Welcome to my side fic – Fiery Heart. The central focus of this fanfiction is to illustrate my take on what a wild Pokémon's life would be like in a forest far away from the humans' settlement, a world away from any risk of captivity. This first chapter will serve as a simple introduction to the Pokémon in the story – and his early days.


Meet Ember Pelt.

He is a Growlithe, residing in the Reedbeds – a riverside haven, miles away from the slightest hint of human activity.

Well, not yet.

Right now, Ember Pelt is still in his egg – a round, red one sitting nonchalantly in a nest belonging to his family. Said nest is tucked away in the depths of a network of, in which his mother, father and older siblings reside alongside many other Pokémon families.

His mother is Blazing Fang the Arcanine, named for her feared bite and the sheer ferocity of her special attacks. Nobody stands in her way, and despite this she is a protective and overly motherly parent.

His father is Storm Hoof the Shiny Rapidash. His speed on the ground is almost blinding, and he is a whirlwind in battle. He has been named the Protector of the Reedbeds for his skill, and is scarred from a thousand victories both explicit and mentally.

His older sister is Bright Star the Ponyta. A goody-goody and a devoted fangirl to her own father, she will do absolutely everything she can to be as strong as him. Always sticking to the rules and scolding everyone she can – even those older than herself – she is her parents' favourite, even though they aren't really meant to have one.

His brother, the middle child, is Scuffle Paw. Everyone likes him and he likes everyone back – despite being a devout prankster, his 'cute face' will always guarantee forgiveness. He tries to be on everyone's good side, and he has a crush a mile long on Silver Tail the Vulpix.

The other families in the Reedbeds all know this small clan, as the father is the Protector. So now, as Ember Pelt's hatching time is growing closer, the excitement is spreading throughout the forest in which the Reedbeds are located.

You are now Ember Pelt, about to embark on your journey through life. You must struggle to survive in the harsh world of Pokémon, because no matter how far away the humans are there will always be greater threats.

Are you ready?


It is dark, and cold.

The dark is dangerous. I must get out.

One of my paws reaches out to press against the container binding me. It holds firm.

How do I do this, then?

I throw my small body against the wall, grunting as I rebound off the edge. Soon enough, I can hear faint voices.

"Mum! Dad! Look!" calls one, a young-sounding male. Likely my brother.

"Oh? What is it, Scuffle Paw?" asks a mature female. I instinctively recognise this to be my mother's.

"The egg's hatching, mum!" he continues.

No duh, Sherlock!

"Now? Go get your father and sister! They should be on patrol duty... Damn, why now?" she swore. Hearing the harsh words makes me whimper, and the rhythmic thud of heavy paws trotting towards me jostles the spherical container I am in. Slightly, but still noticeable.

"Honey, I'm home!" yells a noble voice from far away.

"My Arceus, Storm Hoof! What kept you? The egg's hatching!" my mother cried back, and the thud of two pairs of hooves shake the ground again. What's with all the running? I whine and place my paws against the walls, giving one final push. A loud, drawn-out cracking sound reverberates around the shell.

One more kick and the restraining sphere collapses, bits of bony shell clattering onto my head. The light, although dim, is blinding, and it isn't helped by the flickering flames of two Pokémon around me.

"Welcome to the world, little one," whispers my father.

"Aww, look! He's so cuuute!" obsesses the pony-like Pokémon beside him. The sound of her loud voice startles me, and I writhe around in the nest.

"Bright Star, don't speak too loud. You may damage his hearing," scolds Mother. Well, if she hasn't yet, I'm sure she will have sooner or later.

My mother turns and pads up the tunnel to gather something or other, and my father shoos the other kids away – both the Growlithe, Scuffle Paw, and Ponyta, Bright Star.

"So, little champ? How do you like Ember Pelt?" he asks once we're alone. Ember Pelt. It sounds like a good name. I give a small nod and attempt to stand, still coated in sticky goop from my egg.

"Ember Pelt it is! Can you follow me?" he whinnies, trotting down a tunnel and pausing at the end. Can I actually walk? I won't find out sitting here in my eggshell doing nothing. Rolling out of the nest and landing on my feet, I place one paw in front of the other. I'm walking!

"Well done, buddy! Now come on!" he calls, and I scamper after him, stumbling over my own paws. A droplet of water trickles down from the ceiling of the underground tunnel and lands on my face. It burns into my skin, and I yelp in pain.

"Oh, are you okay, buddy?" Dad asks. "I really need to fix that drip sooner or later, but I can't get close enough without hurting myself. So I need to get Two Tails to do it at some point. She's the Ambipom everyone calls on to fix stuff."

"D-dad?" I stutter. So I can talk too?

"Yes, son?" he replies, turning back to face me.

"Who else l-lives here?" I ask him. He grins and stops completely.

"Our home is a network of caves under the Reedbeds, a haven far away from humans. Many Pokémon families live here, and it will take time to explain them all to you. After I show you your mother's room, I'll take you up to the surface."

The surface sounds good to me. The thought of what could lie above the ground, having been hatched underneath it, fascinated me.

"S-so we all sleep together?" I whimper as a fierce-looking Granbull stomps by and turns off into another burrow.

"No. Your sister and I are not cave-dwellers, so we sleep in the hollow underneath a bush on the surface. You, your mother and Scuffle Paw have your own cave in this network down here." That makes it all a lot clearer, and I happily trot after my dad.

"S-so what's your name?" I ask. He looks back over his shoulder and smiles.

"My everyday name is Storm Hoof, and your mother's is Blazing Fang. But you must call us Dad and Mum, okay?" I nod and scamper over, noticing how he's picked up the pace.

"O-okay..." I stammer, both confused and fascinated at once.

"Storm Hoof!" calls a silky-smooth voice emitting from a slick white fox Pokémon's mouth. She pads over to my dad and touches his muzzle with her pointed nose in greeting.

"Ah, Moon Song! I take it the cubs are doing well?" he asks her. I somehow know that she is a Ninetales – how I do, I'll never know.

"Silver Tail and Sun Burst are doing just fine. And who's this? I'm certain Scuffle Paw's gotten a lot bigger than this patch of felt..." Rage floods me, my fire-coloured face fur impossibly glowing redder.

"This 'patch of felt' is my new son, Ember Pelt. You, of all the Pokémon here, should know not to insult my offspring." he growls sternly. Ears pinned back, tails between her legs, Moon Song shrinks back in mock fear.

"What? Me, insult your wonderful son? Even the notion!" she gasps, mocking the two of us.

Dad doesn't respond and walks on, allowing me one growl at the sly Ninetales before moving along. At the last second, however, he looks back and calls, "Remember, Moon Song, where your loyalties lie." And with that we were gone.

Dad noses the bark curtain shielding our den aside, allowing myself to scamper in first. Mum greets me, touching noses and directing me to a crude nest she'd obviously just thrown together.

"I wish I could've gotten something better, but I didn't have much time, so tomorrow you can go up with your dad while I get you a proper nest. Okay?" I nod and curl up in the mass of soft ferns and twigs. I watch my father's blue mane disappear around the entrance and leave, followed by my sister's orange one. Nearby, Scuffle Paw is already sleeping, drooling all over his nest.

Without a word I slip into an uneasy sleep, pondering over my purpose in this brave new world I was born in. I do serve some sort of purpose, that much is certain, but what it is I must find out for myself.


Opinions, anyone? :D