Copper Warhawk

-The Everfree Forest-

Steam Shock walked alongside Wolf Heart, the duo having to move at a leisurely pace as a result of the stallion's limp. All the while, questions were building in his friend's mind, questions that begged for release.

With a sigh, Wolf looked up at Shock's slightly bloodshot, blue eyes. "Dapper... how did you survive?" she finally asked. "And who gave you the replacement wing?" The winged unicorn gestured toward the wing as she asked, intrigued by how it moved.

Shock sighed. "I told you, Wolf... I don't go by Dapper Jolt anymore. But to answer your question... I dunno how I survived. Somepony up there must like me, because I should have died from the blood loss," he shrugged. "I remember waking up surrounded by the dead to where I could smell it in the air. The first thing I did was find a way to cover my wound, and then I searched for a place to bury... to bury Cipher," Steam Shock recalled, combing through the none-too-pleasant memories. "As for the wing, some old fart, think he was a mechanic, claimed he knew me. Thought I was his son or something. When I didn't believe him, he insisted that I at least take a spare wing that he had lying about."

Wolf Heart snapped her head up at his words, wearing a shocked expression. "You were potentially reacquainted with your father... and didn't do anything?" she exclaimed. "What else did he say to you?"

"He claimed he was my father, I don't know if it was true. But, everything else is fuzzy. Think he apologized to me. Told me not to make the same mistake he did. Then I left," Steam Shock muttered. "I don't know, it was years ago."

Wolf shook her head before ushering a sigh, deciding it best just to let the matter go.

After a few moments of silence, save for the crunching of dirt underhoof, the duo reached the edge of the forest and paused. Steam Shock wore a slightly disgusted expression upon his face at seeing the weathered town of Ponyville. "What in the name of-?"

"Sombra's rampage didn't stop with the Crystal Empire," Wolf Heart explained. "He and Pitch managed to drive Celestia back. We were able to stop Sombra from taking Canterlot, but we never won the war," she muttered sadly, shaking her head in disappointment. "After that, we all just kinda disbanded. Your supposed death hit Abacus pretty hard, so I haven't seen him for a couple of years. Last I saw of Falcon Wing was about a month ago, and Jackpot... Well, he tried to commit suicide on a couple of occasions," Wolf told Shock, furrowing her brows with visible sadness.

The pegasi's expression dulled considerably at the words, and Wolf Heart looked up at him inquisitively, her body language asking what the matter was instead of her voice. "He's not the only one," Shock whispered quietly to acknowledge what he knew she was going to ask, his ears falling flat.

Hearing this, Wolf Heart's entire demeanor seemed to fall, her wings dropping by her sides and ears flat against her head. A tear touched the corner of her eye as she gazed up at the stallion in disbelief. "Tell me you're lying," she whispered, her voice wavering. "Please..."

The pegasus only shook his head slightly, turning his head away from Wolf Heart with guilt clad upon his muzzle. "I was in a rut," he muttered.

Forcing back tears, Wolf Heart circled around to face Shock and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at her. "Don't you ever think about doing something like that again," she choked, her eyes watering. "I've dealt with far too much to lose my best friend to suicide, do you hear me?"

"Okay," the pegasus acknowledged softly, nodding slightly.

Wolf Heart dipped her head with a sniffle. "Good... Now let's go see if we can find the others," she declared in a less than confident tone of voice.

-Moments Later-

"God, what happened here?" Steam Shock grumbled as he and Wolf Heart walked down the road, disgust lacing his expression at how disorderly the once bustling Ponyville was.

Wolf shook her head. "I told you, Dapper... Sombra got to it. You've certainly got a lot of catching up to do, don't you?" she replied as he scanned the drab buildings. "How about we head to the tavern, get you a drink, eh?" she queried.

"Might be nice," Shock said as though she was bound to ask.

"Aaaand, when, exactly, did you start drinking?" Wolf Heart asked at his response, her tone that of slight detestation as she turned and looked at him.

Shock sighed. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me since the war, hm? Drinking myself into oblivion with the hope of forgetting was something I used to do often," he explained flatly.

The winged unicorn grumbled to herself. "You're in worse shape than I thought," she said through a deep breath. "Dapper, you used to be a modest, charming pony," Wolf Heart said, turning and placing a hoof on his chest to stop the stallion in his tracks. "You were fun to be around. I could talk to you about my feelings, the things bothering me. I-i-it's like you completely pushed that side of you back down where I found it in high school. I understand your losses completely, but even so... It's like you've been wallowing in your own pity for the past seven years to the point of no return and I don't know if I can help you," she spluttered, clearly stressed. "You pretend to be happy to see me, you pretend to care, but I can't tell if you really do anymore, regardless of the days previous events... And that's heartbreaking."

