The Leafeon blinked against the real, waking-world sun as her dream melted away. The absence of a warm body next to her told her where Rustfur was. Meanwhile, she stretched and sat up, looking around drowsily. It wasn't long before an all too familiar voice reached her ears.
"Good morning, Sapphire!"
Hearing her name, she spun around knowing exactly who it was. Of course, it was Rustfur, but, as she looked at him, she hesitated. The way he walked, the way he carried his tail, even the way he used his psychic abilities. He was nearly the spitting image of her father. That, in itself was just a little unnerving.
No, Sapphire reminded herself, Rustfur might look like my father, but that's it; Rustfur cares about my feelings, and now that we've promised to be completely honest, he won't keep anything from me.
"Morning, Rusty." she responded as he drew nearer, her breakfast apparently in his mouth. "For me, I take it?"
The Espeon nodded. "Yes, they are." he mumbled around the three pink Pecha berries he was carrying. "Is there any other Pokemon that they would be for?" he asked in a light tone.
"Thank you, Rusty." she snorted, in response to his answer.
He watched as the first two berries disappeared, in turn, into Sapphire's mouth. Before she started the third, she turned to the Espeon. "Rustfur, I have to tell you something serious, all right?"
"Of course," he answered. "What is it?"
"You remember yesterday, that we found out that my parents hid that they knew Team Galactic?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, that wasn't all they had hid. I saw them last night, and I found out that they made up our being destined to be with each other." Sapphire hesitated a little as she finished, unsure of how Rustfur was going to take the news.
All Rustfur could say was, "Why? Why did they do that?"
"My mother said it was to make sure I was happy with you."
"We don't need something like that to be happy with each other."
"That's what I told her." Sapphire replied.
There was a brief pause, then Rustfur spoke again. "Think about this, Sapphire; if what they told me wasn't true, then it really was our love that brought us this far. It was chance that brought us together in the first place."
"You're right, and now I'll have to love you even harder." she said, a slightly seductive undertone in her voice.
"Oh? Why is that?"
The Leafeon's azure eyes glowed playfully. "Now that we know we aren't linked by destiny, I'll have to make up for it with more love." she giggled. "That's why."
"We might not be linked by destiny, but I believe it was my destiny to meet you." Rustfur murmured softly.
"I'll agree to that." Sapphire whispered. "There was something that brought us to each other."
"Oh, you mean other than the two Sneasels who threw you into my cage?" Rustfur laughed.
"Yes, other than them." she responded. Then, after pausing for a bit, she went on. "That night seems so long ago, doesn't it, Rusty? I wouldn't have anything to do with any other Pokemon. I was a lot more aggressive back then, too."
Rustfur nodded as he recalled being hypnotized by that feisty Eevee's striking blue eyes, then receiving a swat to his head. Then, coming back to reality, he looked at the Leafeon smiling sweetly at him. They hardly seemed like one and the same. "How could I forget? It's when I met the love of my life."
The Leafeon giggled shyly. "And the night when I met mine." She rested her head against the soft lavender fur on his chest.
Rustfur licked the nicked ear he had come to love so much, and quietly asked, "Can I reopen our link?"
Sapphire nodded. "Yes, you may."
It's nice to be able to feel your mind in mine again, Sapphire.
I know. It felt strange not being able to sense you.
"Do you want to go get some training in before we get moving?"
"I'd like that, Rustfur." she happily agreed. "You know, in some ways, you aren't like my father." she added as they rose.
"How so?"
'I never liked training with him. I love training with you, though."
"Why didn't you like training with him?" Rustfur inquired.
'He pushed me almost day and night, not unlike how Cinder was treated." She forestalled Rustfur's response with her tail. "I know what you're thinking." she added with a smile. "Don't tell me how strong I am."
"Okay, then, I won't. But, I'll say this: let's have a two-on-two battle for our training today, to make things different."
"All right. But, who should we go up against?"
"Oh, I hadn't thought of that..." Rustfur looked around.
"How about Needlefur and Torrentpaw?" Sapphire suggested.
"Are you sure? Have you seen them fight at one another's side?" Rustfur couldn't believe Sapphire's idea.
"No, I haven't." Sapphire admitted. "Why?"
"Needlefur and Torrentpaw have been with my Trainer since he was in the Kanto region several years ago. They always fought by each other's side. Two-on-two battles are their specialty."
"But Torrentpaw can't be anywhere as fast as Needlefur."
"He doesn't have to be; my dad tells me he's seen his father take a Thunder attack, and keep fighting." Rustfur explained.
Rustfur expected this bit of news to change Sapphire's mind. It had the completely opposite effect.
"Wow! Now I really can't wait to fight them!"
Rustfur shook his head resignedly and laughed. "Trying to talk you out of a battle? What was I thinking? I should know you better than that."
"Yes, Rusty, you should." she giggled. "Now let's go ask them if they're up for it."
As it turned out, the Jolteon and Vaporeon were happy to oblige, and, in a short time, the two pairs of Pokemon stood staring each other down across a small clearing.
"If you need a break at any time, just say so, all right?" Needlefur called out to the younger Pokemon.
"All right." Rustfur answered.
Even as he finished responding, Needlefur and her mate had already swapped glances and, understanding each other perfectly, started the fight.
The Jolteon's usually soft fur stood up like so many small spikes and little bolts of electricity began arcing between the many spikes. As this was happening, Torrentpaw shot a single ring of water into the air just above him, and there it stayed.
