"Interesting..."
Putting down the research papers he was reading, Kaito Graves couldn't help but wear an extremely wide, excited grin as he took one hand off the papers and placed it near his heart.
"I haven't felt it beat like this in a while!"
His expression would easily unnerve anyone who saw it.
At 6'7", Kaito Graves has the frame of a seasoned climber—lean, with condensed muscle not meant for showing off but for surviving. His body is like a storybook, marked by scars on his knuckles and face, faint burns along his forearms, and most notably, a grotesque, massive scar stretching from his collarbone to his shoulder, partly hidden beneath the white long coat he wears.
But it's his eyes that make people stop in their tracks—a bright, golden pair that gleam with excitement, often partially hidden behind overgrown bangs. His jet-black hair falls just above his shoulders, unkempt and long overdue for a cut.
Finally, his outfit is as battle-worn as the man himself. His long white coat is frayed at the edges, marked with scorch marks along the hem, and patched with mismatched stitching from quick repairs. Beneath it, he wears a form-fitted grey thermal shirt, dark expedition-grade cargo pants, and lightweight, scuffed combat boots built for both grip and speed.
Strapped to his waist is a custom utility belt—compact but overengineered. Pokéballs, scanner nodes, a fold-out diagnostic lens, and a few worn charms—gifts or keepsakes—are tucked between gear modules like they belonged there.
Kaito doesn't try to look intimidating—he's just indifferent to how others see him.
"Raiding that Aether Foundation base was exhilarating, and just when I thought it couldn't get any better."
Once again holding the papers with both hands, his voice took on a noticeably higher pitch.
"Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Space, a completely unrecorded dimension! Not to mention...!" Flipping a page, he took in the appearance of the two Pokémon on it. "Solgaleo and Lunala!"
Previously, having found murals referencing their existence in a ruin, he had still considered them nothing more than legend.
"But with this...!"
Once again taking his right hand off the papers, he put it over his eyes and laughed maniacally into the sky.
After a while, Kaito calmed down, his excited grin ever present as he took in the rapidly moving scenery around him and the rapidly approaching ocean.
Using one hand, he patted the metal surface he was sitting on.
"Metagross! I can't hold back much longer, so we're speeding up!"
'Understood.' The robotic but trustworthy voice flowed freely into his mind.
Something that may not be apparent from Kaito's appearance is that he is a psychic. But it's not an ability worth raving about, only allowing him to communicate telepathically with Pokémon he has a bond with.
Having gotten the desired answer, he rolled up the sleeve of his right arm, revealing the Keystone bracelet hidden underneath. Set into the bracelet was a smooth, glassy gem—sky-blue, with a golden and white swirl flickering at its center like frozen flame.
No words were needed. Their bond synchronized, activating the Metagrossite. The evolution completed quickly, their flight speed increasing drastically—helped along by a psychic push from Metagross to satisfy his trainer.
Rolling down his sleeve, Kaito took out a visor from his utility belt—the key to locating his first Ultra Wormhole. Putting it over his eyes, he looked ahead to check his course.
"Right on course! Poni Island, get ready to welcome me! Kaito Graves, the explorer!"
His shout was drowned out by the sound of the wind as they rapidly glided over the water.
(AN: I know an Ultra Wormhole on Poni Island doesn't occur naturally, but let's just say this is a very specific and unique occurrence.)
Reaching the beach, they started gaining altitude. Kaito—having already pinpointed the wormhole with the visor—pointed in its direction.
"No dilly-dallying!"
With a show of arrogance fitting—Kaito, the explorer—he and Metagross dove straight in.
His grin widened as he unconsciously touched the scar on his collarbone.
'I've survived when I shouldn't have. This will be no different.'
Passing through the entrance of the wormhole, they began traveling through a tunnel of constantly shifting neon lights. Floating geometrical shapes passed by at blinding speeds.
At this point, Metagross lost control, resigning himself to the nonsensical gravity as they went with the flow.
As this happened, Kaito constantly looked around—taking in every single detail he could.
'Colors. Shapes. Do they have any meaning? I can't interpret it. And what's with this gravity? It's like we're floating down the river, powerless to change the outcome.'
He couldn't continue his train of thought, as a growing sense of dread became ever-present.
Losing his excited expression, he tried to feel for the source—but he didn't have to look far. It found him first.
His mind and body came under intense pressure, like being hit by a cannonball. He sprawled out on Metagross, panting heavily. Kaito's emotions, instincts, and thoughts jumbled—nothing made sense.
'Where? What? Who am I? Is that you?' (AN: incoherent mumbling)
Metagross, sensing his trainer's state—and using his enhanced intelligence from Mega Evolution—thought of the best solution for the situation. He formed a psychic barrier around Kaito and released two Pokéballs from the utility belt, sending out Gardevoir and Hatterene—Kaito's second and third strongest psychic types, respectively.
As is apparent by his Pokémon, Kaito considers psychic types one of the most versatile and strongest typings—though that doesn't mean he lacks others.
Metagross didn't need to speak. The other two immediately increased the strength of the psychic barrier around their trainer, the effect visible as Kaito began catching his breath.
Eventually sitting up into a cross-legged position, he addressed the three as they continued to flow along the tunnel—his excited grin long gone, replaced by a solemn look.
