This happens two weeks after the last chapter and for once based on an mlp episode.
it's my own continuity of what is going to happen to the mercenaries if being separated for too long.
*human world*
It’s middle of the night, all but one is sleeping after a whole day of waves of fighting robots.
Spy has not been in the fight for a whole week now, he has gotten too weak and no matter what Medic does, Spy keeps getting weaker.
But as his body gets weakens, his mind is getting sharper. Spy stares at his own reflection in the bathroom, one of the few times he has the mask off and that reveals how weak he has become. He is pale, has signs of weight loss and breathing is getting hard, but his eyes, now closer to red are showing how sharp his mind has become, how suddenly aware he has gotten these past weeks. Spy is not only starting to see what BLU Spy is doing in his waking hours, but also remembering things he before has forgotten. One of them is something he saw a month before he became the spy for Mann co.
He would’ve gone there to check up on this faint memory there might give them some answers, but he can’t. His body has gotten too weak. Spy puts the mask on again and walks slowly out from the room, it is humiliating that even walking takes a lot out from him, asking for help has gotten less so. He— BLU Spy trusted them with one of his biggest secrets, so he knows he can trust them with this information too.
Spy knocks on one of the doors, it takes a few attempts but Engineer does emerge and is understandable quite annoyed from this early wake. “You better have a good reason for this Spy.” The short man grumbles.
“I do.” Spy says but before he can explain Engineer— or Dell Conagher as he now remembers the man's true name is thanks to his sharpened mind. “Can I sit down?” He asks.
That question takes Engineer a bit off guard, takes him a moment but he soon realizes that Spy does not look so good. “Of course.” He lets the man of espionage inside and Spy almost collapses on the nearest chair, seeing that Medic wasn’t joking that Spy needed to be taken off battle duty. “Should I get doc?”
“He can’t fix it.” Spy brushes the offer away but would appreciate something else. “Would like a glass of water.” Engineer gets that for him and with his throat not so dry, Spy tells the man why he woke him this late. “I know where we can find information to this whole soul-split business.”
Engineer takes a seat, frowning lightly at Spy’s statement. “Why haven’t you revealed this sooner?” Sure would've helped them a lot before they got all this dimension separation problem.
“I just remembered.” Spy replies, taking a sip of the glass, wondering for a moment when he started to remember things so much clearer. He comes to the conclusion it began when he eyes started to change color. “And I was sort of debating if I could trust you with this information. Those files will have a lot of personal data.”
Ah, Engineer can now see why Spy is indirectly asking him to do this fetch mission. “So you figured I might get there?”
“Not on your own, with Sniper you might.” Spy points out, very relieved he doesn't have to explain everything. One of the reasons why he chose Engineer; that man is no fool. “I will guide you the best I can.”
Engineer nods and without a word leaves to get Sniper, like with him, Sniper was quite annoyed to get waken this late but quickly brushes those feelings aside when Engineer explains him the deal. The two return back to Engineer’s room where Spy explains them in better details. “The building is disguised as one of Mann Co research facilities but is, in reality, the archives of every mercenary there has been fighting this worthless war. Engineer do you have paper lying around?”
Engineer fetches some of his blueprint papers along with a piece of chalk, giving it to Spy who starts to draw a rough sketch of a building. Seeing this does catch him by surprise. “I didn’t know you had a photographic memory.”
“I didn’t have it a month ago.” Spy admits, he too is a bit surprised how sharp his mind has gotten, he even knows every name of this team— well, except Pyro, those files only revealed her gender, not that info matters anymore. Finishing the rough sketch, Spy hands it to Engineer. “It’s not the whole building, only the path I used.“ He coughs before returning back to this quick plan. “Hopefully they haven’t changed the building layout from my latest visit.” He turns to Sniper— Lawrence Mundy; the tracker of this team. “The entrance is an old sewer, located near the river. It’s hidden but that shouldn't be an issue with your sharp eyes.”
Well, seems like Spook is really done being an asshole towards them. Sniper most appreciate it and nods, reminding himself to not start a fistfight with S1pook the next time the man mocks his choice of coffee. And now that Spy is on the subject. “Speaking of eyes—“
Spy brushes the obvious statement of what has happened to his eyes, Sniper does not need to remind him. “Check your fuel, can’t have you run dry halfway.”
