Chapter One “If Attitude Had Claws”
The sun stood perched over the land, blessing those in its wake with light and warmth. A mare walked through Ponyville, reaching the castle along the outskirts. She received welcoming glances from the thestral guards and changelings patrolling the grounds. The pegasus was widely recognized from those around her for various reasons, most of which she couldn’t help.
Straightening the thick pair of glasses on her face with a hoof, the mare brushed the wrinkles out of her white lab coat before reaching the towering door of the castle. Her large, hazel eyes widened as she took in the surrounding sights. The castle itself had received many renovations over the years, thanks in part to Peter Parker’s assembly of individuals. However, this was her home since the start, and nothing would change that.
Eventually, the violet- and pink-maned mare made her way inside the castle. She managed a smile at the marble and glass-like design, chuckling. “It’s good to be back home.”
Suddenly, a mare rose from the large aquarium on the other side of the room. “Mayday!” she cheered, leaping from the water and landing on the floor. The siren shook her body vividly, freeing traces of water from her body and mermaid-like tail. Once dry, she rushed over to the mare and embraced her tightly. They eventually parted, with the siren patting Mayday’s shoulders affectionately yet roughly. “I heard you were coming back! How’s the college life?”
“Finished. I finally earned my master’s degree,” Mayday dryly retorted, letting out a relieved sigh. “Now I never want to look at that stupid campus ever again. I’m just glad to finally be back home.” She glanced about aimlessly with a furrowed brow. “Where are Mom and Dad? I told them I was coming back. It’s not like them to not greet me at the door.”
Trixie grinned upon entering the room from behind both mares. “You came at the perfect time. They’re both mildly distracted at the moment.” Mayday returned the mare’s smile with one of her own before they warmly embraced each other. Once they parted, Trixie found a seat at the nearest chair, sitting upright. “You seem well. What brings you by?”
Mayday waved a hoof dismissively. “I’ve spent five years getting two degrees surrounded by ponies that I didn’t know, didn’t like, or just annoyed me. I just want to be back home with my Dad. Plus, there’s something that I wanted to talk with him about.”
“You’ve always loved your father like a best friend,” Trixie whispered, rolling her eyes playfully. “Then again, the feeling is mutual on his part.”
A shadow loomed over their forms from above, prompting everypony to shift their gazes skyward. Ember flew to the ground and landed gracefully mere hoof-lengths away. “So, you’re the famous Mayday Gwendolyn Parker-Sparkle.”
Mayday blinked. “That’s a mouthful. Just ‘Mayday’ is fine… and easier on the tongue.”
Ember huffed, grinning. “Good. I’m not big on formalities. Spike and Princess Twilight told me a lot about you. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
Mayday nodded, smiling. “Likewise. And no offense, but I have to admit that I pictured the Lord of Dragons to be… taller.”
“Everypony assumes that, but it’s fine, I guess. It means everypony will underestimate me, should they attempt something,” Ember politely reaffirmed, folding her arms.
Suddenly, a being spiraled into existence, inches next to the mare. Faster than Mayday could react, Eris materialized with her paw and talon latched around the mare’s waist from behind with a loving yet firm embrace. “Oh, my! Welcome back, dearest Mayday!” She brushed a paw through her violet mane, holding a fanged grin. “Things just haven’t been the same without you! I missed your magnetic glow!”
Mayday blankly stared at nothing in particular, straining to breathe, let alone speak. “I wouldn’t call it that...”
Eventually, the draconequus relinquished her hold and eased the mare gently back to the ground. A trail of black mist snaked into the vicinity before it took form, with Umbra stepping into existence. “So, you’re his daughter?” she mused, her brow lowering in thought. “I see the resemblance. You certainly take more after your father than your mother. To be frank, I never imagined that’d be a good thing. Seeing you now… I’m happy to be proven wrong.”
Slow to respond, Mayday tilted her head to the side before eventually responding. “Oh. You’re Lady Sombra. Dad told me about you.”
Umbra blankly stared at the mare for what seemed like eons, exhaling as she quietly exited the premises. “Wonderful. You’re just as provocative as him, too. Another headache to deal with. Maybe I wasn’t truly wrong after all...”
“Oh, I can tell you’re a bucket of sunshine,” Mayday chimed, smirking while taking a step back. She gazed at the entire group, brushing a hoof over her chin. “These are the Avengers, huh? It looks like my Dad wanted to be as diverse as possible. As a team, you guys could probably deal with almost any situation.”
Ember narrowed her gaze on the mare. “Almost? Do you know something that we don’t?”
Mayday grinned, straightening her glasses with a hoof. “Well, yeah. I think you’re missing something, but I have to talk with my dad about it first.” Pausing, the mare analyzed her surroundings with an arched brow. “Where is he?”
“He’s around,” a warm, soothing voice declared from overhead. Mayday shifted her gaze to the top of the stairs where a tall and slender, elegant figure stood, her ethereal, violet and pink mane floating gracefully in the air. The alicorn’s horn glowed momentarily, causing her form to fade from sight in a burst of light, and she materialized into existence at the bottom of the stairs in a flash, grinning while rubbing a hoof over her lively baby bump. “You know your father. He can’t seem to stay put for a minute once he starts moving.”
“Mom!” Mayday cheered, trotting to the mare’s side. Both ponies shared a loving embrace, brushing the sides of their heads against each other affectionately. They eventually parted, sharing a smile. Mayday peered up at her mother’s taller form, eyeing the bump the alicorn was sporting. “You’re looking great and ready to pop! Although, it’s still weird seeing how tall you’ve grown. I’m guessing bumping your head is routine now?”
Twilight nodded, feeling the temperature in her face rise. “I’m six months along. Just four to five months until your sister is with us.” The alicorn arched a brow, giggling softly. “That is, unless she rebels like you did and decides to come a couple months early. For my sake, I hope she’s a little more considerate.” A blank stare formed on the alicorn’s face. “And no tall jokes. Please. Your father is merciless with them as is. If I hear one more ‘growing pains at forty’ joke, I might just kill him or banish him to the moon.” She paused, blinking. “Strangely, that option has been coming to mind quite regularly. I can’t really explain why.”