"Metagross, Gardevoir, Hatterene. Thanks, you three."
The two next to him showed their concern on their faces, and he could feel Metagross's worry as well.
Unconsciously bringing his hand to the scar on his collarbone, only one thought filled his mind. 'Dammit...'
After an unrecognizable amount of time—distorted by the tunnel—the change was swift and abrupt. One moment they were in a tunnel of flashing lights, the next they stood on a floating platform in the middle of a void—black as far as the eye could see.
Just as Kaito dismounted Metagross, the Mega Evolution wore off—what had felt like a day was really just half an hour.
"This place is completely illogical..."
Deciding it was best to stay cautious, he rolled up his sleeve and swapped out the glossy sky-blue gem with another—equally sky-blue, but with a vivid green and pink swirl twisting at its center like a captured breeze. He turned to Gardevoir.
"I'll be counting on you if the situation calls for it."
Getting a nod in response, Kaito turned forward—only to realize the void and platform were no more. They were now in a snow-filled boreal forest.
His eyebrows shot up in astonishment—not from the scenery change, but at the Pokémon standing before him.
'A Pokémon? I've never seen that one before!'
His previous caution melted away, his natural explorer's curiosity taking over.
'It's been so long since the last one I discovered! But just what is this one?'
Inspecting the creature from a distance, he motioned for the three near him to lay low. Gardevoir and Hatterene complied easily, and even Metagross lowered himself into something like a crouch.
Gardevoir and Hatterene looked at their trainer in amusement. It wasn't the first—or the last—time he lost himself in excitement.
Meanwhile, Kaito came to a conclusion.
"A Growlithe? But this one looks so different..." he murmured.
Instead of the usual orange fur with scruffy patches on the head, chest, and tail, this one was red. It still had the black stripes, but its fur looked sleek rather than scruffy.
Kaito's Pokémon-nerd brain went into overdrive.
'An extinct species? But it's too similar. Is it what the first Growlithe looked like? Like an ancient variant, maybe?'
In his analysis, he accidentally snapped a branch—scaring the 'Growlithe?' away.
Just as Gardevoir attempted to use Psychic to capture it, Kaito raised his hand.
"It's fine."
She nodded, and they all stood to move—more accurately, they got on top of Metagross and floated forward.
As his Pokémon kept watch, Kaito took out a notebook from his utility belt, drawing and writing a description of the Growlithe while it was still fresh in his memory.
A passing thought hit him. 'I wonder what else I can find?'
His solemn expression was long gone—forgotten in the rush of discovery.
Two days passed—at least, that's what it felt like to Kaito—and some important discoveries had been made. First, the psychic barrier was no longer needed, meaning his Pokémon could recover and fight at full strength if needed.
Second—and something Kaito considered even more important—they had discovered multiple new, never-before-seen Pokémon, at least from his time. That's when he finally came to a conclusion: he was in the past of his world.
"Growlithe, Arcanine, Voltorb, Electrode, Sneasel... Is this paradise?" A look of bliss was permanently etched on his face.
Deciding to give them the temporary name of Prehistoric Variants, he continued his journey at a steady pace.
Feeling a tingle at the back of his head, Kaito turned—only to come face to face with a red-and-white fox-like Pokémon swinging its claws at his face, fully intent on killing him.
'Wow, they're beautiful... Is it a new Pokémon or a Prehistoric Variant?'
Completely failing to register the threat, he got lost in his analysis.
Thankfully, Metagross was nearby. A quick Bullet Punch sent the fox sprawling, knocking it out cold.
Kaito's face practically glowed. "A Zoroark! It's like destiny is smiling upon me!"
Zoroark—a rare dark-type Pokémon, one Kaito had always wanted. And now, not just a standard one, but something one-of-a-kind.
Like a child about to get a new toy, he jumped in place and pointed at the unconscious fox.
"Come on, come on!"
His three Pokémon quickly picked up on his intent. They floated the unconscious Zoroark over while Gardevoir cast a Heal Pulse.
They made their way back to a cave they'd found on the first day, Kaito barely able to contain himself.
"Come on, wake up! Wakey wakey, sleepyhead!" His almost desperate pleas warranted another Heal Pulse from Gardevoir, finally rousing the Zoroark.
The fox immediately went on guard—but didn't flee, realizing it had been outmatched.
That made Kaito smile. 'And she's smart too! But then why attack us? Hunger?' Considering the harsh environment, it wasn't a stretch.
Taking a few berries from their stockpile, he handed them to the Zoroark—or at least, what he thought was one.
'I'm 90% sure, and that's good enough for me.'
The reason their food stockpile consisted only of berries? Quite simple—Kaito is a vegetarian. He only eats berries, fruits, vegetables, honey, and drinks milk. Absolutely disgusted by the idea of eating eggs, meat, or fish. (AN: I don't really know why but I feel like I should clarify. I'm a meat eater myself and see no problem with it, this decision just seems to fit with the character.)
His physique is only sustainable thanks to the wide variety of nutritious berries found in the world—his substitute for meat.
Kaito clapped his hands as he stared at the Zoroark in front of him, golden eyes gleaming with excitement, making the fox shudder.
"I've got a deal for you."
(AN: I know it's only one chapter but what do you think so far?)