This chapter went through more rewrites than I like to care to admit. I am still not fully satisfied with it, but I don't want to waste more time trying to make it perfect.

This happens about a week after the last chapter.


**Somewhere in Moscow**

Sliding quietly through the window he broke, Spy spots the security guard and prepares his knife for a kill. However, his teacher stops him with a simple hand sign before he can get over to do the deed. Spy sheathes his knife, and while following Ace, he feels silly that he has forgotten that part of his teaching; only take the life if necessary. The War Games has apparently made him too quick to kill, but this isn't one of the staged battlefields and that body won't disappear after ten minutes. Ace has told him countless times that a good spy leaves no trace behind and a slain person screams the building got an intruder.
They get past the guards and sneaks inside a computer room, here Ace, in a flowing move, grabs the computer guy's throat and keeps holding him in a chokehold until the guy passes out.

After gagging and bound the person to a nearby pipe, "Now, do you have the information I want?" Ace takes the man's spot at the computer with his black cat finding a seat on top of the screen. A scene Spy has seen many times during his training.

While his master snoops around the computer files, Spy checks the room for possible cameras and makes sure that they will have some sort of escape plan if they get found out. So far, the only way for them to get out other than the door they came from is a two stores jump, which is not something Spy thinks his Master can handle. Unlike him, Ace does not have respawn to count on, which makes his long run of being the master spy all the more impressive. 'Would anyone ever be able to surpass him?' Spy wonders, and do think he would, but only because he got respawn and a lot more years than average to hone his skills.
Speaking of skills, "I fought your son." he points out to his teacher.

As usual, Ace reaction is as collective as always. The only sign he heard him is: "Did you now?" apprehensively writes down some notes to whatever he found on the computer "What did you make of him?" the cat looks at him with its yellow eyes. Spy is unsure how, but Ace must have trained it to look at the person Ace questions.

Ignoring that pet of his master. "Very skilled." Spy admits, Tristan could easily keep up with him and would've made a good spy, if not for a glaring issue in how that man views that class. "Though he clearly has an issue being your offspring."

Ace stops whatever he's writing, head slightly lifted from whatever is going through his mind. "Ah, so you've met Tristan." This catches Spy's attention, but he does not speak up, allowing his master to continue, "He once looked up to me, but that admiration later turned into hate." Ace returns to his notes, "makes it easier in the end."

Sensing his master is done talking, the observation Spy got can be spoken: "You have more than one child."

"Oh yes, so far as I'm aware. I have two. Twins," Ace glances to him with a faint smile, "and I'm surprised you hadn't met the other one of the duo; they rarely leave each other side. Marcos might be timid, but he isn't bad at his job." Wait, Marcos? That's the name of the man calling himself Black Spy. Are he and Tristan brothers? "So you have met him." Ace voices, sounding quite amused yet also aware of why Marcos didn't stand out to him.

Spy is not sure if Black Spy wanted or his shyness made him relatively easy to overlook; whatever the case, it has kept the world from knowing his heritage. Unlike Tristan. "Something tells me that Tristan makes the world know just to spite you."

"No, he's not stupid." Ace waves that remark off, and after a moment of silence between them, "the Administrator is the one who revealed it to the whole world. A way to put a leash on me, I think."

Something about the way Ace said it made it run cold down Spy's back. "Did it work?" he asks and can't help but think how he reacted when Grey took his son hostage. If not for his own and team Vanguard, Grey Mann most likely could've used him against the others.

The cat lies down, but eyes still on him, "No." Ace eyes him briefly; those blue eyes have a mischievous glint in them. Like a cat that is playing with a terrified bird. "I am not afraid to show that witch I am not that easily controlled."

Even with the Administrator not being aware of Jeremy being of his blood, Spy wouldn't have dared to do what Ace and the two others had done: stealing Australium right under her nose. He is confident in his skills, but he won't have a chance if the Administrator wants him dead. "You will pay a steep price for that mockery towards her." He points out to his master, well aware that woman will kill anyone Ace hold close to his heart, for that cheek the master spy showed towards her.

But like always, his master is not affected by that sort of threat. "Oh, I am sure she has a long list of what horrific harm she wants to inflict on me. But, she has to catch me first, though."