Mayday rolled her eyes, placing an ear against her mother’s bump. “Fair enough on the tall jokes, but in regards to the rebellious side of me, I was first, so I get a pass for that.” She leaned back, holding a smile. “Wait. You said ‘she.’ That means I’m getting a sister. Have you and Dad decided what you’re going to name her?”
Once her daughter pulled herself back to a standing position, Twilight winced before slowly walking to the round table, taking a seat at the nearest chair. “It was your father’s turn to name the child again. Right now, he’s leaning towards Gwen Reilly.”
“I see what he did there. A small tribute to Gwen and Aunt May,” Mayday chimed, earning an affirming nod from the alicorn.
Twilight closed her eyes, letting out a low yawn. “Yes, but I have to ask why you’re back, sweetie. Of course, this is your home. Your father and I are extremely happy to have you back, but you’ve never quite told us what you wanted to do after you got your degrees.”
Mayday pursed her lips. “I’ve been keeping that under wraps for a while. I wanted to talk with Dad about that.”
Slow to respond, Twilight held a knowing smile at the pegasus. “Oh, I see. That’s what you want to do. I had a feeling that’s what this was about. If it helps, you already have my approval. I knew you were going to do this for quite some time. You are your father’s child, after all.”
Mayday leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on her mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom. I’m your kid, too, remember?”
Fresh tears streamed down the alicorn’s cheek before she sniffled, brushing a hoof over her face. She chuckled sheepishly. “Sorry, honey. It’s the hormones, but that means a lot.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, she shook her head. “Sadly, you already know that your father may not be as open to the idea. Peter supports every choice that you make, but you know how over-protective he can get.”
“All the more reason I need to talk to him. The best thing I can do is just be upfront and honest with him,” Mayday softly declared, brushing a hoof through her mane. “Any idea where he is?”
Twilight shifted her gaze to the stairs. “I’m giving him a break for now. He’s been running errands for me all day. I think he said he’d be in the lab. Knowing him, he’s probably waiting for you there.”
Within the walls of the castle basement, Peter rummaged behind a desk while organizing a variety of wires and circuits. On its top was a large computer, its screen as wide as a pony, yet its slim design left a great deal of available space on the desk. Several monitors lay scattered near its position, each plug into the same unit. Mayday slowly entered the room, furrowing her brow upon spotting the stallion’s legs wiggle underneath the desk.
“Dad?” she called out, tilting her head to the side.
Peter shifted his body until he shared a glance with the mare, managing a smile before returning his gaze to the circuitry. “Just a sec.” Suddenly, the computer stirred to life, humming before the screen lit up. Peter pulled himself from underneath the desk, brushing the dust from his hooves. “JARVIS. Give me a status report.”
“Yes, Mister Parker,” JARVIS coolly responded, prompting walls of text to scroll across the screen. “The disk has been fully defragmented, and memory space has been expanded by five-hundred percent. All passwords to the archives have been updated. Also, per your recommendation, I added soft electronic music to suit Miss Mayday’s preference.”
Mayday’s smile widened. “Always thinking of that technophile side of me, huh?”
Peter simply nodded, chuckling. “Somepony has to. Anyway, thanks, JARVIS. Standby.” Once the artificial intelligence retreated back within the computer, the stallion peeked up just as Mayday jumped into his waiting hooves for a warm embrace. In spite of his great strength, Peter held his daughter firmly, yet gently, as if she was still a foal. Twenty years have passed, and the bond they shared had only grown stronger. The pair eventually parted after the stallion planted a soft kiss on the mare’s forehead. “Look at who made it back just in time. I recalibrated everything in your room just the way you like it. I even added some modifications and upgrades here and there.”
Mayday tapped a hoof against her chin as she stared intently at the computer. “I noticed. You even cut down the lag considerably.” The corner of her mouth curled into a smirk. “I was afraid you’d fall out of practice while I was gone.”
“You left for college at sixteen and got your master’s at twenty,” Peter dismissively stated, taking a seat on the nearest available chair. “If I didn’t keep some practice, my own kid would be smarter than me, and I can’t let you beat me just yet.”
The mare brushed the tip of her nose affectionately against the stallion’s cheek. “You’re the best Dad ever.”
“Buy me one of those cheap coffee mugs, and we’ll call it even,” Peter chuckled, folding his hooves. “So, what are you going to do now that you’ve graduated, May?”
Sobering as if a realization came to mind, Mayday inhaled deeply before sighing. “That’s what I wanted to talk with you about, Dad.” Peter simply held his silence, staring at his daughter while she caressed one of his hooves. Swallowing the lump in her throat, the mare managed to meet her father’s gaze. “I thought long and hard about this for quite some time. If I’m going to do anything, it’s going to be for Equestria. I want to join the Avengers.”
Mayday slammed her eyes shut, as if waiting for the worst-case scenario, but nothing ever came, with Peter simply shrugging. “I kinda figured you were going to do this.”
“So, you’re okay with it?” Mayday questioned, blinking.
Peter nodded, pursing his lips. “I just want you to be happy and sure about what you’re getting into, sweetie.” He pointed a hoof at the computer while arching a brow at the mare. “Besides. Why do you think I was modifying this room? I know you prefer to work through a computer, and you’re great with tech. At the least, I don’t have to worry about you being on the frontlines, and I get to see your beautiful face whenever we get back from a mission.”
As if the entire world’s weight had been lifted from her shoulders, Mayday happily squeaked a response. “You know me too well!” She hopped into Peter’s hooves once more, wrapping her limbs around the stallion’s neck lovingly. They eventually parted, only for Mayday to kiss her father’s cheeks repeatedly. “Thank you so much, Dad! I’ll do my best!”
Peter chuckled sheepishly, feeling the temperature in his face rise. “I’m still the only dude you’re willing to kiss. I’m okay with that. Less stallions I have to chase off… or mares, if you were into that.”
Mayday puffed her cheeks into a forced pout and shot her father a huff. “Dad! You’re ruining the moment!”
Peter chuckled before he patted the mare’s back reassuringly. “Sorry. I know you will do great, Mayday. From here on, you’re an official Avenger.”
