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Laguna couldn't even attempt to rest after the convention.

As soon as she got home, the full weight of everything just hit her like a freight train. She was going out on a date (a real date!) with someone she met online and she basically catfished him into thinking she was cool by pretending to be cool. No, correction, she was cool. She just needed to believe in herself, as hard as that might be.

It was certainly easier when snowflakes would trail from her fingers and she could shine like the sun in the virtual world of Pokémon. She still had her own real world talents, she just needed to do something with them... Maybe several things.

After spending forever trying to get properly dressed in a simple, cute light-blue dress as well as some black tights for modesty, she finally sat back down at her desk. Getting dressed properly was always such a challenge, but she wanted to look good tonight. Half-assing it with pajamas wouldn't quite cut it. Turning her attention, to her laptop, she began speaking to herself, making a verbal checklist. "Alright, alright, Food? Already ordered for pick up. Music? Already organized, from fast to slow. Outfit? Check. What am I missing? Nothing? It feels like there's something..." She just stared at her computer for a second, unsure what to do.

Just thinking about being carried to dance had her cheeks burning up all over again. He'd be doing all that work, she had to repay him somehow. Something to show him just how much she appreciated it.

Suddenly, an idea came to her. Repay him, she shall. Without a second thought, Abby slowly rolled out her drawing tablet and got to work. She hadn't met too many of Orion's Pokemon, but she certainly did have her favorite. It was time to doodle and draw as fast as she could to get something she was proud to give.

-------

The trains was crowded tonight, more so than usual. With the convention in town, it was no surprise that everywhere she looked, she saw people still wearing Pokémon merchandise. Perhaps they were out heading to nightclubs, or heading out to bars to get drunk and have a good time.

Perhaps another day. Another lifetime.

Tonight, she was anxiously tapping her fingers on her legs as she waited for her stop right near the Ocean Beach. She could only hope that the box of pizza on her lap wouldn't grow cold from heading out so early. She couldn't control public transit! Was pizza too casual for a first date? Honestly, she only knew of the place because she had ordered it so many times to her apartment. Why would she order food for them that she didn't know? It would be like a russian roulette except the bullet is undercooked dough and soggy, gross cheese, some other metaphor that made more sense. That seemed like a recipe for disaster. Worse than the last time she tried to cook herself and ended up with flour on every single surface in her small kitchen.

Maybe next time, she could make something.

Abby just sighed, groaning and rubbing at her burning cheeks. The first date hadn't even started and she was already hoping for a second one! She didn't even know if it would go well! She didn't even know if Orion would want to-

*bzzt* *bzzt*

Think of the devil and he texts you. Imagine that. Pulling out her phone, Abby lets out a sigh of relief almost immediately, despite the faint blush that swiftly claimed its rightful place on her cheeks.

Looks like the pizza would still be nice and warm after all.

"Hey! I'm actually almost at the beach! Just about to get off at the Judah and La Playa station.
Although I admit, I'm gonna be rolling for a little while, haha.
But look!"

She would excitedly send him a picture of her wheelchair, something she took while back at home. Perhaps the first time she's ever actually been excited to share any picture of her chair, and with good reason. A large electric handcycle motor has been attached to the front of it, clearly relatively new. Bought with her first real Hydance paycheck, of course.

"It's a bit too bulky to use at the con, but I tell you, it's so nice for traveling.
I'll be there in no time!

No time was probably still going to be 10 minutes or more, but for her? She couldn't have asked for more. Independence was beyond important to her and it was an absolutely massive step in the right direction. She couldn't help but feel a little giddy about it. But if the motor alone had her giddy, the mere thought of seeing Orion down at the beach under the stars, well that had the butterflies in her stomach all aflutter. And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it, except smile like an idiot down at her phone.

The flames that suddenly flickered around his heels was only the precursor to an outburst Laguna had not been expecting. She was far too stunned to be angry, just blinking as she listened to his every word.

What in the world had she done to make him so angry?

And then the pain became obvious. The pain and fear layered in with his statements, and everything just slowly clicked into place. Even when he seemed to realize his outburst, and briefly reached out, Laguna did not move. A million different thoughts running through her head, almost overwhelmed. It wasn't just a wall. It stood for something far greater, something she had no hope of understanding fully from his perspective.

If someone had told her to climb a wall when she first started, she absolutely would have struggled, falling onto her ass practically every few seconds. She struggled to even walk without wobbling. Maybe... This wasn't that different. Whatever she said, whatever pain he felt, it clearly reflected his real world situation. The way he reached out-

It was like he wanted to, but was scared. What pain did he go through? What caused him to fear so greatly? Her heart just slowly broke for this stranger.