"She knows where your sons are." Spy points out.

For a moment, he mistook it for Ace finally grasping that the Administrator got something on him, but quickly realizes it wasn't when the man resumed writing down more notes, musing, "This reminds me of someone I helped out some years back." Spy blinks, and fortunately, his master is willing to explain. "A rival of mine; Viper, he once had a student. Skilled and ruthless, just like he wants them. He's very much like you." Ace eyes him, and Spy is not sure if that description was a compliment or not. "But this student chose the same path as Tristan; left his teacher's side. except my rival is not as understanding as I am." The cat gets back up and seems a bit tense. Spy checks the door in case it heard something, all the while listening to Ace's little story: "This man, he was willing to throw his entire training; his life as an infiltrator out of the window for the sake of the family he found. But as you already know, Antoine. Such things aren't possible for spies with this sort of training, less so when Viper chooses his students. My rival found his student's family, and although that man managed to fight his former master off, Viper still made his point: he had left a mark on his child."

Does Ace mean this other spy's master left the Hunted mark on a child? That's low, but Spy can see why this other master did it if he's as ruthless as he thinks this other master spy is. "How did this ex-spy react on that entire event?" He asks, rather curiously about this as it's rare Ace speaks about his past.

"Well, he came to me— didn't trust me, of course, but he was scared. In his eyes, forced into a corner." Ace replies in a manner that he finds this whole memory very intriguing "I advised him to abandon his family, never show his face near them again." Spy peaks his head as this was the very same thing Ace told him all those years ago, said it would keep his family safe, which it has, but with the prize that Jeremy came to hate him.
Only the changeling ability to sense emotions helped them make peace with one another.
"He didn't take my advice as kindly as you did, but in the end, he saw reason and did as I suggested." Ace writes something else down onto that notebook of his. "I could see it was the hardest choice of his life. Even to this day, he loathes me for this."

"Why?" Spy asks

"He wanted me to protect them. But the organization I work for does not allow people like him such a luxury. Too darn risky."

Spy can understand that. Protecting people, especially those who have been this deep on the other side, carries a risk to other people. More so if Ace's organization does not have that many resources.
"Does his child know?" Spy asks, pondering how things would've been if he had been more proactive in his son's life.

Ace shuts the computer off and begins to leave the room. Spy follows, making sure not to step onto that cat, and only when they have gotten outside, Ace replies his question. "Maybe, I don't know to be honest." Well, it seems like not even a master spy knows everything. That is a strange thought for Spy. "All I do know is that he will do anything to protect his family. It gives his enemy a glaring weakness, and his distrust of people with power. Well," Ace checks the nearby corner, remarking with a quick glance to his directions. "let's just say I am glad you don't have that same attitude towards me."

That remark makes Spy pause for a moment, unsure what his teacher meant by that. There must be a lesson behind this story about this other guy, but Spy is unsure if it's he is willing to put his own feelings aside for the sake of business or if the choice he made to make Jeremy part of his life will come back to bite him. "Do you think I made the wrong choice letting my son into my life?"

"Not my place to say." Ace brushes off, but Spy thinks that he wants to know his master's true opinion on this subject this time. "I still want to hear why you thought it was best to abandon the chance to have a family."
Ace does not reply him, instead more focused on leaving this entire building and Spy thought he wouldn't get this man's true opinion on this quite controversial subject. But, when they are out on the streets again: "I have been in this game for many years, Antoine. Longer than most." Spy eyes his master, surprised that Ace does not look mentally tired as he thought the man would be. Ace lights a cigarette, and after a good inhale, he continues. "We live in a cruel world, conflict is part of the daily life and happiness is often out of reach. I haven't seen any other master spy manages to have both worlds; they always end up losing in the end." Flicking his cigarette, Ace voices with a calm. "I can't take such a risk, too many lives depends on my profession." Right there Spy realizes why his master does not seem bothered by the possible threat the Administrator poses for Tristan and Marcos. Whatever he's doing besides these side gigs, in Ace's eyes, it's too important to worry about his sons. If they ever got into trouble, Ace wouldn't save them, unless it would benefit this organization of his.

