Ash is blocked off by the flames, so he orders Buizel to use Water Gun. The water extinguishes enough flames so that they can get through. Before Ash can get through, Hunter J fires her gun again and hits Riolu. Riolu falls to the ground frozen. Then after a few more Hyper Beams and Flamethrowers, Hunter J captures Riolu. Meanwhile, Dawn, Brock, and Kellen are leading the forest Pokémon away from the fire and into a safe place. Kellen notices three Blastoise nearby. He captures them and tells them to use Rain Dance. The rain soon puts out the fire.

Ash manages to escape thanks to Chimchar's Dig. He suddenly hears a noise nearby. From a distance Ash can see Hunter J's ship. Just before the door closes, he climbs aboard. The rain soon stops, and Dawn, Brock, and Kellen begin their search to find Ash and Riolu. Hunter J's ship soon passes them, and Brock suspects that Hunter J may have Riolu.

Onboard Hunter J's ship, Hunter J is discussing plans with her client. Her client is pleased with Hunter J's success, so they arrange a meeting point. Ash bursts in through the door and orders Hunter J to return Riolu back. Hunter J sends out her Dorapion. It grabs onto Ash, but Ash manages to break free. Unfortunately, Ash and Pikachu land on a trap door, and they begin to fall out of the ship. A Staraptor catches Ash. Kellen, who is riding the Staraptor, asks Ash if he's alright. Ash is angry with himself that Riolu got away, but Kellen tells him that he shouldn't blame himself. Staraptor takes Ash and Kellen back to Dawn and Brock. More bad news occurs as Solana calls and reports that Hunter J's client got away from her and Officer Jenny too.

Suddenly, Ash is able to sense Riolu's aura. Through the aura, Riolu tells Ash where Hunter J is going. So, Kellen captures four Dodrio, and the group uses the Dodrio to speed up to Hunter J's location. Meanwhile, Hunter J has arrived at the precise location, and moments later her client arrives too. Riolu is handed off to her client. Suddenly, Ash and co. appear, and they demand for Riolu. The client refuses to give Riolu back, so Ash sends out Staravia to knock Riolu out of the client's hands.

Ash and co. soon come charging down towards the client. Meanwhile, Hunter J and her team escapes the scene in her ship. The client grabs onto Riolu, adn then uses his Fearow to escape. Solana and Officer Jenny suddenly appears. Them, Dawn, and Brock decide to take care of the client's henchmen while Ash and Kellen chase after the client himself. Dodrio uses Fury Attack to weaken Fearow. The client then runs into a cave. He sends out Aggron to use Rock Smash. Rocks tumble down to the ground to block Ash and Kellen's path. However, Kellen spots a Donphan and captures it. The Donphan blasts through the rocks, only to come across four more paths which are blocked by boulders.

Meanwhile, Dawn, Brock, Solana, and Officer Jenny are battling the client's henchmen. Solana ends up capturing a Trapinch. She orders it to use Rock Tomb. Large boulders burst out of the ground and trap the henchmen. Meanwhile, Ash and Kellen have to decide which of the four paths to take. Ash is able to sense Riolu's aura again, and he is sure to take the left path. The left path does lead them straight to the client and Riolu. Donphan defeats Aggron with its Horn Attack, and Ash frees Riolu from its cage.

The client and is henchmen are arrested and taken to jail. Riolu is finally safe and can return happily back into its kingdom. Riolu thanks Ash for all its help, and so Ash and co. continue their journey through Sinnoh.