Laguna was silent, even as she just slowly slipped down the wall, landing back on the ground. She just looked at her own legs for a few seconds, letting out a shaky breath before just sliding her back down the wall and flopping onto the ground. The slimy box abandoned at the top of the wall for now.

"You're right, I don't know anything. I don't know anything about you. I don't know who you are, or what you deal with. I don't know your struggles, or your pain." She spoke calmly, quietly, just staring at her own legs as she did so. Her hands gently rubbing at her legs, as if she was afraid thinking about them so much would make her feel numb all over again.

"... But for the record?" She paused, finally looking up at him. "If I was in your shoes, just starting this game, I would not have found it easy. I would have struggled to climb this wall. But I still would have tried. I-" She immediately paused, debating on just how much to say.

She's never admitted it to anyone before in game. Those who knew the truth, only knew because they met in person.

And yet... she felt like she wanted to.

"This world, it's not like our world. We have the chance to do things that we could never dream of. Things that we could only wish we could do. And-" She once again paused, her own pain visible on her expression as she slowly stood back up to her feet. Her legs felt uncomfortably shaky as she moved, locking eyes with Nero. They felt almost like jello and just the thought had her fighting to keep her balance, as if she was suddenly going to topple over. She gritted her teeth, only to stomp her feet and force herself to move. One little step back and forth at a time, as if reconfirming to herself all over again. Yes, she can still walk.

"That. Standing. I can't do that. I can't stand. I can't even feel them."

She doesn't say anything else at first, her own frustration and nerves swiftly building from finally being honest. Maybe it doesn't matter, maybe she'll never see this player again. Maybe he'd get frustrated and just disconnect on her. She genuinely didn't know what to expect.

But that pain in his voice, it used to be hers. She would never forgive herself if she did nothing.

"If you don't at least try, this wall will haunt you. And your entire time playing this game, you will hold yourself back. So... please. For your sake. At least, try. I promise, it's worth it." And once again, Laguna would just reach out her hand. "And if you want to walk around, that's okay too. This wall isn't going anywhere. But, if I can relearn to walk here, I can help you climb a wall. I said I was here to help, that didn't change. I have Pokémon that can assist, I have items and tools. We'll make it work, I promise."

SPOILER: Click to show

{"On the Topic of the Sacrifice for Moltres and the Trial of Sand,"}

I write this report nearly a week after the Trial, unlike all the ones in the past. I struggled to find the words to express what had happened, and how my heart still struggles to find words for answers.

This is the most challenging Trial I had ever attempted, not due to its inherent difficulty, but the emotional weight that dragged me down.

I had only just learned how to listen to the words of Pokémon. To understand what they had to say, to somehow interpret their cries as words. Like a switch just activated in my brain, and everything made sense.

During the Corruption's Influence at the Bronstanton Manor, Moltres's egg was on the verge of becoming corrupted fully. A legendary Pokémon corrupted was too great a threat to ignore. There was only one option.

Sacrifice. To use the lifeforce of a Pokémon to empower the Legendary to push through, to overcome the corruption, and help us prune it from this land.

My Pokémon began to speak. Glacia, whom was the first Pokémon Sacrificed in the first Report on the Everworld, was ready to sacrifice herself again. The look in her eyes betrayed it before words could even say. Of course, I refused. I wasn't ready to lose her again, I could not. After the first Trial for her, I swore I would never let her get hurt again.

And here she was, willing and offering herself.

And then I finally heard her speak. "It's okay Mama. I know you'll come for me."

I broke.

I just sobbed, standing there, unsure what to do. It was the first time I had ever heard her speak, and it was enough to make my heart split in two. I felt my other Pokemon speak around me, and I just... sobbed.

I couldn't refuse her. I tried. I tried so hard, and I failed. I prayed, and I sacrificed her.

And when Moltres was reformed, bright and blazing in full glory, I witnessed something amazing that had my heart just melt even further. Moltres had summoned the spirit of those that sacrificed themselves for their aid. And Glacia the Bergmite, was a burning spirit that flew through the skies, combating and fighting corruption even after death.

I had been so proud of her. Even now, her heroic spirit was acting to save us all.

In the end, when the corruption had been defeated and people began to celebrate their victory, I admit I did not stay around to see the celebreatory cheers and parties that would come through.

I had to go rescue Glacia.

Not because she was just my favorite Pokémon, the one I travel with the most, or diving into the afterlife because it was the correct thing to do. I was chasing down my baby. I hatched her in my arms, I raised her, I taught her how to fight. But even as I taught her to be a good person, I had never expected her to sacrifice herself again. I felt so selfish. I understand that helping to save all of Briarbane was because of me finally accepting and sacrificing, but I felt terrible.

