This was unmistakably a fragment— a fragment of Arceus' Plates!
A sudden flash of red light flickered at Maki's waist. Without being summoned, Charmander burst out of its Poké Ball on its own. Its eyes locked onto the fragment in Maki's hands, drawn to it by an unseen force.
It was an instinctual call, buried deep within its very genes.
Charmander reached out its small claw and lightly touched the fragment. At that moment, as if triggering a hidden mechanism, the once-dormant shard in Maki's hand emitted a faint red glow.
But just as quickly as the light appeared, it vanished, as if it had never been there in the first place.
"Char?"
Charmander let out a soft cry. It could feel something changing inside its body. Then, in an instant, it was engulfed in a brilliant white light.
"Charmander?"
Maki stood frozen in shock. Was it evolving?
Truthfully, Charmander had already accumulated enough experience to evolve long ago. It had merely lacked the right catalyst. But now, this fragment—the very piece of Arceus' Plates—seemed to be that missing trigger.
The white glow of evolution wrapped around Charmander, rapidly altering its form. Within seconds, the light receded, revealing its new form.
Charmander had evolved into Charmeleon!
Charmeleon's body shape remained similar, but its skin had darkened to a deeper shade of red, and its eyes gleamed with sharper intensity. A single horn-like protrusion had formed on its head, and its mouth had become more pointed—almost beak-like. Its limbs and tail had grown longer, with its claws now more pronounced and razor-sharp. The flame at the tip of its tail still burned fiercely, a symbol of its life force.
"Char-rooaaaar!"
No longer Charmander—
Charmeleon let out a triumphant roar, exhilarated by the surge of power coursing through its evolved body. It could feel its strength had increased by leaps and bounds.
"It looks like this helped you too."
A voice echoed in Maki's mind—it was Arcanine.
But this time, his voice was noticeably weaker.
The excitement of Charmeleon's evolution faded as Maki turned toward Arcanine. The Plate fragment he had just spat out… it must have been the very source of energy sustaining him. Now that he had given it away, his life force was rapidly fading.
He was running out of time.
"Why did you give this to me?"
The slight joy Maki had felt moments ago was instantly crushed. A wave of sorrow welled up within him.
A Pokémon as strong as this Champion-level Arcanine… even he could not escape the ravages of time. Whatever enemy he had faced before reaching this state must have been terrifying. If he had been at his peak, perhaps he would not have met such a fate.
This was the cruel passage of time. Few Pokémon could resist it. Even Ghost-types, known for their longevity, would eventually meet their end.
"…Are you feeling sad for me?"
Arcanine's voice had grown even fainter, his mental connection with Maki slowing as his energy drained away.
"…Maybe." Maki exhaled softly. "You must have once stood at the peak of this world."
"The higher you stand… the more you realize… how small your power truly is."
"Ninetales…"
A sorrowful cry came from nearby. The Ninetales beside him whimpered, nudging Arcanine gently. She seemed to be pleading for him to take back the Plate fragment—to hold on just a little longer.
"No need to mourn for me, Little Nine… and you, human child. Time… is the domain of the Great Lords of Sinnoh. I am merely returning… to their embrace."
"The… Great Lords of Sinnoh?"
Maki's breath caught in his throat.
Why had he heard that name here— in Kanto, far from the Sinnoh region?
The Great Lords of Sinnoh… the ancient title of Dialga and Palkia, the Legendary Pokémon who governed Time and Space.
For centuries, the people of Sinnoh had revered them as divine protectors. Even today, many in the region still worshipped them.
But for that name to appear here, in Kanto— it didn't make any sense.
"You still haven't told me… why you gave this to me. You suffered these grievous wounds because of it, didn't you?"
A fragment of Arceus' Plates— Even just a sliver contained boundless power, enough to drive people mad with greed.
"In time… fate… will reveal the answer to you… Do what you must… Whatever it is… may the Great Lords of Sinnoh… watch over you…"
With those final words, Arcanine's eyes lost their last glimmer of life. His proud head lowered, his spirit now returned to the divine beings he had worshipped.
"Niiinnn!"
Ninetales threw back her head and howled in mourning.
All around the cave, the other Pokémon followed suit—
Ninetales, Vulpix, even the Growlithe and the younger Arcanine bowed low, paying their final respects to the one they had seen as their guardian.
They did not worship the Great Lords of Sinnoh. They did not share Arcanine's faith.
But none of that mattered.
Because their bond was something greater—something that transcended both blood and belief.
Maki took a silent step back, then bowed deeply alongside Charmeleon.
A final farewell.
Even though Arcanine had never explained his reasons, the simple fact that he had entrusted Maki with this fragment was more than enough.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason Maki paid his respects.
More than anything, it was the overwhelming emotions that stirred within him as he witnessed this moment.
Arcanine had told him— If he still had questions, he could ask Ninetales.
But Maki didn't speak right away.
He knew…
She needed time to grieve.
Silently, he and Charmeleon moved to a corner of the cave, leaning against the rocky wall, watching.
Tears streamed down Ninetales' golden fur as she lay beside Arcanine's still form. Her small frame looked even more delicate next to his.
Maki sighed and turned the Plate fragment over in his hand.
There was no doubt— A fragment of Arceus' Plates was an unfathomably powerful artifact.
But something about this didn't sit right.
No…
Something was definitely wrong.
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