Peter Trotter: Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Pony

PAGE 1

PANEL 1: The Manehattan cityscape,Winter. Snow and pretty lights. Yay!

CAPTION: Manehattan. Only one more night till Hearth’s Warming.

CAPTION: THE night.

PANEL 2: Same shot. A streak of fire!

SFX:

FWOOSH!

PANEL 3:More streaks! They seem to be forming some kind of pattern.

SFX:

FWOOSH!!

PANEL 4: THE HORSESHOE TORCH shoots towards us with a devil may care grin in the most Rainbow Dash way possible.

CAPTION:

The High-flying Horseshoe Torch: The visionary.

SFX:

FWOOSH!!!

PANEL 5: SPIDER-PONY perches on something watching the various blazing trails, his only concession to the snow a web themed scarf.

CAPTION:

The Spectacular Spider-Pony: The facilitator.

SPIDEY THOUGHT BUBBLE:

Show off.

PAGE 2

PANEL 1:Splash panel! Split between the Pony Statue of Liberty and the skyline where the flames have formed an intricate reproduction of the Equestrian flag design in mid air. The Torch zooms from this to a close up of the Statue’s crown, which Spidey is perched on next to a loaded sack. The title is written on the curving crown observation deck.

SPIDEY:

We doing this or what, Flame-Brain?

TORCH:

Soon as you unclench, Web-Head.

TITLE:

THE CHARISMATIC COMBO

IN:

OLD ACQUAINTANCES

PAGE 3

PANEL 1:The TORCH comes in for a landing, flaming off just before touching down, revealing himself to be a brown Pony with a blond mane and tail complete with a flaming exhaust pipe cutie mark. He’s wearing a blue Celestia-esque crest with the 4 logo. Spidey hugs himself to stay warm.

SPIDEY:

Still can’t believe I let you talk me into this.

TORCH:

Please, like this isn’t the best idea.

SPIDEY:

Not that, this! Standing on solid stone! In the wind! And the snow! In spandex!

PANEL 2:TORCH scratches absently at a lipstick mark on his cheek while SPIDEY sprays webbing on his back hooves for some reason.

TORCH:

Don’t forget the oh-so fashionable accoutrement.

SPIDEY:

Like you even know what that word means. What was the big delay anyway? This was your idea.

SFX:

THWIP THWIP THWIP

TORCH: I got...distracted.

TORCH:

Do you have to do that in front of people?

PANEL 3:Spidey fires a webline that slaps into the startled Torch's back, forming a sticky looking harness.

SFX:

THWIP!

SPIDEY:

Well get un-distracted! The job you wanna pull, we’re gonna need some of that Fantastic Focus you’re so renowned for.

PANEL 4:Torch flames on again and takes off, towing Spidey along on the pair of web skis he was weaving in panel 2. Torch is smirking.

TORCH:

Nopony appreciates genius anymore! Where’s that Hearth’s Warming spider-spirit?

SPIDEY:

Left it back at the Baxter half an hour ago.

TORCH:

So why’re you still here?

SPIDEY:

...just drive. If we pull this off it’ll be-

PANEL 5:The BAXTER BUILDING! Pony style!

THING:

(Inside)

-a miracle I tells ya!

PAGE 4

PANEL 1:The ever lovin’ blue eyed pony Thing rejoices with a king sized sandwich in the living room.

CAPTION:

Atmosphere

THING:

Busiest night of the year and I gots the place alls to myself! No pandemonium, no punks and no pranks!

CAPTION:

The Ever Lovin’ Blue Eyed Thing

PANEL 2: THING flops into his favorite (clearly re-enforced chair) and lifts up his sandwich to take a bite with his massive maw. A little magnifying panel draws our attention to what looks like a festive whoopie cushion with a winking Torch face on it hidden under it.

THING:

Let the Bic-head and the bug run around in the snow! It’s just you ’n me, gorgeous. Nothin’ and nopony’s gonna ruin this night.

PANEL 3:Somewhere dank and medieval, heavy on the evil. Lots of shades of green. Spidey and Torch hug the shadows of a near by wall as ominous sentries stomp by. Spidey keeps a look out while the Torch checks a stop watch attached to his crest by a chain.

SPIDEY:

(Whispering)

Well getting in was sure easy enough, now we just have to stay in one piece to get out...what’re you doing?

TORCH:

(Whispering)

Checking on a special delivery.

PANEL 4:Same shot as panel 2 but the living room is now full of swirling confetti and streamers. The Thing is in exactly the same pose he was before, sandwich raised, but is now covered in streamers. He looks sourly at the camera. The Torch face is wafting down to rest on his snack.

THING:

I hate that kid so much I scare myself sometimes.

PANEL 5: Another green chamber. Torch is stepping out of a hole burnt in the wall while Spidey, still carrying the bag, lowers himself from a line to the ceiling.

TORCH:

See? Horrifying!

SPIDEY:

It’s worse than you described! It’s going to take the two of us to expunge this evil!

TORCH:

(What, you can use expunge but I can’t know accoutrement?)

SPIDEY:

Hush, I’m speechifying. It’s a threat! It’s a menace!

PAGE  5

PANEL 1: A cathedral like green chamber. In the middle is a massive stone statue of DR. GLOOM. Spidey starts opening the bag, sharing a determined look with a mischievous Torch.

SPIDEY:

It’s gotta go...

PANEL 2:Thing opens a door, brushing some streamers off his rocky shoulders.

CAPTION:

Decorations

THING:

Sorry ’bout the impromptu mess, doll face. Though to be honest I’d almost forgotten anypony was comin’ over.