“Give me some time to think of a cool name. For now, I’m your official tech support and information broker,” Mayday grinned, hopping into the seat positioned in front of the computer before pecking away at its keyboard.
As the mare surfed through an array of files, Peter placed a hoof behind her chair and leaned over her shoulder. “I’m sure you bumped into everypony. So, what do you think of the team? We’re besties, right? I could use your honest opinion.”
“From what I’ve seen? Let’s see,” Mayday trailed off, shifting her gaze skyward. “Lady Sombra seems a bit crabby, but under the deep, dark shell, I think she’s actually a good pony. Of course, I love Auntie Trixie, and Dragon Lord Ember is very respectful and polite. Eris is as random as ever.” Her eyes widened at a realization. “Oh! And I see Sonata’s come a long way. You even upgraded the aquarium for her. It seems to run through the entire place now. That makes me ask, though… does she need to stay in water that much? Every time I came home to visit, she was swimming.”
Peter edged closer to the mare, tapping a command into the keyboard. “She’s quite literally a fish out of water. That’s why I added a water line throughout every section of the castle. It’ll help Sonata get around. She’s actually faster in water than on land now.”
Mayday’s eyes widened. “Really? We clocked her in at three-hundred miles per hour once on land. How fast is she underwater?”
“Really fast. If the walls weren’t reinforced, Sonata would’ve leveled the entire castle with the shockwave she generated when she clocked in at mach three underwater,” Peter declared, nodding. “I would call her Aquagirl or Namorita, but I feel like that’d be copyright infringement.” Once a screen opened with details of the siren, the stallion hummed. “For the most part, Sonata is genetically a mammal, but she has traces of reptilian DNA which is apparent with her tail, gills underneath her muzzle, and voicebox. While she can survive just fine outside of water, Sonata will grow weaker the longer she stays out. She’s a true hybrid of pony and siren.”
“It’s a guess, but I’m pretty sure that Sonata’s the strongest member of the group. It’s easy to forget because of how carefree and friendly she is,” Mayday declared, folding her hooves. “She raises her voice and can generate a shockwave. She moves at super speed on land and ever faster underwater.”
“Yeah. We’re lucky that she’s as kind-hearted as she is. I don’t think Sonata even has an idea of just how powerful she really is. We got an idea of how strong she is when she fought Tirek after Adagio died. I know Sonata’s a mountain-buster… at least,” Peter replied, nodding. “She still has her limits. That’s what we’re all here for. We all have our weaknesses, but together, we make up for each other’s flaws with our own strengths.”
“That’s a lot to take in. I’ll read up on Sonata’s file soon. After that, I’ll read up on everypony else’s files to get a grasp of our strengths and weaknesses,” Mayday declared, straightening out her jacket.
Suddenly, before either pony could react, Eris spiraled into existence mere inches away. “You do that, dear.” The draconequus shared a glance with the stallion. “We have a situation.”
Peter tilted his head to the side. “What would that be?”
Eris held out a paw as a small orb hovered over it. “There’s chaotic magic in there. Something just woke up, and it’s bearing Discord’s magical signature.”
“Discord?” Mayday blurted out, straightening out her glasses. “Isn’t he, like, under arrest or something?”
Peter nodded. “Yeah. He’s under solitary confinement with the High Council. He shouldn’t be free. Unless he got parole early and picked up where he left off.”
Eris frowned, folding her paw and talon across her chest. “This is really disturbing, Peter. You should investigate the situation. My senses indicate that whatever is harboring Discord’s signature just left Tartarus. They’re along the outskirts. If we hurry, we might be able to catch them.”
“Good idea,” Peter stated, placing a hoof over his daughter’s shoulder momentarily. “Mayday, keep us posted on our surroundings through the headsets. I’m taking Umbra with us.” A trail of black mist snaked into the room before Umbra materialized into existence next to the stallion. Sharing a nod with each other, Peter led the group out of the room. “Tell Ember to keep the rest of the team on standby.”
Mayday nodded. “You got it, Dad.” Once everypony had exited the premises, the mare’s eyes softened as her ears lowered into her mane. “Please be careful.”
Umbra stared somberly at the desolate rock formations scattered about, frowning at the sight. “The land of Tartarus here is as empty and desolate as that of my Equestria of old.” Along the outskirts of Tartarus, the trio surveyed their surroundings. She narrowed her gaze in the distance, staring at nothing in particular. “Nopony in their right mind would tread through this lonely environment. I can surely understand why you left Sonata behind.”
Peter climbed onto the top of a rock formation several yards high from the ground, standing upright while scanning the land. “Yeah. She’s spent years here. I didn’t want her to catch any old, unwanted memories.” The stallion arched a brow to the side, stealing a glance at the draconequus. “We don’t even know what we’re looking for. It’s no different than searching for a needle in a haystack. Can you sense our guest, Eris?”
Slow to respond, Eris placed a claw into her mouth before pointing it skyward and holding it in place for several seconds. “Just a moment.” Suddenly, her lizard-like tail stiffened itself, pointing south. The draconequus followed suit, pointing her talon in the same direction. “That way.”
As Eris floated in the given direction, Umbra held a bemused glare in her eye. “Somehow, she finds a way to make less sense by the day.”
“Eris is the embodiment of chaos. It’s part of her motif,” Peter declared, leaping from his perched position and landing gracefully next to the mare. “Come on.”
Meanwhile, several meters away from the trio, a mare short in stature staggered about, leaning against the nearest stone for support. She wore a black collar necklace with a golden emblem at the center, matched with a pair of torn dark sleeves over her hooves. She stood upright as her hooves trembled, struggling to maintain her balance. Her disoriented mind grew fuzzy, unable to piece together the broken fragments of her mind that held her last memory.
Nothing in the world made sense, and she growled underneath her breath, irritated that answers refused to come immediately. However, the mare’s large green eyes widened as an unfamiliar scent entered her nose. She sniffed the air, managing to track the scent through the surrounding stone. Unfortunately, just as she turned toward the source, a draconequus materialized into existence several hoof-lengths away in midair. Taken aback, the mare stammered about, unable to make anything of what hovered above her.
Eris stared intently at the mare while Peter ad Umbra galloped onto the scene. “I’m sensing much chaotic energy exuding from you.” She shared a glance with the pair, nodding. “She’s the one.”
