It’s painful to watch the brutal exchange of force between the two men. There are other screams of pain that force her to look away towards the raging war around them. Other lives need her attention but there’s something unspoken that keeps her close to Matias, bound by something she can’t see, only feel.

DOUBLE KICKS strike out towards the Gallade. The first is easy enough to dodge, the second lands directly on Blade’s chest. A sharp exhale costs him his breath. Stunned, he falls back onto the ground with wide eyes. He needs space. A hand reaches out to grip the Blaziken in PSYCHIC energy and throw it back as far as he could manage against the raging winds of the BLIZZARD.

Syah, the Machamp, fights against the chilled winds. Icy and snow pelt her thick skin. It’s far less than it should be, thanks to the Magmortar’s LAVA PLUMES. It’s the Machamp that notices the building start to creak and groan beneath the oppressive weight of the conflicting elements. She looks towards Eva, a deep roar bellows from her chest in warning.

Eva’s need to intervene grows stronger with Syah’s warning. The sooner they captured King, the sooner they could get out of this building and end the violence surrounding them. She came to help find justice, not watch them beat the shit out of each other. She stalks forward, intent on breaking up this fight. She’s stopped in her tracks by the loud groan of a weakened support beam. Eva’s attention snaps up towards the ceiling. A metal beam melts beneath the heat of Magmortar’s fire, threatening to let the roof fall above them, “Blade!”

MATIAS SILPH & KING WAYLAND

[attr="class","matias"]king's rage had been building, stewing, and matias, for how close they once were, had done nothing to stop it from tipping. he should've — he knows it now — but it's a thought to be revisited later, if at all.

punch,

"get—"

after punch,

"—the fuck—"

he resists,

"—OFF."

finally, shifting all his weight, matias manages to shove king off right in time for his magmortar to close the distance.

a heavy punch connects, sending king away before a torrent of FLAMETHROWER follows, pouring against his chest.

[attr="class","noodles"]KING WAYLAND + Eva Morales

The Gallade hears her call out in urgency. As soon as the Blaziken is pushed back, the adrenaline brings him back onto his feet and he is beside Eva in an instant. He follows her gaze up to the unstable beams. She doesn’t need to say anything, he knows what she wants him to do. There’s a nod of understanding and he prepares to stabilize the roof with PSYCHIC if necessary.

With the Beartic caught up in Blade’s PSYCHIC, Syah returns to Eva’s side as well, ready to cover them if necessary. Eva focuses back on the fight, but the need to intervene has passed. King is thrown back with a strong punch and flames quickly follow, “No!” she gasps, a set of wide, terrified eyes can’t tear themselves away as King is consumed in flames. Unnecessary, violent, painful, the stench of seared flesh fills her nose. She’s smelled it before, but it’s never a scent you wish to experience again. Even foul, turncoats like King didn’t deserve such a fate.

“Help him,” she orders Blade. But it’s too late. The building gives, and a loud groan is the only warning they have before it starts to fall. A beam obscures her vision of King, but her sights have already been set on Matias. She reaches out to him. He’s a bloody mess but he looks like he can walk, “We have to get out of here,” she holds him, tight, offering support if needed. Blade’s PSYCHIC deflects rubble that threatens to crush them. Now that she has him, she won’t let go. Ever.

MATIAS SILPH & KING WAYLAND

[attr="class","matias"]matias blinks, blurred and staggered on the ground as he struggles to regain his bearings even with the amount of adrenaline rushing through his body. he sees shades of red and orange flickering in the near distance, he feels the heat of the FLAMETHROWER, but never once does he look to see KING WAYLAND being burned alive.

for moments, he's brought back to much simpler times. he remembers the first day of enlistment, remembers how excited they were at the possibility of making a difference.

he remembers how hard it was at times, but he also remembers how good it felt to have people he could rely on.

to have friends.

eva's touch pulls him out of the depths. he returns with a gasp, a blink, and a shake of his head as he struggles to get up to his feet. but with her help and the help of magmortar, they start to make their way out.

his own pokemon rally behind them, covering their retreat.

[attr="class","noodles"]KING WAYLAND + Eva Morales