Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon, but Zora and Hunter are straight from my imagination.

-----

Hunter strode right up the path that led to his mother's house. Why she didn't stay on the ranch, he didn't know... maybe it was a good thing she hadn't been there... The flowers that surrounded the sidewalk up to the door, the bushes in bloom with different colors and the plants that hung from the window seal; all was like his mother. The house was a bright shade of green and the smell of wet paint was faint. The field to the left of the house, the stream to the right and the path that led on behind, it was a reminder that she hated cities. He knocked three times. Zora held his hand, still preoccupied with her dream. Though it was not the usual one, it bothered her why the event of their past would come up now.

Naomi opened the door. She looked just as young and perky as ever, never ageing (this of course had all of her friends jealous.) She took Hunter and Zora into a huge before hurrying them inside and checking behind them, watching the little ones.

"My word, Flamer! But I remember when you were just a little Vulpix," She kneeled to inspect Ember. "And you, my beauty, look healthy to have to deal with four,"

"Ninetales," Ember said. She looked up at Zora and Hunter. Zora realized for the first time that for anyone who just looked at them, it would be easy to mistake Hunter and Naomi for siblings, not mother and son.

"How are you, Zora? You don't look well,"

"I had a strange dream last night. It left me feeling awkward..." she said. Naomi took her daughter-in-law's face in her thin, gentle hands. She tilted Zora's head slightly, looked at the color of her tongue, her eye color, checked her temperature, asked questions that Hunter wondered if he even wanted to hear. Naomi hmmed the whole time, whispered more. Hunter turned his back to survey the room. The kitchen looked much like the old one that was in ashes now... it was nearly identical... he bet she had this house built to be just like the one on the ranch. Then why did she leave?

"Oh, how can you be sure?" Zora cried. Hunter turned.

"It is likely, Zora,"

"No..."

"No! What is this?"

"There can't be! My dreams..." she shook her head.

"You take your dreams as warning for the future?"

"No... But, if I am... then the child may suffer..."

"Child?" Hunter asked. Naomi turned.

"I think your wife is pregnant, Hunter," Zora and Hunter looked at each other. So it had finally happened... Hunter smiled and hugged her.

"Don't fret over your dream, Zora. We've always wanted a baby," she smiled back.

"You're right. Besides, Lance is no where near." They kissed.

----------

"Do you have any idea where he might be?" Hunter asked, leaning over the table. The oil lamp cast strange shadows over the room. The Ninetales, Vulpix and Zora had gone to bed.

"None. Your father is a free spirit."

"Surly you would know at least some where he could possibly—even remotely possibly—be? Please, Mama?"

"Hunter, if I knew, I would tell you. But I don't, baby, I'm sorry,"

"What in the world did you see in him? I've met him once, and you never mention him,"

"I was lonely and he was there. I brought it upon myself."

"You mean me?"

"I always wanted a baby, Hunter. You were a perfect baby and after you were born, I didn't want or need your father. I was used to being on my own, and you were enough to keep me company when I wasn't," Hunter gritted his teeth.

"When did you last see him?" she sighed.

"Why?"

"He can help us hide. I don't want to put you in danger."

"And you're more comfortable with putting your father in danger?"

"Yes," Hunter said.

"Is that so?" Hunter turned and found a tall, slim, almost dirty looking man in worn blue jeans and a brown T-shirt. Hunter stood, his chair screeching as he pushed it. "Offly big, ain't ya, boy?"

"You've been gone a while," Hunter said.

"And what makes you think I'd help you hide, huh?"

"We're family,"

"Is that all?"

"Kyle," Naomi said sternly.

"Oh, okay," he said, coming to sit at the table with them. Hunter eased back into his seat. "I could never say no to you, love," he looked back to Hunter. "Tell me, Hunter. Be true,"

"Lance is after me because I took one of his Balance Heirs,"

"Wooed a girl? That it?"

"In some sense. Mama's old ranch, where we'd been for the past year, is gone—burned to the ground."

"Any clue who did it?"

"Possibly a poacher, but I think that unlikely,"

"You want cover for a while till things settle back down?"

"Exactly," Hunter said.

"You still have that little Vulpix I gave you when you were a runt yourself?"

"Flamer is a Ninetales now, and a father."

"Ah. What of you? You got kids?"