Steam Shock wore a slightly hurt expression, gazing down at her with an equal amount of bewilderment clad upon his face. "And what about you, hm?" he said, a wave of slight anger visible upon his face as he leaned forward. "When did you become the master of my fate. Who let you decide what was right from wrong, Wolf? Or better yet, Shrapnel fucking Fury, because we all know that you decided to make a fucking name for yourself, with the God damn price on your head!!" he roared, tearing down a poster from the side of a building as he backed Wolf Heart into a wall and lifted it up in front of her face. "You lecture me about wallowing in my own pity, well at least I'm not wanted for let's see, assault on a superior officer, which, hm, happens to be Falcon Wing. Shall I go on?" Shock hollered, looming over the mare.

"Stop," Wolf Heart said in a weak voice, tears slithering down her cheeks.

"Why should I?! You go off on me for lying when you've been doing it since we fucking reunited. Tell me, was that whole aforementioned event just a ploy, a ploy to use me for your own motives!"

"No! No, it wasn't. What happened was a wonderful moment between us that I'd never take back!" she cried out, eyes wide and tears in her eye at the idea that one of her closest friends thought she was using him. "And... I-I was going to tell you," Wolf retorted, cowering slightly more so at his words than taller stature.

The pegasus stallion leaned back, calming slightly, but still with a glare upon his face as he stared at her. At seeing her guilt-ridden and sorrowful expression, Steam Shock's eyebrows furrowed, a frown touching his lips. Wolf Heart was pressed against the wall of a building, tears on her cheeks and eyes wide with fear, whilst ponies around him watched with disgust. Shock took a step forward, lifting his hoof to her.

"Don't touch me!" Wolf Heart shouted, reeling away from his touch.

"Wolf Heart... I-I'm sorry," he said guiltily, lowering his hoof and dipping his head. A moment of silence passed between the duo before Steam Shock turned away, his ears flat, and limped away, all the while he received judging looks and disgusted sneers from bystanders.

-Half an Hour Later, Ponyville Tavern-

Steam Alan Shock leaned against the bar, a large bottle of ale in front of him as his thoughts tortured him, echoing back Wolf Heart's words. "I loved you, and as a way to pay me back for the love that I showed you, you went and broke my heart." The pegasus sneered, lifting the bottle before angrily hurling it across the room, where it shattered into tiny shards against the brick wall.

Almost instantly all attention in the room was brought to him as the bartender approached. "Hey, Douchebag, why don't you take your sour-ass attitude and leave, hm?" one equine hollered from the opposite side of the bar.

Shock ignored him, his gaze unfocused and eyes glazed over.

It wasn't until he felt a hoof tap his good shoulder that the pegasus whipped around, instinctively grabbing a uniformed pony by the throat and shoving him away before slamming him into a wall. "I am in no mood to deal with anypony's shit right now, so why don't you just back the fuck off?!" he shouted.

"Sweet Celestia, Dapper, your breath reeks!" the stallion choked in response, waving a hoof in front of his face.

At the words, Steam Shock released the pony, surprise etched across his face at seeing golden feathers. "Falcon," he exclaimed, eyes wide.

"That would be Commander Falcon, to you," the pegasus stallion corrected, adjusting his glasses before gazing at Steam Shock. "You look... horrible," he exclaimed. "And I can smell the alcohol on you," Falcon Wing grimaced, scrunching his nose.

Steam Shock was still too flabbergasted to say anything.

Falcon chuckled with an eye roll. "Yes, it's me, Dapper. Walk with me, won't you?" he suggested, tossing a few bits onto the counter. "Have a drink," he said to the bartender with a polite smile as he escorted Steam Shock from the building.

After a moment, Shock shook off his surprise and gazed over at Falcon Wing. "Wait, Commander?" he finally said.

Falcon nodded. "You might be in my place if you hadn't faked your death, wouldn't you think so, Dapper? Er, sorry. That would be Steam Shock, wouldn't it? Also, nice, wing... Leg? What is that?"

"I take it you're not going to arrest me and collect that bounty?" Shock shrugged.

"Why would I do that, Dapper? You were my friend, and once, you fought by my side. It's not in my place to arrest you, don't you think?" he asked as the two walked down the road together.

