Shattered Truths, Chapter 3

Shattered Truths, Chapter 3
          What Exactly Is Love Like?

   Sapphire had become a little drowsy in the comfortable warmth of the nursery and the softness of the grassy nest. As a result, she jumped at the voice.

   Rustfur leapt up and spun around, teeth bared. It wasn't the new presence that startled him, but rather his mate's quick and sudden movement.

   The silhouette set down its mouthful and spoke. "Easy, Rustfur. Sapphire is the last Pokemon I'd want to get into a fight with."

   "Sorry, Swiftclaw. I guess I've been a little jumpy lately." Rustfur let the fur along his spine lie flat once more.

   "You have an excuse to be jumpy, Rustfur." Swiftclaw pointed out, indicating the Leafeon behind the younger Espeon.

   "That's true." Rustfur agreed. "Still, I'm sorry."

   "It's fine. I've been jumpy, too." Swiftclaw told him. "And for the same reason, as well." The older Espeon picked up his mouthful of curly-leaved blue-gray berries and stepped towards Rayne. He once again set down the mouthful at the Vaporeon's forepaws. He lightly rubbed his cheek against the soft cerulean fur of Rayne's. "How are you doing? Are you all right? Do you need anything else?" The Espeon quickly shifted his gaze from Rayne's face to his yet-to-be-born kit, and back again.

   "Swiftclaw, stop it..." the Vaporeon laughed. "I'm perfectly fine."

   "Are you sure? Because I cou-"

   Rayne cut off her Espeon mate by placing her tail over his mouth. "The Rawst berries are plenty. Thank you." The Vaporeon began eating the blue-gray berries under Swiftclaw's watchful amethyst eyes. "Although I might need someone to talk with once Sapphire has her kits."

   "But I'll still be in here after I have them." Sapphire replied.

   "You'll be caring for two little Eevees. You'll barely have time to talk."

   "I'll be here to talk with you." Swiftclaw promised.

   Rustfur watched as the two Pokemon nuzzled each other lovingly. It was hard to believe that Swiftclaw had once left the beautiful Vaporeon. Sad as that seemed, it was true; the Espeon had, in fact, left Rayne. Conveniently, he'd left just in time for Rustfur's birth, and that was the reason he preferred to tell anyone who asked. The actual reason was he didn't have control of his psychic powers at that time, and he was afraid of hurting her.

   "What about Aspen?" Rustfur suggested. Aspen was a Leafeon, mated to one of Swiftclaw's brothers. "Aren't she and Ravenpaw expecting a kit?"

   "Not for at least another five months, Rustfur." Swiftclaw corrected. "But you're right nonetheless."

   "It's news to me." Rayne put in. "This is the first I've heard of it. Besides, doesn't she already have Ash? Why would she want another kit?"

   "Maybe for the same reason my mother had me and Frostpelt." Swiftclaw guessed.

   "Maybe... I have another idea, though."

   "Go ahead, Rustfur." Rayne said.

   "I think I know why Aspen wants another kit; Ash is from her last mate. If you take a Pokemon to be your mate and have a kit with them, that's more than love. I know that feeling, but I can't explain it." Rustfur paused and looked at Sapphire, then continued. "When her mate left her, it was like a part of her was ripped out. She probably wants to find that feeling again with Ravenpaw because she knows he'll never hurt her."

   "No offense, Swiftclaw, but I like Rustfur's reason better." Rayne said, after he'd finished.

   "I prefer Rustfur's reason too."

   This time, everyone jumped at the voice.

   "A-Aspen!" Rustfur stammered, avoiding the Leafeon's searching amber gaze. "How-how m-much did you hear?"

   "I heard enough, Rustfur." Aspen possessed a quiet voice, but she was rarely ignored.

   "I'm-I'm sorry, Aspen. I shouldn't have been talking so freely about that..." Rustfur mumbled. "It's not my place to tell other Pokemon how you feel about Ravenpaw..."