My words to Seta remain a blur, even to this day. I was distraught, emotionally ruined, begging to be taken to her. But I do remember very strongly asking a few questions. "Is it wrong of me to want to convince her to be less heroic? Less selfless? More afraid of death?" I didn't know how to process it. I was terrified that sometimes, Sacrifice might be the only answer.

I admit, I am still scared that sometimes it might be the only answer.

I was not expecting Seta to answer my questions, but despite the foggy memory of my words, I will never, ever forget his. They remind me that we must find reasons to live, beyond fear of death. "You are right to be concerned. To take a spirit from the Everworld is to teach it understanding of something eternal. Immortal. Fear is erased, replaced with faith. But fear is what guides mortals. Without it, in confidence, we fade. Our steps grow tangled. The way back is lost, and a new one must be found."

He guided me to the darkness within the doorway as ever. However, looking back, I find their words very telling. Seta is the guardian of the Everworld, and it is their job to take care of these souls. To have such an intimate knowledge of their care, of mortal life, it helps me view them in a stronger light.

I only wish they would ever answer any questions about themself. I would love to know.

As my Trial began, I found myself in what could only be described as a desert filled with black sand, in a semi-permanent dawn. Footsteps of every Pokemon wandered across the dunes, endless in every direction. I orignally wondered what the challenge was, other than simply wandering about in the desert endlessly, trying to find and follow the footsteps of a Bergmite, who have very small feet.

Eventually, I realized several things. Number one, is that if I were to lay down and rest, I would eventually sink into the sand. There would be no taking it slowly, I had to continually push forwards.

The second, is that I eventually found something else beyond footprints. I found a trail of black glass from atop a dune, as if something incredibly hot had slid down it. I realized in that instant, that it had to have been Glacia. Last I had seen her, she was blessed with Moltres's flames as a spirit, and I had no reason to suspect that she looked any different. I followed these glass trails for forever. Climbing the next dune, and sliding down. Over and over again.

After an unknown amount of time, tired, exhausted, and struggling to keep going, I realized that it was getting hotter. Slowly but surely, the world was warming up, despite the sun never rising above the horizon. I had been walking practically straight towards the sun following the glass trails, but suddenly the sun was at my left.

I realized all of a sudden the truth of the situation. Glacia my Bergmite was the sun. She had been burning brightly with the power of the phoenix that had blessed her ever since. I immediately pivoted course to chase down the sun. It got hotter and hotter, and eventually I had to use my fire-proof cloak to protect me from the heat, holding it in front of me as I moved, walking blind.

I sometimes still feel the terrible sun burns that had spread across every exposed piece of skin.

I got close, and eventually called out for Glacia. She answered. She expressed how powerful she had become. Moltress blessed her. That she'd be able to take the fight to the corruption like nothing else she's ever done. She was so strong, that she could fight forever.

She wanted to be a hero.

I begged, desperate to change her mind. She didn't need to be a hero. She didn't need to be anything but herself. Glacia didn't understand. They were so strong now, they could do fantastic things. Why did I want them to be weak again?

I remember screaming out, begging her to have faith in me. Just like she had faith that I would come to the Everworld to rescue her, that she should trust me. Eventually, she agreed, even though she didn't understand.

Sometimes, I feel like she still doesn't understand.

Nobody is born to be anything in this world. We all have a choice in what we do with our life, but some things are not meant to last. If Glacia is to be strong, it will be through our bond, of this I swear to myself.

I wrap the cloak around her as soon as I feel something before me, and the world went completely black. I collapsed, holding the sun in my hands. Glacia was scared, afraid to give up the strength. I can't blame her. If I was given godly divine power, I might be hesitant to lose it too.

But I comforted her. That being scared is a good thing, remembering Seta's words. Fear guides us, it helps us. That it's okay to be afraid, because I will be afraid with her.

And then she said she loved me.

The Trial faded. Seta once again said their signature phrase, how nothing leaves the Everworld unchanged. But he also mentioned how the fire is not gone, simply controlled.

I apologize for the lack of effort and care putting into recreating his words as a quote for authentiticty. Just writing this has me emotional all over again.

I have come to realize that Glacia is now also Fire Type, on top of her Ice Type classification. Sometimes, small flames appear at the tips of her spikes like little candle flames. All that divine power, suppressed into an itty bitty form. And as much as I want to discuss the surprising changes that Everworld grants upon the Pokémon that leave it, I think it is only more appropriate how I have changed.

Glacia loves me.

She says it almost every day. She never lets me forget.

And every day, I tell her it back. That I love her. And I mean it.

