Shattered Truths, Chapter 27

Shattered Truths, Chapter 27
          I Don't Want It!

   "Here you go, Rosalyn."

   The Flareon blinked, her thoughts broken. Her Leafeon mother pushed four red and yellow berries toward her with a graceful brown paw. "What berries are these, Mom?" she asked, staring at the round berries.

   "These are Leppa berries." Sapphire explained, starting on the five berries at her own paws.

   "What do they taste like?" Rosalyn sniffed them, not being able to distinguish any particular flavor by scent alone. "Are they spicy?" Rosalyn had always thought it odd that she enjoyed spicy berries as much as she did, especially with her gentle nature.

   "A little." her father answered, before starting to work on his second berry.

   If Dad's eating them, they must be more than just spicy... she reasoned, knowing her father's love of sweet berries. Curiously, she lowered her head to try one of the round, two-colored berries. As she forced her sharp teeth through the hard crimson skin of the Leppa berry, and started chewing the mouthful she tore off, her blue eyes widened with surprise. The firm yellow flesh of the inch-large berry was somewhat dry, but, at the same time, laced with many different tastes; sweet, bitter, sour, and her personal favorite, spicy, all in equal amounts. Her apprehension at trying these new berries completely disappeared, along with the rest of the half-eaten berry.

   She was just finishing her second berry when she heard a laugh. "I assume you're enjoying those Leppa berries, Rosalyn?"

   The Flareon looked up at her father, swiping a pink tongue around her mouth. "Yes, I am, Dad. I love these berries."

   "I thought you would." Rustfur nodded. "I like them too." he agreed, watching as his daughter polished off her third and fourth berry in turn.

   "Did you get enough to eat, Rosalyn?" Sapphire asked, her share of berries gone.

   "Mmm..." Rosalyn mumbled, her mouth full. She instead answered her mother with a nod.

   "Okay, good. You'll need that energy."

   The Flareon swallowed. "Why's that, Mom?"

   "I want to do some training with you, Rosalyn. I want to teach you how to use your Iron Tail attack properly."

   "Iron Tail?" Rosalyn repeated. "But you don't know that attack, Mom?"

   "You're right, I don't." Sapphire agreed. "But I used to; I still remember how to use it. Besides," Here Sapphire paused, and her leaf-like tail was soon swathed in a crackling green energy. The Leafeon curled her glowing tail around in front of her and Rosalyn flinched away from the high degree of power contained in this attack. "Leaf Blade works in a similar enough manner. However, there is one big difference; Iron tail uses its sheer weight to inflict damage, while Leaf Blade uses its sharp edge to do the same." The light sheathing Sapphire's tail faded, and she stood up. "Come on, Rosalyn."

   A brief time later, Rosalyn stood next to her mother, as Frostpelt, Aurora, and her father watched from some distance away.

   "Okay, Rosalyn, do you know how to use your Iron Tail?"

   "No...I don't... How do I?"

   "Do you see these muscles right here?" Sapphire pointed to the base of her tail, where Rosalyn could easily see the substantial bulge of the muscles located there. As the Flareon ran her eyes up her mother's tail, the distinct definition of these powerful, impressive muscles lessened, but only slightly.

   Sapphire saw her daughter's fixation on her tail and started curling and uncurling it, the muscles in it smoothly contracting and extending.

   "Wow..." Rosalyn breathed. "Your tail looks so strong, Mom... How did you get it that way?"

   "After I nearly lost you and Saffron to that human, I made myself a promise; I would never let anything like that happen to either of you, ever again. This," Sapphire glanced at her tail and continued, "is the result of three straight months of training."

   Three straight months? Wow... Rosalyn was amazed at the surprising level of muscularity in her mother's tail that she'd never before noticed. "How do those help with something like Iron Tail, though?"

   "I was getting to that." Sapphire stated. "If I tense all the muscles in my tail," The Leafeon did this as she spoke, and Rosalyn saw what seemed to be nearly every tail in her mother's tail tighten and swell out, sharply increasing their individual definition. "it makes my tail much harder. But, because I don't know Iron Tail anymore, it doesn't do anything beyond that."

   Rosalyn experimentally stretched out a paw and pushed on her mother's tail. It barely gave at all.

   "See? It's much harder than usual, isn't it?" Sapphire relaxed her tail and shook it out to completely loosen it.

   "I'll say..." her daughter answered in awe. "But I don't think I'll be able to do that. I've never used the muscles in my tail before. They're probably terribly weak compared to yours, Mom."

   The Leafeon shook her head. "I doubt that, Rosalyn. In fact, you're probably stronger than I am.

   Disbelief flashed in Rosalyn's eyes. She looked her mother's graceful frame up and down, starting at her powerful hind legs. The Flareon instantly saw where her sister had gotten the large, defined muscles in her hind legs. Her mother's back, shoulders, and forelegs were also firm with this experience-built muscle. "I really don't believe you, Mom..."

