//------------------------------//
// The Frozen Frontier 
// Story: Living Darkness 
// by vildtiger 
//------------------------------//

Note: This happens four days after the last chapter and is strongly based on the Team Fortress comic "A Cold Day in Hell"

*Siberia mountains*

Wandering in a snow there isn’t made by Windigoes but is just as cold and deadly, Twilight seek protection against the harsh wind by staying close to Pyro who does her best protecting her and Scout against the freezing cold. 
Soldier has been doing the same for a while, but when hunger and cold got to him, well… his already loose logic completely got blown away. 
“You will get closer when I crawl towards you, mountain!” Soldier screams at the still very far away mountain and he is the one crawling towards it. “Don’t crawl away from me! That’s an order!”

Scout glances at the man as they pass him, grumbling when pretty sure this idiot lead them to their death. “I swear to god that if we die and has to do this freaking trip again I— auch!” He turns to Pyro, about to demand why she hit him. He realizes why when seeing the horrified look on Twilight’s face. Oh, he forgot she does not has the respawn to count on. “Aw man, I’m sorry Twi.” He apologizes to her. It does not matter if he freezes to death- hell doesn't matter if any of them does as they will simply respawn, but Twilight, well she will stay dead. Eyeing Soldier who clearly has lost it, so counting on him is out. Eyeing Pyro watching him behind that gasmask, Scout realizes that she is waiting for him to make a decision. Wait what?! “Hey stop staring at me like that mumbles!” He snaps at her, he knows he is awesome and all but leading someone: that is not his thing. “I don’t know where the hell Soldier brought us! You know what? Let’s leave him and just get moving, he’ll respawn, our worries are Twi here.” Pyro nods and picks up Twilight, completely ignoring her objections of getting carried. 
They leave the hallucinating Soldier behind, Scout does stop when they encounter a crashed plane. “Hey isn’t that—“ Pyro eyes him. “Maybe there is something we can... alright fine, we can’t investigate the plane.“ He gives in to the Firebug's silent stare and they pass the plane. 
However, they do not get far. For out at the distance they can see a small pack of bears and unlike the bear Fluttershy has back at her cottage, these bears are not friendly. 
“Aw, crap!” Scout swears that things are just not going their way. “How did they find us?”

Pyro eyes him quietly, then both turn when Soldier starts yelling something about they have been very stealthy— which they haven’t, before the crazier than normal man hurries over to the plane, shouting louder. “Good lord! This plane is filled with honey! Amelia Earhart’s famous sweet tooth has doomed us all!!” Soldier then takes out a crate and start eating the honey, commanding the three others. “We need to eat all this honey before the bears get here!”

“You’re just cowering yourself in it…” Scout points out dryly.

So Soldier corrects himself. “Eat this honey off me before the bears get here!” and pretty much forces Scout to eat the honey along with him. He doesn't seem to notice Pyro, then again, not many notices the firebug when she isn’t using her flames.

Pyro stares at the scene for a moment, then turns to the bears out in the horizon, back at the two honey eating people and with a muffled grumbling she puts Twilight down and takes her over to the plane that can at least spare her from the freezing wind. 
Pyro glances to the only remnants of her once whole world of fantasy when Ballonicorn suggests. ‘Better find a weapon, those teddybears do not look like they want a hug.’ Pyro agrees on that and does find it quite the pity, she likes teddybears. She spots a fire-ax, grabs it and leaves the plane just as the bears attacks. One of them wounds Scout with its long claws, he does quickly recover and jumps onto the bear, trying to snap its neck like Soldier did. Not working though, Scout is not strong enough, so Pyro helps him out by lunging the ax into the bear’s face. 
“Hey! I had this one!” Scout complains greatly annoyed but does changes his tune when Pyro merely gives him a long stare; no need taking off the mask for him to feel the sinister smirk she has on her face. “Yeah, I probably needed the aid, thanks mumbles.” Pyro gives him a thumbs up along with a muffled giggle. 
Both, however, snap their attention to the plane when they hear Twilight's cry of fear, the remaining bear has realized she is an easy prey and now trying to claw its way inside. It does get blown away by that magical wind Merasmus gave her, but that only worked on the smaller one. A way bigger bear arrive, one Pyro highly doubts either of them can kill without weapons other than a rusty ax.
Before this huge bear can harm any of them. Heavy suddenly appears and as if the bear weighted nothing, he throws it away from the group. The bear roars in anger but winches in fear of the glare Heavy sends it and knowing this is a fight they cannot win, the two bears run off.

