"What's wrong, Sapphire?" Rustfur asked, after they were alone.
"I...I don't think we'll see any more of my parents..." she answered slowly.
"Why?"
With tears coming to her gently blue eyes, Sapphire related the events of her dream to Rustfur.
He didn't say anything when she'd finished, but wrapped his tail around her shoulders.
"Now I really don't have any parents." Sapphire sniffed. "I wasn't thinking when I said that... N-now I'll never see them again!" Finally, emotion got the better of her, and she began sobbing.
Again, Rustfur felt her pain as his own. "Shhh... Sapphire, look at me." He slowly raised her head with his tail, until he was looking straight into her ocean-blue eyes. "Listen Sapphire, I still love you, and so do your parents."
Sapphire lowered her eyes. "I don't know..." she sniffed.
Rustfur looked indignant. "Don't know about what? If I love you?"
Despite the tears in her eyes, Sapphire laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. I know you love me, Rusty."
The Espeon smiled. "All right, just making sure. Now, don't you feel better after a little laugh?"
"Yes, I do. I've also realized that I should let go of the past. I have more important things in the present." Sapphire smiled sweetly at her future mate.
"I'm glad your feel better. I wish you would laugh more; I love how it sounds."
"I guess there hasn't been much to laugh at lately." Sapphire admitted.
"I know, but once this mess is behind us, there will be more things to laugh at. I promise."
"I'll hold you to that, Rusty" she said playfully.
Rustfur softly stroked Sapphire's finely muscled shoulders and back, again using his tail, still amazed at the strength that lay in her lithe and graceful body. "Come on, Sapphire." He stood up and waited for her to do the same. He felt sorry for her; the closest she had to parents were his own. Most of the time, it didn't seem to bother her, or, at least, she never showed it.
"I wonder how far we'll get today?" Sapphire asked, not really expecting an answer.
"I'm not sure, although we'll probably have five or six more days of travel after today." Rustfur guessed.
By the time they had returned to Rustfur's parents, everyone else was ready to go.
After they had gotten underway and had been traveling for a while, Leafpool called her son to her side. "Listen Rustfur, when we eventually get back to the Daycare, you and Sapphire will stay there with Rayne and myself."
"Where will everyone else be?" he prompted.
"They will head to Veilstone to find Team Galactic."
"Why are Sapphire and I staying at the Daycare then?"
"For your safety." his mother answered.
"But I thought you were going to let me make some of my own decisions." he protested.
"This one I'm making for you. That's the end of it." The fierce look in her amber eyes told Rustfur the discussion was finished. "Do you think it would be a good idea to lead Sapphire right into Team Galactic's reach, anyway?"
Rustfur had to agree with that. "No, you're right." he admitted. "We'll stay at the Daycare with you."
Sapphire had also shared Rustfur's disapproval, but also saw the sense in Leafpool's decision and reluctantly agreed, as well. "Yes, we will, Leafpool."
Rustfur's mother nodded in response.
Rustfur dropped back in line with Sapphire. "I still wish we could go with them. I have a score to settle with Team Galactic."
"So do I, Rusty. But, you have to admit, it isn't the smartest thing for me to do to just walk into their hands." Sapphire pointed out.
"Yeah, I guess you're right..." he slowly admitted. "I just wanted to repay them for what they did to my mother." he finished through clenched teeth.
"I know; I'd still like to give them something back for killing my father, but it is safer if we don't go."
"I know... I wouldn't be able to go on if you were hurt, or...worse..." he trailed off, avoiding Sapphire's eyes.
"Don't worry, Rusty. I'll be at your side forever. Nothing will change that." Sapphire rested her head against his shoulder. Slowly her tail slipped up against his and gently twirled around it.
All of Rustfur's cares disappeared; suddenly, it didn't matter where he was or whatever happened; as long as Sapphire was with him, he would be happy.
They traveled like this for the rest of the day. When it came time to stop for the night, the pair lay down facing each other, tails still twisted together.
"Good night, Sapphire."
"Good night, Rusty." she murmured, eyes half closed.
Just before he fell asleep, Rustfur heard: I'll always be with you, Rusty. Always.
With her words echoing softly through his mind, the Espeon fell into a deep sleep.
Shortly thereafter, or so it seemed, he was padding down a harshly lit, metal-walled corridor, strewn with sliding doors. This alone was unnerving, but what was actually worrying him was that he couldn't sense Sapphire at all; he was completely alone. For some unknown reason he felt hurried, like he was attempting to find something. He jumped when a frightened squeal rang out down the corridor.
"Mom! Help!"
"Where are you!? Mom!"
Once he got over his initial fright, Rustfur called back, "Hello? Where are you?"
The only answer he received was, "Mom! Help us!"
"Please, Mom! Where are y-"
The scared voice was abruptly cut off. Rustfur began running and was about to round a corner when he heard quick, heavy steps coming. He ducked back behind the corner just in time.
A cloaked figure came sprinting down the hall, a small brown figure under each arm. Rustfur caught a quick glance of the unmistakable tail on each one. Those could only belong to a pair of Eevees!
One thought shot through his mind. Team Galactic!
Rustfur stepped out and called after the figure as it passed, hoping to catch its attention. "Stop right there!"
It worked; the figure spun around. One of the small, brown Eevees was unconscious, most likely from struggling. The other, however, was fully alert and staring at Rustfur with wide, pleading eyes.
Rustfur was frozen with shock, just like when he'd first seen those eyes. They were an intense blue, just like Sapphire's, but instead of her fiery spirit, there was an overwhelming gentleness and timidity in the frightened azure eyes of this terrified little Eevee.
"Those...eyes..." he breathed, unable to say anything else.
"Mom! Help me!"