Peter arched a brow, tilting his head to the side. “Really? She looks pretty normal to me...” The stallion cleared his throat, returning his gaze to the stranger. “Hi. Where’d you come from?”
Strangely, the mare’s befuddled expression remained intact. “It talks?” she whispered under her breath, alternating her gaze about wildly. “Where the hell am I?”
“On the outskirts of Tartarus, a forbidden portion of Equestria to everypony without proper jurisdiction,” Umbra sternly declared, narrowing her gaze on the mare. “Thinking about it, your choice of words was rather apt.”
The dark chocolate-maned mare blinked a response. “Tartarus? Equestria? I’ve never heard of those places.” She continued to shift her gaze about, as if her confusion had greatened. “Why am I a horse? How can all of you talk? None of this makes any sense!”
Umbra frowned, sharing a glance with her cohorts. “This one is just as confused as us. It could be a ploy to lower our guard.”
Peter shook his head as his expression softened. “I think it’s genuine. She’s having a hard time gathering her bearings. I might have an idea.” The stallion stepped forward, holding his hooves out to the side in a peaceful manner. “You’re not from here, are you? If I had to take a guess, you’re from Earth. Right? You’re a human turned into a pony, and the entire experience is weirding you out.”
The mare’s eyes widened at the stallion’s words before her bewildered demeanor shifted into one of hostility, evident by her snarl and defensive stance. “That’s too good of a guess. Just who are you? As a matter of fact…” She trailed off, staring intently at Eris for what seemed like an eternity. The mare sniffed the air, never averting her gaze from the draconequus. Like lightning would strike a rod, a realization raced into mind. The mare bore her fangs. “You… smell like the thing that brought me here!”
“Come again?” Eris questioned, raising a paw and talon defensively. “I do believe that you have me mixed up with somepony else.”
Peter stared at the mare with a furrowed brow. “Hold on. She was brought here by Discord, right? If that’s the case, I can understand the mix-up. You’re both technically the same. Maybe your scents are closely identical, too.” The stallion’s complexion suddenly paled at a thought. “I only know a couple of people with a powerful sense of smell, and her voice sounds eerily familiar.” Suddenly, the mare growled as a pair of razor-sharp claws unsheathed from one of her hooves. Peter’s mouth fell agape as his heart practically stopped. “Oh, shit.”
“I want answers,” she snarled, unsheathing a second pair of claws from her free hoof. She threw a kick while a lone claw unsheathed from both of her hind legs hooves, “and I’ll carve them out of you if I have to!”
Peter inhaled sharply. “I don’t believe it. X-23?”
That same second, the mare howled before lunging out at the trio. Time slowed as Umbra unsheathed her sword from its scabbard and Peter lowered into a defensive stance, reacting as the mare raced towards them. X-23 snarled deeply as she raced towards the trio, her mind fading to rage. Eris raised a glowing paw, causing traces of magical energy to envelope the mare’s form.
However, the energy shattered before it could take shape, fading from existence. Peter pulled Eris back just as X-23 threw a wide slash with her hooves, cutting away strands of her snow-white hair while narrowly missing her head. Just as the mare readied to follow with a second attack, Umbra stepped in her line of sight in front of the pair, and she raised her sword, deflecting her attacker’s claws before pushing her back.
While Umbra and X-23 clashed, their respective blades deflecting off of each other, Peter glanced at Eris with an arched brow. “What’s wrong?”
The draconequus was slow to respond as she stared intently at her paw. “There’s too much chaotic residue exuding from that pony. Considering that the signature is Discord’s and close to my own, I can’t override it without significant time.”
“Then we take her down with force and hope that she calms down,” Peter declared, motioning a hoof forward. “Umbra! Do what you have to, but don’t kill her!”
Umbra glanced at the stallion from the corner of her eye, briefly nodding before returning her gaze to the mare. X-23 leaped toward her, forcing the dark one to duck underneath the lunge attempt. Faster than X-23 could react, Umbra’s horn glowed momentarily, and magical energy enveloped one of the mare’s clawed hooves before hurling her form to the ground back first with enough force to crack the earth. However, X-23 spun back to an upright stance as if nothing had transpired.
Lifting her sword, Umbra managed to directly block the mare’s four claws as she threw her hooves out in a lunge. Snarling, X-23 pushed her weight forward until the black mare staggered back, and she followed with a rising kick, slicing through her armored chestplate and gashing the side of her cheek. Umbra paused, snarling at the sting the laceration on her face exuded. The wound there and across her chest glowed briefly with a dark aura, sealing instantly as X-23 readied to follow with another attack.
An unsettling irritation ignited from within. “How dare you?!” Umbra released a distorted roar before thrusting her sword forward as a crimson aura glowed from her horn, plunging the entire weapon through X-23’s chest. A flow of blood raced out from the point of impact, dripping from the mare’s chest to the earth. Suddenly, the aura faded from the mare’s horn, and all sense of fury seemingly faded from Umbra’s mind. Her complexion paled at the grizzly sight before her. “No. Not again.”
“Umbra! No!” Peter yelled, standing upright. “I told you not to--!” His words fell into his throat as X-23 reached out, grabbing the sword’s hilt before snatching it from her chest in a single jerk. The gaping hole at the center of her chest sealed shut as the wound healed within seconds. Peter blinked at the sight, managing to hold a relieved yet nervous grin. “Oh, yeah. I kinda forgot about their crazy good healing factor.”
Narrowing her gaze, Umbra’s horn glowed before her sword vanished from X-23’s grasp. “A relief, indeed,” she whispered as the blade materialized into existence mere hoof-lengths away. The magical particles of energy caused X-23’s blood to dissolve from sight, returning the sword’s esteemed polished form to normal. Sheathing the blade into its scabbard via telekinesis, Umbra narrowed her gaze on X-23 before her irises vanished before an emerald glow. “You are durable. This means I don’t have to practice restraint.”