She truly is my baby. I don't know what I would do without her, and I'm scared that one day, we'll need to make another tough choice all over again. And I'm a little scared on what that means.

I just hope, that whatever happens, I can keep her safe. Just as she wants to keep me safe too.

SPOILER: Click to show

{"On the topic of Laguna's Trial of Clay,"}

During a mining expedition beneath the Surge Steppes with Jefferson Westfall, we were confronted by wave after wave of these bug-like creatures that were not Pokémon of any identifiable nature. At the end, me and Marina, my Popplio who had just evolved into a Brionne to help defend us, fought to protect the others and allow them to escape. We leaped into danger, fully knowing what to expect.

I awoke someplace safe, wiped and drained of energy, but Marina did not. Her soul had gone to the Everworld, she was gone. I had no choice but to return to that place of Afterlife to rescue her. Once again, he asked his same questions as stated in the last report. I expressed that I know I will be tested just like last time. That Marina had evolved because I believed in her. That we had went out together.

I admit, I do not recall my full words. I was distraught with emotion, eager to bring her back. I could not promise death would never happen again, but that did not mean I would give up. My friends, my Pokémon, deserved more than that.

"A shared death is not a shared fate," Seta poke. Words that stuck with me, ones that I'll never forget. "There are as many paths through these halls there are souls that wander within." From there, the mysterious keeper of the Everworld led me to the door filled with darkness, and I passed through.

I woken on the edge of a frozen, rushing river, half sunk into the clay beneath the wild waters, in some ethereal place. The waters chilled me to my bone. Despite the location, I was able to notice an almost intangible spirit of Marina swimming against the waves, slowly losing her strength and being pushed down stream past me.

I'm not quite sure how the idea dawned on me, but I began to rip up clay from the river bottom, despite having to dive and freeze myself to do so. Myths and legends often described creating life from clay, and it was the only thing I could picture. I began to mold a clay form for the Brionne, desperately attempting to replicate its body in cold clay.

I had to warm it up with my hands so that I could mold it to my will, sapping even more of my strength, but it was all that I could do. It was challenging work, and as an artist I constantly second-guessed myself, trying to make it perfect.

I dared not imagine what might have happened if I only put in half the effort, went with what could be "acceptable." Marina did not deserve such treatment, she deserved everything I had. It took me a long time, but I finally managed to come up with a clay form that I was proud of. But by then, Marina had been swept away by the waves away from view.

In a panic, I ripped myself from the clay beneath my feet keeping my sturdy, and allowed myself to get whisked away as well, hoping to find her. I was tossed under the waves, struggling to breath or swim against the wild rapids. By some miracle, I found her continuing to struggle against the waves, but even as a spirit, she could swim better than I could.

I didn't think. I just tossed my clay creation towards her as I got swept under the waves.

I don't remember much what happened after that. I was drowning, tumbling and swirling in the rapids like a piece of debris caught in a storm. I only remember when I was saved by a bubble from Marina, gasping for air and shaking to my core. Somehow, some way, my efforts worked. Marina was flesh and blood again.

We cuddled on the damp beach around the river, with no energy to even move, until the world faded away. The Everworld Trial seemingly complete. And with that, I eventually found myself returning to the Everworld, drained and tired. Once again, Seta's words echoed in my mind even as he was nowhere to be found.

"Nothing leaves the Everworld unchanged."

Sure enough, Marina found herself with a strange new ability. Given that her body had been reformed from the earth, she's found the ability to absorb the earth itself to empower herself.

It is my belief, given two experiences within the Everworld so far, that whatever Trial one must complete to rescue the spirit of their Pokémon, to return them to the living, is changed in some grand manner, true to Seta's words. But this change reflects the challenges one needed to complete.

I expect this will not be the last time I find myself here.

SPOILER: Click to show

{"On the topic of the Bedrock Shrine,"}

Tunnels beneath the Brimstone Crater led us beneath, into this warm, steam-filled cave that smelled like burnt matches, or perhaps rotten eggs. The Miniature Porygons from C0D13 exposed these tunnels before and were safely wiped out before proceeding below.

The cave was hot, like the inside of an oven that had been boiling water, perhaps. Black rock formed the walls in every direction, while large stalactites hung down from above. One most notably, reached all the way down into this underground pool, that was glowing with red crystals that seemed to resemble jaws, of some kind.

There was this, presence about the room. I don't believe I have the words to describe it properly. The kind of presence where you know you're not supposed to be there, something powerful lives there. Legendary Pokémon still confuse me, but their presence is surely something I need not describe in detail.

