Clues and a Harvest of Earth Dragon Melons

Saturn subdued Riolu with ease. By the time Officer Jenny came out of the Police Station after hearing the commotion, he had already sent Toxicroak away with Riolu.

No one had seen a thing...

Meanwhile, an emergency operation was underway at the Pokémon Center in District 9.

Mingyou sat outside the emergency room, waiting anxiously. The Pokémon that had run out with him gathered around him.

"Don't worry. It'll be okay," he reassured them softly. Then he turned to Ogerpon, who had come in carrying food, and said, "Share this with them."

"Mm-hmm~"

Ogerpon stepped forward and handed out the food. Mingyou hadn't allowed her or Latias to go down there, so they had waited by nearby manholes. Unfortunately, Riolu hadn't come out where they were watching.

Sinistcha, who had lost Riolu, arrived too. Sinistcha was busy boasting to Munchlax about how well the trap had worked.

"Munch~"

I don't believe you. Let me taste some and I might~

"Sini..."

You're just trying to trick me out of matcha powder...

Bidoof and the others had received food, but although they were hungry, they had no appetite.

Mingyou got up and crouched to their level. "Were you Stray Pokémon driven here from somewhere else? Were you afraid to bring Arcanine in for treatment because you thought you'd be chased away?"

"..."

"Riolu copied those station thieves to steal food for you, didn't Riolu? And the medicine Riolu brought back was for Arcanine?"

They remained silent as Mingyou asked a few more questions. He no longer needed answers. His guess was right.

Arcanine meant a great deal to these Pokémon. Everything Riolu had done was for them. It had been against the law, but he could understand why Riolu had done it. Uncovering the truth left him feeling sad.

He stopped questioning