   "Why not?"

   "Hello!? Mom, look at yourself! You look like you could push one of these trees over with one paw!" Rosalyn swept her tail around the small clearing they sat in, indicating the thick trees around them.

   Sapphire laughed to herself. "I don't think I could do that. You might be able to, though." Before Rosalyn could open her mouth to dispute that, Sapphire continued. "Generally, when a Pokemon evolves, it doubles their physical strength. I evolved when I was just two months old. When you were that age, your strength already surpassed mine after evolution, and you were still an Eevee. Your evolution into a Flareon doubled that; most likely tripled is, due to the naturally high level of muscularity that Flareons normally possess, coupled with your inheritance of my strength. Look at yourself, Rosalyn. The fact that I'm even able to see such clear, sharp definition under a coat as thick as yours should be indication enough. You could overpower a Pokemon six times your size without breaking a sweat. With age and training, you'll get even stronger."

   Eyes wide, Rosalyn looked back at her shoulders; her mother was right; the young Fire-type clearly saw the muscles under her red-orange fur rippling powerfully as she flexed her shoulders up and down. I-I've never felt that strength there before... I can't believe it took me until now to notice it... It...it feels so...powerful...so...dangerous... She shook herself vigorously, to rid herself of that unnerving feeling. It didn't work. "Y-you were right, Mom; I feel this...dangerous amount of strength... It feels so...destructive..."

   Sapphire stared into her daughter's wide eyes; it took her a moment to identify the look in their vivid blue depths. Fear.

   "Mom, I don't want this level of strength! Why did you have to point this out to me!?" Rosalyn demanded, angry tears rolling down her cheeks. "I was perfectly fine not knowing this!"

   What's wrong, Sapphire? I can't hear exactly what she's saying, but she looks very upset.

   I don't know exactly what's wrong, but I have an idea. Hold on. she answered. "Rosalyn, what is it? What's the matter?" she asked softly, resting her muscular tail over Rosalyn's shoulder.

   The Flareon angrily shoved her mother's tail off of her. "I don't like having this much strength! If I were to even lightly touch any Pokemon, especially Bracken, I'd probably hurt them terribly! I'll never be able to control this power! Mom, I don't want to hurt every Pokemon I touch!" The tears running down Rosalyn's face were now tears of pure sadness. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life hurting other Pokemon with my strength!"

   "That's what's bothering you? Rosalyn, calm down. You're not going to hurt anyone. Trust me." Sapphire murmured soothingly.

   "B-but you told m-me that I-I'm stronger t-than you a-are... Now that I know that, i-it's all I-I can f-feel; this h-horribly dangerous and d-destructive power..." Rosalyn sobbed, shaking herself desperately. "Even now, it's j-just this t-terrifying... Oh, Mom...I'm so s-scared..." The gentle, timid Flareon buried her face into the pale fur of her mother's foreleg. "I'm terrified..." she mumbled, her voice shaking weakly.

   "Rosalyn..." Sapphire started drawing her tongue over her daughter's head in a warm, repetitive pattern. "That's why I wanted to train you, so you can learn to use your strength. It's nothing to be afraid of. You'll be used to it in to time at all, and you'll still be able to play with Bracken. I promise."

   "R-really?" Rosalyn turned her blue eyes upward to meet her mother's. "H-how long will i-it take?"

   "Like I said," the Leafeon began, sweeping the tears from her daughter's eyes, "no time at all; you're a fast learner, Rosalyn. You'll pick it up very fast." Sapphire assured her.

   "But I won't like to use it..." she sniffed.

   "I didn't say you would like to. You're too gentle and caring to injure another Pokemon, I know that. But, it wouldn't hurt for you to know how to use your power. Right?"

   "I...suppose not..." Rosalyn sat up, her blue eyes determined. "Okay, Mom, I'm ready."

   For the first time since her daughters' birth, Sapphire saw her own fierce spirit reflected in the Flareon's gentle azure eyes. A warm wave of pride flowed through the Leafeon.

   What was that, Sapphire? I've never felt that from you before.

   Rusty, I wish you could see this look in Rosalyn's eyes; she looks so determined... I'm so proud of her.

   I can tell how you feel, Sapphire. Rustfur answered. Now go ahead and make me proud. Of you. Rosalyn couldn't have a better teacher

   Rustfur couldn't see it, but a soft red hue appeared on Sapphire's muzzle. Rusty...

   The Espeon smiled to himself. I'm sorry, Sapphire... Go on. I'll be quiet.

   The Leafeon's sense of pride overflowed into her mate; he was reflecting on everything he had; two beautiful daughters, one of them already having found the one she would adore and confide in for the rest of her life, and a strong, fierce, and captivating mate. There was an obvious glow in his eyes as he gazed at his mate and kit.

   Aurora noticed this light in Rustfur's violet eyes, and she threw a furtive glance at the handsome Glaceon on her other side. Would...would he ever want to have...kits...w-with me?