   "Don't apologize, Rustfur. I don't mind; they have as much a right to know as you do." Aspen calmly stopped Rustfur's rapid stream of apologies. "I don't mind you talking about my old mate; Ravenpaw is my mate now." The Leafeon paused and smiled at the embarrassed Espeon. "And you are right, Rustfur, I am with Ravenpaw to find that feeling again. You're very sharp for a Pokemon your age, Rustfur."

   "You're not the first to tell him so, Aspen." Sapphire laughed. "He's heard it from me plenty of times."

   The Leafeon looked past Rustfur to see Sapphire curled up in the nest of grass clippings. "Sapphire! I didn't see you there! Though I shouldn't expect you to be too far away from Rustfur. How are you doing?"

   "I'm fine; I'm a little tired, though. But I am resting for three, or so Rayne and Rustfur tell me."

   "I can believe that." Aspen murmured. "You must be exhausted trying to get through a normal day."

   "Not really. After six months, I'm used to it. Actually, I'm ready to bring them into the world."

   "Now!?" Rustfur's eyes widened rapidly. "What should we do!?"

   "No, Rusty, that's not what I meant. I meant I'll be happy when I don't have to carry around two little Eevees. Not that I mind." she added, looking tenderly at her distended belly.

   "You'll miss that feeling once they're born." Aspen assured the younger Leafeon.

   "Then I'm glad I have a couple months left." Rayne softly said.

   Two voices quietly sounded outside the nursery.

   "Mom?"

   "Aspen? Are you in there?"

   "Yes, Ravenpaw, I am."

   Shortly thereafter, two more Pokemon entered the comforting atmosphere of the nursery.

   "There you are, Aspen." Ravenpaw came up to the amber-eyed Leafeon and gently licked her on the cheek.

   Ravenpaw was an Umbreon; his fur was a sleek, pure sable, save for the yellow rings on his forehead, body, ears and tail. These, combined with his crimson eyes, might be frightening at first appearance for one who didn't know him. Actually, the Umbreon was one of the gentlest Pokemon Rustfur knew.

   Ash was an Umbreon, as well, and, as such, was extremely similar to Ravenpaw in appearance. He also shared his kind and gentle disposition. He reminded Rustfur a great deal of himself at that age. "Here, Mom." the young Umbreon mumbled around the several navy-blue, rough-surfaced Wiki berries he carried. "Ravenpaw and I got you some breakfast."

   "Thank you, Ash." The Leafeon lovingly licked her three-month old son on his forehead. "Thank you as well, Ravenpaw." she added, gazing into the Umbreon's scarlet eyes.

   "Ravenpaw has always had a soft spot for Leafeons." Sapphire giggled. "Remember, Rusty?"

   "Yes, I do remember. Has he told you, Aspen?" Rustfur asked turning to the Leafeon mother.

   Aspen nodded. "Actually, he has. He told me shortly after we met."

   "Oh, all right, just making sure." Rustfur could clearly recall Ravenpaw's reaction to seeing Sapphire's newly evolved form. Apparently, he had reacted the same way when he'd first seen Leafpool. Judging from that, it wasn't surprising that Ravenpaw would see Aspen as a suitable mate.

   "Aspen, if I may ask the question; why are you here?" Swiftclaw inquired.

   "Come the start of next month, this is where I'll be living. I thought I should get a feel for it beforehand."

   "That early?" Rustfur sounded as if he didn't believe her.

   Aspen nodded. "Maybe, but I would rather have a kit in the safety of this nursery than out in the wild."

   "So would I, Aspen. So would I." Sapphire agreed. "And I'm sure you can attest to this, Aspen, and you too, Rayne, but I was born in the wild. It's not an easy life. Thankfully, Leafpool took me in. But still, I'm happy knowing that my own kits won't ever have to know what that's like."

   "Well said, Sapphire." Rayne congratulated.

   "I completely agree." Aspen nodded sagely.

   Rustfur smiled for his mate; Aspen wasn't one to freely give out praise. She only did so when someone made an intelligent comment.

