he hadn't asked after emma when she'd told him. he'd taken it with a quiet acceptance, acquiescing and recommending only that she stay safe. she looks past him at the beach, thinking back to the alex she said goodbye to - the one whose disappearance drove her mad enough to carve her way into someone else's heart that very night.

"he saved me," she says quietly, and it feels very much like a betrayal. 

because hadn't alex done the same thing? hadn't he desperately tried to draw her from this island to save her from herself?

"like i said, a lot of things have happened since you've left...i - i need some time to think about all of this." her mouth twists, fingers squeezing his tightly. "but above all else, you cannot trust FERNANDO SILPH ."

ALEXANDER STONE

☉

but it wasn't the same, not really. alex would have molded her, would have shaped her - and maybe after all was said in done, that's what she needed. but instead she had to fight tooth and nail and king didn't leave room for mercy or weakness or emotion. she asked for a monster and she got a monster in return. 

only, in the end, they were both kidding themselves - they were just two people fighting for a reason to see the dawn.

she leans forward, eyes closing, and draws herself down, feeling small. shame creeps hot on her neck. she tucks her forehead against his chest and swallows through the knot in her throat. smells him and aches for him and hurts all over again for months lost. 

"it's...it's complicated. just trust me, okay? for now, just trust me. i promise - soon i'll be able to say it." she winces. "i'm still sorting it out myself."

ALEXANDER STONE

☉

three words she's dreamed of hearing from him again. three words she's known she could never live up to, not in all her days. she doesn't deserve this; she doesn't deserve him. 

and she has so much to tell him, and so much to ask him, and she's so sure if she blinks he'll disappear. 

but all that aside, she allows herself to slip into blind complacency. to, for the moment, accept that this is all this has to be. this is all they have to be. here, and present, and more than enough.

her lips suddenly form a small o, realization startling her back. she reaches for a pokeball, one that's scratched and worn, well-loved, like lyune's. 

"i watched after him for you." she owed him that much. 

ALEXANDER STONE

☉

what a strange sentence and stranger still is how unaffected they both are by it. life and death are more closely entangled than they thought possible and here they are talking about it like they're commenting on the weather. 

she splays her hand open and the ball rolls a little in her palm. once it's plucked away, there is a warmness that fills her. she can't help but smile. 

but that smile is still weak and small. "as well as he can be. he's still grieving. being with others of his kind has helped, but only so much."

she looks over at lyune where he has settled back on his haunches, ever watchful.

"fly with us," she says, nodding towards the ball.

ALEXANDER STONE

☉

the hiss makes lyune rise. old ties and older friends mean nothing to the dragon when his mistress' safety is at stake. but undros' tail flicks and as the familiarity shocks through his body, it's made clear he's of no threat to either of them. so lyune settles back down, though turns his head as freya leaves alex's side to approach him. 

he leans into her outstretched hand and a rumble gathers in his throat. her two companions deserve a moment of privacy for their reunion so she steps up his bulk and slides into his saddle. her boots fit into his metal stirrups and as one, they unfurl his wings. 

the ground shakes as he lumbers forward. his tail slams hard into the ground, giving him extra momentum as he launches himself up and into the air. wings snap down and the world lurches, gravity threatening to tear them back down. but lyune claws upward, muscles straining exuberantly. he exhales flames as they tilt his wing, circling above their companions. 

now, somberness left abandoned on the ground, freya grins down at alexander, laughter bubbling in her chest. 

ALEXANDER STONE

☉

muscles rolling in tandem, wind whipping over their scales, her starlit hair. sunlight peeks through the clouds and they chase these ribbons playfully. when the thwump-thwump of their companions reverberates from behind, freya twists in her seat. she beholds alexander and undros and a fire gathers inside of her. 

lyune continues their steady ascent. a fluffy cloud swallows them whole, leaving freya's hair and clothes damp, lyune's blue scales sparkling with droplets of water, when they break free and emerge on the other side. 

alexander rises to join them and they've nothing below them but the rolling blankets of clouds, turned golden by the sun overhead. 

this is where we belong, she thinks.

she catches his eye and laughs. mischief tickles her and she tugs on lyune's reins. he twists upward, gaining height over them and then suddenly tucks in one wing. they barrel roll over undros. pale eyes are wide with joy as they come so near to alex. a flashing smile, an audible chuckle, outstretched hand to gently boop his nose, and then they pass.

ALEXANDER STONE

☉