Sensing Spy doesn’t want to talk about the change, Sniper leaves the room, letting Spy discuss the last things with Engineer. He puts extra fuel and takes an extra tank just in case to the camper. When checking his ammunition, Engineer joins him, asking curiously. “Why the sudden interest in his eyes?”
“Haven’t you noticed they aren’t grey anymore?” Sniper asks back.
Engineer blinks, he must admit he hasn’t been looking in Spy’s eye lately. “It’s not like he and I see each other eye to eye.” Figurely and literally speaking.
Figures, Sniper muses to himself and after both have gotten into the camper, he explains Engineer. "About two weeks ago, Spook’s eyes started changing. They started out cedar brown, but now they have a reddish tone and I can’t figure out why they have changed.”
“That is quite strange.” Engineer muses in agreement, it also does makes him wonder. “You think that is his true eye color?” Sniper shrugs, which leads to Engineer’s second question. “Do you think you were born with your current eye color?”
“I never have done much thought about it.” Sniper admits and turns to Engineer. “Have you?”
“Can’t say I have.” Engineer muses.
The rest of the drive happens in more or less in silence, Engineer only speaks when guiding Sniper to their location, around an hour later, they both find themselves at one of Mann Co, many facilities. Engineer eyes Sniper who is watching the building with a stoic expression which stays one even when the Aussie gestures him to follow. Engineer does, knowing far too well that Sniper knows a lot more about stealth missions than he ever does, so he follows Sniper’s lead without question.
It takes him a moment but Sniper does find the entrance Spy spoke about, strapping his rifle tightly to his back and suggesting Engineer in doing the same with his shotgun and pistol, the two carefully head into the water and through the rust off bars there should’ve been blocking this sewer system. Engineer does turn on a flashlight but Sniper quickly tells him to turn it off. “It's going to give us away.” He starts walking deeper into this underground system. “Your eyes will get used to the dark.”
Engineer hesitates but does as Sniper said, he did not feel comfortable walking in almost pitch darkness but he guesses he rather wants that than being the one causing them to get spotted. At a crossroad of the sewers, Sniper tells him to contact Spy since they cannot see the map in this darkness. Engineer turns on the walkie-talkie and asks the man on the other side. “We’re at a split path down in the servers.”
“Go right, stay close the left side of the walls, there is an old door hidden in the darkness.” Spy replies with a somewhat stained voice as if struggling.
Trying his best not to think about Spy condition Sniper follows Spy lead and about halfway down the hallway, he finds the door and carefully opens it. The door makes what sounds like a painfully loud creaking sound, all they can hope is no one heard it. Sniper doesn't dare to close the door again and when sure Engineer is right behind him, he follows Spy’s drawing of the building. They have to make a few stops as guards are patrolling but fortunately, they did not have to fight and does eventually get to the place. “There a way more files than I expected.” Sniper can’t help but remark when stepping into this room. He only thought this Gravel war has been going for four to seven but all these files indicate that it either has been going longer or a lot of people have died.
Agreeing with Sniper’s remark, Engineer walks over and pulls out a file from the first of the many shelves holding files of former mercenaries of the Gravel war. This one was to a former Demoman, from the looks of it their current Demoman took over this one when the respawn failed. Not surprising, what is surprising, however, is how long he was hired: barely a year before failure. Must’ve been one of the unlucky ones, like them this former Demoman too had a clone and that one died three days later. Engineer returns the files and takes another, this one belonged to a Heavy. He was hired about six years ago, and… he died after six months his enrollment. He grabs another file, this one an Engineer, again with a clone and again the two died before a year has passed. “Sniper.” He calls as loud he dared, walking over to where the man stands, also reading a few files. “All of them I read only lived a year before respawn failure.”
“Same here with me.” Sniper muses worried, showing Engineer the five files he quickly checked, one of them happens to be their former Scout files. “All have a clone, all died in less than a year.” Which leads to: “How long have you been working for Mann co?”
Engineer has to stop and think for a moment. “About four years.” Eyeing Sniper. “You?”
“Two.” and that leads to another very important question: “Why did we live longer than the others?” Engineer doesn’t answer him by voice, instead, the man grabs a handful of the former men hired by Mann Co, searches for a bit and find one of the current team, the one he found is the files of Soldier.