The Eevee's piercing wail swiftly brought Rustfur back to reality. The hooded figure had started running again. This time, though, the Espeon gave chase. "Let those two go!" he shouted uselessly. "Put them down right now!"
Of course, the human didn't understand him, and paid him no heed.
As they rounded another corner, Rustfur was gaining on the human, and sprung, catching the cloak in his mouth. He didn't have it for long, as the figure rapidly lashed out with its foot, catching Rustfur squarely in the side of his head. Stars exploded in his head and he sank to the cold metal floor, the cries of the Eevee echoing in his slowly slipping consciousness. He finally gave in and blacked out. The next thing he knew was Sapphire calling him.
"Rusty? Are you all right?"
He slowly opened his eyes, squinting painfully against the bright sun. His head was still pounding as he sat up. "Oww..."
"What is it, Rusty?"
As he met Sapphire's concerned cerulean gaze, he knew he was right; she shared the same eye color with that small Eevee.
"I had an unsettling dream." he answered, wincing at the throbbing in his head.
"What was it about?" Sapphire asked in concern.
Rustfur hesitated, unsure if he really wanted to tell her, but he quickly remembered the last time he'd hid something from her. So, he began relating his dream to her, leaving out no details.
"An Eevee? With the same eye color as me?"
Rustfur nodded. "Yes, exactly the same."
"And you're sure it wasn't me?"
"Positive. It wasn't you; this Eevee's eyes were too gentle and timid."
"Then, if it wasn't me, but had my eyes, that means..." Sapphire paused as if she wasn't able to believe it.
"That means...what?" Rustfur asked.
"Was the Eevee male or female?"
"Judging from its voice, female. But what does-"
"Then that was our daughter, Rustfur." Sapphire said bluntly.
"-that have to do with..." Rustfur trailed off as what Sapphire said sunk in. "Why do you say that?"
"Think about it, Rusty. You assumed that the human carrying these two Eevees was from Team Galactic. Why would they want any other Eevees? And another thing; do you know any other Pokemon with my eyes?"
Rustfur didn't answer; his mind was spinning. One part of him was excited; this dream was proof that Sapphire was going to be his mate. Another part of him was a mix of both terror and fury. That was his daughter, and that was Team Galactic.
"Will they ever stop!?"
Sapphire knew who "they" were and softly answered the Espeon. "I...I...don't know, Rusty. But I do know why they're doing it. Look at my eyes. I'm different, and our daughter will be too. I wish I was normal..."
"But you are normal, Sapphire. To me. I can't imagine you without your eyes. They are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen; I love them, and you should too."
"Truly, Rustfur, sometimes... I don't."
The Espeon listened, shocked, as she went on.
My eyes have caused more trouble than any Pokemon should have to put up with. First, my parents are dead. Then, your mother was almost killed. Cinder almost gave you a permanent injury. Now, our own daughter will have to live with the same eyes. Like it or not, the chance of your life with me being normal is very small."
"I'm fine with that." Rustfur pointed out.
"So am I." Sapphire agreed. "Sometimes, though, I wish we had an easier life to look forward to."
"I know. But we'll go through it together." Rustfur promised, looking deep into her eyes. "All right?"
"Okay."
"Whatever will happen in the future, I'll be glad when we're done with this mess we're in now." the Espeon muttered.
"Me too. It'll be nice to not have anyone trying to capture me."
"I'll second that; you don't know how I feel, worrying about you. I'll be happy when there's one less thing to worry about."
"Sometimes I think you worry about too much, Rusty."
"I'm just watching out for you." He touched his nose to Sapphire's, in a gesture of affection. "I always will; even after we're done with what we're going through now. You will always come first, even before me."
"Slow down, Rusty. Don't go and sacrifice yourself for me. I'm able to handle myself. Besides, if you do that, who will keep me safe?" the Leafeon asked teasingly.
"I would. I said I would always watch out for you, and I mean always. Wherever I am, whether I'm alive or not, I will be protecting you. You'll always come first."
Sapphire looked at him oddly. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
"I knew you wanted to keep me safe, but I didn't know you would give up your life for me so quickly..."
"I wouldn't be 'giving it up.' It would be completely worth it. I would do it a thousand times. Sapphire, I ilove/i you. I know I've said that before, but it doesn't come close to how I really feel about you. I could think for the rest of my life and never find a way to tell you how I feel about you. There aren't any words i could use!" he exclaimed, frustrated.
"Rusty...I...I...didn't know you felt that strongly..." Sapphire was speechless; even her own father didn't care for her like that.
"I don't just love you, Sapphire, I...I...don't know how to explain it..." He finally gave up, tail lashing out of frustration.
"It's okay, Rusty. You don't have to explain it. I understand." she whispered as she gently licked his cheek.
"As unsettling as that dream was, it does mean that you'll be my mate, and I'm excited for that."
"So am I, Rusty, so am I."
"Have you found that Eevee yet?"
Cyrus answered the silhouette on the screen behind him. "It isn't an Eevee anymore; it's evolved. It's now a Leafeon."
"So do you have it or not?"
"No, we don't."
"What have you been doing for the past several weeks!?"
"This Leafeon has joined up with ten other Pokemon, including our Flareon. Apparently, those Pokemon have taken to defending it."
"All excuses! You have no idea where this Leafeon is! Do you!?"
"Actually, we do. It's heading back towards Veilstone. We've also predicted that because the Pokemon it's traveling with have gone to such trouble to protect it, they won't lead it straight to us. They'll most likely leave it in Solaceon's Daycare. We'll capture it there."
"You'd better hope you're right about that."
_______________________________________________________________
Author's Notes:
Remember that rose? Some creative thinking on your part, concerning that will
allow you to divine this new blue-eyed Eevee's name. But, it's not as simple as
"Rose"; I have a little more creativity than that.
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".