"I've been wondering something. What's with the way our weapons' ammo works?" Twilight Sparkle asked Thenam as their trailer neared Eyeaduct. "I mean, there's no way dropped weapons or metal pieces can just instantly turn into bullets, scrap metal, gas, rockets, or grenades just like that when we want to. Or for touching those health boxes to instantly heal us."
"Specialized converters is the answer," he answered. "Good thing too because otherwise you'd be left vulnerable to Spies, Snipers, and Pyros while collecting them manually. That same converter applies for the Sandvich, although that only applies when dropped."
"We're here," Tasic announced. "And so is RED. Thenam, prepare the outfits on the Customizers."
"Already done that while en route."
"Speaking of that, just what costumes are we gonna wear?" Twilight asked.
"Not what the other team is wearing, that's for sure. They're dressing as a mummy, cardboard robot, devil, werewolf, Frankenstein's monster, fly-man hybrid, mad doctor, vampire slayer, and the Invisible Man."
"Frankenstein? Invisible Man?"
"Jothicu's got books on those characters. You can read them later."
"Okay. So, what are our costumes?"
"Well, you're gonna dress up as an 'adventurer archaeologist', a mailbox (Derpy's idea), a hazmat suit-wearer, a knight, a marine (kinda like the royal guard), a scarecrow, an angel, a magician (better than Merasmus), and a princess."
Just then, the trailer stopped. "We're at the BLU side," Tasic announced. "Better get ready. Time for our second win to end Eternal Halloween."
"It still reminds me a bit of—"
"Nightmare Moon? At least we see daytime after the night. It's just that we're in a groundhog day loop."
"What does a groundhog have to do with it? What's a groundhog anyway?"
"Where we come from, we have a myth that when the groundhog emerges on a cloudy Second of February, spring will arrive early. But if the day is sunny, it will supposedly see its shadow, retreat back to its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks. Just a myth though. Tell you later after we win this."
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"All right, team. Before I send you guys in, I'll brief you in on this area's monster," said Tasic.
"Why not call them maps?" asked Pinkie Pie, who was already in her Pyro suit. "That's what the Scouts call them."
"Because that's not what they are here. And both Scouts just happen to have the same…abilities as you when it comes to that, though not to your extent. Anyway, the monster is called MONOCULUS. From what I've been able to research, MONOCULUS is the RED Demoman's missing eye, haunted by the Bombinomicon, which is a grimoire owned by Merasmus. Its current form is a giant brown floating eye that fires purple rocket-like eyeballs, which are guaranteed critical hits. Like ordinary rockets, these can be airblasted.
"MONOCULUS will emerge at the control point, disintegrating anybody standing on it and rendering it uncapturable. When enraged—which happens if anyone lands a critical hit—its iris turns red and it shoots three of these projectiles in quick succession that are as fast as a Soldier's rockets and home in on targets. It calms down after a while, though.
"At random intervals, it will teleport, leaving a swirling, purple vortex where it last was. Entering it will lead you to the Underworld, where you will be taken to an island and take continuous periodic damage. Don't worry, our 'Respawn system' will still rescue you there. On another island is a portal which you should take to escape. Upon exiting, you will return to Eyeaduct with an ÜberCharge boost, critical boost, overhealed to double the card's maximum armor rating (I'm calling it that now), and a speed boost. Damaging MONOCULUS while in this state will stun it and cause it to sink to the ground for a few seconds, making it easier to attack.
"MONOCULUS resists half of critical damage, resulting in critical hits dealing double damage as opposed to the usual triple damage. MONOCULUS also has a natural damage resistance against miniguns and flamethrowers. However…you know that attacks are somehow weaker the farther away your target is, right?"
Everypony nodded their heads.
"Well, that damage 'fall-off' is completely ignored when hitting MONOCULUS, so you always deal the same amount of damage no matter how far you are. Thrown weapons, such as Mad Milk, will bounce harmlessly off MONOCULUS however. On-hit effects like the Blutsauger's healing (I'm sure I told you about that, Fluttershy) do not apply on it either.