Sniper does a quick glance to Soldier’s file, noticing that whoever wrote this knows his true name which is Cade Jarred and although no military wanted him, the man still went to war where he earned a medal for courage but also got sent to jail after he recklessly broke a line of the Nazi’s during the attack on Normandy at D-day. Sounds like Soldier alright. According to the file, Soldier began calling himself Jane Doe after the soul split which screwed up with his already unhinged mental state. “Did you find something?” Sniper asks Engineer who has been reading the deceased and Soldier’s files in great detail.
“I need the rest of our files to be certain.” Engineer muses and heads back to the archive to find them. Sniper joins him not long after. Engineer finds Heavy, Demoman and Scout, Sniper finds the rest and when lying down the files, the Aussie grabs his own files and seems relieved of what he finds in them. “Care to share?” Engineer asks.
“Latest report simply states my genetic code haven’t shown signs of corruption.” Sniper says, quite happy he isn’t dealing with any nasty after effects like Soldier, but there is, however, something there catches him off guard; his profile description. He has no Australium in him, very odd since all Australians are pumped with that stuff but does explain why he is a runt. The second thing he voices to Engineer. “Seems like Spook did get his original eye color. My eyes were brown before the soul split.” He puts down the file while trying to imagine himself with brown instead of grey eyes, it is strangely enough very easy. Turning to Engineer he notices the man has a large frown on his face when reading his own file. “Bad news?”
Engineer nods slowly, like Soldier, he too is dealing with genetic corruption. Something went wrong during the procedure and it has caused a bit decay to his brain, it does explain why he couldn’t come up with new inventions ever since he began working for Redmond. Why he was struggling with certain things he once only had minor issues with. It’s not good and hopefully this decay of his mind will disappear when becoming whole. Well, better check on— voices snap both to the door, reminding them they are not safe here. “Let’s bring the files back to the base.” Engineer suggests, grabs all the files, including those there died and stuffed them into his bag and after Sniper has made the all clear, they both return back to base.
***
(three hours later)
Opening his eyes, Spy blinks when he finds himself inside the dimmed room at the base. How did he return back to the human world? Surely it couldn't be that simple than just waking up and be back with no explanation. Spy sits up and is startled how much it takes from him doing just that, Medic did warn him that his health is for some reason declining but he didn’t feel this bad yesterday— hold up, Medic didn’t say that. He only voiced his worries how he seems to forget simple things— no, that’s not it, Medic did— Spy has to stop himself there, something is wrong with him, more so than ever. He does not like this one bit, better get a hold on Medic and tell that his conditions have turned to the worse. Oh and he somehow has returned from the pony world, which is quite weird too. He wonders if RED Spy is around.
Spy struggles to get up on his feet and when finally back on his feet, Spy stagger out from the room and stops when he notices that this is not BLU's base, this is RED. Part of him question why he is here, while another finds nothing wrong as this is his base— wait what?
Spy freezes up from having those two kinds of thoughts being inside RED base. Searching his mind, he realizes that he has gotten memories of both being in BLU and RED, he— he has both memories! Spy snaps his reddish eyes down to his suit, this one is RED so does that means he is the RED Spy? He can honestly not tell with his memories anymore. But if he is dressed up as the RED Spy but has BLU's memories... does that mean he is whole? Is this how it feels becoming complete again? Well, if that's the case then he figures he can understand with the mess of memories from both, but that does not explain why he feels so weak he can barely stand up. He needs to speak with Medic about this. Spy heads towards the infirmary but collapsed halfway, he is much weaker than he anticipated. Spy is pretty sure he passed out, for when he comes around again he finds himself on Medic's table with the doctor looking at him.
"Ah good, you're awake." Medic smiles but Spy notices right away that it is stained. Something is wrong and Spy bet it is about him. "Just tell me already, what is wrong with me?" He asks tiredly.
Medic hesitates does reply him. "You're dying."
Spy's reddish colored eyes snap to him, startled hearing this, and yet he is not, the RED side of him remembers that Medic did warn him about this. Not that it matters anymore, the world is truly cruel to him. He going to die not long after he has become whole. "How long do I have?" He asks, void of emotions, he’s not really afraid, rather he is numb to the thought he soon will meet his end. But unlike other times when he has been close to death, this time he feels a great deal of sadness, for now, he had something worth to live for.
"I hadn't been expected your health would dwindle this fast." Medic admits, but ever since Spy's eyes began to change, his health has faded rapidly. "I thought I at least had a couple of weeks in figuring out what is causing it." and must ask. "Any changes lately?"