With that nuisance over, Heavy turns to the group and is not sure he should roll his eyes of the stupidity they have walked into the Siberian wilderness without the proper gear or be impressed they did it just to find him. 
He turns to Scout when the youngster greets him. “Hey Heavy, nice timing showing up! We have been looking for you… hey, you look kinda different.” Heavy ignores that last comment, he instead turns his moss-colored eyes to the young girl leaving the plane in a shaken up manner. She is the only one he does not recognize. “Who is girl?” He asks, glancing back to Scout that explains. “That’s Twilight, hard to imagine I know, but I’m sure she felt the same when we—“
“Come.” Heavy interrupts him and leads the group back to his home.

After have ensured the turned pony no longer is in danger of freezing to death, Heavy asks her. “Why are you here?” and Twilight explains as he gently puts a warmed sheet over her shoulders. “A pony named Sunset Shimmer stole the crown holding the Element of Magic and brought it here. I am searching for it, but according to Spy there is a big chance she is working for somep- I mean somebody named Grey and I can’t go near him without those of you who came to Equestria.” Heavy nods, he can see why Twilight went through all this trouble to find him and although he doesn’t want to return back to the War Games. “Because of hospitality you showed us, I will help.” He tells the turned pony, thinking he at least owes her that much. But there must be more to this, only very few know where he has been hiding. “What does Miss Pauling want?” He asks.

“Something about Australium.” Twilight muses and must admit. “No idea what it is, but it sounds important.”

That it does. Heavy hums and leaves the turned pony, he turns his gaze out to the dining room where his mother is currently trying to aid the very delusional Soldier. As long the man does not try and attack his family he will let Soldier live, his mother does manage to get Soldier to eat and Heavy is not sure how worried he should be when the man is shouting about the ghost of America's presidents is not playing fair with him.

“Hey Heavy, what happened to you after that mind-twisting song came?” Scout asks from his spot, doing his best to ignore Soldier's idiotic shouting. And now he’s onto the question, he can’t be the only one noticing that Heavy looks different. “How did you get away and how come you don’t look old anymore and your eyes are green now?”

Heavy sigh, figures some of them would notice this eventually. But how can he explain this?

When he ran over to get Medic out from the base, those women song rapidly twisted his mind to suit their need. It had only been in a matter of seconds before he- like his other was under their control. They commanded him to obey, give into his dark thoughts and adore them like nothing else matters, the first he could but the second, no matter how loud the song became, how much it twisted his mind, he kept on refusing to adore them as they wanted. Letting them inside the spot in his heart only meant for one… and that one is Josef, that he could not give them. 
That made him able to fight against the song, resist the command to hurt the man he loved. His other did the very same, even went so far to fight against those women. He had turned his attention to Josef, feeling his heart shatter watching him suffer under their control. “I won’t let them take you.” He had promised and carried him out, Soldier’s dark other had attacked there, almost blowing them both up with his rockets, yet he refused to let him hurt the doctor. His other killed Soldier and did his utmost to protect him and Josef. They had resisted the song, but both felt the control was slipping out of their grasp. He fought for control, and although he never would let them into his heart, those beings were still capable of destroying his very mind. His other had died about there when he fought against Scout’s other and there was no chance he could fight the evil speedster while holding their healer.
Josef must’ve realized this, for after he kissed him, the doctor plunged his bonesaw into his chest and before he died; he saw Josef gave into the song, as he burst into maniacal laughter. 
He does not know how, but that respawn did it. There did not come two Heavies but one- he came out. His memories, a mix of both, he was no longer old but young and very strong and his eyes have returned back to the color he was born with. He knew almost instantly what has happened, so with a better resistance to the song, he ran back to where Josef was. He got them both out from there but… even if he was a full strength, there was nothing he could do to save Josef’s mind…

Eyeing the team, Heavy dreads how they will react if he told them, about this forbidden love this world does not tolerate had been what saved him. “Medic helped me.” He explains them carefully. “He killed me after other me died … only one respawned: me.”

