The culprit has disappeared, making it impossible to hold anyone accountable, and honestly, what responsibility could such a person bear? Are we supposed to make him find the spring water of Clear Lake?
Subsequently, after learning about the Poke Egg's condition, Orodelon City swiftly reported to the Alliance. The Alliance sent people to gather the spring water and eventually transported it to Vermilion City, where the Poke Egg was placed in the spring water and temporarily kept at Professor Cerise's home.
Originally, the Poke Egg was so badly shattered, and it was indirectly caused by Professor Cerise, so Orodelon City should have taken the Poke Egg back with them.
However, they instead requested Professor Cerise to keep the Poke Egg until its life completely dissipates.
During this period, they would be looking for a way to repair the Poke Egg, but if they couldn't find one, it couldn't be helped...
Although Professor Cerise was puzzled, he diligently took care of the Poke Egg, carefully changing the lake water every once in a while, allowing the Poke Egg to persist in this state for five years.
Although the Poke Egg's life had been steadily waning over these five years, its life was ultimately not completely extinguished.
Until today, the Poke Egg had been kept in Professor Cerise's home. With the launch of the research institute today, Professor Cerise thought of moving the Poke Egg to the institute's backyard to see if the environment there could awaken the survival will of the Poke Egg, creating a miracle.
In fact, a miracle did indeed occur, though it wasn't a miracle created by the Poke Egg itself. Nevertheless, it eventually waited for the person who would create the miracle, and that person was Ash.
The Poke Egg's persistence over five years seemed as if it were waiting for Ash's appearance. Ash's arrival saved its life and allowed Professor Cerise to provide an explanation to Queen Erin.
"...Speaking of which, I have captured Riolu. What should be done with this in Orodelon City? Isn't this a very important Pokemon to them?" Ash suddenly recalled one thing, which was the ownership of Riolu.
Initially, Ash thought that this Poke Egg belonged to Professor Cerise, and it was a shattered egg about to die. With his relationship with Professor Oak and Professor Cerise, coupled together with the fact that he resurrected this Poke Egg, it seemed rightful that he should become Riolu's Trainer.
But it turned out that the origin of this Poke Egg was far from ordinary, and seemed very significant to that Queen called Erin. By capturing it so rashly, it didn't quite sit right.
"You can rest assured about this. Strangely enough, after initially learning that the Poke Egg was shattered, Orodelon City was very furious. Besides Goh, I actually bore some indirect responsibility, but later Goh disappeared, and I wasn't punished. Instead, they requested me to carefully keep this broken Poke Egg."
"Their only requirement was to protect this Poke Egg until it completely lost its life. If anyone could save this Poke Egg, then as long as the Pokemon inside is willing, that person could become the Pokemon's Trainer."
While Professor Cerise spoke, he also recalled the scenes of the past.
The subsequent reaction of Orodelon City indeed struck him as very strange. Normally, if the Poke Egg was damaged in his care, how could they entrust him with its safekeeping?
Moreover, they mentioned that anyone who could revive this Poke Egg could become the Pokemon's Trainer.
He knew how important this Poke Egg was to Orodelon City. Even if exchanging it with ten Quasi-Gods, it wouldn't be traded.
Even if the Poke Egg was revived, it should be rewarded in some other way, not just give away the Poke Egg itself... Something feels off, doesn't it?
However, since they said so, Professor Cerise could only adhere to it. After all, it wasn't his Poke Egg, and he was at fault anyway.
Hearing this, Ash and others also felt a bit odd, but since there's no dispute, that's for the best.
Although saying this somewhat sounds like wanting to keep Riolu perpetually, Riolu does indeed seem to be able to stick beside Ash for now, unless the Pokemon Center has some method.
"There's nothing else for tonight, so sleep here. Tomorrow, let's head to the Pokemon Center to check on Riolu." Professor Cerise glanced at the time, then spoke to Ash and the others.
Ash nodded, then followed Chloe to the guestroom to put down their luggage.
Professor Cerise's home is quite large, but there are several people—husband and wife in one room, Chloe one room, Erin one room, leaving only one guest room.
The guestroom also only has one bed, so Ash and Brock squeezed onto one bed, while Misty slept with Chloe.
Chloe had no objection to this. She was quite curious about Misty, the Cerulean Gym Leader.
More importantly, she felt Misty's gaze on her was a bit peculiar. She couldn't articulate why—Could it be that they've met somewhere before? Perhaps she could ask while sleeping tonight.
...
The next day, Ash woke up early. On one hand, he was accustomed to early training due to his biological clock, and on the other hand, he was a bit worried about Riolu's condition.
Yesterday, he chatted again with Aura Ash in the group, who said that aside from him, only Divine Domain Level Pokemon could save Riolu; the Pokemon Center wouldn't have treatment methods.