"You ask me, weren’t you suppose to be the doctor here,” Spy snaps angrily, then realizes his mistake. “...Sorry, I... didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“I’m used to it.” Medic brushes it off, not really offended by it. He’s actually more surprised that Spy apologized for it.
Spy sighs, he fears Medic can do nothing for him but at least the doctor can save the others from this fate... still wish he could’ve lived longer now that things finally had started to look bright for him... "I don't know how, but I somehow have all of the BLU Spy's memories— I have more than once caught myself thinking I am BLU Spy."
Medic blinks hearing this. "You mean other than those about him being in Equestria?" Spy eyes him with a somewhat hard gleam in his now almost red eyes. "I remember everything that happened to him, including what you did to my— his head."
Medic stares at him for a few seconds, then, without meaning to, he laughs. Spy shoots him a glare, grumbling as he struggles to sit up. "Consider yourself lucky I have the RED Spy memories and too weak at the moment to send you through respawn." Okay, okay, Medic gets it, but still, it is quite the surprise that the RED Spy is grumpy about the whole head thing; as if it happened to him and not the BLU Spy. If he now has the BLU Spy's memories, then yes, he has been through it. So Spy has both BLU and RED's memories but is greatly weakened in the progress. Where does that leave Spy in Equestria? "I wonder how BLU Spy is doing?" He wonders out loud to the bedridden spy besides him.
"You think he's still there?" Spy asks, for if thinking about it, he feels like he was there, enduring his son waterfall of chatter out in the Everfree forest. "I was there last night, patrolling the Everfree forest."
"It wasn't you, but the BLU Spy." Medic corrects him and if Spy survives this deadly fatigue then the man might deal with this mix of memories for a while. Figure they all would when becoming whole, but that is to be expected from how long they have been separated. Spy turns away, musing with a hint of confusions. "I remember it so clearly... could've sworn it was me." Medic doesn't say anything, but he can see that BLU Spy memories really are inside of the one beside him and has a very strong grip on his mind. It makes the question how the BLU Spy is faring. "I need to letter them." He says and tells Spy hard as this team's doctor. "If I see you leave bed I am going to strap you to it again." He gets only an annoyed grunt as the response.
After having written the letter about what was going on with Spy, Medic finds Ignis who is currently watching the sunrise outside. "I need you to send this right away." Medic requests him.
Ignis nods, takes the letter with the medical seal on and with a burst of magic, the letter is sent. Medic can only hope the BLU Spy is doing better than the one they have here.
*Equastria.*
The Diamond Dog tasked being the messenger happily runs towards Ponyville, about ten minutes later, Medic is reading the letter sent by his other while Rarity levitates the Diamond Dog a treat for bringing them the letter. With the dog running back to Pyro, Rarity asks the other unicorn. "What does the letter say?"
What his other is saying about Spy's condition is troubling indeed, more so when Medic did take notice that Spy was acting quite... off last time he saw him. Folding the letter, he informs the confused Rarity. "I need to see how Spy is doing" and leaves the boutique in haste.
When he arrives at Zecora's hut, he knocks on the door and moments later Zecora, having a still small child shaped but surprisingly freaked out Scout on her back.
Zecora blinks seeing him here. "Medic, what do I owe you for this early visit?" and lets the doctor pony inside.
"How is Herr Spy doing?" Medic asks, he did not have to look for long to find the changeling, still sleeping in the bed.
"His responses have been slow, of why I do not know." Zecora replies and must admit that these few days Spy has become less responsive to her and anything. Last night he barely spoke but she merely thought it was because Scout got too chatty.
Medic walks over to Spy, pokes him and the changeling opens his eyes, he notices that Spy's eyes are unfocused. "Spy, how are you feeling?" He asks but gets no answer, the changeling doesn't even seem to notice him as Spy turns his unfocused gaze to where Zecora and the now whimpering Scout are. Medic does not like how Scout is responding to Spy. "Scout, what do you feel?" He asks the child stuck speedster.
"…Nothing." Scout whispers, he can't sense any emotions from his father like he usually can and that terrifies him.
That's doesn't sound good at all. If Scout can't pick up any emotions from him then that means Spy have none this very moment. Turning back to Spy, Medic asks again, however, this time with his horn glowing in case Spy will get dangerous. "Spy, do you know who we are?" But again he gets no response. Spy slowly and clumsy leaves the bed. Completely ignores Medic and walks over to Zecora there steps away, she too senses something is horribly wrong with him.