   In fact, Sapphire's remarked elicited nods of agreement from three of the four male Pokemon, who, even though they had been born in a protected domestic environment, knew how dangerous a wild Pokemon had it. The only one who didn't fully appreciate the sheltered life of a human-owned Pokemon was Ash.

   "Mom? Is that why you and I came back with Ravenpaw and you wanted to be his mate? Was it because you wanted a safer life for me?"

   "Well, that was part of it." the young Umbreon's mother answered. "But, the truth is, I love him more than life itself. I need him."

   "When I say 'I love you', does it mean the same thing?"

   Rustfur couldn't suppress a shiver; that was the same question he had once asked his father, although it had been worded differently.

   What is it, Rusty? Are you cold? Rustfur heard Sapphire's soft voice in his mind, via their mental link.

   No. I'm fine. It's just that Ash asked his mother the same question I asked my father.

   "No, Ash, it isn't quite like that. It's different."

   "What's it like, then?"

   "Ask Rustfur." Aspen recommended. "He's very smart about those kinds of things."

   The Umbreon turned his crimson gaze toward Rustfur, who turned his gaze toward Ash's mother. "Is it all right if I explain it to him? You're his mother."

   "Go ahead, Rustfur. You could probably explain it better than anyone else here."

   The Psychic-type turned back to the patiently waiting Umbreon. "It's hard to explain, Ash, but I'll try my best. The word 'love' can be used to mean three different things; the way you love your mother, the way your mother loves you, and finally, the way your mother loves Ravenpaw. Now, how would you describe the way you love your mother?"

   Ash looked back at his mother, then turned back to Rustfur, eyes squinted in thought. "I suppose I would describe it by saying that I feel safe and protected when I'm with her. I also feel like I could tell her anything."

   "Very good, Ash. That's exactly right. I'll explain the other two, as you've not yet experienced those. Now, your mother loves you, but it's not the same as you described it. It's a fierce love; were you in danger, your mother would defend you to her last breath, without a second thought."

   "Excuse me, Rustfur." Ash politely interrupted. "But how do you know that? Your kits aren't born yet."

   "That's true. But I have seen my parents come very close to their last breath, especially my mother, in trying to keep me safe. Also-" Rustfur abruptly broke off, unsure if he should tell that to the young Umbreon. He glanced at Sapphire and asked, Is it all right if I tell him about your father?

   The Leafeon flinched visibly, her dark cerulean eyes clouded with pain. Her telepathic answer shook slightly, matching up with the emotions he felt coming from her. I-it's fine... Go ahead...

   Rustfur nodded to his mate, then resumed where he'd left off. "What I started to say was, Sapphire's father actually did die protecting her."

   "How do you know?" Rustfur now Ash's full attention.

   Sapphire feigned a yawn and rested her head on her brown paws, closing her eyes. To any other Pokemon, it looked as if she was tired and had gone to sleep. Rustfur knew differently though; the pained emotions coming from her were stronger than ever.

   "She told me once." Rustfur replied simply. The Espeon felt how uncomfortable this conversation was making his mate, so he quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, the last one I want to explain to you is easily the most passionate; when you meet the right Pokemon, and you'll know it when you do, you'll want nothing more than to just be with them and make sure they're safe. This feeling is so strong that you will kill or be killed for them, and you won't care. You will share every one of their emotions; when they're happy, you will be too, and when they're sad or in pain, you'll feel it five times as worse. All of it is worth it, though, when you become their mate and have a kit, or two, with them."

   Out of the corner of his eye, Rustfur saw his mate's nicked ear twitch.

   Thank you, Rusty. I needed that.

   "Wow," Ash murmured, "do you think I'll ever get to know what that's like?"

   "I wouldn't be surprised if you did; I met Sapphire when I was a month younger than you are."

   "How will I know when I find that Pokemon?" the young Umbreon wondered.

   "Trust me, Ash," Rustfur paused and looked at his mate. "you just will."