Hunter turned the key in the door lock and there was a muffled click. He turned the knob and pushed the door open.

The room beyond was dark except where the light from outside came in through the door. Hunter stepped in carefully, then reached for a light. Moving his hand along the wall, he found a switch and flipped it, illuminating his new home.

The place was nice and open, the entertaining rooms having no doors, merely gaps in the walls. The dining room/kitchen/living room was easily the largest room in the place, the dining room table being out next to the kitchen counter. The living room part of the space was three couches arranged in a three-sided square with a coffee table in the middle. There was a TV built into the wall. There was no bedroom on the ground level. Hunter found some stairs, went up them, and found a spacious bedroom with a video phone. He smiled to himself and didn't jump when Lorenzo's voice came from behind him. "What do you think of it?"

Hunter turned. "It's really nice. I like it."

"Feel free to stay for as long as you like. But remember the rest of the deal."

"I do. Don't worry."

Lorenzo nodded and left, leaving Hunter to get acquainted with the place.

Hunter went downstairs when he saw that Lorenzo had gone, and released his Pokémon. They all looked around in puzzlement at where they were. Hunter indicated the house with a sweep of his arm. "This is our new home, everyone. Let's try and keep it in one piece, okay?"

There was a chorus of affirmative noises. Hunter smiled and sat down on the couch, turning on the TV. He flicked through to the news and as the others settled down around him either on the couches or on the floor, he nestled down in the cushions.

A few hours later the doorbell rang. Hunter got up and opened it, allowing Bianca inside. She was laden with armfuls of grocery bags and smiled at him as she came in. "Grandpa thought that you could use some food."

"You want some help with those?" Hunter asked as he followed Bianca inside. He didn't wait for an answer, telekinetically slipping several of the bags off of her arms. He carried them over to the kitchen table and set them down, Bianca doing the same.

She looked at him. "Thanks. How did you do that?"

Hunter looked at his hand, unconsciously seeing the blue fire shifting around it. "I'm…a bit out of the ordinary. It's a long story."

Bianca looked across the room at Hunter's Pokémon, who were watching them. Hunter glared at them all. "What are you guys looking at?"

They jerked suddenly and turned back around to the TV. Hunter smiled regardless. "They don't mean to stare. They've never seen you before, so they're curious."

Bianca smiled back. "It's okay. Can we stay for a while and just…talk?"

Hunter nodded. "Of course. It's not a problem."

They put the groceries in the fridge and then sat down at the table, talking about various things. Sketching, plans for the future. Eventually, the talk turned to Hunter's powers again.

"Like I said, it's a long story."

"I've got time."

Hunter reached out a hand. "It'll be easier if I just show you everything."

He pressed his hand down on hers. Bianca gasped as hundreds of images from his other adventures up until now flashed in front of her eyes. When Hunter let go, she breathed in deeply and looked at him, amazed. "How did you get this?"

"I don't know. Until I met Lucario, I never even knew I had it or that it even existed."

"So, why did you come to Alto Mare?"

"I wanted to start over. The house that I lived in before had too many bad memories in it. It had some good ones, but they were few and far between."

Bianca gently placed a hand on his. "Do you think you can forget all of it?"

"I don't want to forget. Lessen the impact, yes, but forget it completely, no."

The clock chimed. Bianca jumped up. "I should probably go. Grandpa will wonder where I am."

She turned to leave, but Hunter, his mouth moving faster than his brain, stopped her. "Bianca!"

She turned at the door. "Yes?"

"I…I was wondering…if you'd…maybe, er, show me around the city later?"

She smiled. "Of course! Anytime?"

Hunter nodded. "Yeah. Anytime's good."

She waved goodbye and shut the door.

Hunter turned to the wall and began banging his head on it.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, he thought to himself with each bang. Why? Why did you have to go and open up your big mouth? He straightened. It's not going to help me kicking myself. I'll just have to deal with it.

He walked back into the living room and sat down among the Pokémon, only to jump up again at hearing one of them whistling. He turned to Swellow, who was singing a merry tune that sounded like a love song. Hunter grabbed a pillow and hit it upside the head, shutting it up. "I don't need your help with this, Swellow!"

Swellow wasn't a Pokémon that would take that lying down. It whacked its trainer over the head with its wing, then hopped up on the couch's back, where it started to sing the song again.

Hunter glared up at it, then threw the pillow. It missed and bounced harmlessly off of the wall. Swellow smirked at him and chuckled to itself as its trainer plunked himself back down on the couch, sulking.

Gradually the others started laughing too.

Hunter covered his ears. "I talk to one girl…" he growled, "and you guys make such a big deal out of it!"

They all laughed louder, then stopped and got closer to him. Hunter struggled not to smile as they started rubbing themselves against him, apologizing for the teasing. Hunter sighed and started petting them.

The place was only two-story, so that night they were up on the roof. Hunter lay on his back, watching the stars. As the roof was devoid of furniture there was plenty of room for the others to follow suit. All seven of them lay in a circle, looking up at the sky. No one said anything. After a few hours, Hunter yawned.

One more night, he thought to himself. One more night under the stars.

He looked at everyone else. "You guys okay with sleeping out here tonight?"

They all nodded and soon they were all together, all in the crook of Charizard's body. The dragon Pokémon's body heat made blankets a moot point, all of the others gathering around Hunter. Typhlosion came up to Hunter and smiled, nuzzling its trainer. Hunter smiled back and then started laughing as Typhlosion began licking Hunter's cheeks with its huge tongue. A short time later there was a final slurp that rolled the skin on Hunter's cheek up into layers and tilted his head almost ninety degrees. Hunter laughed, wiping his face as he patted Typhlosion, who lay down and curled up beside him. Hunter lay back against Charizard, closing his eyes and smiling.

For some reason, I like the world "flat" more than "apartment". The first meeting with Latias is coming up in the next chapter. R and R!