Medic is quick to action and restrains Spy with his magic, it stops the changeling but from how even now tries to walk, it seems he isn't aware he is restrained. "This is bad." He muses, more so that he has no idea how to fix this. Is this the Longing? Is becoming a mindless husk their ultimate fate if they do not become whole again?
"Please help him recover from this horror." Zecora begs him, wrapping her hoof over the whimpering Scout.
Medic nods somberly and drags Spy with him back to Twilight's home. When Spy is fully restrained inside the library, Medic gathers every one of the mercenaries, including Miss Pauling as he is very aware they cannot keep this hidden and also thinks they all need to know what will happen to them all if they do not figure out how to mend their split souls together.
"Bloody hell..." Sniper gasps hearing what has happened to Spy, turning his gaze to where the guy is standing; changeling seems completely unaware of them. He walks over to Spy and gives him a hard push, Spy falls, gets up and again just stands there like a living statue, completely unaware that Sniper had pushed him. Turning away from Spy. "How long before this happens to us?" Sniper asks, seeing Spy has become a mindless husk is scary but the thought he would become one too straight out terrifies him.
"If we count how long Spy has been stuck here, then I say Demo and Soldier have about four months, I, you and Engineer about five and Heavy and Scout more or less six." Medic replies after a few calculations.
"How do we stop it?" Heavy asks and sort of answers his own question. "We go back home and we will be fine?"
Medic shrugs, before he can answer, Miss Pauling does in an awfully quiet voice “… This is what I tried to avoid…” Everyone looks at her, she doesn't seem to notice. “It’s not the first time I have seen this. Back when the respawn was in its infancy; the soul split people would over time turn like this if leaving the range of the respawn for too long.”
“If we return to human world, we will be fine?” Heavy asks her.
Miss Pauling nods. “Yes, the system will reboot both of you into equal strength.” The sole reason why the company started on this whole soul split business.
"Can we still save Slim?" Engineer asks. Spy has gotten a lot more likable in their time here and now he knows the relation between him and Scout, Engineer would hate to see Scout lose his father like this.
Miss Pauling hates to say this but... "I think it is too late for Spy." Eyeing the zombie-like Spy, she feels a tight squeeze in her chest watching him like this.
Noticing the distressed look on her face, Demo asks carefully. “You alright lassie?” She refuses to meet his eyes when she answers. “I’m fine, just frustrated about this situation.” But Demo gets the feeling there’s more to it, but for now, will keep his tongue.
Turning to the Administrator's assistance, Sniper asks. “Should we finish him off, miss?”
Miss Pauling knows it might be for the best, but… she can't stop clinging to the thought there might be a way to save one of the oldest members of the countless mercenaries she has dealt with over the years. Unlike the others there died under a year, Spy has stayed long enough to give her a chance to get to know him better. She still remembers the day where he gave her a surprisingly good advice how to deal with the constant workload Helen gave her, made her see past his cold demeanor and a person instead of an asset she began seeing all the mercenaries of Mann Co. “Is RED Spy still alive?”
“Weak but alive.” Medic replies.
“Until he dies, we will keep Spy on our end alive.” She commands and for once since coming here, the mercenaries obeys her without questions.
Medic writes back to his other about what has happened to the Spy on his side.
The human Medic finally understood why the spy on his side has both BLU and RED's memories. and when Sniper and Engineer returned from their side mission, things got a lot clearer but also way more confusing.
That night, Medic reads up on what his counterpart in the human world and him came up with in theory to why this was happening to them. "Sniper and Engineer’s counterparts went to a facility holding all former employees of Mann co- including our personal information.” He stops for a moment when noticing the deep frown on Miss Pauling’s face but she does not voice he disapproval for those in the human world pulling such a stunt. Turning back to the letter. ”According to my other, he theorizes that the fluid used to connect us to respawn was the shards of the lost Elements.”
“Explains why we had them in the first place.” Engineer muses.
“But it doesn't explain why it would cause early respawn failure on most of Mann Co mercenaries.” Miss Pauling points out, that part has always confused her and that has made her extra careful not to get hurt for even though she too is connected to the machine, the respawn will not revive her if she dies.
Medic nods and reads what his other has come up with on these new founds. “My other spoke to Ignis what would happen if someone not chosen by the elements would wear it. According to him: the elements would reject people it does not consider worthy as a bearer.”
