A/N: I found out I aced my college Archaeology course! With college over for the semester, I can focus more on my writing (also, I get to see The Protomen perform live in concert soon. If previous experience is any indication, I expect them to launch the roof into orbit from the sheer power of their rock). With that announcement out of the way, enjoy!


Cole still couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at the number of presents sitting in front of him. He would have remained frozen in shock for the entire day had his father not given him a gentle pat on the head along with encouraging words.

"Well, what're you waiting for, my boy? It's your birthday! Have a seat on the couch and start opening your presents!"

Grinning widely, Cole ran to the couch and grabbed the first gift, from Tommy. The riolu watched expectantly as Cole opened it, revealing fingerless black boxing gloves with a flame motif on them.

"I figured those would be the perfect gift for a fellow fight-type, and the fire matches your other type! Cool, huh?"

Cole immediately put the gloves on, nodding in agreement as he did. "Uh-huh! Hey, let's try them out later!"

"Okay, this next one is from Nuna. She picked it out all by herself, isn't that right?"

"Yup! Mommy took me to the store an' I saw it an' thought of you!"

The gift turned out to be a firestone. It glowed softly as Cole held it in his hands, feeling a strangely comforting warmth from deep within the flame-red gem. This day just kept getting better and better! David barked a laugh at his reaction as he reached for another present.

"Ha, I think the boy likes it! Alright, let's see, this is from Ricky..."


"Fighters, bow and ready!"

Cole and Tommy bowed respectfully as they stood facing each other in the training room, their second sparring match since they met. Maria stood between them, her talon raised as the two children got into ready stances. A careful silence filled the air as she paused for dramatic effect before slashing her talon down toward the floor and stepping back out of the ring.

"BEGIN!"

The young riolu and the adopted human child leapt at each other, excited grins on their faces as they began their spar. David and Maria Fireheart smiled proudly; the quiet timidity and fear displayed by their child when they first adopted him had all but vanished, replaced with a cheerful and happy young boy who held the pride and confidence befitting a fire-and-fight type.

Laughter filled the air along with cheers and words of encouragement for both Tommy and Cole as the two continued their spar, not a care in the world on their faces as they lost themselves in the thrill of their sport.

A punch was thrown, then skillfully deflected and countered with a kick. A retreating step was followed by a flame charge, which was evaded as an aura ball was sent in response. When Cole was first adopted, he would never have thought of this as a favorite activity—being on the receiving end of physical abuse for the first six years of his life had made him frightened of contact and wary of violence. But his new parents had shown him a new way of looking at the world, and in the process he discovered strength and courage he never knew he had. His style reflected this; very little in the way of defense, focusing on giving his opponent everything he had without fear, flowing from one movement to the next in a flurry of motion that carried with it the burning passion within him.

In a few minutes, the fight was decided with a stalemate, both fighters exhausted but happy, bowing to each other as their friends and family cheered.

With the sparring match concluded, it was finally time for cake; Cole prepared to blow out the candles, a smile on his face as he looked around the room at all those assembled; he knew exactly what he was going to wish for.

I wish to stay with mommy and daddy and all my friends forever.


To say that Cole was tired that evening would be a severe understatement; it didn't take long for the seven-year-old to drift off after being tucked in lovingly by his mother and father. His dreams began innocently enough, but before long they turned dark.

Cole was lying on the ground in a shadowed room. The Worthingtons—the humans who gave birth to him—were looming over him, expressions of hate and rage on their faces as they delivered blow after blow and shouted at him. With every strike that landed on him, his fear grew, and with every hateful word, his confidence began to slip away...

Until he heard new voices. Voices that told him not to fear, that told him he was not alone.

Voices that saved him.

"You are NOT weak."

"You are stronger than you know."

"You are a Fireheart!"

Cole looked up in the direction of the voices, seeing David and Maria Fireheart standing nearby, observing him with a loving gaze, and he immediately knew what he had to do.

He stood up defiantly as the Worthingtons continued to shout at him, their blows seeming weaker and weaker until he barely felt them at all. The shades of his abusers tried desperately to tear his new confidence down by calling him weak, but even that slowly faded into silence as Cole continued to draw strength from the words of his new family. Finally, with all his heart and soul, he shouted in response to the fading abuse the one truth that he knew would banish the pain of his past forever:

"I'm not weak, and you're not my mommy and daddy! MY NAME IS COLE FIREHEART!"

In an instant, the threatening figures vanished, along with the shadows, revealing the home he had grown to love; his true mother and father embraced him, and he sank into their loving arms with a joyous shout. Back in reality, Cole smiled happily; the rest of his dreams that night were filled with love and warmth and laughter, without a care or worry in sight. At last, he had banished his past and embraced his new life completely. The future held no more fear for him, because he knew that no matter what, his family and friends would never leave him.


Thanks to Sky Hooves for the suggestion on how to continue. Remember to read and review, and I'll see you next chapter!