Suddenly, dark magical energies enveloped X-23’s body before levitating her form high from the ground. She struggled, slashing wildly to no avail. Umbra shifted her head to the side, prompting X-23’s body to fly in the same direction. The mare’s body burst through the nearest stone, reducing it to rubble at the point of impact. X-23 growled defiantly once her momentum ceased, but Umbra simply glanced to the side, causing the captive mare’s body to launch into a second boulder. Much like the first, the stone shattered at the point of impact.
X-23 skidded across the ground until she rolled to a stop. She glanced skyward, ready to force herself to standing position. However, Umbra materialized from shadows mere inches away, frowning. A magnetic force pushed at X-23’s entire body, pinning her form to the ground. The earth beneath her body cracked before a crater erupted, generating a dust cloud. Slowly but surely, everypony’s vision cleared, and X-23 could be seen at the bottom of the chasm, rendered unconscious. Umbra let out a low sigh before the crimson color in her eyes returned.
Peter approached the mare from the side, folding his hooves. “Umbra. What was that?”
Slow to respond, Umbra placed a hoof over her eyes and shook her head. “I apologize. It was a mistake. My senses flared, and I reacted violently.”
Peter’s demeanor lightened as his eyes softened. “I had a feeling. I saw your horn glow brightly. It must’ve been the Alicorn Amulet. Dream said that she sensed malicious intent for that fraction of a second.” As if dismayed, Umbra refused to face the stallion. Peter placed a hoof over her shoulder, earning her gaze. “Are you okay?”
Umbra inhaled deeply before sighing. “I thought I had completely suppressed the urges from the Alicorn Amulet over the years. I have complete control over it and the dark magic it empowers, but there are points where I can still briefly lose myself to rage if not careful.” She glanced at the mare unconscious within the crater, frowning. “I’m just thankful that she survived what otherwise would’ve been a mortal blow.” Umbra dropped to a kneeling position before the stallion, shaking her head. “Forgive me. I practiced poor judgement and disobeyed your request.”
Peter reached down, accepting Umbra’s hoof before pulling her back to a standing position. “Don’t worry about it. I understand. When I first used dark magic, I lost myself to rage and made a similar mistake when I wiped Morlun and Tirek from existence.” He placed a warm hoof over the mare’s shoulder. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll talk about it back at the castle. Maybe Dream can help come up with a few suppressions.”
Umbra hesitantly nodded, holding a ghost of a smile. “Thank you. I don’t deserve your leniency. I’ll follow your advice steadfastly.”
Eris materialized into existence between the pair. “I’m glad that we’ve come to an understanding. However, we have a pressing matter to attend to, such as an angry visitor who wants answers as badly as we do.” The draconequus sat in midair on nothing in particular. “What do we do?”
Peter furrowed a brow. “Umbra, do you think you could use your magic to detain X-23?”
Umbra nodded. “Yes, I believe so.”
The stallion pursed his lips. “Okay. Head to the castle. Have Trixie, some of the thestral guards, and whatever changelings are available help you with a containment field. Keep X-23 under lockdown until we get back.”
Glancing to the side, Umbra levitated X-23’s prone figure from the crater. “Understood. If I may pry, where will you go?”
Peter walked back, taking a place by Eris’s side. “We’re going to get answers. If Discord brought X-23 here, we have to find out how and why.”
Eris blinked, shrugging. “I never imagined that we’d be visiting my old counterpart in solitary confinement this soon. I just hope the High Council will grant us passage.”
“So, we’re going to prison, huh? I hope Discord hasn’t dropped the soap,” Peter murmured, earning a chuckle from Eris, a blank stare from Umbra, and a harsh exhale from Dream in the confines of his mind. The stallion rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “Too soon? Tough crowd.”
Suddenly, Eris raised a glowing paw, and the pair vanished from sight in a burst of light. Umbra merely glanced to the side before she and the captive X-23 mirrored their actions, disappearing from existence as shadows engulfed their forms.
Along the edge of the plain of existence, Eris and Peter stood within an empty void. The pair had already talked with the High Council, explaining their dilemma. Fortunately, they were heard justly, and preparations were being finished for their meeting. Peter’s ears perked at a faint whistling sound echoing throughout the vicinity, while Eris left her seat in midair to stand upright along the ground next to the stallion.
Suddenly, a blue portal spiraled into existence mere hoof-lengths away. Before long, a draconequus garbed in an orange prison uniform stepped out, pausing upon making eye contact with the pair. A set of cuffs were placed around his paw, talon, and legs, all linked together by a singular chain. He bore a striking resemblance to Eris, matching that of a twin brother, but that wasn’t the case, as they all knew.
“Discord,” Eris plainly greeted, folding her paw and talon across her chest. “I hope you’re finding a way to behave.”
The male draconequus laughed in a haughty tone, waving a talon dismissively. “Oh, Eris. Don’t be so stuffy. I’ve hardly seen the light of day since my incarceration. I’m just ecstatic to have visitors.” Discord’s eyes widened upon spotting the stallion before his fanged mouth formed into a smile. “Peter Parker! A pleasure as always. You certainly have an air of ‘order’ about you. Are you filling out your job’s criteria at a substantial rate?”
Peter simply shrugged. “Trouble still pops up on occasion, but we’re making the world a safer place one day at a time.”
Discord grinned a response, pulling at the hair of his goatee. “Just the answer that I was hoping for. You would do the Higher Order proud.”
Eris stepped in front of her male counterpart with a furrowed brow. “I must sadly inform you that we didn’t come here for the sole reason of visiting. Something’s come up in Equestria that has your pawprints and talon marks all over it.”
“Not something. Someone. From Earth, at that.” Peter declared, never averting his gaze from the male draconequus.
Discord’s eyes widened at the comment before he huffed, pointing a claw at the chains shackled to his limbs. “I’ve been under arrest and surveillance by the High Council for nearly an entire decade now. I couldn’t be involved even if I wanted to be. I even returned Electro back to Earth before turning myself in.” He paused, twirling a claw about. “So, do tell. How am I involved?”
Eris exhaled, resting her chin against her paw. “Somepony crawled out of Tartarus. An earth pony. She had no recollection of how she got there to begin with.” She pointed a claw at her male counterpart. “Your chaotic magical signature was exuding from her like a terrible cologne, and she attacked me, because I ‘looked exactly like the thing that brought her there.’”