“So if someone not chosen got this fluid Element shards in them, they would die?” Demo asks a bit confused and also horrified.
“Well not directly, if my study of the Elements of Harmony holds any truth; it cannot kill. Instead, the rejection of the Element shards would show in form of a respawn failure.” Medic eyes Miss Pauling. ”According to the files our counterparts got, this rejection would happen in before a year has passed, is that correct?”
She nods. “The technicians never understood why but the fluid used to bind your whole genetic code to the respawn machine would suddenly stop working in between the span of a year.” She glances to the zombie acting Spy. “He was the first who never dealt with this problem— none of you ever dealt with it like the others.” She remarks but cannot hide the relief as she has sort of come to appreciate this bunch of crazy mercenaries.
Heavy is not so sure about one of them. “What about Scout?” He got hired about a year ago but is he chosen by the Elements or will he get rejected like the others before them?
The others eye one another worried, none of them daring to voice their fear if Scout might not be chosen as an Element bearer like the rest of them. However, Miss Pauling spares them from this worry. “Before Ignis kidnapped me, I updated your records and I can ensure you; Scout is out from harm of a rejection.”
“Still, I would suggest our counterparts back home to keep him from respawning, just to be sure.” Engineer muses, which shouldn’t be that hard since Scout in the human world is also stuck as a small kid. Turning his attention back to Medic. “What else did you and RED Medic come up with about this whole mess?”
Returning back to the notes of his other.
“Oh, right, well this is still only a theory, but the theory goes that us transported to Equestria could've caused a magical reaction on the link to respawn thanks to the Elements microscopic shards bond to our very bones. At first, none of us would feel any difference but over time it seems the magic in this world and respawn back our world are having a power struggle. The magic here would try and 'reform' us to the strength needed to use the Elements which will explain why we here are getting stronger but ends up robbing those in our world bodies physical bodies. While the respawn are using this link between us to transfer our memories to those back home; thus why they see our memories and feels our emotions. The respawn ‘thinks’ that is where they belong in the first place. Over time us here in Equestria will be at our full strength but have lost our entire mind while them back home will have both sides memories but their bodies won't be able to support their complete mind for long."
***
"So how do we fix it?" BLU Demoman asks back in the human world, like those in Equestria are gathered for this crucial meeting.
Unlike the one in Equestria, Spy here can attend the meeting but can't really do much else as his body is deteriorating fast and is starting to have trouble breathing. Still, he does have enough strength to say this. "I think... it's too... late... for... me..." He wheezes weakly, doubting he will last the night.
Medic fetches his medigun and turns it on Spy, it helps enough that he shake back to life and look less weak but from the readings, this is only temporally. Spy's body will soon dwindle faster than the medigun can heal him. But it should give him at least a few more days. "Don't give up just yet herr Spy."
Spy nods slowly, really wishing there was someone who could help them with his rapidly shorten time here. Hang on, Pyro managed to become whole, maybe she has something. "Ask Pyro."
Medic quickly writes a letter to the only female on the team, about some painful fifteen minutes later. A letter returns and Medic reads her answer and frowns of what she is saying. "She says she and 'other her' made peace, before the other her suddenly disappeared — which made her very sad, but she is also sort of happy for when the other her was around, they kept burning the pretty forest."
"They made... peace?" Heavy repeats confused about what Pyro meant.
Spy knows exactly what she meant. "She made peace with whatever demon was hunting her mind." and if that was the case then this makes him becoming whole straight out impossible. How in the world can he ever forgive himself what he did towards all those people? His own family? He sights, already accepting his demise. It does sound fitting now he knows what has kept him from becoming whole. "Our own self-loath is making us kill our other, keeping us separated." Explains why he never could stand two meters from his other and why Engineer could for a short time after he— BLU Spy got transported to Equestria.
Everyone in the room is dead silence, some of them startled to hear that they hate who they are, others— like Spy aren't really that surprised hearing this. The first there recovers is Demoman, he gets on his feet with a determent: "I will take Spy to Equestria." Everyone, especially Spy gives him a shocked stare.
"Your other is going to kill you." Sniper points out, begrudgingly has to say that he does have quite the self-hate against himself. All thanks to he is not considered a ‘true’ Australian, not to mention that he does at times believes that his old man is right in calling him a crazed gunman from what horrible things he has done when lost his cool out on the battlefield.
