Taking on Team Galactic Alone

Night lay over Lily of the Valley Island like ink, deep and heavy, with an oppressive stillness.

It was already three in the morning. Hardly anyone remained on the streets, save for a few Trainers and their Pokémon sitting at the roadside Barbecue Stall.

The Lily of the Valley Conference quarterfinals were only hours away. Most people were resting and getting themselves ready so they wouldn't miss the matches at dawn.

Mingyou chased out of the hotel and had Sinistcha track Riolu. But instead of running toward the port or into an alley, Riolu headed for the forest. That was odd.

"It's like it wants to lure me over there... Is something good waiting for me? Well, I'm not alone this time!"

Muttering to himself, he took a precaution. He called someone on his Rotom Phone, then had Sinistcha keep following while he mounted Latias to trail Riolu from the air.

He had already been tricked once in Sunyshore City. Knowing what Riolu was like, he only had to think backward to realize this was almost certainly a trap.

"Woo!"

Mingyou climbed onto Latias, and she took off on the spot, cutting through the night sky. Riolu had no idea anyone was overhead. It kept running toward the forest with the Plate on its back, though it knew someone was chasing from behind.

After entering the Small Woods, it kept going. Only when it reached a camp where a Small Transport Plane was parked did it slow down.

Several men and women in black were using Radar to watch the area. Even with little movement around them, they stayed alert. This was their last chance.

"Rio..."

"It's back!"

Seeing Riolu arrive exhausted with the Plate on its back, several of them hurried forward, snatched the Plate away, and scanned it