This disturbs Spy, and yet… he can see Ace's point. In being a good spy, attachments are a glaring weakness the enemy can and will use against him. and yet, Ace has always taught him to gain allies, have people to trust him, but never gain something to hook onto him. "I can see why you don't let people get close to you," but it makes him wonder; it that's the life he wants to have? Spy once held the same mindset as Ace, but after what he's been through in the Equestria…. He's not so sure anymore.
Ace merely hums at his words, not adding more to the subject. Simply letting him think about what they have talked about and come to his own conclusion. His master has always been like this, teaching him what he knows but allows him enough space to form his own views on things.

They slip out from sights on the streets, both takes on a new disguise with their disguise kits so when they return to the buzzing streets, no one would know they were the same two men the soldiers might be searching for. Hiding in plain sight, and a quick check to see there's no imminent danger, Spy feels like now it's a good time to voice his thoughts about his master's teachings. "I can't follow your ways." Ace eyes him, even with a different face, he's unreadable. Spy avoids the eye contact, feeling like a failure "I can't leave my new family behind. Can't leave my son, not again." he has come to care too much, which is a weakness, but Spy realizes that he has run away from who he truly is for too long. "It's not who I am, not a person I want to be."

Ace hums and at an emptier spot of the street, his master stops. "I can't dictate how you will live your life. All I can do is teach and hope you will know how to use your tools properly throughout your career."

Spy narrows his eyes slightly at what Ace said, it's something his teacher has said many times but after the talk with Tristan. He's not sure if Ace will let him do what he truly wants. "You're not going to harm my family to prove a point." He asks though it sounds more like a statement. Guess he has been working for someone who would exploit his weakness for so long that Spy has trouble not distrusting people.

"No, not my style." Ace replies simply and begins to move again, "though my comrade might do it if you ever get in his way." Spy does not like the sound of that… still he follows Ace to wherever his Master wishes to go.
Turns out it's a prison, a very secure one. "And that's where I would need your skills." Ace voices and gestures at some sort of machine, "See those? They are disguise disruptors; if one disguised approaches, they will go off."

"Can't you sneak in without the disguise kit?" Spy asks.

"Everyone in there knows my face" Ace replies grimly, he lights a cigarette and after a long drag. "Wager they got a few posters with my face on."

"Got quite the fan base." Spy remarks dryly, which hides his reluctance to do what Ace asks of him. If the disguise kit does not work, then he has to go in there without, meaning he has to take off the mask and let people see his face. "Are you sure there's no other way?" nodding down to his master's pet "I have seen you use your pet; can't it help you out?"

Ace shakes his head. "Trust me, if I could've used her, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble getting you." he eyes the cat sitting beside him, who returns the look with those golden orbs. He gives him a simple look and then hands him a detailed sketch of the building. "You're the only one I trust with this."

Quite the irony, "didn't you always tell me never trust anyone?"

"Even a master spy needs someone once and a while." Ace smirks.

Guess so. Spy takes a deep breath before he removes the mask. 'For the things I would do for that man' he muses to himself, but very quickly his thoughts go to those he has left behind. People he wants to be with again. "You sure the respawn works in this area?" he asks, for he has every intention to return home.

"Don't worry, I'm not planning losing you that easily" Ace's smirks fades quickly though and he starts explaining while pointing at the area that holds the prison. "My comrade should be in one of those cells. Give him this revolver, then get out." Ace hands him a somewhat small revolver, easy to hide under his jacket.

Spy takes it and with it safely secured. "How would I recognize your comrade?"

The smirk returns, "You won't be in doubt the moment you see him."

