Golden light flooded the sandy plains as the sun sank, the Krykna spiders crawling down their caves for the night. Gentle hoots of Convors echoed across the planet as they called to their young to come home.
Whiplash lay in his full size at the top of a structured flower, paws crossed over each other and head resting on the rough surface of the plant. His eyes were closed as he rested, relaxing after his evening laps. It had been an interesting day. No missions, just catching up with friends. Whiplash didn't participate much, but overheard Kanan saying something to Ezra about a Bendu whatever that was. It sounded like a Force ability the Jedi was trying to teach his apprentice.
Whiplash yawned for a few moments, before settling down again. This kind of peace he'd found, was one he appreaciated above all. Calm, yet full of life. It was a sign that things weren't all bad, a sign that the Empire hadn't destroyed everything.

"Hey."

Whiplash backflipped onto his feet and swung round, teeth bared and a snarl growing in his throat, tail raised defensively. Fawn sat at the edge of the flower, unphased by the dragon's harsh noises. She gave a two fingered salute and crossed a leg over the other.

"What up hot shot" she said.

Whiplash instantly backed down, straightening his posture and gave a nod of greeting.

"Fawn" he said.

"What brings you up here?"

"Could ask you the same thing" Fawn replied.

Whiplash turned and lay back down.

"You wouldn't understand" he said.

"Try me" Fawn shrugged.

Whiplash gazed down at the ground so many meters below, exhaling slowly and not replying.

"Whiplash" Fawn probed.

"Please, talk to me."

The dragon sighed so heavily, his shoulders could be seen to rise and fall. 

"It doesn't matter-"

"Just spill it."

Whiplash mentally swore at Fawn's stubbornness. He loathed and admired how she refused to give up. With a sigh, he complied.

"You've always had a stable bond with Hurricane, the connection you have with him is emotionally and mentally balanced, no matter how or what happens, you always stick together through thick and thin. The strongest forces couldn't tear you two apart, not even when you went rouge with the Dark Side."

Fawn stood and approached the dragon, standing next to him. Whiplash had his eyes closed, lips tight. He spat out a bitter laugh. 

"How? How do you do it? Hell, I get separated from Ezra for six kriffing months and he's a snarking lieutenant commander?! Our bond gets fractured because of one single separation, I might as well have left for one day and we'd be in this situation!"

Whiplash huffed a spiteful laugh, his eyes opening, glaring down on Fawn.

"I expect the entire reason you're actually here is to try to convince me to work things out with Ezra? Well, if you had't noticed, I'm not the same dragon anymore. I never will be the same dragon, I've grown beyond what I used to be. I am independent, I am strong, and I don't let my emotions hold me back. Emotions are the source of weakness, they only limit your vision."

Whiplash stood, head raised to the sky. Taking a long breath in, he exhaled and continued.  

"I used to look at the sky and there I saw a barrier between dreams and reality. I wanted to explore the galaxy beyond but I couldn't, I was scared. Fear was the worst. I felt helpless. But now," a slow smile lifted Whiplash's lips, although, Fawn couldn't help but notice how no sign happiness was in the expression. 

"I cannot feel emotion, so the possibilities are endless, anything is achievable. I can do anything."

Whiplash looked down on Fawn. She stood arms crossed and expression plain, an eyebrow lifted. 

"Well? Aren't you gonna say something?" Whiplash asked.

"Yeah, you're dumber than you used to be."

The dragon blinked. 

"What?" He asked after a few moments.

"You heard me" Fawn said, then put a hand on her hip. 

"So you think you can't feel anything?"

"That's what I said."

Fawn raised a brow before punching the dragon hard on the underside of his scales, the Force aiding her blow. Whiplash coughed, placing a paw over the area, teeth gritted. 

"What were you saying?" Fawn looked at her fingernails casually.

"I meant emotion Fawn" Whiplash growled, removing his talons from his side and shaking himself.

"Emotion?" 

Fawn grabbed the dragon's horns and yanked his face close to hers. The dragon blinked in surprise. The girl placed a hand on the reptile's forehead, brow furrowed. Whiplash's eyes widened as the world began to spin.
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Whiplash clawed and kicked roughly at the multiple trees surrounding him, uprooting them aggressively. Deep claw marks were ripped through the earth, scorch marks of lightning scattered across the ground and dying fires flickered close by. Embers trailed down from the sky, speckling the dark smoke from previous explosions. Whiplash grunted, claws digging into the ground as tears rolled down his face.