"Upon defeating MONOCULUS, it will first change into a massive Jarate explosion, soaking anybody nearby. An opened Bombinomicon will then spawn, surrounded by a red swirling vortex. This Bombinomicon will constantly point at the one who killed MONOCULUS, tilting and rotating to follow. Any who enter the vortex will be teleported to a place called "Loot Island" in the Underworld, at the base of a hill. On top of this hill is a large skull and a cage which contains a Bombinomicon replica, completely non-magical. The cage will slowly descend into the ground where it can be collected. Sometime after after the book is available, the hill will be filled with exploding eyeball projectiles, killing anybody still standing upon it, and the cage will cover the Bombinomicon again. Collecting it is not required though, so don't feel obligated to get it, understood?"
Everypony nodded their heads again.
"And another thing; there are ghosts in here as well, as in more than one. Three or four spawn once the point is captured by a team. Thankfully, unlike Zepheniah's ghost, they disappear after scaring someone. All right, let's move out!"
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RED Team
RED Scout's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Shortstop
2° Weapon - Bonk! Atomic Punch
Melee Weapon - Atomizer
Hat - Wrap Battler
Misc. Item 1 - B-ankh!
Misc. Item 2 - Futankhamun
RED Soldier's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Direct Hit
2° Weapon - Shotgun
Melee Weapon - Market Gardener
Hat - Idiot Box
Misc. Item 1 - Steel Pipes
Misc. Item 2 - Shoestring Budget
RED Pyro's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Backburner
2° Weapon - Shotgun
Melee Weapon - Third Degree
Hat - Blazing Bull
Misc. Item 1 - Fallen Angel
Misc. Item 2 - Tail From the Crypt
RED Demoman's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Loch-n-Load
2° Weapon - Splendid Screen
Melee Weapon - Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker
Hat - Hair of the Dog
Misc. Item 1 - Scottish Snarl
Misc. Item 2 - Pickled Paws
RED Heavy's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Iron Curtain
2° Weapon - Sandvich
Melee Weapon - Gloves of Running Urgently
Hat - Can Opener
Misc. Item 1 - Soviet Stitch-Up
Misc. Item 2 - Steel-Toed Stompers
RED Engineer's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Pomson 6000
2° Weapon - Short Circuit
Melee Weapon - Gunslinger
Hat - Buzz Killer
Misc. Item 1 - Frontier Flyboy
Misc. Item 2 - Legend of Bugfoot
RED Medic's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Blutsauger
2° Weapon - Kritzkrieg
Melee Weapon - Vita-Saw
Hat - Einstein
Misc. Item 1 - Dr. Gogglestache
Misc. Item 2 - Emerald Jarate
RED Sniper's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Sydney Sleeper
2° Weapon - SMG
Melee Weapon - Tribalman's Shiv
Hat - Holy Hunter
Misc. Item 1 - Silver Bullets
Misc. Item 2 - Garlic Flank Stake
RED Spy's Loadout:
2° Weapon - Ambassador
2° PDA - Dead Ringer
Melee Weapon - Wanga Prick
Hat - Under Cover
Misc. Item 1 - Griffin's Gog
Misc. Item 2 - Intangible Ascot
EqU Team
Rainbow Dash's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Scattergun
2° Weapon - Pistol
Melee Weapon - Sandman
Hat - Traveler's Fedora
Misc. Item 1 - Archaeologist's Jacket
Misc. Item 2 - Utility Bullwhip
Derpy Hooves's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Rocket Launcher
2° Weapon - Royal Canterlot Hallmark
Melee Weapon - Pain Train
Hat - Courier Helmet
Misc. Item 1 - Mail Plating
Misc. Item 2 - Pillar Leggings
Pinkie Pie's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Flame Thrower
2° Weapon - Reserve Shooter
Melee Weapon - Sharpened Volcano Fragment
Hat - HazMat Headcase
Misc. Item 1 - HazMat Suit
Misc. Item 2 - None
Spike's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Grenade Launcher (Fire Breath)
2° Weapon - Chargin' Targe
Melee Weapon - Half-Zatoichi
Hat - Helm of Valor
Misc. Item 1 - Demolition Spaulder
Misc. Item 2 - King of Scotland Cape
Chronicle's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Tomislav
2° Weapon - Sandvich
Melee Weapon - Magic Horn Blade (Force Field Ring) -Fists of Steel-
Hat - Patriotic Protection
Misc. Item 1 - Army Fatigues
Misc. Item 2 - Satiating H2O