That confuses him, but sensing Ace won't say more, Spy heads to the backdoor of this building. He manages to pick the lock, get the guard and take his clothing. The body gets thrown into a closet in which he locks so it will only be discovered when it starts to smell or someone opens the closet. Spy calmly heads to the prison and is sort of relieved he can stay calm in such a situation. It's been long he last went on a mission without the disguise kit, he's got disturbingly dependant on it. 'Very sure he wanted to teach me yet another lesson.' he muses to himself, and honestly, Spy wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. Everything Ace has done with him, a lesson always was involved, always a hook to the game.
He encounters the guard of the prison, and now he's glad Heavy is a Russian, which has allowed him to keep his Russia sharp. "[I'm here to take your shift.]" The guard looks confused and without missing a beat "[Change of schedule, found a traitor among us.]" the man grimly nods and with a salute, leaves. Spy takes his place for a while, making sure the guard is gone and no other soldier will arrive.
When sure, he starts checking the cells. Many prisoners and without knowing how to recognize Ace's comrade, he had to check every cell.
Spy stops at one of the last cells, startled at what he sees. This man is beaten bloody and could definitely use a good meal, but there's no doubt about it. This is Ace, but… he was the one who brought Spy here and that makes Spy worry. Perhaps his master has been in some way punished by the Administrator. When it happened, that is unclear. This other Ace notices him staring and after a moment, the look in his eyes changes. "[So, you're his student. The Spy of the Gravel Wars.]" The last part he said in a somewhat mocking tone.

Spy easily brushes the comment off, it was merely a job that gave him good money. Nothing more to it. He unlocks the cage and hands this Ace the revolver. "[Still able to use a weapon?]"

"[Don't insult me.]" Ace replies coldly and takes the lead. Spy is a bit surprised by his master's attitude towards him. He is used to Ace being indifferent, but never cold. Was he like that when his soul was split? Does recall RED Spy being harsh against BLU, but it was mostly because of his after-effects from the whole Longing subject. He follows Ace and when the former prisoner shoots one of the guards, alerting the entire building. Spy knows they have to hurry, and is quick into the War Games mentality: shooting everyone coming into his line of sight.
They did almost get swarmed but by luck and a bit of skill. They got out and the Ace that brought him here, got them further away by car. "[Took you long enough.]" prisoner Ace says in Spanish to his counterpart, showing no sign of wanting to murder the others as Spy dealt with when he had his soul split.

"[You can't expect me to be at your every whim.]" The Ace that brought him here retorts, sounding quite annoyed by this whole ordeal. "[You know I don't want to meddle in this place more than I already have.]"

Prisoner Ace takes a cigarette, and as he lights it. "[You owed me, more so from all the times you blew me over because of your little pet project.]"

"[Don't call him that.]" Ace snaps, which surprises Spy. "[and just so you know. he knows Spanish.]"

Prisoner Ace eyes him, the face is the same, but Spy feels he does not know the man looking at him. It's like he's looking at a stranger. Prisoner Ace turns back to the one who brought him here. "[I have heard of him. Tristan used his sister to get under my skin.]" Ace gives prisoner Ace a surprised look, which seems to amuse the other man. "[What? didn't he tell you?]"

"[We don't exactly keep each other up to date.]" Spy says, but he would've told Ace that one of his siblings survived if they had been in a calmer scenario. And speaking about up to date, he turns to the one who brought him here. "[How long have you gotten your soul split?]"

Prisoner Ace chuckles "[I see you never told him.]" and the other Ace says hard "[He does not need to know.]"
Spy notes himself to ask Ace about this later, and why his master seems to have some passive-aggressive relationship with this other Ace who does not seem to be the other part of his soul anymore.

Ace suddenly stops the car as another gets right in front of them. "Of course he wouldn't drop it." he muses exasperated,
and Spy is somewhat amused to see that Force of Nature has been following them. Guess not even Ace can get rid of people who cares about his well-being.
"[Get past him. I don't feel like chatting with these people.]" Prisoner Ace says, but the other man ignores him as he steps out from the car, making prisoner Ace sigh loudly, clearly irritated by this. Spy leaves the car too, for he has just spotted who else was in the car before them.
He's startled to see Zecora in the human world, troubled by what made her go this far in what seems to be in search of him. Passing Ace trying to avoid the subject with Force, he walks over to Zecora. "What are you doing here?"

Zecora breathes a sigh of relief to see Antoine, unharmed and not in danger. She had feared the worst, and now, the worst seems to have passed. "I felt a dread of your departure, and it's not fair for the kids to hear bad news from their mother." Antoine makes a small nod that he understands, but looking into his eyes, she can see that whatever he and his teacher did has made Antoine think. "What's on your mind? I feel it's not something you can leave behind."