But Demo is steadfast in his choice, for now that he really thinks about it; he has a few times passed the RED Demo without nothing happening. And when they would come to blows outside of battle was when they shared drinks for too long. Demo always thought it was because they got too drunk and remembered they were enemies. Now he knows why, but he finds solace in the fact that those beer-bottle fights rarely ended with a trip through respawn. "Maybe, but not right away." He pulls the very reluctant but too weak to resist Spy on his feet and with the barely able to stand Spy's arm over his shoulder. Demo tells the mildly surprised Ignis. "Fire away." and before the others can stop him. Ignis fire surrounds them.
When the flames disappear, Demo crashes onto a grassy field, seconds later a very sick looking changeling lands not far from him.
"...You fool..." Spy sneers weakly to the same colored as the one here Demoman, the only differences is the cutiremark. The BLU Demoman has an explosion instead of a sword on his flank.
Demo gets on his hooves, stagger but does somewhat get the hang on how to walk on four hooves. "Yeah, I get that a lot." It takes him a moment to figure out how to use his new horn, when he does he levitates Spy onto his back— now he sees what his other meant, magic is awesome! "Come, we better get you to your other before you die." He muses and starts walking towards what he hopes is Ponyville. Glancing back to the changeling when Spy says weakly and devoted of any hope. "...I can...never... make peace of... what I have... done..." Demo sure hopes that won't be the case, otherwise, this would've been for nothing.
*Ponyville.*
Mostly just to get his mind off from the dreadful news of Spook and possibly their soon to be fate, Sniper observes the area outside Ponyville, somewhat wishing the pegasi would've made it rain today. It would suit his mood a lot better than this sunny day.
Noticing movement on the hills surrounding the town, Sniper turns his gaze to check what it is and frowns seeing Demo carrying... Spy?
Sniper blinks, pretty sure that Spook is still restrained inside Twilight's home— unless this isn't their spy. "Bloody hell." He muses and flies over to warn the others especially— Demoman that his other is coming with Spy's other.
When BLU Demoman arrives, those there has been here for a while all awaits him. RED Demoman too, although keeping his distance.
"Where is your Spy?" BLU Demoman asks the awaiting group. His team's Engineer shows him where. Inside this oak tree of a library. Demo would've put down Spy right besides his mindless body, but before he can; BLU Spy very suddenly lashes out and jag his long canine into his right foreleg, sucking out what Demo can only guess is his love.
Engineer quickly tries to get Spy off his team’s Demo, bit tricky for Spy also wants a bite out from him. But fortunately, it greatly helps to have a brain so he forces the hissing like a crazed animal changeling down, allowing Demo to drag the other Spy a safe distance away from his counterpart. When sure no one is in the mindless Spy’s reach, he lets go, admitting as he stares at the now very hostile BLU Spy. "This is the first time he has lashed out like that."
Demo opens his mouth to speak his mind, but is interrupted by RED Spy saying weakly. "...He's hungry... changeling... instincts..." Well that's just typical, so they are dealing with practically a zombie, but instead of brains, this zombie wants to devour love. Using his magic, Demo puts down RED Spy as close he can without BLU can bite him. This is really all he can do for him. "Rest up to you."
It won't work, Spy thinks, looking up to his body— his vessel, he can feel the self-loath of all the horrible things he has done. If he hasn't been so weak, he would've attacked but all he can do it lie there and wait to die.
BLU Demo and Engineer watches the two changelings before turning to the door when Miss Pauling walks inside, requesting them to leave, they hesitates but sensing she does not want to argue. They reluctantly leave. When them out, Miss Pauling turns to the weak but aware RED Spy, musing. “I guess... this is the end for you…”
Spy nods slowly, eyeing this young woman when he senses distress from her. It takes him a bit by surprise. “You care… about me...” He muses weakly back and has to ask. “Why?...”
“I don’t know...” Miss Pauling replies back in barely a whisper. “… I think it’s because you were the first who didn’t die after a year of employment.”
Spy hums in thoughts for a moment before he speaks. “…I was the only… person besides… Helen.” She nods slowly, feeling angry at herself for shedding tears for one of the mercenaries. She should’ve gotten used to it by now. “It’s going to be a pain finding someone just as good as you.” She says with a small but pathetic chuckle. Spy doesn't answer her, looking down she realizes it’s because he has passed out. Miss Pauling dries away the few tears, musing weakly. “I’m going to miss you…” and with that, she leaves, unable to bear the thought of having to watch Spy life fade away.