It was noon, just after lunch, and while others had returned to their workstations, Yuga sat alone at a dining table, watching Audino and Wigglytuff cleaning up the dishes.
Suddenly, Linoone appeared in the cafeteria, grabbing Yuga's clothing with an anxious look, urging him to follow.
"What's going on? Why the rush?" Yuga asked curiously.
"Linoone! Linoone!" Linoone nodded vigorously.
"Are you saying that Snorlax and Ursaring are fighting?" Yuga asked, furrowing his brows.
"Linoone! Linoone!" Linoone nodded again.
Linoone had recently realized that its owner could understand the meaning behind its words, which made communication very convenient.
"How did they end up in a fight?" Yuga questioned as he got up from his chair and followed Linoone towards the Ecopark, puzzled by the situation.
In Oasis No.1 of the Desert Sub-Ecopark, there were only three Pokémon: Snorlax, Shiny Ariados, and Ursaring. In theory, there was no reason for conflict between Snorlax and Ursaring.
Pokemon disputes generally revolved around territory, food, or mates. Territory was ruled out as a cause; Oasis No.1 was quite extensive, and it easily accommodated the three of them without any issues, including neighboring Oasis No.2 and Oasis No.3, which housed large groups of Gligars and Flygons.
Food was even less of a concern. The Ecopark was abundant with food, making any conflict over it unnecessary.
As for mates, it wasn't even a consideration; Snorlax was a male, and Ursaring was a female. There was no rivalry to be had between them since one was a Monster-type (Snorlax) and the other a Field-type (Ursaring).
Furthermore, in Oasis No.1, there were no other potential partners for them. Were they fighting over Ariados? That would be downright comical.
Thus, Yuga couldn't fathom why they were at odds, and he arrived at Oasis No.1 with a heavy heart.
From a distance, Yuga could already hear the two Pokémon's loud roars. It was unmistakably Snorlax and Ursaring.
As he got closer, he witnessed the two massive creatures exchanging blows, one punch after another. Nearby, Linoone's partner, the Mightyena, watched helplessly, lacking the strength to intervene despite its worried expression.
As for Shiny Ariados, it dangled from a tree branch with a relaxed expression, as if afraid the brawl might not be exciting enough.
Due to this Pokémon battle, the lakeside area had become a chaotic mess. The grassy ground was torn up, several fruit trees were snapped in half, and scattered leaves and fruit littered the area.
The two Pokémon were truly going at it without holding back.
Fortunately, Yuga had brought along Florges, whose timely intervention was essential in stopping the brawl.
With a wave of her hands, Florges released a green energy that caused thick vines to rapidly grow around Snorlax and Ursaring, binding them tightly.
Snorlax and Ursaring attempted to break free using their formidable strength, but they soon realized that the vines were impervious to their efforts. These vines were created by Florges using her Grass Knot ability and were particularly effective against heavy Pokémon like Snorlax and Ursaring.
"Florges, please use Aromatherapy," Yuga requested, urging her to help calm the two agitated Pokémon.
Both Snorlax and Ursaring had become inflamed with anger and were now confused due to their intense battle.
Florges nodded in response and released a pink mist that wafted gently toward Snorlax and Ursaring, helping to soothe their agitated minds.
A few minutes later, the anger in the two Pokémon's eyes gradually subsided, and their minds began to calm down. When they saw Yuga standing not far away, they both felt somewhat embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Shiny Ariados, who had run out of entertainment in the treetops, retracted its silk threads and leisurely climbed back up to its spiderweb.
Seeing that both Snorlax and Ursaring had regained their senses, Yuga signaled for Florges to release them from the vines. He then approached them with a stern expression and asked, "Alright, spill the beans. Why were you fighting?"
The two Pokémon exchanged glances before Snorlax spoke up first, "Are you saying that Ursaring stole your Sweet Honey?"
Upon hearing Snorlax's account, Yuga finally understood that their brawl had originated from Snorlax's hidden stash of Sweet Honey being stolen.
Because the Flower Sea Sub-Ecopark had a high yield of Sweet Honey, Pokémon like Snorlax and Ursaring, who enjoyed honey, received regular supplies from the Combee.
However, to prevent overconsumption, Yuga had instructed the Combee to provide them with a fixed amount of Sweet Honey only once a week.
So, whenever Snorlax wanted to satisfy his sweet tooth, he would dip into his stash, consuming a portion to curb his cravings.
However, at lunchtime today, Snorlax was shocked to discover that his cherished Sweet Honey stash had dwindled significantly. This couldn't help but infuriate him.
As a result, Snorlax suspected that Ursaring had stolen his Sweet Honey.
Snorlax's suspicion wasn't entirely unfounded:
Firstly, there were only three Pokémon in Oasis No.1, and Shiny Ariados didn't consume honey, leaving only Ursaring, who had a penchant for Sweet Honey, as a potential culprit.
Secondly, Ursaring had a habit of consuming honey without restraint, never saving any for later. In other words, Ursaring had likely finished all of his Sweet Honey, making him a more probable suspect.
Listening to Snorlax's reasoning, Yuga couldn't help but gain newfound respect for him.
Previously, he had considered Snorlax as somewhat simple, mainly focused on eating and sleeping. However, his logical analysis in this situation surprised him.
Even the nearby Ursaring was taken aback by Snorlax's rational explanation and began to question herself, wondering if she had indeed taken Snorlax's Sweet Honey.
However, as soon as Ursaring realized the implication, she vehemently protested her innocence. Why would she steal when she could just ask for some?
Today, Ursaring found the situation bewildering. Without any prior warning, Snorlax had stormed into her territory, accused her of theft, and attacked her without giving her a chance to explain. It was utterly unreasonable!
Thus, the two Pokémon were locked in a vehement argument, both refusing to accept the blame for the missing Sweet Honey.