Trial of Scales: Laguna

Unlike past experiences, this time Seta was with her. He joined the trial's location if only to simply speak and reveal the truth about the area. Was this something specifically for abandoned spirits? She couldn't say, but it did spook her for a moment, catching her entirely off guard when he spoke.

The koi pond was massive, and she couldn't help but kneel in awe at the site of it all for a moment. Thousands of brightly colored Magikarp swam back and forth. With nothing to disturb them, no strong water currents, and most importantly no other pokemon, they were at peace. In all of her experience with Pokemon, she had never really felt any kind of awe in reference to any Pokemon besides a Legendary before.

This was different.

She was right that Seta must have had almost a million Magikarp, she just didn't expect to see them all at once. A mess of emotions washed over her as she remained on the ground. All these Pokemon, were they dead? Were they all sacrificed? But... were they happier here? They seemed so at peace with themselves. Nobody to treat them like garbage, just another Magikarp to toss away, to beat up for cannon fodder or EXP and leave to dust.

It honestly made her feel a bit guilty for all the times in past games when she ignored Magikarp. Was it really only worth something as a Gyarados? It was designed to be weak and worthless, to evolve into a powerful dragon. But imagine that being your existence. A living, breathing existence where you had to work twice as hard as everyone else, to maybe even have a chance to become something greater.

It made her sad. There was seemingly no time limit to her trial, so she just sat there. Lost in her thoughts. Somehow, she could feel something waiting for her too.

Scales brushed against her ankles as she carefully pushed her way into the koi pond. Patterned Magikarp of all shapes and sizes brushed against her as she carefully made her way into the water.

The water was perfect, so clear and unpolluted. Not even dirt floated within these waters. Just the right temperature that it felt just, normal. Not cold, not hot, just right. If she was here for pleasure, she would have enjoyed just sitting back, floating amongst the Magikarp, and zoning out completely.

And yet, she had a job to do. One of these Pokemon wanted to leave, needed a home. She was going to give it one.

She walked in waist-deep and could feel them constantly brushing against her at this point. It felt almost surreal, and all the colors had her head spinning for a moment. "Seta," She suddenly spoke up, presuming the keeper of the dead could still hear her. "Why did you come with me this time? Are you, watching me?"

She didn't expect an answer, in fact, she was going to act as if there wasn't one. She just needed to get the question out into the air before it consumed her, letting her focus on her task. The woman eventually just kneeled down, allowing the fish to swim all around her. There was only one idea she had for finding which one wanted to leave.

She would grab every single one if she had to. She wouldn't subject them to a fishing rod in their safe home if she didn't have to.

She had stopped counting at around four hundred and forty-one Magikarp. It was hard to focus. Exhausted, she slumped back and allowed herself a brief reprieve to just float in the crystal clear waters.

Her arms ached, but that was something resting her body could solve. She floated with limbs outstretched, letting a quiet sigh escape her lips as she began to mentally debate a better plan. There were thousands here, and she had probably already attempted to grab the same one multiple times even. There had to be a better way. What else did she know about Magikarp, again?

She suddenly sat upright, standing in the water once more as she suddenly shouted.

"If you want to leave, jump!"

And sure enough, after a few seconds, a black calico Magikarp leaped high into the air and splashed down into the water.

"Oh my god, I'm such a fucking idiot." Laguna laughed almost immediately at herself, quickly pushing through the school of fish to find her Magikarp. The one that wanted to fight, the one that desired to grow.

It took her a few moments to find them, but they were still approximately where they landed, swimming in circles. Kneeling down, she wrapped her arms around the fish and it didn't even attempt to fight her. Their eyes were just wide, looking up at them with what could only be described as a happy expression.

"Seta," Laguna began, giving a soft smile down at the Magikarp. Leaning down, she pressed a gentle kiss to the head of the fish. "I found them. I've learned my lesson, being stubborn isn't always the answer. Sometimes the right answer is the easiest one, I shouldn't overcomplicate everything."

But god damn, was that going to be a hard lesson to remember.