"No, it isn't." Spy admits. This mission has made him think about what he wants. Parts of him wants to be the person who takes the mantle when Ace finally resign, but… if that mean he has to leave his happiness behind in the form of his family? He does not think he can do that.

"Hey," prisoner Ace suddenly calls, waving him back over to the car. "need a word with you." Spy begins to walk, Zecora close behind. "only you." prisoner Ace says hard.

Zecora stops, her eyes narrowed by that tone. Antoine gives her a look she knows well; he always has it when he has to go on one of his missions. But the way this look-alike to his teacher is, Zecora gets a strong sense that it will make Antoine do something above his duty. She takes his hand, stopping her beloved from going over. "I am sure you think helping your old teacher is just, but I cannot stop worrying about our shared trust." She eyes the changeling she fell in love with, one she bore his children. "Will I ever have a say if you ever decided to go away?"

"I never meant for you to worry like this mon chéri…" Spy muses and he does feel bad for having left without much explanation. "Let me hear what he's going to say. Then we can go home, together."
Zecora nods and allows him to get over to prisoner Ace.

"I know the location of your former boss." This catches Spy's attention; prisoner Ace quirks a faint smile at his direction. "she's onto something big, and I want you to help me what's she got cooking." Spy hesitates, he is curious about what the Administrator is planning, but he knows from experience how risky it is to get in her business. "What? She got dirt on you?"

"She kept several organizations from murdering my ass." Spy simply replies why he hasn't snooped in her case since he joined the Gravel Wars. "I rather stay on her good side."

"Should've figured you're one of her pawns." Prisoner Ace huffs, he throws away the cigarette bud "Didn't he teach you to disappear in the shadows?"

Spy glances over to the other Ace, still talking with Force of Nature, but is at times looking at them. "He did, but there's only for so long the shadows can hide me." and decides to ask this bit colder version of his teacher. "Why don't you ask your other part of your soul?" Blinking when this Ace begins to laugh.

"He never told you, did he?" prisoner Ace chuckles. "well, guess that's part of the core; neither of us trusts people." Spy is aware of that part of his teacher, guess that's why it didn't hurt when this other Ace hinted that his teacher never trusted him with whatever secret he got. "He's not suited for this kind of mission. Considering he got one glaring weakness in that cat." Spy blinks, unsure what this Ace means by his teacher's pet. What does that cat have to do with anything? Prisoner Ace rolls his neck, making a face up to the clear sky above them. "Here's the deal, if you help me with this mission. I will make sure that no one, not even your little black girlfriend would know who you are in papers anymore." His red meets this man's blue eyes. "You will be a ghost for the world."

This is an incredibly good deal, considering he won't have to worry about assassins trying to kill him for good or drag him to interrogation back in France. "How long will this take?"

"Knowing that woman, most likely a year." Ace shrugs like it's not that big of a deal. "She knows how to defend herself." Spy looks over to Zecora, and prisoner Ace remarks "Yeah, she might not want to be with you. But trust me, this not something you should walk away from." Spy is aware that he might never get such a chance to figure out what the Administrator was planning, nor have the Ace of Spies to make all his former issues disappear. But… if he does that, not only will he break his word with Zecora, but he's genuinely going to abandon her. Spy knows there is a chance he won't get out of this alive. He… He does not know what to do.

Seeing the panicked look on Antoine's face, Zecora decides to walk over. "Let's take a walk, and have a little talk." Antoine nods and follows her away, she ignores the look the other Ace gives her. Having a bit of privacy, she asks "whatever he have you assigned, I get the sense you're going to leave everything behind."
Antoine steps a bit away from her, refusing to meet her eyes "It's more complicated than that…"

"You don't have to handle me any sooth; just tell me what's the truth." Zecora says she knows fully well what she signed up for when she got together with this changeling.