Peter furrowed his brow, frowning. “Her name is X-23… I mean, Laura. She has razor-sharp claws and a bad attitude to match. It’s been years since I’ve seen her, but I do know that she was cloned from a good friend of mine in Wolverine.” Sobering, the stallion folded his hooves. “Are you sure that you don’t know anything, Discord? Right now, Laura’s far away from home without an explanation, and we all could really use an answer.”
Discord’s brow lowered in thought before his eyes widened, as if a realization came into mind. “Wait. You said Wolverine, yes?” Once the pair nodded, the draconequus inhaled deeply and sighed. His entire demeanor changed, shifting from perky enthusiasm to downtrodden. “I remember now. I transported that girl to Tartarus days after you defeated the Green Goblin back on Earth.”
Peter’s eyes widened as he blinked. “Days!? Twilight was barely pregnant with Mayday then! Discord, that was over twenty years ago!”
Eris pursed her lips, staring intently at her male counterpart. “Let me guess. Were you saving Laura as a wildcard for your Sinister Six project?”
“Actually, no,” Discord declared, shaking his head. “I brought her to Equestria as a favor to someone.” The draconequus held a talon over his forehead dramatically. “I spent so much time focusing on the Sinister Six project and Tirek that I simply forgot about the poor girl.”
Tilting her head to the side, Eris arched a brow. “You forgot? How do you forget something like that?”
Discord frowned. “I’m not proud of this. Recruiting the Dazzlings, making proper arrangements, and making certain Tirek didn’t backstab me as I saw he did to me in a neighbor dimension. My plate was full, Eris. The girl slipped my mind.”
“Even still, something isn’t right,” Peter interjected, earning the attention of both draconequi. “Why is X-23 just now getting free? From the way Laura was acting, she’d just woken up or something. Not just that, she’s barely aged. She was roughly a teenager when I last saw her.”
As if another realization came into mind, Discord’s eyes widened. “Ah. There’s a perfect reasoning for that. When I went to take X-23 away, she was very… resistant. I had no choice but to put her to sleep and leave her in a stasis spell when I brought her to Equestria. In order to ensure that nopony would stumble upon X-23 and risk waking her, I locked her away in a secret room within Tartarus. I’d venture to guess that the spell finally dissolved.”
Peter nodded, glancing to the side. “It would explain her haziness. She clearly wasn’t all the way there.”
Discord frowned, folding his arms. “Yes. Stasis spells aren;t intended to be faded over time, but have their effects removed all at once. Lingering magic of the spell would leave the host greatly disoriented.”
Eris narrowed her gaze on the ground. “I see. A stasis spell also slows the body’s internal clock down considerably. While twenty years have passed for us, I imagine only two or three years have passed for X-23. It would explain Peter’s suggestion as to why the girl hasn’t aged.” She paused, brushing a talon through her snow-white hair. “Okay. So, you brought her here as a favor to someone and simply forgot about her. Now, I have two bigger questions: who asked for such a thing, and why did you oblige?”
“It’s not my place to say,” Discord declared, his tone unusually somber. However, he held out his paw until a tiny orb materialized into existence over it. “I was given a message. I was expected to deliver it to the girl when she woke. You two will have to do that in my stead.” Suddenly, the portal reopened behind the draconequus. “I would say visiting hours are over for now.”
Eris reached out, accepting the orb with a talon. “An astral message? I should’ve expected as much. Thank you, Discord. We’ll give this message to Laura right away.”
Peter simply nodded, waving off the draconequus. “Yeah. Thanks. Keep it up, and maybe they’ll let you go early for good behavior.”
Discord huffed, walking into the portal. “Oh, sure. What’s a thousand year difference?” The draconequus managed a smile as he paused momentarily. “Do visit more often. It gets rather lonely in the box.”
“Depending on this favor you helped with, we’ll think about it,” Peter chuckled, watching as Discord’s form faded from sight. Suddenly, the portal blinked out of existence in a flash. The stallion walked to Eris, glancing at the orb hovering over her talon. “Let’s hope this is a good enough answer.”
“Indeed,” Eris replied before both individuals dematerialized in a burst of light.
Deep within the lowest room of Princess Twilight’s castle, Umbra sat in a meditative position not far from X-23. Her horn glowed, holding a small barrier around Laura’s form. Meanwhile, a small team of changelings and thestrals sat around the magical shield with their horns and weapons lowered, adding to the defense. Ember stood behind their position with her arms crossed, keeping her gaze centered on the captive. Sonata sat alongside Trixie while Mayday pecked away at the portable computer on her lap, stealing the occasional glance at their captive.
X-23 simply stared at everypony in the room with an unreadable expression. Suddenly, a bright light ignited at the center of the room, earning the collective gazes of everypony in the vicinity. Once the illuminating energies dissipated, Peter and Eris stepped into view. The stallion soon walked forward until he stood inches from the barrier, sharing a glance with X-23 for what seemed like eons, with neither pony averting their gaze from the other.
Eventually, he faced the group. “Umbra, lower the barrier. Everypony else with shield assistance, return to your posts.”
Trixie stood from her seat. “Are you crazy? She attacked you all without provocation! We can’t just trust somepony like that!”
X-23 huffed. “Your old friend has a point. I’m still owed some answers.”
Her brow twitching involuntarily, Trixie gritted her teeth and pointed a hoof at the mare. “Who are you calling old?! Let her out so I can give that mouse a thrashing!” X-23 merely raised a hoof, unsheathing her claws, and Trixie’s complexion paled momentarily before she cleared her throat forcefully. “Well, at the very least, I doubt she would want to antagonize Umbra again.”
X-23 frowned at the comment, shifting her gaze to the black-maned mare. “Don’t think that I forgot about you. I owe you some payback for what you did.” She paused, narrowing her gaze on the stallion. “What’s stopping me from attacking you?”
Umbra’s eyes softened. “I apologize if I was rough. I had an outburst, and you paid the price for it.” Her expression quickly shifted back to its stoic form. “However, the pain you felt was brought upon you by yourself, because you attacked us first. We are giving you leniency. It would be wise not to squander it.”