"Soon, I hope,"

"Your girl pregnant, huh?"

"My wife, thank you, yes,"

"Wife, huh?" Kyle rubbed his chin. "Took it further then I ever did,"

"Will you help us?"

"Hmm... yeah, okay,"

-------

Hunter could see that Zora was weary of his father. He didn't blame her. He appeared the bandit he was. Kyle had inspected Zora, declared that she was a beauty, then asked to see her pokemon. Ember was not at all happy to have the man checking out her babies, but, as Hunter had held Zora when she would have slapped the man, Flamer stopped Ember from attacking him. Flamer and Hunter, going so far back and being inseparable friends—brothers—they knew far too well without speaking that their girls did not approve of their new traveling buddy.

Ember sat next to Zora, the anger showing on her face. Myth was curled up in her long, bright tails. Together, they watched the man's movements. Together, their minds calculated if he was a danger to the baby Vulpix and the unborn one, to Hunter and Flamer. Especially to Hunter. The man could break Hunter emotionally with the family ties alone if he chose to. Kyle turned his back to check his bag.

"Ninetales," Ember mumbled.

"I know, girl, but we don't have much of a choice,"

"Ninetales, Ninetales,"

"No, we need help this time,"

"Nine," she shook her head in a negative gesture.

"We should be off soon," Kyle said. "Lance will know this place like the back of his hand. I hid here when he was after me a lot,"

"Then let's go," Hunter said. Naomi came out from the house, carrying a small bag. She handed it to Zora and they whispered before hugging goodbye. Naomi moved to Kyle and whispered to him. He looked up at Zora, then back to his lover, nodded and stood back up tall from his hunched over position. Naomi said good bye to Hunter, trying hard not to embarrass him. But it was obvious she was worried. And he knew she didn't like Zora traveling with the baby and all. But they had to, unfortunately. Zora would be taken prisoner again and Hunter would suffer a punishment equal to death.

Zora sighed softly. She was tired... and hungry. But she didn't dare complain. Ember handed Myth off to Flamer again. Hunter took her hand and smiled at her.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just tired,"

"Me too," Kyle looked back at them.

"You ready to stop, Zora?" he asked. "Naomi said I'm not allowed to push you too hard,"

"Sure,"

They stopped. Hunter set to pulling some food from his bag while Kyle checked the time by the sun. He reported it was near three.

"Why don't you carry any equipment?" Zora asked.

"Too much work. Besides, I prefer to know that I'm not dependent on technology,"

"Sounds like Hunter when he was younger," she said. Hunter looked up at her. "You didn't use anything other then a pokeball, remember? And not even that for Flamer,"

"True,"

"You broke him of that, did you now?"

"Yeah. With all the hanging around the Stadium he did, I think he got used to it,"

"So, you're one of the Balances?"

"An Heir. I never took the position,"

"Because of Hunter?"

"Yes,"

"Hunter, my boy, you are going to have to tell me how you two met. There'll be plenty of time, you know,"

"I wouldn't mind to," Hunter said. He handed a piece of jerky to Zora, then made sure Flamer and Ember both got a piece too. He sat down with his own when Kyle refused the food politely. Earth watched his mother eat. The others napped, but Earth looked like he wanted to try a piece. Hunter was about to dig some food from his bag for the little Vulpix when Zora tossed him a piece of her jerky. He stared at it for a while, then sniffed it. Looking back at his mother once more, he cautiously took a bite. Upon realizing it was not going to break apart easily, he became determined to get a bite, ripping and growling and rolling over. Hunter chuckled.

---------

Lance sat up, rubbing the back of his head where he felt a large lump. He sighed then took in a deep breath. He was in the prison. Peering out the bars, he saw the torches, two guards and other member of the Elite imprisoned. There were at least three in each cell, save for his own, which held only him.

"Lance," he looked out the cell and to his left. Hattie was there. She was the youngest to ever enter the Elite's Circle, and Lance knew she would be one of the longest. "They've taken our pokemon. As far as we know, they're still in the pokeballs, stored away in your safe,"

"Is everyone down here?"

"Save for Max..." she said.

"I don't know what he could do,"

"I don't know... he didn't have a chance to tell me," she sighed. "Don't give up on him, Lance. He will find a way out for all of us,"

"I hope so..." he looked up at the roof... "Zora, where are you,"