Applejack's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Shotgun
2° Weapon - Wrangler
Melee Weapon - Jag
Hat - Strawman's Hat
Misc. Item 1 - Out Farming
Misc. Item 2 - Stalk o' Wheat
Fluttershy's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Crusader's Crossbow
2° Weapon - Medi Gun
Melee Weapon - Amputator
Hat - Cheater's Lament
Misc. Item 1 - Divine Robes
Misc. Item 2 - Arrows of Healin
Twilight Sparkle's Loadout:
1° Weapon - Machina
2° Weapon - SMG
Melee Weapon - Shahanshah
Hat - Magician's Hat
Misc. Item 1 - Mystical Cape
Misc. Item 2 - Wand of Magicalness
Rarity's Loadout:
2° Weapon - Enforcer
2° PDA - Dead Ringer
Melee Weapon - Spy-cicle
Hat - Princess Cap
Misc. Item 1 - Princess Dress
Misc. Item 2 - Princess Slippers
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The fight was going well for EqU. RED only managed 30 seconds out of the needed 3 minutes of capture before they claimed the Control Point. Just as they had 2 minutes and 23 seconds left, Chronicle was set on fire by the RED Pyro, who had a Kritzkrieg ÜberCharge.
"Speak of the devil!" the EqU Heavy commented.
Luckily, the Charge expired by the time the firebug made it to him and, together with Derpy, the marine-dressed unicorn killed him and his Medic and they continued to defend the point.
The Pyro shortly respawned alongside the RED Medic, who was already on his way back to the fight. As they exited the spawn area, he went to his left, where the Engineer's Dispenser and Teleporter were set up. He stood on the Teleporter and soon found himself at the central area where competition for the point is hottest. He saw the EqU Scout, Rainbow Dash, fly into view, then quickly pull back just as he approached the point. He tried to find out what roast pegasus would be like (again), but she was already gone.
He then saw the EqU Demoman Spike head his way, the Half-Zatoichi in hand. He quickly pulled back, blazing the dragon with his flamethrower. Even if he knew this was a dragon, who are naturally fire-retardant, he could still be taken down with this as easily as the BLU Demoman; it's just that this one won't get burned.
While backing away, Spike swung his sword…and killed a RED Spy, and was now backed up by an EqU Medic, although it wasn't that tenderhearted one; her costume was akin to an angel's, the opposite of his. He went around to the other side (where Spike decided to deal with another RED) to join his teammates there; two RED Soldiers, both dressed up in their ineffectual robot costumes, RED Medic, and his best friend RED Engineer, whose Sentry Gun was firing away at the ponies, who were at the other end of the 'map', as the Scout sometimes calls them when dominating his opposite number.
He asked something to the hardhat, who said in a high-pitched voice underneath the fly costume, "Don't you worry. We'll end this Eternal Halloween."
The Pyro put away his flamethrower and put his hands to his hip, clearly angry.
"Oh, you didn't mean that? Sorry. What were you trying to say?"
More muffled speaking as he took out his flamethrower. What was he thinking when choosing the Backburner?
"Oh, that. Well, it's true that Merasmus said only one team needs to win three times, and that we lost to LUNA earlier, and that EqU has won in Mann Manor. But even if I were willing to throw the match for them just to end this, the same can't be said for the others. It hurts their pride to keep losin' to a team of ponies. And it's a bit disturbing to see you talkin' to me like this."
Some more mumbling. There was a ding as RED managed to capture the Control Point, spawning a few ghosts in the process.
"Oh. You've been learnin' a bit from those videos we found in EqU's intelligence cases? I admit it tells a bit about their history, but why would they put it there, anyway?"
The Pyro just shrugged his shoulders then mumbled something else.
"Right. There has to be some reason they started only with our 'stock weapons' as Scout calls them, then started getting more 'n more of our stuff after some Capture the Flag missions. Looks like I'll have to ask Spy to find a way to change the contents. Before we know it, they're gonna find out his and your real name before any of us do."