Peter raised a hoof defensively. “I know who you are, Laura.” X-23’s eyes widened at the sound of her name, while the stallion patted a hoof against his chest. “I promise that no harm will come to you. I just ask that you trust me. We found out how you came to Equestria.” The corner of his mouth curled into a smile. “Besides, if you calm down for a few seconds, you might just recognize me.”
Slow to respond, X-23 inhaled deeply before sighing, and she retracted her claws back within her hoof, nodding. Peter shared a nod with his compatriots, prompting everypony to hesitantly lower their guards respectively. The magic emitting from Umbra’s horn dissipated from sight, prompting the barrier holding Laura in place to disappear as well. X-23 stood with a stern expression as she walked toward the stallion. Peter raised a hoof, making certain his allies remained seated. Once the pair were inches apart, X-23 sniffed at the stallion for several seconds. Suddenly, her large, green eyes widened at the familiar scent filling her senses.
“No freaking way,” she whispered as her mouth fell agape. “Spider-Man?”
Peter nodded with a grin. “Hey, you do remember. Then again, it hasn’t been as long for you as it’s been for us.”
X-23 blinked as her demeanor softened, evident by her relaxed shoulders. However, a blank expression surfaced on her face. “Well, we didn’t leave each other on a good note the last time.”
Peter’s eyes widened at the comment. “We didn’t? I can’t…” he trailed off, his ears perking as a realization came to mind. The stallion chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “Oh, yeah. I’m sorry about the whole ‘throwing you into an exploding psychopath’ thing. I was thinking on the fly. That goes either really well or very poorly most of the time.”
A low silence filled the room before Ember cleared her throat. “You… threw her into an exploding psychopath? That’s rather… unorthodox.”
Trixie huffed, waving a hoof dismissively. “Unorthodox? That was crazy. Thank the stars you haven’t been that reckless with us.”
X-23’s eyes softened as she straightened her posture. “Speaking of that day, I said some very harsh things. I said that you were crazy, while Wolverine and I hated you. I wanted to apologize.” She paused, narrowing her gaze on the stallion. “That was untrue. I was just really angry, and I never had a chance to apologize after you left.” The mare glanced aside, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “I don’t think you’re crazy, and I never hated you. I always respected you more than most. Plus, Logan never hated you either.”
“I’m pretty sure that he did,” Peter chuckled, shrugging.
Laura shook her head. “He always indicated otherwise with the way he spoke about you. He always talked about you in the highest regard.”
Peter managed a smile. “Huh. Fancy that. Wolvie actually had a soft spot for me.” Pushing those thoughts to the side, the stallion cleared his throat. “Anyway. You don’t need to apologize. Some of my friends have kicked my butt and never said anything afterward.”
While the pair conversated, as if making up for lost time, Trixie folded her hooves and scoffed. “I don’t believe this. This pony appears out of the blue, attacks part of our group, and that idiot of ours is already making friends with her. I don’t think I’ll ever understand that stallion.”
Sonata rocked back and forth in her seat, humming. “She seems nice. I think she was confused when she first got out of Tartarus.” The siren glanced to the side, pausing upon noticing a befuddled expression surface on Mayday’s face. Sonata poked the mare’s shoulder. “What’s wrong, Mayday?”
Mayday shook her head, freeing herself from her self-induced trance before sharing a glance with the siren. “Oh, sorry. There’s just something about her voice.” She tapped a hoof against her chin in a pondering manner. “I swear that she sounds exactly like my mom.” Clearing her throat, the mare waved a hoof dismissively to avert the baffled gazes of everypony away from her. “Never mind. I’m overthinking nothing in particular. There’s no way that they’d have the same voice. That’s just… stupid.”
Meanwhile, X-23 held out her hooves inches away from her face before holding her gaze on the stallion. “Logan told me that you left to live in another world. He didn’t say anything about this though.”
“For good reason,” Peter stated, raising a hoof objectively. “Would you have believed him if he said Spider-Man was going to go live the rest of his days as a unicorn in a magical land of colorful ponies?”
X-23 managed a rare smile. “Hm. I guess not.” Sobering, the mare frowned. “You said that you found out how I got here?”
Eris stepped forth, nodding. “Yes. You see, my parallel counterpart, Discord, transported you here. That’s why you mistook him for me.” The draconequus held out her paw as the orb in her grasp hovered over it. “As to why, I don’t know the exact details yet. Discord said that he did this as a favor to someone. In regards to who, you’ll have to access the orb to learn that.” Just as she readied to place a talon over the orb, Eris glanced to the side at the stallion. “From what I was gathering, it seems that whoever sent this message wants only Laura and you to listen.”
“Me?” Peter blurted out, glancing back at his cohorts momentarily.
Hesitantly, the stallion walked up to Laura before shifting his gaze to the draconequus. Eris closed her eyes while extending her paw out, prompting the orb to levitate toward the pair. Suddenly, a barrier materialized around their positions, and their forms faded from sight due to the barrier’s energies. However, within the shield, Peter and Laura continued to watch the orb from what resembled a pocket of the astral plane before it expanded, taking shape. An image of a gruff man materialized into existence before the pair as he lowered to a kneeling stance, hair spread along his muscular features.
“Logan?” Laura whispered, her mouth falling agape.
Just as the mare readied to reach out to the man, Peter placed a hoof over her shoulder. “It’s an astral projection. This message was left over twenty years ago. All we can do now is listen.”
Logan growled under her breath, glancing to the side. “Laura. I know you’ve got a lot of questions right now, but I can say that I am the reason why you’re in Equestria right now.” The man’s frown deepened as shame filled his rugged features. “It’s been a few days since Spider-Man and his girlfriend beat Goblin. While they were fighting, I stayed behind to fight Nick Fury and Captain America. However, it seemed Discord had already taken them out. He wanted to talk and make a deal.”
Laura’s brow furrowed as she glanced at Peter. “Discord? I thought he was captured by the Goblin?”
Peter shook his head. “We all did. It turned out that it was all just a ruse to make everyone think he was. He was faking the entire thing. Discord fooled everyone, including the Goblin.” The stallion pursed his lips, blinking. “He’s always working on his own of agenda. He’s not a good or bad guy. Discord’s just… always planning ahead for something.”