Rustfur watched, unsure of their strategy. When Sapphire saw his hesitation, she mentally called. Try attacking from a distance. she suggested.
Of course! Shadow Ball!
The Espeon began creating the familiar sphere of dark energy. A brief moment later, he fired.
Neither Needlefur or her mate moved as the orb flew towards them. Rustfur soon knew why; it glanced off a barrier surrounding them!
"What the...?" Rustfur was stunned.
Sapphire shared his astonishment. "But how?" She looked at Rustfur. "That wasn't Reflect, was it?"
"No..." Rustfur answered at length.
"We are still fighting, aren't we?" Torrentpaw asked.
"Yes, we are." Rustfur called back.
"All right, your move." he whispered to Needlefur.
"Right." The electricity already arcing over her body intensified and soon flew towards Rustfur and Sapphire as a blue shock wave.
"Move!" Rustfur shouted.
The pair split in two, moving in opposite directions.
Seeing an opportunity, Torrentpaw flung an Ice Beam at the Espeon.
Rustfur narrowly countered with Reflect. He also noticed the electricity around Needlefur strengthen and knew what was coming. Concentrating, he blocked the flow of energy from the gem on his forehead, then released it into the sky, intensifying the sunlight. Consequently, a green aura surrounded Sapphire.
No sooner had it enveloped her, than Needlefur's second Thunder Wave hit her. Sapphire winced, expecting the electricity to surge through her. However, the green aura brightened, canceling the Thunder Wave. Sapphire looked up and blinked in surprise.
Leaf Guard. It protects you from being burned, poisoned, or paralyzed. Rustfur said within her mind.
"That was an excellent move by Rustfur; he hasn't only protected Sapphire, but he's all but eliminated me from using Water Pulse." Torrentpaw noticed.
"Good move, Rustfur!" Needlefur called. "Keep it up; now we'll really get started!"
The following battle carried on for a good half hour, only ending when, surprisingly, Needlefur called to stop.
"Enough..." the Jolteon panted. "That's enough..."
Rustfur and Sapphire were in mid-attack when they heard this. They were breathing heavily, but not as much as Needlefur and Torrentpaw were.
"Did we just..." Rustfur began, astonished.
"Beat them?" Sapphire finished, equally amazed.
"I... I think so..." he gasped.
"Has anyone else ever done that?" Sapphire asked breathlessly.
"Not in my family, no."
"Then that means we're-"
"Congratulations, we haven't lost a match for quite a while." Needlefur said.
"I've never seen that before; you two were fighting like one Pokemon. Very impressive." Torrentpaw added. "If you only get better as you get older, I doubt we could ever win against you again."
Tired as he was, Rustfur felt extremely proud that Torrentpaw would give him such a compliment.
"Thank you." Sapphire responded.
"You're welcome, Sapphire." Needlefur said. "Now, if you'd excuse me, I want to sleep for a week." she laughed.
"All right, we'll stay here until you catch your breath." Rustfur offered.
"Thanks, Rustfur." Torrentpaw replied. "Now, if you don't mind me asking, how do you and Sapphire fight that well together?"
Rustfur quickly looked at the Leafeon sitting next to him. Should we tell them?
I don't see how it could do any wrong.
"Sapphire and I share a telepathic link." Rustfur finally answered. "We can hear each other's thoughts."
That would explain it." Torrentpaw commented. "That, coupled with the training you two have done, and the training Needlefur gave you, Sapphire, and Swiftclaw you, Rustfur, I'm just surprised we lasted as long as we did."
Rustfur blushed at the Vaporeon's consistent stream of praise. Sapphire giggled at him, saying, "Come on, Rusty, you did a great job, admit it."
"Yes, that you did. You too, Sapphire. And I think Fireheart and Leafpool should know that your training paid off. Let's go." Needlefur stood up to head back.
Upon reaching the temporary camp, Rustfur tore off to his parents. "Mom! Dad! Guess what!?"
"What is it, Rustfur?" his mother asked calmly.
"Sapphire and I were able to beat Needlefur and Torrentpaw!"
Fireheart blinked in surprise. "Really? How?"
"We'll tell you." Needlefur offered, coming up with her mate and Sapphire.
"These two fight like one Pokemon. They have some sort of-" Torrentpaw was interrupted when Leafpool spoke up.
"Psychic connection. We know; they've already told us." she said. "But is that really true? Did they beat you?"
Torrentpaw nodded. "They sure did. Needlefur and I were hard put to keep up."
"See, Mom? I told you."
"You were right, Rustfur. If Fireheart tells me right, you'd be the first in the family to have beaten his parents. Is that right?" Leafpool cast a glance at her mate.
"Yes, it is. They would be the first. I'm proud of you, Rustfur!" He gave a small lick to his son's right ear.
Now you'll have something to tell your parents, Sapphire.
Something flashed through her azure eyes and she stared off into space. My...parents...?
What's wrong, Sapphire?
Sapphire blinked and looked at the other Pokemon, asking, "Could you give Rustfur and I a moment?"
Needlefur nodded.
Sapphire returned the gesture and signaled with her tail for Rustfur to follow her.
_________________________________________________________________
Author's Notes:
This is drawing close to the end of ASSIS, which is why I didn't describe all of the
two-on-two fight. It's been pointed out to me before.
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".