neither could he. He could never love another Pokemon like he loves me. I-I just can't, Mom..."

Luna sadly shook her head. "Sapphire... If you're ever faced with the threat of your kits growing up without a mother, you'll feel different. It's just an instinct all mothers have. I felt the same way."

Sapphire still didn't believe her mother. "I could never ask Rustfur to do that; you don't know how we feel about one another. Neither of us could feel that way toward another Pokemon."

Despite the tears still in her eyes, Luna smiled. "You definitely have your father's stubbornness." she remarked. "But I think you got your caring and love from me. It just took Rustfur to show you that part of yourself."

A warm feeling flooded the Leafeon at the mention of the Espeon that she felt was the other half of her. "He's shown me many things..." she softly agreed. "I wouldn't want any other Pokemon as a mate."

Luna blinked, a little surprised. "I know you care strongly about him, Sapphire, but you're too young to be thinking about something that serious."

Sapphire tossed her head indignantly. "Hmph. I you want to know, he actually asked me and I agreed to it." she finished, eyes closed and nose stuck into the air.

"Does he know what a big commitment that is?"

Sapphire opened an eye and stared at her mother. "What?" she calmly demanded.

"Taking a mate is a huge responsibility. Does Rustfur know that?" Luna asked.

"Of course he does, but does that really make any difference?"

"Why do you say that, Sapphire?"

"Have you forgotten what you told him? About us being destined to be with each other?"

Luna swallowed visibly before responding. "Oh, right. I actually had forgotten. Thank you for reminding me."

Sapphire caught her mother's hesitation and glared challengingly at her. "What was that!? I knew it! You are hiding something from me! Tell me what it is, right now!"

"Sapphire, don't take that tone with me! I'm not hiding anything from you anyway."

"Don't give me that! I saw what went through your eyes just now! What are you hiding from me!?"

"I told you, I'm not hiding anything." Luna repeated, desperately hoping her voice wouldn't betray her.

"This is why I prefer Fireheart and Leafpool as my parents; they don't lie to me!"

Sapphire was completely unprepared for what her mother said next.

"That's enough, Sapphire! I won't have you putting Rustfur's parents above your father and myself! If you insist on using that against me, however, I suppose I'll have to tell you the truth! You and Rustfur were never destined to be with each other!"

"W-what!?" Sapphire stammered, eyes wide with disbelief. However, anger soon returned to them. "I might have been able to forgive that you didn't tell me about Team Galactic. But you lied to Rustfur, and I will never forgive that!"

"You don't know why we did that, Sapphire."

"You're right, I don't. It was a horrible thing to do; and, all this time I thought we had something past normal love for each other..." Sapphire seemed close to tears at this shocking news.

"We did this so you would be comfortable with him in your life."

"I was perfectly fine with Rustfur in my life! You didn't need to lie to him for my sake!"

"Sapphire, it was your first relationship, -"

"I don't want to hear any more." Sapphire interrupted in a level tone. "I've now accepted the fact that I truly am an orphan. My parents really are dead to me; they've lied to me, and the one I care about. I don't know them anymore. I'm beyond grieving about your deaths. I know that Rustfur will be honest with me. From now on, his parents will be my parents."

"Sapphire, no matter what you say, I will be your mother!"

"No, you won't. You truly are dead to me. I want nothing more to do with you or Dad."

"You can't possibly be serious!"

The Leafeon's voice went back to its previous level. "I am completely serious! I never want to see you or Dad again!"

Luna was far past speaking civilly. "Fine! I'll respect that! Though I doubt Rustfur will be able to take our place!" The Umbreon spun around and began stalking away.

"He loves me and that's all that matters!" Sapphire shot back.

Her dream faded with the image of her mother's back disappearing into the bushes.

_______________________________________________________________

Author's Notes:

See, Sapphire's temper isn't always a good thing... Despite their being rejected,
Gemini and Luna will still play a big role in ST.

To those who don't feel like waiting to read chapters that I have not yet posted,
allow me to refer you to my deviantArt page under the same name; "Eeveexpert".