"the fuck?"[break][break]

while matias doesn't mind assistance, he does mind it when he's not expecting it. it forces him out of the battle for a moment to assess whether they mean well, and in that brief moment, he's left vulnerable.[break][break]

well, as vulnerable as he'll allow himself to be, anyway. so not much.[break][break]

"tch. stand your ground!"[break][break]

water ripples and evaporates under talonflame's FLAME CHARGE as it soars across to sever the rest of the ropes.[break][break]

more ICE BEAMS fly towards freya only because they're trying to hit talonflame who continues to be a nuisance.

[attr="class","ooc"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-talonflame"]

they cross each other as they reach the bow. freya whips her head around to watch the other rider sail past, gaze snapping back to where it had come from. ropes swing free from the rail, still smoking at the ends, and freya decides that, for now at least, this person is an ally. 

an ice beam aimed at the bird misses and snipes lyune's tail. the dragon roars in protest, swinging shards, and freya grits her teeth. she rises in her saddle, feet working the pedals to help snap the dragon's wing in. 

they land heavily on the bow. metal groans as the enormous beast collides; wood splinters. those who'd been fighting near them are knocked off their feet. lyune's fins rattle as he roars. a couple of the attackers are intimidated enough to jump ship.

the rest square off and order a wave of attacks against them. lyune's scales shimmer as freya hunkers down flat against him, protective energy radiating around them. but unless their ally does something quickly while they're assaulting her, they'll have to retreat.

MATIAS SILPH

☉

that's a huge fucking salamence.[break][break]

the thought is pushed aside for now as they make a sharp turn only to come soaring back towards the barge. matias slides off to land a bit away from them, and it's there he watches flames completely engulf his talonflame.[break][break]

FLAME CHARGE comes crashing. the impact scatters pokemon, buying their ally enough space to recover.[break][break]

and out flies talonflame, unscathed and ready to commence another attack.[break][break]

at the same time, their pokemon recover, and STONE EDGES erupt from the flat-bottomed barge.

[attr="class","ooc"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-talonflame"]

most of the defending crew has realized they're better off throwing down arms and running in the opposite direction of the draconic behemoth that's come to save them (unless it's come to eat them, but in that case they run all the same). with collateral damage no longer a threat, their ally swoops in. 

smoke plumes and heat washes over them in waves. lyune greets the presence of flame with a shaking tongue, spittle flying from open maw. his neck swings, lowering as the bellowing roar travels down his throat and against their adversaries. 

freya's face is twisted much the same way; her own voice rises to meet his, a harrowing crescendo spelling only doom for their enemies - flamethrower. liquid fire whistles as the salamence tosses its head and sprays the frontlines without mercy. another incoming ice beam melts and evaporates just as quickly; the sealeo is overcome seconds later. 

but then the boat shudders. freya draws hard back on the reigns but stones rip open the deck, digging sharp points into lyune's underbelly. his armor protects him from the most part, but freya's stomach drops as his left wing suddenly goes slack. 

she kicks down hard on the left pedal's stirrup, but it holds fast. swearing, she leans into the right, drawing the wing tight against his body. lyune, realizing flight isn't an option right now, draws the other wing in close and stomps forward. his bulky tail whips around and sends five flying over the side of the ship.

MATIAS SILPH

☉

a huge fucking salamence with only one functional wing. briefly, matias wonders how exactly it's still able to fly even with the help of the contraption.[break][break]

but enough is enough. he's had his fun; it's time to end the assault.[break][break]

pokeballs crack open as his pokemon flood the deck of the boat. they know how to operate on their own so he makes no point to command them. he simply watches as they sweep through the remainder of the invaders, capturing some while allowing others to flee into the water.[break][break]

finally, he approaches.[break][break]

"are you with the league?"

[attr="class","ooc"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-talonflame"]

massive claws scrape against stone as he slithers, belly low for balance, over the rock that had burst from the deck. he joins the chaos, though most of his assistance comes in the form of sending the pirates running into the waiting arms of their ally's pokemon. 

when the dust finally settles, he turns, allowing freya a good look at their friend at arms. however, she stays seated atop lyune's back, eyeing him warily, eyes narrowing only a smidge at a question she no longer knows the answer to. 

"i'm not against them," she says. lyune shifts his weight, tail curling. smoke still curls from his nostrils. his wariness stems from his tamer, who has gone rigid at the realization of just who this is before her. 

"and you? what's your name, stranger?" a stayed hand against lyune's shoulder is a move made to steady the both of tem. 

