The stolen plate fragment was significantly smaller than the one in their possession—perhaps only a quarter of its size.
Even compared to the piece Team Rocket had stored, it was noticeably smaller. But even so, it was still a genuine fragment of Arceus's Plates—an artifact of immeasurable value.
By the time Ninetales rushed back with the news, the incident had already transpired.
Having listened carefully to Ninetales' account, Maki fell into deep thought. He was certain that Team Rocket couldn't have been responsible for this.
For one, in his memory, Team Rocket had never shown such proficiency with Rock-type Pokémon, and their ranks included a trainer with a Tyranitar as a primary force. Moreover, when Team Rocket committed such acts, they never bothered to hide their identity—they always operated in a bold and direct manner.
More importantly, if something this significant had occurred, there was no way Maki would have been left in the dark. Team Rocket wouldn't have simply stood by and done nothing.
"So, why did they entrust me with the other matter?"
In truth, this was the question that puzzled Maki the most.
If Team Rocket discovered that a pack of Arcanine had been safeguarding a fragment of the Flame Plate, they would have mobilized at once to seize it. That wouldn't have been surprising in the slightest.
But the elder Arcanine had sought him out instead, and no matter how much Maki wracked his brain, he couldn't figure out the reason.
"I don't know. That was his decision."
Ninetales simply shook its head in response to Maki's inquiry.
"You don't know?"
Maki's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Ninetales.
Seriously? That was a fragment of Arceus' sacred tablet! And they gave it away on such an arbitrary decision?
Noticing Maki's skepticism, Ninetales continued, "If I had to give you a reason, it would be this—he made the decision, and we supported it. After all, these two fragments were originally brought here by their ancestors."
The ancestors of Arcanine?
From what Maki recalled, the region once known as Hisui—now known as Sinnoh—was indeed home to an ancient clan of Arcanine, revered as the Lords of the Islands.
However, the Hisuian Arcanine differed in both type and appearance from their Kantonian counterparts, possessing a Fire/Rock typing.
So, was this elder Arcanine truly a descendant of those ancient island guardians? Had their ancestors migrated to Kanto for some unknown reason, with their descendants adapting to the local environment and reverting to the form of the Kantonian Arcanine?
It all made logical sense. But it still didn't answer Maki's biggest question—why him?
"Do you know anything about this 'Great Lords of Sinnoh' he mentioned?"
Maki asked after a moment of silence. Since Arcanine hadn't left him an answer, he had no choice but to seek it himself.
During their conversation, the elder Arcanine had repeatedly referenced the "Great Lords of Sinnoh," prompting Maki to make a connection.
"I know a little," Ninetales replied. "It's a legend that has been passed down through their lineage—of the Great Lords of Sinnoh, who governs time and space. Whoever takes on the role of clan leader must remember this legend and pass it down for all eternity."
After answering Maki's question, Ninetales returned to the elder Arcanine's lifeless form. Using telepathy, it conveyed one final message:
"You've asked all you needed to. The rest of your questions—neither I nor anyone else can answer. You may leave."
"This is…"
"Did you really think we sought you out to ask for your help?"
Ninetales' voice carried a hint of disdain in Maki's mind. It was clear that it did not see any value in Maki's abilities. Even though the elder Arcanine had acknowledged him, Ninetales remained unimpressed.
Maki's Charmeleon had evolved from its previous Charmander form, but among the Pokémon dwelling in this cavern, even a random Ninetales or Arcanine could easily overpower it.
"Do you know anything else about that person?"
Ninetales, expecting Maki to leave in frustration, was surprised by his question. It lifted its head and gazed at him with curiosity.
"I may be weak now," Maki admitted, "but if Arcanine chose me, then he must have believed I had the potential to grow stronger. As long as I'm alive, I will reach that point someday."
He didn't bother telling Ninetales that he had a Dragonite at Champion-level strength. It wouldn't have mattered—by now, the one who stole the fragment was long gone from Orange City.
If the situation was dire enough, that person might have even left the Kanto region altogether.
Ninetales didn't know what gave Maki such confidence. Even if it had been present that day, at best, it and Arcanine together could only have driven the attacker away.
Yet, perhaps out of respect for the elder Arcanine's decision, it chose to believe in Maki as well.
"Based on the accounts of those present that day, judging from the tone of the attacker's voice, he seemed to be quite old by human standards. More importantly, some of the clan members noticed a scar on his hand, though they couldn't describe the details clearly."
Ninetales relayed this information to Maki exactly as it had been told.
"It's not much, but it's enough."
Maki simply nodded before turning to leave the cave, his departure watched closely by the Ninetales and Arcanine within.
After he left, a slightly smaller Ninetales approached the clan leader hesitantly.
"Nine~ Nine?"
Are we really giving that thing to a human? That was something the elder Arcanine fought to protect with his life.
The clan leader of the Ninetales said nothing. Instead, it glanced at the elder Arcanine's remains, then fixed its sharp gaze on the younger Ninetales.
Understanding its leader's will, the young Ninetales lowered its head and quietly stepped back, saying nothing more.
It wasn't that it had any designs on the fragment. Perhaps, due to certain experiences, it harbored a deep distrust of humans. Especially this particular human. It couldn't understand why the elder Arcanine had entrusted something so important to him.
And yet, perhaps out of its respect for the elder, its resentment only grew stronger.
Once Maki had left, silence returned to the cavern. Not a single Pokémon made a sound.
As he walked away, Maki instinctively turned to glance back—only to find that the cave entrance had vanished, replaced by an unbroken rock face.
Clearly, Ninetales had concealed the entrance using its psychic abilities once more.
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