PANEL 3:AUNT HAY TROTTER enters, carrying gifts and a covered tray on her back. Despite her derpy eyes she takes in the full mess of the living room as she slides her stuff onto a table.

CAPTION:

Hay Trotter, queen of aunts

AUNT HAY:

Honestly Grimm, how many years does an old mare have to make the rounds before it sinks in: the best gifts are those given in person.

AUNT HAY:

The place looks...festive but lonely. Is it just you tonight?

PANEL 4: The Thing waves it off as Hay lifts the lid off the tray. Cookies!

THING:

Ah Stretch ’n Susie had some fancy schamncy shindig to sit in on, ’n the matchsticks probably playin’ walkin’ nightlight for your nephew somewhere.

AUNT HAY:

Such good boys!

THING:

Eh, good at makin’ a mess maybe. I gotta lot to be thankful for Hay, don’t get me wrong, but I like to take a holiday on the holidays. Let the youngsters have they’re holly ’n jolly.

AUNT HAY:

So you won’t be wanting a little company and comestibles while cleaning up?

PANEL 5: The Thing bites a cookie. Sold.

THING:

Well. Might be nice to break out the old Parcheesi set...

THING:

Mmmm, mandelbrodt.

PAGE 6

PANEL 1: Spidey and Torch admire their off panel handiwork.

TORCH:

Victory never tasted so sweet.

SPIDEY:

And to think I almost didn’t come.

PANEL 2:The two make their way back through the hole. Torch is a little surprised but not as much as Spidey what with his spider-sense going off and all.

TORCH:

How come?

SPIDEY:

Because I was expecting something like this to happen.

PANEL 3:Torch flames back on as the two find themselves surrounded by Gloombots.

SPIDEY:

Something like this always happens.

PANEL 4: Ground floor of the Baxter Building. Thing holds the lobby door open for Aunt Hay as she heads on home.

CAPTION:

Company

THING:

Take care doll face! I’d escort ya home as is benefitin’ of a gentleman of my breadin’ but...

AUNT HAY:

But anypony who can whoop you good at that many rounds of Parcheesi can look after herself, yes?

THING:

We’ll see ’bout that next years rematch!

PANEL 5: AUNT HAY gives the big galoot a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

THING:

But seriously doll, thanks. It was a pleasure.

AUNT HAY:

Well Benjamin, we’ve both been around for a while now.

THING:

And don’t the squirts like remindin’ me...

AUNT HAY:

But that means we both know that even if you’re not all that lonely, sometimes the best gift a pony can give is their company.

PAGE 7

PANEL 1:Thing waves good bye as she heads for the subway.

THING:

Ah go on and get outta here with that talk before somepony sees. I got’s me a reputation to maintain!

AUNT HAY:

Then I suppose there’s nothing left to say except have a happy Hearths Warming!

THING:

You too doll face, and don’t worry, I will! The kid doesn't know what I planted in his room.

PANEL 2: Spidey and Torch land on a roof, slightly beat up and exhausted.

SPIDEY:

Well...(Ugh)well that was...

TORCH:

Engaging? (Puff) Gratifying? Dare we say(Huff)...fun?

SPIDEY:

I was...gonna go with...(Woooh)disastrous and border line...(Ngh)act of war, but what’s the difference?

PANEL 3:Torch floats casually in mid-air as though resting on an inflatable chair in a pool while Spidey dusts himself down.

TORCH:

And here comes the soliloquy.

SPIDEY:

I’m just saying, this is the season where everypony gets to have a little me time. If we’re gonna pull on the union suits it’d be nice if we could at least try and make the world a better place for a change.

PAGE 4: Same shot. The two casually toss each other gifts without much change in demeanour.

TORCH:

And that’s why we’ll be doing the same thing next year.

SPIDEY:

Of course. Darksied?

TORCH:

Oooh, a challenge!

PANEL 5: Spidey leaps off the roof, scarf blowing in the wind and swings off, saluting his buddy. Torch takes off in a streak of fire, doing likewise. Two arrows reveal the contents of their packages.

SPIDEY:

Happy Hearth’s Warming, Flame-Brain!

TORCH:

Happy Hearth’s Warming Web-Head!

SPIDEY ARROW:

Fire extinguisher.

TORCH ARROW:

Bug spray.

PAGE 8

PAGE 1: Pony BORIS and LUCIA VON BARDAS stand in the statue room, terrified as a cloaked shadow comes towards them.

VON BARDAS:

My lord...

PANEL 2: GLOOM approaches his statue, nervous servants in his wake. The room has been covered in bright decorations and the statue somehow made over into a smiling Santa. A plate of cookies and a note has been left at the base.

PANEL 3: A green field levitates the note up to Gloom's face. A cartoon Spidey and Torch wave at him.

NOTE:

Dear Vic, Didn’t see you at the last super party. =(

So we decided to bring the party to you! =D

Who knows, maybe a little cheer will make a big difference in you. Enjoy the cookies!

Your pals, Flame ’n Thwip.

PANEL 4: Gloom smashes the cookie plate with a hoof. The two servants flee the room.

GLOOM:

Burn it.

VON BARDAS:

At once, lord.

PANEL 5:Gloom just stands there for a while, being a pony in a Dr. Doom costume.

PANEL 6:Same shot. Then he lifts something up into the darkness of his hood.

SFX:

crunch crunch

GLOOM:

Mmmm, mandelbrodt.

CAPTION:

Happy Holidays to all!