Somehow... all of us trainers just, knew what could be done. We had to awaken the shrine, and we somehow all knew how to attempt it as well. Pray, or sacrifice a Pokémon. Some Pokémon were carelessly sacrificed. I have memories of a Sobble screaming in anger. After 5 Pokémon had been sacrificed, I only began because Glacia, my Bergmite, convinced me it was the right thing to do. She had been but recently hatched at the High Tide Shrine, so young, and yet so willing to sacrifice herself for the good of all.

We will return to Glacia and her importance in the second report.

As Glacia is reluctantly sacrificed, I made a prayer. I do not remember every word, as it was spoken in adrenaline, but I shall attempt to recreate my prayer.

"Groudon, a Porygon has claimed Kyogre's eternal power. A pretender who claims to dictate what is right and wrong and whether something deserves to exist. This island is yours. The land and all that lives upon it owe their very life to you. And so, we beseech thee to right these wrongs. To show that the island is yours to rule. Please, take Glacia, her valiant spirit, her passion, and her heroic soul. Let Glacia be a part of you."

All the sacrificed Pokémon were absorbed into the black stone of the shrine. Everyone's prayers and sacrifices combined, seemed to wake something from within. A voice became audible, roaring through the earth. Steam rolled in, and I was unable to see.

"This Island is not mine," it said. "It is yours."

A red shrine glowed through the steam fog, presumably the Red Orb based on my knowledge of Groudon. Some kind of energy blasted through the fog, likely Primal of some nature, appearing like light sinking into my remaining Pokémon as it gave them all glowing primal lines, as one might have seen on Primal Groudon.

"You must go now. I will open the way." The voice had said again. The ceiling itself split as a massive fissure rocked the cave, before a geyser blasted us up back into the sky. From there, our Pokémon managed to challenge the Porygon who had stolen Kyogre's Primal Energy. When we finally beat it, it seemed to come to its senses, before vanishing.

Shortly afterward, the Primal Energy within each of our own Pokémon slowly faded. While I did find a piece of technology that enabled my Pokémon to have the appearance of the primal lines once more, the power is no more. Perhaps temporary, or it returned where it came from. To Groudon, where it belonged. The knowledge is beyond me, but whatever the case may be, Groudon assisted us in our rescue of Beta Island, and claimed no ownership of such.

Abby would immediately try to make a mental list of all the things she'd need to prepare, only for her attempts to control her thoughts just melted as he flashed that beaming smile. Her heart felt like it genuinely skipped a beat inside her chest.

"Y-yeah!" She immediately scrambled for her phone as he asked for her number, cheeks burning brightly red at this point. "Yeah, I can give you my number! Sure! We can just- uh, I don't know! I'll definitely text you though."

Abigaelle would fistbump him right back, giggling even as she watched him walk away. She was such a mess, and she knew that. It probably wasn't even a date. Or was it a date? It sure felt like a date. She was gonna act like it was a date. Even as he walked away, Abby's heart still like it was beating hard inside her chest. "Alright Abby, [tangent="Calm the pom-pom"]On se calme le pompom. [/tangent] It's gonna go great. Just-"

Oh god.

It finally dawned on her that she wasn't just asked to find a place for food. She was asked to build a playlist.

For them to dance to.

Oh fuck.

"I can't do that."

Laguna just... frowned. He didn't even try. Did they always give up so easily? Or did the idea of just, any physical labor seem appalling to them? Something else in play? She genuinely didn't know.

She just stared at Nero with a blank expression for a few seconds before just shaking her head. "Really? And why not? I'd love to know why. Because I'm not really getting it."

Suddenly with a teasing expression, she sat down on the edge of the wall, kicking her legs back and forth over the edge. "Because, you know. Power of the mind in this world, friend. If you genuinely believe you're gonna fail, then you will and that's that. It takes some getting used to, I get it. But come on, man."

With a quiet sigh, she seemed to just casually list off things on her fingers as she spoke. Things far too grand to be spoken of so casually, but none of it was explicitly untrue. "I've broken my nose climbing a frozen platformer from hell, got swept through a freezing cold river and nearly drowned, and fought through the afterlife to capture a literal tiny sun in my arms. I've flown through the skies dodging lightning bolts from Zapdos themselves on literal flying surfboard."

"And if I can do all that and still be kicking, I don't see any reason you can't at least attempt to climb up a god dang wall." She just laughed, leaning back and just glancing up at the sky for a second. An almost nostalgic smile spreads across her face thinking about all that danger. "You think like hell I could do any of that in real life? Oh hell no. But here? It's all willpower. Just do it."

She'd finally glance back down at them, once again reaching out her hand. "And, like I said. I can help. What else am I here for? "