MATIAS SILPH

☉

"so, no."[break][break]

which makes the paperwork he has to do after this more complicated. how joyful.[break][break]

the salamence's change in disposition goes unnoticed for now as his focus remains on her, not quite as wary as she is but definitely not trusting.[break][break]

"matias silph."[break][break]

evidently with the league.[break][break]

"you? must be someone important with a dragon like that."

[attr="class","ooc"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-talonflame"]

"not everything is so cut and dry," she remarks at his so, no. her bow is in the satchel at lyune's hip in two separate pieces. it would take time to put it together and string it, but her quiver is still at her hip, mechanisms ready to put her arrows together at the touch of a button. 

matias silph. 

his confirmation gives her a torn expression on her face. lyune shifts, growling lowly at her response, but she draws on one of his reins, urging him to look elsewhere for the moment. 

she dismounts then, if only so she has a brief moment where his view of her is skewed by the rock and debris around them. nimble fingers pop free another ball from her necklace and she palms it smoothly, not releasing it just yet. 

"hardly. i'm an afterthought these days," she says. her gaze flicks to the side to assess the damage to lyune's saddle. a year or so ago, she'd decided to learn how to fix the thing herself and while she can't boast to returning it to tip top shape, working alongside devon co. scientists has at least lent her the knowledge to do patch jobs. 

part of it is dented, stopping some of the gears from turning. she reaches into one of the saddlebags at his side and withdraws some tools. 

MATIAS SILPH

☉

matias glares up at the salamence's reaction, this time noticing how it seems to respond to his name. so, they've heard of him. which isn't unusual but it is definitely peculiar.[break][break]

"hardly anyone becomes an afterthought if not by their own choice. so i take it you must have stepped away some time ago. after the war, maybe?"[break][break]

though he's familiarized himself enough with hoenn's history and events, he doesn't recognize her just yet. a name should help.[break][break]

"what's your name?"

[attr="class","ooc"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-talonflame"]

the morningstar crest, twisted around a pair of dragons' wings at the hollow of her throat, is well-known to the people of sootopolis. there are some in the league who would know her family. she was, after all, fashioned to be an important person. but whether matias will know it or not, she can't say, but she does her best to keep her shoulder bent in front of it while she works. 

"there's always a war, matias," she says with a surreptitious smile. 

she manages to slide one of the tools into the mechanism and pull. the dented metal groans, gears grating, but she doesn't even have to replace any of them. they spin on their own. she'll have to have it looked at, no doubt, but this will suffice for now. 

"artemis," she says, indigo eyes rising with her half-truth. she pockets the tools and uses lyune's reins to pull herself back into his saddle. her boots find his stirrups and she tests the pedals; his wing folds out smoothly.

lyune's head snakes back around, frills rattling now. his pupils are paper-thin slits regarding the human before him. his maw cracks, exposing ruby gums and teeth as thick around as a fist.

but he is mine. i can't let anyone else claim my prize.

vengeance, she understands. without being here to bear witness, KING WAYLAND would find no closure. so she curs her own bloodlust, and lyune's, and shakes out the dragon's wings. 

"i'll be going then. i'm sure the league can handle the stragglers."

MATIAS SILPH

☉

"there is but not for everyone."[break][break]

at least not for those ignorant. those who run the same way she had only to return still teetering the line of neutrality. but it's not like matias is aware of any of this. he doesn't even know who she is beyond what she presents.[break][break]

it's only when she mounts her dragon that he finally remembers the report Eva Morales had written. how out of all those involved, only one looked unfamiliar.[break][break]

"freya morningstar."[break][break]

the morningstar crest is only a crest to him; unrecognizable beyond a piece of metal.[break][break]

"you went after rayquaza, didn't you?"

[attr="class","ooc"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-talonflame"]

her eyes narrow. lyune's wings are half-outstretched, ripped and tattered edges shifting in the wind. his tongue flicks out and he shifts again, sensing freya's apprehension. silph doesn't make a physical move to stop her from leaving, but his remark is as much a barrier as any. 

"in this life and another," she says, one brow raised. her lips curl and lyune hisses lowly, large head swinging back around to stare down the man before them. "i'm surprised it took you so long. i was your brother's sword for some time."

granted, he never made a spectacle out of her. the only time he had, he'd brought her to that damned tree. and they'd fled with their tails between her legs. the puckered skin where the bullets ripped through twinges. lyune's tail flicks. 

"shame what happened to him."

MATIAS SILPH

☉

"shame indeed."[break][break]

some may say it's even deserved. matias at one point in time, perhaps, but not anymore. not after what happened in the cloud.[break][break]

despite the salamence's display of aggression, almost territorial in nature, matias takes a step forward, pushing the boundaries with another question.[break][break]

"you were once my brother's sword. what changed?"

[attr="class","ooc"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-talonflame"]