Spy sighs, that man might not be his teacher, but the Ace he knows wants him alive. Glancing over to his teacher, Ace is looking at him, but like so many other times, it's unclear what he's thinking about. "He took me in when I had nothing." He says to Zecora, the only one he can trust with this. "I lived on the streets due to a stupid decision I made that ended up with my family getting killed. I admit that Ace never treated me as anything but his student, but I still respect him. He trained me to be one of the best in espionage and for all my life, all I wanted was to one day take the mantle he carry." Zecora listens to his little speech, she does frown in whatever opinion she got about his relationship with Ace, but allows him to say what he wants to say before putting her two cents into this subject. Spy eyes the man who taught him everything, "But after I met you, got on Jeremy's good side, we have the girls…" he sighs, for the first time since his soul's reunion, actually feels the age he should've been if not for the respawn. "I don't know what to do anymore. Ace made it clear that I can't have both worlds." He partly hides his face behind his hand. "I don't know what to do…"

Zecora can understand why he feels like that. she, too, has felt lost, back when she left her homeland and came to Equestria in search for a purpose. For many years Zecora was astray, only comfort was her skills in potion making and even when she came to Ponyville, the locals treated her like an outcast. It was only when the six ponies offered her their hooves of friendship that life turned for the better and when the Element appeared around her neck, Zecora finally found her purpose. Now it's time for Antoine to find his. She gently takes his hands, making Antoine look at her. Zecora smiles up to him. "Do what you feel is right, if your teacher role is what you have in mind, then follow the path he has you assigned" She won't stop him from reaching his purpose in life. "Whatever if we have to face danger in any sort of weather, I want you to know that I want us to be together."

Hearing this from her touches Spy deeply, more so when, unlike his former lover, Zecora won't sit idly by and wait for him. She is willing to fight if the situation calls for it, and Spy deeply respects her for this. So it's only fair he returns her love with a dedication to be the best husband. "My place is at your side." she smile and shows no worry as he walks over to his teacher. Zecora must know that although he wants to take Ace's place, it will now be on his terms. "We need to talk." he tells Ace hard, a tone Spy never has used on the man who took him in and shaped him to the person he's today.

Ace turns to him, but he is impossible to read like so many other times. However, the smile is different this time around. "Guess I can't slip past this interrogation," he jokes and glances to Force of Nature "give us a moment" the other man nods and leaves. When sure he's out of earshot, Ace speaks again, "I take it's about this other me."

eyeing the man briefly at the car, "It's one of them." Spy admits, and now they are on that subject. "He's you, yet he's not." he gestures at his teacher, whose eyes are a strong blue. "I can't shake the feeling that you're not of the same soul. Your soul hasn't been split, correct."

"No, it hasn't," Ace says, then that begs the question: "Who are you? Who is he?" Spy asks, for although he has seen some crazy stuff in his life, he cannot wrap his head around this.

Ace walks further away from the others, Spy follows and only near a bush, the master spy lights a cigarette. "You already know there are other worlds than this one." Spy nods slowly, and for some reason, his gut is starting to squirm at what Ace is hinting at. His teacher exhales the smoke. "The short of it, that man;" he points at the man at the car "that's the real Ace of Spies— of this world at least." Spy's eyes wide at what his teacher is hinting at. Is this man… from another world? Ace eyes him and smirks "I'm not originally from this world, but I am one-hundred percent the man who taught you how to be a spy."

"Why me? Of all the people, why did you pick someone not even from your world?" Spy asks, the whole world thing is easy enough to comprehend, Spy has after all, been living in one for a few years by now. but what he can't: there are more than one Ace of Spies, which means… there must be more versions of others too. Does that means there are other visions of him? a man with his face and past? that thought is a hard pill to swallow.

Ace— or whatever he's called, takes a long drag from his cigarette before he answers. "It wasn't my plan, but during a mission with White Death, you caught my attention. remember how?"

Pretty hard to forget that, "I stole your wallet and you caught me right in the act" child him was terrified being caught red-handed, for it meant a solid beating and no food. But instead of a beating or handed to the police. Ace had smiled and asked if he would like to hone his pickpocket skills. That's how he became Ace's student.

Ace chuckles "It was a good pickpocket, almost hadn't noticed, and how could I resist? I saw much potential in you. So I taught you, not only how to survive, but to be a highly skilled spy." he smiles, somber but genuine caring which takes Spy by surprise. "You taught me a few things too. One of them is; I can leave more behind than just a name for the history books. That I can create a legacy through those I teach, so no, you're not my last student. Still my favorite though." Ace chuckles, and it's a good nudge that he's still wants him to take the mantle.

it is flattering and such, but… "I can't be like you." Spy turns to where Zecora is standing, watching them. meeting her eyes, she walks over, and he wraps an arm around her waist "if I have to leave everything behind to earn your approval, then I won't take the mantle."

