Almost a year later, Hafen, Stark, and Matteo felt comfortable at their new home. One day, they sparred outside.
Hafen lunged at Stark with determination. He made a fist and threw a punch. "You're weak," he claimed.
Stark smirked and puffed up his chest.
Hafen punched him directly there.
"See. I'm the strongest among us. Your attacks are weak," Stark murmured and stood proudly. He pushed his brother away with ease.
Hafen slid back and frowned. "You may have strength, but I'll still win," he proclaimed and smiled. He pointed at his head and continued, "Unlike you, I'm not an idiot."
Stark growled and rushed at Hafen. "Take this," he yelled.
Hafen dodged his attack and kicked him away. "You never think clearly when you fight, and it shows," he added.
"Argh! I've had enough! I'll show you," Stark screamed and charged with fury in his eyes.
Hafen, not able to react in time, was punched in the face. He flew to a small tree.
The small tree, due to the impact, toppled to the ground. Dust rose into the air.
Matteo gasped. "Stark, you might have gone a little overboard on that last attack," he muttered.
"He deserves it after what he said," Stark replied and huffed.
The dust cleared, and broken tree branches floated into the air.
"Bring it on," Stark exclaimed and sneered.
Hafen appeared with a cold stare and blood running down his nose. "That blow doesn't prove anything. I'm still standing," he remarked. He raised his arm and sent the tree branches flying towards his siblings.
"It's time for me to join round two," Matteo announced. He quickly dodged the branches as he made his way towards Hafen.
Stark, on the other hand, braced himself for the onslaught. He got hit by most of the branches. Though, he slowly loomed closer like a tank.
Hafen took notice of this and backed away.
Soon, Hafen, Stark, and Matteo were at each other's throats. They had one motive: to prove who was the strongest among them. In the fight, Hafen had displayed his telekinesis technique, Matteo had utilized his super speed, and Stark had showed his super strength and defense.
Bloody and beaten up, the trio prepared for a final attack to settle the score.
Suddenly, their foster father, Henry, appeared between them with a face of disappointment.
The branches fell to the ground.
Stark, Hafen, and Matteo immediately stopped. Silence fell upon them. They were ashamed.
"What are you kids doing? Is that how I taught you to train," Henry interrogated.
Stark shook his head and implored, "Hafen started it."
Hafen glared and responded, "He's lying. It's his fault."
Henry turned his head downwards.
"They insulted each other with no end. It got out of hand," Matteo revealed. He rubbed his bruised cheek and winced.
Henry lifted his head and expressed, "You are all at fault for it to escalate this much. It's disheartening none of you take accountability for your reckless actions."
"How is it my fault? Stark escalated the attacks first," Hafen refuted.
"You pushed it to start with your insults. Stark was not in control of his emotions once again, and Matteo joined the ruthless fight instead of stopping it," Henry elaborated. He scowled and urged, "At least, take accountability for your actions instead of blaming each other. I taught you martial arts to protect. Not for this. Conflict does not have to be sought after."
"I should have stayed in control of my emotions. I'm sorry," Stark apologized.
"Me, too. I got a little carried away," Matteo expressed.
"Hmph," Hafen scoffed.
Stark and Matteo were appalled. They scowled at him.
"Let's get inside. I almost forgot. Dinner is ready," Henry informed and sighed.
Inside, their foster mother, Adelia, prepared food with a baby in her arms. She witnessed her adopted sons bruised up. She approached her husband and asked, "Dear, what happened to them?"
"They got into a brawl between themselves," Henry divulged.
After learning of the details, Adelia handed the baby to Henry and approached Hafen with a worn-out towel. She wiped the blood off his nose. "Are you in pain," she asked.
"I'm fine, mother," Hafen stuttered. "Ah! Ow," he winced in pain and moved away.
"Hold on," Adelia urged. "Let me clean your face," she insisted.
Stark and Matteo observed.
"Hafen, be kind to your brothers," Adelia requested and smiled.
Hafen looked at her and nodded.
After a mother's treatment, The Fisher Family proceeded to have dinner.
In the middle of dinner, Stark praised, "Mom! This is so good!"
"Wow," Matteo also expressed his delight. "More! More," he commanded.
Hafen stayed silent and stared at his food.
Adelia, while serving more food, inquired, "Hafen, did you not like your food?"
"I'm just not hungry," Hafen claimed.
Henry munched and swallowed. "Eat your food. Don't be wasteful," he exhorted.
Hafen ate the food silently.
Stark and Matteo watched him.
After dinner, Hafen found Henry outside. He seemed to be in a better mood.
Henry sat on the porch of the house. "Come. Sit next to me," he requested.
Hafen complied and sat in silence.
Henry looked at the sky. "Look up. The moon is a lonely rock in the vast sky. It's beautiful because of the reflection of the light of the sun. The moon is only able to shine because the sun allowed it to," he explained.
"I'm fine alone," Hafen alleged.
Henry looked at his adopted son and pressed, "You should be grateful to have people who support you. If you keep pushing your support away, then, they will eventually leave you."
Hafen pondered for a moment.
"You remind me of my past self," Henry disclosed and added, "Back then, I thought I had nothing left. I felt lost, like my life was meaningless. I almost gave up until my wife, Adelia, gave me a reason to keep living. I trained so hard."
"I''ll be strong on my own like you," Hafen nodded and asserted.
Henry shook his head and retorted, "My family gives me my strength. It's not any power or training. Do you understand? If you want to become truly strong, you need to have something to fight for. You need to find a noble reason to fight."
"I understand," Hafen lied and stood up. He struggled to walk away. A thought hindered him. "Father, how... How do I obtain something to fight for? What could be my purpose," he sought to know.
Henry smiled and suggested, "You have your brothers and baby sister, Hafen. Instead of fighting against them, you should fight for them."
Hafen finally understood and nodded. He left.
Henry also remembered two different kids. They were his sons by blood, and they always argued. Unfortunately, they were dead, long ago.
On the next morning, Hafen met up with Stark and Matteo. "I'm sorry for insulting you and starting the fight, yesterday," he sincerely apologized. "Let's work on something, together," he proposed.
Stark and Matteo exchanged looks.
"What is it," Matteo asked.
Hafen propounded, "Father always farms all day, so I had an idea for an invention that would make his day easier. I need your help."
Stark was eager, and he noted, "That means dad will have more time to train us. I'm in!"
"Me, too. What do you need us to do," Matteo questioned.
Hafen smirked, and they began.
Stark picked up and gathered wood.
Matteo climbed trees and grabbed large, tough vines.
Hafen attempted to combine them to make his invention.
Throughout the day, Hafen, Stark, and Matteo worked together and built a massive contraption. Utilizing their strengths, they managed to finish it. At the end of the day, they dragged Henry to its location.
Henry noticed it, and his eyes widened.
"It's called the dirt reaper," Hafen announced.
Awestruck, Henry approached. "It works like a plough," he muttered.
Stark was puzzled. "Dad, it's a dirt reaper," he corrected.
"Maybe there already is one invented, and it's called a plough," Matteo assumed and shrugged.
Henry coughed and asserted, "Hafen and Stark are correct. It's not exactly a plough, but its function and purpose are the same." He turned around and hugged his adopted sons. "Thank you for the dirt reaper. Well done," he commended.
Hafen, Stark, and Matteo were glad.
With the invention of the dirt reaper, Henry has more time in the day to train his sons. How much stronger could they get? Would it be enough to stand up against Pepe or even the girl?