"Forget him!" He whimpered.

"Just forget he exists!" 

The dragon grabbed a young tree in his jaws and ripped it from the ground. Swinging round, he threw as far as he could. His legs failed him, forcing him to the ground. Whiplash cried into the upturned dirt and grass, breathing heavy and shoulders shaking. Talons gripping the dirt, he tipped his head back to the sky.  

"FORGET HIM!" He screamed, tears falling uncontrollably. 

Dipping his head, Whiplash sobbed into his paws, chest tight. A gentle wing on his back made him lift his tears streaked face. Moonshine gazed down on him, green eyes bearing so much kindness it broke him even more.

"I know" his mother said.

It was all that needed to be said. Whiplash burrowed into Moonshine, hiccuping on caught breath. The female dragon softly kissed her son's forehead, nuzzling him gently.

"I know."
_________________________________

"Our attack is a stealth strike, we need to plant the charges with extreme precision and we're not taking second chances. One of my comrades did so, they were killed" Whiplash paced in front of his squadron. 

"I've learned with every mission I've done, that risk is compulsory but common sense is extremely important. You've learned by now I hope, the rule I've followed ever since being accepted into my first squadron; Accept orders, follow orders, get the job done. It's what I've learned and what I hope you will all do while under my command."

The dragons of Gold Squadron nodded.

"Excellent, any questions?"

One paw raised.

"Yes Twilight?" 

"Well, you were part of the rebellion weren't you?"

Whiplash stiffened a little but gave a curt nod.

"Yes? Why might you ask?"

"Well, we've all heard stories that you had a rider , wasn't he called Ezra Bridger-?" 

"Never mention that name!" Whiplash snarled, wings raising.

"While part of this unit, my past and what happened during it is my business, none of any of yours, is that clear?"

"Yes Commander" all dragons said at once.

"But...Commander-" Twilight began.

"Enough Twilight" Whiplash said, wings lowering.

"If you had a rider, why didn't you stay with him? Why isn't he here?"

"Twilight" Whiplash growled in a warning tone.

"Don't speak out of place."

"Isn't a rider and dragon supposed to stay together their entire lives? You should be with Ezra shouldn't you-?" 

"TWILIGHT!" Whiplash roared.

"Enough! One more word about that boy and I will remove you from this squadron! Is that clear?"

Twilight instantly nodded, head bowing.

"Yes Commander" she said softly.

"Good, we set out this evening. I want you all here at six."

Whiplash turned on his claws and walked from the group.
__________________________________

Whiplash paced back and forth in his room, breathing slowly, uttering the same thing over and over again.

"He's not with you anymore, he's not with you anymore, he's not with you anymore, he's not with you anymore, he's not-"

Whiplash turned to look at his shelf where a holo was being displayed. It was a photograph of himself and Ezra. Going over, Whiplash picked it up. This was something Ezra gave him a while back, at least a week after they were bonded. Exhaling, Whiplash went over to his chest and threw it inside. Shutting the lid, Whiplash growled softly before lifting his head.

"He's not with you anymore" he said firmly.

"He's not coming back."

Stepping from the chest, Whiplash left his space, hard faced and determined eyed.
__________________________________

"STOP!" 

Whiplash threw himself away from Fawn, panting, eyes wide. Fawn was staring at the dragon,  fingers curled and hand still raised. Silence fell between them, for a long while as they regained their breath and composure.

"Y-You...you tried to forget him" she managed to get out.

Whiplash gazed at Fawn for a moment, pursing his lips together, he turned away.

"I had to" he said, voice different.

It was no longer firm, but soft and a little shaky. He looked up at the stars, sighing.

"Every night, I would look up at the sky, dreaming of these days to come. Now that they have, I...I don't know..."

Whiplash sighed.

"You don't know what to do" Fawn said.

Whiplash looked over, eyes heavy with sorrow. He nodded. Looking back out to the sky, Whiplash exhaled heavily. Suddenly though, he felt something wrap around his neck. He glanced down to see Fawn hugging him tightly, head resting on his nape.

"I'm sorry" Fawn murmured. 

"For what I did. I shouldn't have gone into your mind, you shouldn't have relived those memories."

Whiplash's eyesight went blurry, then he realised tears were starting to form. He started to lift a paw to wipe them away but he paused. He hadn't cried for months.

"Let it go" Fawn said softly.

"Just let it all go."

Whiplash put his paw down and let himself cry, let himself be comforted so tomorrow he could be strong again.