Before Laura could respond, the projection of Logan shifted his gaze forward. “He asked if I wanted to head to Equestria and told me how peaceful life had been for Parker. From what I saw with Webs, he was happy, and the offer was hard to turn down.” Pushing a hand off of his knee, Logan stood upright before folding his arms. “Sadly, I got too much baggage here, and it’d be wrong if I just cut tail and run. But I knew someone else who needed a fresh start way more than me: you.”
Laura’s eyes softened. “But why?”
As if hearing her words, Logan nodded. “Laura, I spent most of your life not knowing you existed. All you’ve known are the pain and experiments those bastards at Weapon X inflicted on you. You never had a chance at a normal life, and because of the trigger scent, we know that’s impossible for you here.” Nodding, the man managed a smile. “I give Parker a hard time, but there’s no one I trust more when it comes to one looking out for their own. I know Peter will do what he can for you. Just bear him for a while. As annoying as he is, he knows his stuff. Take care of her, Parker.” He held his hand together, cracking his knuckles. “If anything happens to her, I will gut you.”
Peter chuckled under his breath. “I knew a threat was coming at some point, but I hear you loud and clear, bud.”
Logan’s eyes softened. “I know this isn’t fair, Laura. This can’t make up for anything, but I do want to give you a fresh start at least. A father is always meant to look out for his kids. I’ll do that for you with this. Take care of yourself, kid.”
The image of Logan dissipated from existence before the orb projecting everything shattered. Suddenly, the barrier surrounding the pair dissolved. Everypony shifted their collective gazes toward X-23, who could not lift her saddened gaze from the ground. Her stiff features caved into her swelling emotions before fresh tears streamed down her face. Peter could only place a hoof over the mare’s shoulder before she sniffled, finally succumbing to her sorrow.
Several days had passed since Laura’s revelation of what Logan had given for her sake. She stayed within the castle for the duration, pondering on what had transpired while learning about Equestria. However, Peter stood along the outskirts of the castle, gazing upon the town of Ponyville in the distance.
“Laura wanted to meet you this morning. Do you have any idea why?” Dream questioned, folding her arms.
Peter furrowed his brow in thought. “Hard to say. I have an idea, but Laura’s a mystery. It’s hard for anyone to take in as much information as she did at once. It would overwhelm most, but with her, I can’t tell.”
The door behind his position creaked open, prompting the stallion to turn toward the source. However, his eyes widened at the sight approaching him. Garbed in a bright yellow costume with black boots and matching gloves, Laura lifted her gaze until she met Peter’s own. She pulled back her mask bearing a similar design, freeing her dark brown mane and allowing it to reach her shoulders.
Humming, Peter tilted his head to the side. “Okay. I’ll bite. What’s going on? Is there a convention in town that I haven’t heard about?”
Laura shook her head. “No. I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be leaving for a while.” She walked by the stallion, pausing before pointing a hoof at the horizon. “If I have to stay in this world, I need to get a grip on my surroundings, and I can’t do that if I’m confined to one place.” Sobering, a somber expression surfaced on the mare’s face. “You’ve been great to me, but this is something that I have to do.”
The corner of Peter’s mouth curled into what appeared to be a knowing smile before he chuckled under his breath. “Some things never change. Logan was the same way. He never stayed very long, but he always came back.” The stallion placed a warm hoof over the mare’s shoulder. “This is your journey to find out who you are. No matter what happens, you’ll always have a home here.” His horn glowed momentarily before a small bag materialized into existence, levitating it into the mare’s hoof. Once she peeked within at the many bits stored, Peter gave a friendly wink. “The world’s big, but that should be enough to get you a ways around.”
“I…” Laura stammered, taken aback by the gesture. An embarrassed flush filled her cheeks before she glanced to the side. “Thank you.”
Peter grinned a response before arching a brow. “You still haven’t answered my question about the costume. Where’d you even get that anyway?”
Laura’s eyes widened momentarily. “Your friend, Sonata, took me to see someone named Rarity. I saw that she was a gifted tailor and made a request.” She held out a hoof inches away from her face. “I owe a lot to what Logan did for me. I was angry with him at first, but the more I thought about it, I realized that he only did this because he cared. So, I’m going to wear this in his honor.”
Nodding, Peter smiled. “That’s pretty cool, Laura. Logan would appreciate that.” He paused, as if contemplating his words carefully. “We could use you in the Avengers, Laura. I want you to go see the world and fill in the void that you’re feeling. However, it’d be great if you could join us.” He walked up to the mare, offering her a small case holding an earpiece. “That’s only if you’re willing, of course.”
Laura accepted the item, dropping it into her bag. “I’m not really a people person. Plus, your group is… a bit different. One’s annoying, another’s condescending, and the rest just seem like all kinds of crazy bunched up here.” The mare managed a smile, shrugging. “I could probably get used to living here. I just need some time to stretch my legs first.” She narrowed her gaze, frowning. “Until then, if you need help-- and, you will-- call me.”
“You got it,” Peter cheered, smirking. “So… do we call you Wolverette? How about Lady Wolverine?”
Suddenly, Laura unsheathed her claws with a ‘snikt’ before raising them mere inches away from the stallion’s throat. “Call me that again and see what limb I take.” Peter hesitantly nodded, raising his hooves defensively while chuckling sheepishly. Laura narrowed her gaze into a glare, sniffing the stallion as a bead of sweat fell from his cheek. “Just Laura or Wolverine are fine. I’ll gut you if I hear anything else.”
Peter’s ears lowered nervously. “Threat acknowledged.” He trailed off, chuckling. “Off-topic. Did I ever mention that your voice sounds exactly like my wife’s?”
The mare inhaled deeply before sighing, retracting her claws back into her hoof. “You never did know when to shut up. At the very least, I did miss that about you.”
She turned to take her exit, pausing momentarily. Faster than Peter could react, Laura wrapped a hoof around his neck affectionately for a brief yet warm embrace. Before his mind could process what had transpired, the mare broke away and trotted into the distance. Peter could only watch as Laura ventured for parts unknown, but a confident smile formed on his face.
If the Avengers ever needed help, the All-New Wolverine would be there at their call.
The End