“Hold up.” Scout almost jump up from his chair, flabbergasted of this. Is Heavy telling them. “You managed to become whole?!” Heavy nods and Scout asks. “How? What made you and your other not kill one another when you did it during the War Games?” But Heavy did not answer, much to his frustrations. “Come on man, don’t leave us hanging!” He, along with the others— except Soldier, he left not long ago for some reason, turns to Pyro when she says dreamily.
“Aww it’s so sweet, love does really conquer all.” 
Scout raises a brow. “Huh?” Not sure if she’s aware that they are not in Equestria anymore. ”In Equestria yeah, hell we defeated a whole army by the power of love. But we can’t pull such stunts off here, I know Heavy love Medic very much, but really, I don’t think that will be enough to resist that mind-twisting song.”

Pyro merely shrugs. “Maybe we took some of the magic with us.” and returns back to adoring the fire she has been doing ever since they came to Heavy's home.

Dumbfounded by those two so casually speak about what he for a long time saw as his shame. “You know?” He asks them, startled that they— especially Scout took it this knowledge so calmly. 
Scout waves his hand around his chest. “Yeah, that sense of love is hard to ignore when you are part of something there feeds on that stuff.” 
Oh right, Scout can sense emotions and most in tune with love. So, of course, he would’ve felt his love for Josef, still, it is a surprise how casual he is about this revelation. “I am surprised you did not freak out about it.” Heavy remarks, and not really sure how to react on someone he thought would’ve been very against the very term that the same gender can be together is one of the most accepting about it. Eyeing Twilight, Heavy is not that surprised she does not have a negative opinion on this. After all Ponyville has a lesbian couple. When he saw those two be so casual about it out in the open, he felt very relieved, Josef too but was not quite ready to be so open about it.

Scout sends Heavy an offending look for thinking this low on him. “Uh, have you been living in the snow for too long? Our souls are split in half, we return back from the dead every single day, fight monsters every Halloween, got turned into ponies- where I was turned into one there fed on love and my father is dating a zebra.” Crossing his arms that Heavy thought he would find this the weirdest thing he has experienced these past two years. “So no, I do not ‘freak out’ knowing you’re dating Medic.” That is, in fact, one of the more normal things he had to deal with ever since he became a mercenary for Mann Co. 
Heavy does look very relieved for some reason, Scout is not entirely sure why but he can make an educated guess as he has never seen those two kiss in the open and frankly. “So what about you two just make it official and get done with it?”

For some reason, Heavy is quite amused by that last remark. Maybe, they can take the next step around the team. Some of them might not like the idea of having a gay couple on the team, but if they could accept Spy’s secret; couldn’t they accept his and Josef’s? 
Speaking of which, “Medic is here.” Scout and Twilight both jump surprised and Pyro snap away from admiring the fire. But before they demand him to drag the doctor into the living room. “He is not himself. The song has him.” He tells them.

Scout winches, he knows how that feels and is glad he got away from it before the song’s chains really got a hold on him. “Where are you keeping him?” He asks, knowing how Medic can be when he gets too excited on the battlefield, Scout has no wish in meeting a turned evil Medic. Man is going to tear them apart just for the thrill of it! 
And from the sad look on Heavy’s face, it’s clear he knows that too. “He is in hut not long from here.” The big man lets out a sigh, turning his gaze to the door. “Wish it not like this. But doctor is dangerous. He will hurt family if let inside.”

“Maybe Twilight can fix him?” Pyro suggests, after all; “She did that last time he turned into scary doctor.” Medic is probably the only one she fears of the team, but only when he started wanting to do experiments. It reminds her of those doctors in that hospital, they were the cause she created Pyroland. “I will not go with you, if Medic scares me, I will kill him.” and she will enjoy every second of it.