Steam Shock didn't respond, shame visible crossing his muzzle as he stopped. He'd just lost his best friend and the first pony he ever truly loved over a lost temper. "Was your friend," the pegasus stallion pointed out, shaking his head solemnly.

"Dapper, you still are, you know that, right? You lied. So what? We all make mistakes, especially in war. Sometimes you have to live with those mistakes, sure, but that doesn't make me hate you," Falcon explained, turning to face the pegasus.

"She does though," Shock muttered to himself, his breath heavy and strained.

As Falcon Wing sighed and dipped his head, Shock noticed something in the background, through the dusty fog. "Jolt, she couldn't-"

"Duck."

"What? Dapper, don't interrupt me while I'm-"

"Duck!!" Steam Shock shouted, hurling himself towards Falcon and throwing him to the road as a loud roar rang out and a massive black shape swooped over their heads, a powerful heat momentarily suffocating the duo as dust was kicked up by powerful wingbeats.

Falcon shoved the pegasus off of him, where Shock stumbled back to an upright position and swiveled to face a massive black dragon whose wings were lined with serrated edges, shoulders plated with spikes. Interlocking jaws flexed and a crocodilian tail thrashed as the beast alighted upon the roadway, uttering a beastly laugh as it turned. "Oh shit!" Steam Shock growled as Falcon rose to his hooves and brushed off his uniform with a scoff.

Looking up, Falcon's expression transitioned to that of fear as the dragon leered down at the duo, eyes pulsing with energy.

"Dapper Jolt! Who in the name of Celestia is this?!" he shouted at Shock with a glare, swiveling his head and facing the pegasus.

"Don't fucking look at me, Falcon," Steam snapped back, throwing his hoof up.

Both were interrupted by the sound of the Dragon Lord's deep, guttural laugh. "Pathetic," he guffawed, shaking his horned skull and staring down at the not-so-dynamic duo with amusement. "This squabbling almost makes me want to spare your miserable lives," he snorted, taking a heavy step forward. "But I think not... How about this, though?" Pitch started with a sly tone of voice. "Commander, turn Steam Shock over to me, and I'll not hurt a soul in this wretched town of yours," the dark dragon grinned, pointing at the three-legged pegasus in question.

Falcon Wing looked over at Shock and furrowed his brows, a frown touching his lips as his friend gazed back at him with an almost pleading expression.

"Falcon, don't listen to him, he'll kill me and the rest of us," the stallion said.

"Tick tock, tick tock," Pitch sang, lifting a forelimb and nonchalantly digging dirt out from under his claws. Setting his claw down, the dragon spoke again. "I'm getting impatient, and when I get impatient, I get hungry," he taunted, smoke slithering from his nostrils.

Falcon looked at Steam Shock, his ears flat. "I'm sorry, Dapper. I can't risk the fate of an entire town for one soul," he muttered, dipping his head before turning to look up at Pitch. "Do I have your word that you won't harm anypony?" he called up to the dragon with a stern expression, eliciting anger upon Shock's muzzle.

Pitch nodded. "I won't, but Sombra has other plans for the pegasus," he grinned, taking a step forward.

With a furious expression, Steam Shock turned to Falcon Wing. "You... bastard!!" he shouted before lunging forward before Falcon was able to react, throwing a hoof at his face.

The golden-feathered pegasus shouted in pain before he dropped, unconscious.

With that, Steam Shock beat his wings once and flew towards the nearest building, hearing Pitch's enraged roar as he threw himself inside the tailor, slamming the door shut behind him. The stallion could feel the floor shake beneath him as he turned to face a white unicorn with a curled violet mane and baby-blue eyes.

"Who are you?! What do you want?! Who's the dragon?!" she belted as a nearby mannequin was knocked over with a violent tremor in the building, the dragon's thundering bellow ringing out above the panic.

"Rarity?!" Steam Shock exclaimed, approaching her with a regretful look in his eye. Wrong building, he thought with a grimace before feeling something strike his chest. Shock looked down with a deadpan expression as a roll of red linen cloth fell before him.

"Get out!" Juliet Rarity Belle screamed, hurling another cloth roll at him.

Steam Shock rolled his eyes and advanced towards her and slapping a hoof over her mouth. "Shh," he hissed, looking up before hearing Pitch's angry voice.

