Poketropolis Chapter 13

Back at the PPD, Chief Taki was playing with an app on his Pokétch. On the screen, Utada was dancing with an Incineroar, but with Taki's head.

"Wow." Said Utada on the Pokétch. "You are one hot dancer, Chief Taki." Gabe then burst into his office, and Taki covered the screen with his front hoofs.

"Chief Taki!" He said.

"Not now!" Taki said nervously.

"Wait, is that Utada?" Asked Gabe.

"No!" Said Taki, covering the device.

"I'm Utada, and you are one hot dancer." Said Utada on the app.

"You have the app, too?" Asked the Snorlax.

"Snorlock!" Said Taki. "Can't you see I'm working on the missing Pokémon cases?"

"Oh, yeah!" Said Gabe. "About that, sir. Officer Lopps just called. She found all of them." Taki was left jaw-dropped.

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Half an hour later, police cars and helicopters surrounded Lavender Asylum. Mayor Leroy Tajiri and Dr. Audino were arrested.

"Mayor Tajiri," Said Dawn. "You have the right to remain silent."

"You don't understand!" Said Leroy. "I was trying to protect the city!"

"You were just trying to protect your job." Said Dawn.

"No." Leroy protested. "We still don't know why this is happening. This could destroy Poketropolis."

"You have the right to remain silent." Said Dawn. "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

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The next day, many news reporters and spokes-Pokémon arrived at the PPD, and Chief Taki was giving a speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Said Chief Taki. "14 Pokémon were missing, and all of them have been found by our newest recruit, Officer Dawn Lopps. She will speak to you in a moment." Meanwhile, Dawn was nervous about what to say, and Zach was by her side.

"I'm so nervous." She confessed.

"Okay." Said Zach. "Press Conference 101. You wanna look smart? Answer their question with your own question. Here's an example: 'Excuse me. Officer Lopps. What can you tell us about the case?' 'Well, was it a tough case? Yes. Yes it was.' You see?"

"You should be there with me." Said Dawn. "We did this together."

"Well," Said Zach. "Am I a cop? No. No, I am not."

"Funny you should say that." Said Dawn. "Because I've been thinking it would be nice to have a partner." She then showed an empty application to Zach.

"Here." Said Dawn, giving Zach the carrot pen. "In case you need to write something with." Mary Shockwool then saw Dawn.

"Officer Lopps." She whispered. "It's time." Dawn walked to the podium and appeared in front of the crowd.

"Officer Lopps?" Asked a Watchog. "What can you tell us about the Pokémon that went savage?" He then handed Dawn the microphone.

"Well," She started. "The Pokémon in question... Are they all different species? Yes. Yes they are."

"Okay," Asked an Emolga. "So what is the connection?"

"All we know is that they are all carnivores." Said Dawn.

"So, predators are the only ones going savage?" Asked an Ampharos.

"Yes, that is accurate." Answered Dawn.

"Why?" Asked a Grumpig. "Why is this happening?"

"We still don't know." Said Dawn. This made the crowd nervous. "It may have something to do with their biology."

"What do you mean by that?" Asked a Camerupt.

"A biological component." Said Dawn. "Something to do with their DNA."

"In their DNA?" Asked a Mudsdale. "Can you elaborate on that, please?"

"Yes." Said Dawn. "What I mean is, thousands of years ago, predators survived through their aggressive hunting instincts. For some reason, they seem to be reverting back to their primitive savage ways." As Dawn continued talking, Zach looked at the screen behind Dawn, which depicted savage Pokémon with muzzles on them. This dramatized Zach and reminded him of that horrible incident back when he was a Zorua.

"Will it happen again?" Asked a Zebstrika.

"It is possible." Said Dawn. "So we must be vigilant. And we at the PPD are prepared and are here to protect you."

"Will more Pokémon go savage?" Asked a Pachirisu.

"What is being done to protect us?" Asked a Furret. Mary thought this was too much for Dawn to handle, so she brought her off the stage.

"Was I okay?" Asked Dawn.

"Oh, you did fine." Said Mary, and Dawn walked towards Zach.

"Oh, that went so fast." She said. "I didn't get a chance to mention you or say anything about how we..."

"I think you said plenty." Interrupted Zach.

"What do you mean?" Asked Dawn.

"'Clearly, there's a biological component?'" He said. "'These predators may be reverting back to their primitive savage ways?' Are you serious?"

"I just stated the facts of the case." Said Dawn. "It's not like a herbivore could go savage."

"Right." Said Zach. "But a Zoroark could, huh?"

"Zach, stop that. You're not like one of them."

"Oh, there's a 'them', now?"

"You know what I mean. You're not that kind of predator."

"The kind that needs to be muzzled? The kind that makes you think you need to carry around Dark-Type repellant? Yeah, don't think I didn't notice that item the first time I met you. So, let me ask you a question. Are you afraid of me?" Dawn said nothing. "Do you think I might go nuts? Do you think I might go savage? That I might eat you?" Dawn flinched upon hearing that.

"I knew it." Scoffed Zach. "Just when I thought somebody actually believed in me. Probably best if you don't have a predator as a partner." He handed the application back to Dawn and left the building.