The Pyro couldn't agree more.
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While EqU attempted to recapture the control point, just as the RED team's timer reached 2:19, it suddenly stopped and the point was encircled in flames, just like with the one in Mann Manor. Something rose from the flames, and it was apparent that the new arrival was MONOCULUS. And it rose into the sky before it stopped at around ten feet from the ground.
"It's the MONOCULUS! Shoot it down!", ordered the RED Demoman.
And this time, everybody did; the control point was sealed, so it was a moot point to fight each other right now. The EqU team were grateful that the REDs immediately stopped attacking them, but a terse word from the RED Sniper reminded them that it's back to business the second MONOCOLUS was dead (again).
The giant eye was such a 'damage sponge' it seemed that nothing was working. MONOCULUS continued lobbing eyes, and everybody dodged to the best of their ability, and kept out of the range of each other's Sentries, even when Applejack had the Wrangler for the REDs not to worry about too much.
Suddenly, it teleported, leaving behind a portal. The RED Scout took this chance to enter it and so did the Pyro. Rainbow Dash decided to follow suit, and Pinkie Pie bounded straight after. The rest decided to focus on MONOCULUS instead.
Upon entering the Underworld, feeling the damage kick in, the four made a dash for the exit.
"Let's move it, mumbles!"
A mumbled affirmation.
"Grab on, Pinkie!"
"You got it, Dashie!"
As the two mercenaries ran down the path, Pinkie held onto Rainbow as she flew straight over the strange water (they were told they would be sent away if they so much as made contact with it). The two ponies were the first to make it out, and following them was the RED speedster, the firebug trailing behind.
And with the boosts they got, upon instantly returning to Eyeaduct, they rained bullets on MONOCULUS, the Pyros using their shotguns, the RED Scout taking potshots with his Shortstop, and Rainbow moving dangerously close to the giant eye and unloading her scattergun rounds onto its back. All of this stunned MONOCULUS and forced it to descend, allowing the rest an easier time on defeating it.
"Man, I wish I could fly," the Scout thought to himself out loud. A ghost then startled him before vanishing.
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Fighting MONOCULUS wasn't particularly interesting, it was just a floating shooter. They just had to keep their guard up whenever a critical hit was landed.
In the end, the RED Demoman delivered the final blow, splattering everybody nearby with Jarate. As promised, RED immediately turned on EqU as they went for the control point. As they weren't used to a truce ending this abruptly, it caught the ponies off guard enough for RED to reclaim the point (and send someone to claim another Bombinomicon replica), even when an ÜberCharge Derpy Hooves took out a lot of them, only to have to pull back from the RED Pyro's airblast.
That particular arsonist also nearly sent away Pinkie in a shotgun duel before a tracer round from Twilight's Machina blew his heart out. Two EqU Scouts, neither of them Rainbow, then capped the point, only for the RED Spy to backstab one and then headshot the other before being forced to slip away.
Chronicle then got on the point to ensure its security as he attacked the RED Engineer's Sentry. Fluttershy was of course keeping him in good condition. Unfortunately, just as they killed the repairing Engineer, a recently-respawned RED Pyro (who replaced his Backbruner with his regular Flame Thrower) roasted both of them, sending him away and forcing her to pull back as the Pyro stood on the point, only for a RED Soldier to send her away too.
As his teammates went and captured the point (twenty seconds to spare), he spy-checked a RED Spy, who was in critical health.
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Later still…
"Overtime!"
They didn't know how they did it, but EqU was able to force Overtime by standing on the point even as RED's timer ran out.
"That was way too close!" said Chronicle.
"No kidding," replied Twilight. "We're lucky the Administrator tweaked back the rules."
Unfortunately, their point-capping wasn't to last, for the MONOCULUS decided to rise again. "For the love of Discord, not now!"
Naturally, both sides focused all of their fire so they can get this over with; Equ just needed 11 seconds of capture time to win, RED just needed to reclaim the point.