Ace eyes soften ever so slightly, and he shakes his head with a faint smile. "Guess that's in your core." Which makes the thought there is someone with his face in the world Ace is original from, weird to think about really. Not sure he wants to know more about this other him, the thought itself is strange to even think about. Still smiling, Ace walks over to Zecora "It seems I greatly underestimated your hold over my student."

Getting the hint this man does not consider her an equal at all, and the talk to this man's son is still clear in her mind. "Maybe you are the one with the problem, considering your family are filled with trouble." She exchanges a look with Antoine, he makes a small encouraging nod, and she turns back to this prideful and lonely man. "Nothing I do keeps Antoine from his purpose, but now I can see, talking him from walking your steps is doing him a service."

A moment of silence, broken by Ace that lets out a small laugh. "auch, been long since I got such a smackdown, and by a woman no less." Still quite amused, Ace turns to Spy "But your wife makes a good point; perhaps there are advantages in genuine relationships."

"Life wouldn't be as lonely." Spy points out, yes he does put people in danger, but now he got people around to help him if he gets in over his head. Now to the big question, "will you return to your world?"

Ace chuckles as he scratches the back of his head, "Yeah, Force won't get off my back that I am needed back in my world." eyeing said speedster, "He's a good man though, good to have him on the team." the smile does fade when turning to prisoner Ace. "Guess that means you have to decline his offer."

"it's tempting," Spy admits, but honestly, he does not really need that sort of thing anymore. Most of his jobs happen now in a world dominated by colorful horses. "but I need to be there for my family."

"I respect you, I really do, Antoine, but," Ace looks at him surprisingly seriously, "if you want both worlds, you better be prepared for whoever you happened to piss off coming after you." Spy nods, which Ace returns, and with a deep inhale, "Well, guess I have to tell the true Ace that he's on his own." he walks over to the man, does stop halfway and turns back to them, a smile on his lips and a strange glint in his eyes. "Hey, Zecora was it?"

Zecora perks up that this pegasus actually spoke her name, the teacher of her beloved throws something over, which Antoine catches. "I underestimated you, and it seems there's more to the world than I first expected." Zecora checks what Ace gave her, it's some sort of badge, with a circle split up into four pieces. "In my world, people get that when they have proved their worth, I say you more than earned it."

Ace then walks over to the other man, a brief exchange of words, and prisoner Ace leaves; he did not look happy at all. His teacher watches him drive off for a moment before turning to Force, calling to him in German, but it has a strange dialect "[Let's get back to base.]" Force nods, gives them a small wave and the two walk away. Spy watches them leave, having a strange sense that he may never see his teacher again. He hopes that's not the case, would like to know more about the world he lives in. but that can wait for another day, for now. "Let's go home." he says to Zecora, she smiles and nods in agreement.

**Two days later. Teufort**

The car stop near the portal, Spy and Zecora gets out and heads over to it. Miss Pauling does not follow, Spy notices and stops, looking at her. "I'm not going back there." She states. Honestly, that world is not for her. And what this other Ace of Spies said, Miss Pauling is more interested in finding her boss. "I am going after Ace."

"You're going to find her?" Spy asks. Miss Pauling nods. "What will you do when you find her?"

Honestly, she's not sure. Miss Pauling wishes she could go back to how things were, but after everything she has been through. She's not so sure anymore. She does not know what Helen's end goal is in all of this, only that her boss has a lot of people scared. "I guess it depends on her." Miss Pauling admits and gets into the car.

The car drives off and Spy can only say, "Let's hope she's going to like whatever explanation that woman got." Looking at Zecora is all he needs, and they both return to Equestria, where none were the wiser that the two bearers of the Element of Guidance have been gone for a while. and both prefer it that way.


I have a few more chapters written, not sure when I have time to submit them, but I have no wish to leave Living Darkness hanging with an ending anymore.