Heavy does not want Josef to be killed, for if he respawn the man might return to Grey and that’s the last thing he wants. Eyeing Twilight, he does recall she helped Josef back to normal back when they all lost it back in Equestria. So maybe... but what if she can’t? What if Josef tries to kill her? He will never forgive himself if that happens. “Will you help?” He asks Twilight. She nods, he figured she would do that. “Scout, you keep Twilight safe.” He tells the speedster hard.

“Yeah, yeah sure.” Scout salutes with a weak smile. He does wish he could avoid the crazy Nazi Medic, but if Twilight is going to face him, then he better be there to make sure she does not get killed by her partner.

After have dressed to the harsh weather outside, Heavy brings Twilight and Scout to the small hut where Josef has been living for these past months. Getting near the hut, Heavy warns them to stay back. “He will attack.” and unlocks the door, opening it, Heavy catches Medic who tries to harm him with the only weapon he has: the same knife he uses for his food. “It’s okay doctor.” He tells the clearly crazed man and drags the now disappointed Josef back into the hut. “You have guests” 
Medic snaps his eyes to them and smiles, not a friendly one, far from it “Wunderbar, meine Langeweile endlich etwas zu töten.” He speaks, Heavy does not understand, not been able since Josef decided to mainly speak German, all he knows that he won’t let the doctor near the two. So when the doctor steps over to them, he stops him and the crazed man gets quite annoyed, so much that Heavy gets the knife plunged into his arm. Heavy removes the knife and gently forces the German hissing man onto the chair. 
With Josef secure, only there Heavy allows Twilight near. 
She walks slowly over to him, like them aware of the danger the doctor now is. 
“Medic?” Twilight calls softly, Josef reacts on her, but he does not recognize her as a friend. “Sind Sie nicht ein schönes thema sind?” He asks, Heavy does not know what Medic is saying, only that he does not like the tone the doctor has. “Careful.” He warns the turned pony. She hesitates for a moment before she reaches out to Medic, she yelps startled when he grabs her hand tightly, tries to get away but Josef won’t let what he sees as his new test subject get away. Heavy is about to make him let go but stops when magenta sparks appear.

Flinching from the sudden pain, Medic lets go of his new test subject, letting out a curse from a strong headache hitting him. Then slowly, the fog holding over the saner part of his mind eases up, Medic starts to realize what is going on. He collapses onto the floor, not sure how long he was passed out, only when he opens his eyes, his mind is clear again, the song there held him trapped is gone. Looking up he sees Misha, Scout and… a human Twilight. “H-How long?” He asks. Misha helps him up and when back on his feet, he expands his question. “How long was I trapped?”

“Almost six months.” Heavy answers, he is greatly relieved that Medic is back to normal. “Good see you back to normal again doctor.”

“Me too.” Medic sighs, although he is mostly relived he can control his urges to harm others. For that song made him attack Misha and a few of those attacks left scars. It’s a wonder the man put up with him all this time. He turns to Twilight. “Danke—” He grunts when the turned pony pretty much tackles him into a hug, it catches him quite off guard. Feeling quite awkward, Medic clears his throat and nudges the young woman away, it feels weird being all this touchy feelings.

With Josef back to normal and he is no longer a danger to his family, Heavy is more than happy invite him to dinner back at his home. On the way back, they encountered his two younger sisters returning back from their hunt, Heavy helps his mother cook the bear and explains to her that Twilight does not eat meat— well she can in this world due to being human now, but Heavy is not sure it’s a good idea to introduce her to meat, so the root stew it is. 
During dinner, Heavy explains his family that he hates to do it but he has to leave them again, to his surprise though, his sisters were far from defenseless as back when he rescued them all from the gulag. 
“Men came when you were out fighting in America and we killed them, but we never told you as we didn’t want you to worry.” Zhanna; the oldest of his younger sister explains before turning back to that strange game of getting fed by Soldier. Heavy can deal with it as long Soldier stays polite around his family. 
And knowing his sisters has dealt with danger without his aid, well… “I see, I guess you have all grown up now. Big girls who do not need bossy old me anymore.” He remarks to his three younger sisters.