It was a harrowing time, especially with some of EqU sticking right behind the REDs with the exception of Rainbow, who was up close and pumping shell after shell at the giant eye's 'back'. This resulted in her getting quickly sent away by RED rockets, grenades, and bullets. Not everybody was attacking MONOCULUS though; the Spies on both sides were attempting to systematically take out each other's teammates. Rarity had to take instructions from Tasic though, as all the mayhem was making it difficult for her to prioritize.
Eventually, the final blow was dealt by the RED Heavy and once the portal opened, with Merasmus's Bombinomicon pointing at him, he was surprised to see his EqU counterpart, Chronicle, enter it. He was immediately followed by a few more of his RED teammates.
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At Loot Island, Chronicle was quick to neutralize the REDs via his magic horn blade, activating the Force Field Ring on his horn, which acted like the Heavy's Fists of Steel. It would grant him resistance to bullets, but melee attacks would hurt much more. His 'weapon switching' would also be a bit slower, not that he needed the Tomislav right now.
While they weren't obligated to get the Bombinomicon replica, he figured it didn't mean he mustn't. He headed for the large skull, where the cage containing the Bombinomicon replica would soon descend. Once it was down, he got in, collected the book, then as eyeball projectiles began to rain on the hill, said the words, "Goodbye world." Those words triggered something in his card and automatically sent him to the limbo room; it was essentially a 'suicide switch', but without the death.
To his fortune, EqU was able to successfully capture the point and hold it for the required eleven seconds, securing their second victory. Now all they need is a win at Ghost Fort. Who knows what 'monster' lies in wait for them there?
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After the battle, the two teams left Mann Manor in their vehicles, EqU in their trailer. Unnervingly, RED had some of the same vehicles as BLU, but of slightly different models. The Sniper also had a camper van (looking just like the BLU's), the Engineer also had a truck, and the Medic also had a catering van. The RED Spy however had—instead of a Chevrolet—a Ferrari.
They weren't traveling together of course, but they were traveling to the same place; Ghost Fort. They both knew that EqU has already secured two wins and that if they win again, Eternal Halloween would end. However, pride was the only thing standing in the way of them throwing the fight. That, and Merasmus said (through a giant floating head message) the fights only count when they actually battle, complete with 'kills' at a 'regular' rate, multiple cases of running in both parties, and so on.
The RED Team also knew that they will be facing Merasmus himself in Ghost Fort, having faced him there last year, but whether or not EqU knows too is another matter, not that it matters much. They were within shooting distance of EqU, and the same went vice-versa, but neither party attacked. Not with
"Yo, hardhat!" the RED Scout asked the Engineer from the back of the pickup truck.
"Yeah, string bean?" replied the Texan.
"I've been wonderin' somethin'. How da hell is that trailer bein' driven? I mean, the driver's seat of any car or truck ain't obviously for ponies. And I'm sure that tiny reptile can't even reach the wheel let alone see the road from the seat."
"Human help," the Spy answered for the mechanic. "I was parked a distance from their trailer and while everyone was getting ready to leave, I used the Cloak and Dagger and waited for EqU to come back. Didn't bother trying to off them since Respawn works on us even now, maybe theirs does the same. I saw a human at the door lead them in. I suspect there are more, but for now that is mere speculation."
"Ya know, tha' seems pret-ty believable," noted the Demoman. "The don' look like the fightin' type, 'cept their Heavy, and I don't mean their cutesy looks."
One mercenary stifled a chuckle, but nobody was sure who.
"So, what difference does this make?" asked the Sniper.
"Quite a bit, actually," replied the suave French. "For one, it—" He was interrupted with the fact that Ghost Fort was already in view, which he and the others saw. "We'll continue this conversation another time."
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Now I realize why nearly nobody writes MONOCULUS chapters; it's just a floating shooter. Writers can make HHH do all sorts of axe swings and other stuff humans can do thanks to his shape. And Merasmus is a magician, 'nuff said.
I was going to have a conversation where Sniper would talk about auto-piloted cars and such in Australia (and assuming that the EqU trailer is 'driven' by the ponies), but I thought that wouldn't be a good subject.
And I don't care if I did some historical inaccuracy with the Spy's cars. The TF2 world is AH (Alternate History) to ours. Sorry for the poor way I ended it. See ya on Third!