"Very clever, pony! But if I can't take you back to Sombra, then I'll just take the one you love!" the growling dragon snarled, peering through a window. Shock slowly backed himself and Rarity into the wall next to said window, seeing Pitch's fiery gaze penetrating the window as he sought out the pegasus.

Steam could hear Rarity stifling a scream, tears on her face as she practically hung to the stallion for comfort.

"Have it your way then!" Pitch roared, lifting his head and stomping away.

As the sounds of his footsteps trailed off, Steam Shock slowly removed his hoof from Rarity's mouth, peeking out the window for any signs of the dragon. "Thanks for the shelter, Miss Belle," he grunted before hesitantly leaving the building.

A short distance away, Shock could hear the sounds of panic as massive black wings rose above a cloud of smoke, a demonic roar echoing out.

"What have I done?" he muttered before Pitch emerged from the smoke carrying something in his large talons. Even in the distance, he could see the blue fur, dark blue mane and tail, and wings and horn of Wolf Heart. "No," he muttered, anger crossing his face. "Nooo!!" With that, he took to the sky, but not before a concussive blast from Rarity stopped him and he fell.

-Hours Later-

Steam Shock awoke suddenly, lurching to an upright position with a gasp and causing most in attendance to lurch away from him. "Ghrk!" the stallion choked with a grimace, lifting a hoof to his chest and heaving for breath. A moment passed before he looked up and noticed several ponies surrounding the bedside, a few of which he recognized almost instantly.

"Hello, Dapper Jolt," one smiled, taking a step forward. Though he now possessed a better former out mustache and sideburns, with a small beard, the stallion recognized his hazel eyes and short black mane to be that of Abacus Oak.

"Abacus," he exclaimed in response, surprise visible upon his face, leaning back before noticing the additionally black-maned unicorn beside him. "Jackpot?"

Jackpot Ace nodded with a chuckle. "Good evening," he smirked.

Leaning against the far wall, Shock noticed Falcon Wing before a scowl touched his lips. "What is he doing here?" Steam growled, pointing at the commander.

"More realistically, Dapper, what are you doing here? Everypony thought you were dead," Abacus acknowledged, furrowing his brows. "Everypony saw you dead on the field. Sombra killed you." As he spoke, the earth stallion began to grow visibly distressed, his words slurring together to become more of a rambling.

"Well, surprise, surprise... I'm not dead," Steam Shock grumbled. "Happy to see me?"

Abacus stopped talking for a minute. "Well, of course, we're happy to see you... But Dapper, you lied to us. Why didn't you come back and at least let us know you were alive?" he queried with confusion etched across his muzzle.

Steam Shock sighed and dipped his head. "I didn't want to stand up to my failure," he muttered with a shrug. At the words, his memory trailed back to the reason he was in this room, to begin with. "Where's Wolf Heart?" he asked firmly, looking up at the three.

They didn't answer, but only fidgeted uncomfortably in their positions.

"Where is she?" he repeated, raising his voice slightly.

Falcon Wing stepped forward. "That stupid dragon got her, Jolt... Pitch took her when you wouldn't cooperate and go quietly," he explained.

"Hey, you can't pin this on Dapper," Abacus barked at Falcon, turning to face the pegasus with a frown.

"Shut it, Oak!" Falcon snapped, lifting a hoof. "I can pin this on him, and I will! Because of his lack of compliance, the Lord of Dragons has taken her to Celestia knows where!" the stallion scoffed, accusingly pointing towards Steam Shock as he spoke.

"Will you two shut up!!" Steam Shock roared, silencing them to their bickering as he shifted off of the bedside with a powerful leer. "It doesn't matter whose fucking fault it is! We have to go after her!" he exclaimed. "I won't lose her like I did Autumn," the stallion then quietly added to himself.

Jackpot Ace nodded. "I can't say I don't agree with Dapper, here. But we're not equipped to fight a dragon, Jolt. Abacus and I haven't served in any sort of armed forces for years. It's all just kinda... worn away at this point. We don't have that same fighting spirit anymore."

Abacus cocked a brow. "Speak for yourself, Jack. You may not have the same fighting spirit, but I on the other hand? For Wolf Heart, I would do just about anything," he said whilst shaking his head.

"That's all I need to know," Steam Shock nodded. "Abacus, will you come with me? I have an idea of where that piece of filth might have holed her up," the pegasus explained with a firm expression.

"Course," Abacus affirmed.

Shock smile slightly. "Good, but first... I need my armor back," he surmised, having since realized that he was without his greaves and prosthetic wing.