“Aw, Misha. You’re our big brother.” Zhanna says with a grin. 
“You’ll always look out for us and we love you for it.” Yana, the middle of the three sisters says, adding soft but firmly. “But now you must let us look out for ourselves.” 
The youngest Bronislava points out as she pokes his cheek. “Besides, aren’t the some other there needs you more than us?”

Heavy eyes those of the team there came to get him, settling on Josef. His sisters are right, he is needed back at the team. Heavy takes a bite of the chunk of bear meat, quietly agreeing with his sisters as he loudly chews on the meat. His sisters are strong, he realizes that now and so they do not need him to protect them anymore. “I will help you.” He tells the others- his team. “And I will kill anyone getting in our way!” and so, Heavy and his family leave behind this cottage there has been their home for years, all of them sort of happy knowing they will never return. It is time for this family to start a new life and for Heavy to fight once again.

(Meanwhile at an unknown location)

A young boy at the age of six walks carefully into the very room where his father often works. Logan knows he is welcome to pay his father a visit, but he is scared of that woman. She reminds him about his mother, someone who is mean and has no patience for kids like him. Against his cautions of not going inside, Logan steps into the room and scans it for his father. He does and although he wants to walk over, his fear against that woman makes him stay at the door, clutching his favorite teddy bear there looks like his father.

Unaware of the visit, Engineer has gotten the task of replacing the Administrator’s old life machine with a better one, one there does not consume as much Australium as the former. One problem though, that machine is tightly attached to her arm and removing it like this will hurt like hell. “Tell you what, let’s put you under so I can—“

“Just do it.” Helen tells him sharply, she didn’t hire him to stall.

Engineer is admittedly taken aback by this command. “I, uh… well look, this is going to hurt, ma’am.” He warns her, but the Administrator, like many other things, does not care as she tells him. “Mister Conagher, I haven’t felt anything in a long time.” Well, she is indeed a cold bitch, explains why she didn’t give a crap splitting their souls and bodies in half for this staged war between the Mann brothers. “Suit yourself.” and he removes the small machine, skin and flesh gets torn off her arm and the Administrator does indeed not flinch from what should hurt a lot. “Let’s get this little number out.” He disconnects the wires from the small machine, letting them hang as bloody veins around her horrible looking arm. Putting the machine down, Engineer hears a gasp and turns around, at the door stand his son, staring horrified at the Administrator messed up arm. “Darn it…” He mutters, really hoped his boy did not have to see that. Engineer is about to go over and gently nudge his son out, but a certain woman will not let him.

“Finish your job, then you can cuddle the brat.”

Engineer shoots her a glare but does as he is told. Whatever he likes it or not, Logan is only safe here as long he works for the Administrator. He grabs the machine he has been working on these past five months, probably gone faster if he had a full soul but that’s nothing he can do about at the moment. After have attached the new machine, he explains the cold-hearted woman. “There, the mark five will run on the quarter of the Australium the mark four was gobbling up. If you have as much Australium as you say, you will at least live five hundred years, probably more.”

Good, for what she has been working on for all these years has yet to be reached. “Your family has given me more than any of us deserves.” Eyeing the man before her, now with his job done, her end of the bargain has to be held. “I will ensure you get the full rights over the boy.” She can’t help but find this rather stupid, a man like Dell Conagher could easily keep that woman he once called a wife away from the boy. “Why you didn’t demand to get your soul mended back instead is beyond me.”

“Well, we already figured out how to become whole.” Engineer replies as he takes off his welding goggles and revealing his grey eyes; the sign of his incompleteness. “Besides, Logan’s safety means more than my own soul— not that you’ll ever understand.”

“No, I wouldn’t.” Helen replies coldly, watching the man walks over to his offspring. For her, such things are meaningless, a nuisance and no use for her. She picks up a cigarette. “I have no more use of your skills for the time being.”

Engineer lets his son take his hand and with: “What about we visit grandfather?” He leaves this safehouse, there is something he needs to do and Logan cannot go with him; where he will be going is too dangerous for a boy.