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Adrienn read over the newest report. Another New World gate, this one leading to a cave full of crystals. No details on the Pokémon yet; the person who’d discovered it had preferred to stay away after that first glance.
A look through the files of registered helpers showed Adrienn that everyone was already busy with other gates or roaming legendaries; this one would fall to Adrienn xemself, then. It had been a while since xe’d last taken one of the missions, so maybe it would make for a nice change of pace. Xe wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate the dangers in the New World, but xyr team had gotten more than enough training even with the additional workload. So, once the others had been notified, xe grabbed xyr gear and headed out.
Something about this gate was different. Even inside caves, New World air always carried a sweet, metallic scent, like space; this place, on the other hand, only smelled of earth and stone. A few Sneasels eyed Adrienn from near a tunnel, though they kept their distance for the time being.
“Watch them for me, Kailen.” Adrienn’s words echoed slightly in the cave, though they were almost drowned out by the small waterfall nearby. Despite the noise, when the Gardevoir appeared, he had understood his trainer, cautiously watching the Sneasels as Adrienn examined the cave.
The waterfall made the ground underneath xyr feet vibrate; the water at its base seemed shallow, though Adrienn had little desire to go for a swim, especially after seeing the Hydreigons hovering near it. Something about them looked off, but Adrienn opted to keep xyr distance rather than investigate. Even with a type advantage, a swarm of Hydreigons was no easy match. And perhaps xe felt even more apprehensive about them after…
Xe shook xyr head, focusing on the cave instead.
A Pokémon in the middle of the cave drew Adrienn's attention. Its graceful movements immediately reminded xem of a Gardevoir, though its coat only covered the back half of its waist, like a cape, and its movements showed power just as much as elegance.
Kailen eyed the unknown Pokémon, equal parts wary and curious. Perhaps he, too, noticed the similarities, though the Pokémon could've passed for a Gallade just as easily as for a Gardevoir.
The New World had, until now, never spawned its own Pokémon. Some of them were only known in myths and legends, and the ultra beasts’ origin was unknown, but they had been seen before. This Pokémon, though, was completely new.
Had the New World suddenly changed rules? It seemed possible, considering everything else that was going on in it, but still peculiar. Maybe it was simply a regional variant? But if so, from where? Of course, Adrienn was no professor, so there would be a decent chance xe didn’t know every Pokémon in existence. Both Gardevoir and Gallade were often seen on challengers’ teams, though, so it stood to reason that any variant of them would be, too.
The Pokémon turned around and spotted Adrienn. Xe froze, waiting for its reaction. Not all wild Pokémon were territorial, and Adrienn hoped this was one of them, though xe still tried to appear as nonthreatening as possible. Would it recognize Kailen as a distant relative, perhaps? If it wanted to interact with xyr Gardevoir, xe would let it, as long as it did not turn into a fight.
For now, though, the Pokémon simply watched.
“Gaaar?” Kailen finally said and tilted his head to the side.
The strange Pokémon stepped closer, eyes looking to Adrienn again and again, as if it wasn't sure whether xe was to be trusted.
“I mean you no harm,” Adrienn assured it, though the Pokémon didn't seem too convinced by xyr words. Still, it took another step, wary but not aggressive.
Adrienn stayed put, letting it come to xem on its own terms.
As the Pokémon neared, Adrienn noticed that its blade as well as parts of its body emitted a soft magenta glow, and its limbs reminded xem of a Genesect, of all Pokémon. Perhaps it was a Gardevoir or Gallade that had been modified by someone? But no one had seen any settlements in the New World yet, and the technology that had been found worked differently from the real world.
The Pokémon stopped in front of Adrienn and bowed its head. Xe responded in kind. Even up close, xe couldn't tell if it would have been a Gardevoir or a Gallade; perhaps neither, or both.
Well, xe knew what that was like.
“I apologize for the intrusion.” Adrienn said, and the Pokémon watched xem intently. “I mean no harm; would you let me scan you?”
If it was known somewhere, maybe xyr Pokédex could shed some light on this mystery. Adrienn moved slowly as xe pulled it out, careful not to startle the wild Pokémon.
The Pokédex beeped once as it scanned it. “A Pokémon recently sighted in the Paldea region, rumored to be from the future. It was named Iron Valiant, after a similar sighting recorded in an old expedition journal.”
The Pokémon looked at the Pokédex, but without fear. Maybe it was used to devices like this.
“So you’re from the future? It seems we’ve both journeyed through time, then.” Adrienn smiled, while Iron Valiant only tilted its head to the side. “Maybe I should try to find out more about what’s been happening around the world recently. I’ve been so busy with Reborn and the New World…” Xe sighed, focusing on the Pokémon again. “It seems my Gardevoir has taken a liking to you. Would you like to join me? You seem like you would be a good fit for my team.” Xe couldn’t be sure just how much Iron Valiant understood, but Gardevoir were already quite smart, and one that came from the future…
Iron Valiant seemed to consider Adrienn’s words. It looked at Kailen, then around the cave. The Pokédex didn’t have much information on it, but if it was similar to its ancestors, Adrienn doubted that this would be its first choice for a home.
When Iron Valiant’s eyes returned to Kailen, the Gardevoir nodded emphatically. “Gar!”
Finally, Iron Valiant looked back at Adrienn, inclined its head and held out a hand.
“You will? Great.” Adrienn fished an empty Poké Ball out of xyr bag and took a step towards Iron Valiant. When it didn’t move away, xe gently touched its palm with the ball’s opening; red light enveloped Iron Valiant, and there wasn’t even a single shake before the tell-tale ‘Ping!’ of a caught Pokémon sounded through the cave, drawing the eyes of a few of the other inhabitants. Now that Adrienn knew about Iron Valiant, xe noticed similar differences about the Hydreigons. Had they, too, come from the future?
It was a question for another time. For now, Adrienn had a mountain of paperwork to return to; this gate may not have lead to a New World legendary causing chaos, but it was an outlier among the other gates, which meant it should be documented and ideally researched more thoroughly.
Perhaps Adrienn would be able to return xemself if the appearance of new New World gates ever slowed down, find out more about these time-traveler Pokémon. It was, after all, not every day xe met someone else who’d found themselves in the wrong era.