TS&F: S1, Ep4: The Mark of a Spider

If anybody, or anypony told me a month ago that I'd be going to the darkest reaches of something called the Forbidden Chasm, finding a concealed entrance to some, warped-up plain of abstract randomness, just to see a guy calling himself the quote-unquote Reformed Master of Chaos, I'd tell them, "I've had more than enough crazy shenanigans to last me a lifetime, thank you, very much." That would've been before Fluttershy talked like Randy. Should've known that never stopped this place from giving me a curveball, now and then. Wow. Isn't that life summed up in one sentence?

Swinging from floating object to floating object, without any clue as to what sort of physics this realm was following, if any, Peter Parker, with blue shades and scarlet winter cap, simply landed onto a peach tree's roots, as it slowly spun in suspension underneath his four hooves.

Man, no wonder the mail ponies get lost through here. Not because it's a maze, but the exact opposite. There's, like, literally no way to know which turn to make, at what landmark. All anypony could do is find whatever shapes match those on this map they've been given, and hope for the best. Knew I should've taken that left at Albuquerque. Seriously, it was right there!

He examined the state of his web shooters once more, testing them to find whatever kinks he may have to iron out. After all, this has become his first attempt of using the braces, after reconfiguring them to his transformed body. The wall-crawler had long, since discovered that he not only was more highly sensitive to his environment, and all that were in it, including creatures' pulses and muscle movements, but also his own. With his astounding stamina and agility, he can not only compensate for the movements of those around him, but also use his very body movements to his advantage, especially his pasterns.

He has been able to dictate the sort of ejection his web fluid would make, upon exposure to the open air. Whether it would be a parachute, a thick spool for a cocoon, or a net, he can orchestrate exactly the sort of form of web he needs, to suit his immediate purpose. Now, he can perform that task, with only his pasterns' movements as the trigger. Dash really got a kick out of that one, after overhearing my last Q&A with Twilight and Lyra. Nice to get a good profile of this whole place, while I'm at it, also.

Once he had found the proper, chemical balance for enhancing the composition, though still wondering what else he could do with it, Pete had focused mainly on finding a quicker, more efficient method of dispensing his web cartridges.

Remember, Pete. This is only your first try after readjusting these things. So far, so good, but don't get too comfortable with them, just yet. There's a reason they only send Pegasus mail ponies through here, which is no clue as to what would happen otherwise. I chose to give these things a test spin now, why? Maybe because I've got a serious case of enjoying too many thrills. That, or I'm just expecting the guy to show up when I think he would. Either scenario, I've definitely got issues.

"Or, perhaps you completely lack in skyscrapers as you would expect from a metropolis, unlike Ponyville," said the thespian voice, its owner appearing before the crouching arachnid pony, as he crossed his ligaments in lounge, with a huff. "Honestly, Peter, for future reference, I ask that you refrain from your incessant rambles through your head, while in my abode. You can be worse than Pinkie at times, you know. And she constantly says things aloud."

The moment he emphasized the final word of his sentence, miniature, pink ponies jumped, laughed, squealed, spun, skipped, and hopped continuously around his head. "That is quite a nuisance, in itself, believe me."

"And hello to you too, Discord," Spidey waved, with a beaming reply, "Glad we got that road block out of the way. Just in time for me to ask my next question."

"Which is how I came to know of your secret identity, how long I have known, as well as whether Celestia and Luna asked me to offer whatever assistance I can, in that regard, am I right?"

"Well, that's actually three separate questions in one go, but yeah, I'll take it. Gee, I guess I do need to work on my thought process." That, or it just means I can actually take a few hints.

"Yes," sighed the disorderly friend with a shrug, "I suppose that remark about honoring my parents' memory was a bit on the nose." At that, a photograph of Peter's aunt, uncle and himself popped atop Discord's muzzle, then vanished, with a ping. "But I am glad to know you have a sharp wit about you, as the others have told me."

"So, tell me what you know, tell me about what happened, and especially the part where you can sense a great distortion of energy taking place, from anywhere, as Twilight explained to me one time."

"Well, simply put, Mister Parker," the draconian multi-bred openly stated, "You have such an ongoing, vicious cycle of chaotic events throughout your short life-span, that it is practically impossible to ignore. Especially for a disorderly, handsome being, such as myself, you know. So, no, Luna shared no details with me, as she did with her sister, in terms of how I came by such knowledge. And yes, they asked if I'd be willing to offer my input, in that way, should you decide to remain in Ponyville, which you did, of course. As to 'what happened,' you refer to the moment you, Miss Watson, your precious Aunt May, and Doctor Bromwell arrived here. In that regard, I admit to have, indeed, detected a low level of distortion, very subtle, during the hour in question. But I'm afraid that was all I could pick up."

"And by 'pick up', you mean…?"

"If you're implying that I might have something to do with it-"

"Just to be sure." The quick, though even response from the web-head prompted the pair to view one another in silent, unclear stares. By then, the spinning tree had placed Spidey upside down, though he still maintained eye contact with his winged host. "Like you said, I'm no stranger to Chaos."

"My, my," the malady spoke, in kind, "Your suspicion of me most strongly resembles those of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, during my early reformed days. Even more especially that of Twilight."

"What can I say? Great minds," snidely remarked the wall-crawler, then continued, "Anyway, I'm also curious if you might have sensed something else that might've come through. You know, anything from a not-so-friendly neighborhood."

In response to Spidey's next enquiry, Discord scoffed and huffed, and rolling his eyes around his goat head. "Come now, Peter. What do you take me for? A forecaster for chaotic things that occur everywhere, with exact precision? A meteorologist for anything and everything that randomly happens without any apparent rhyme or reason?"

"Okay," swiftly raised a hoof, in smiling apprehension, "The fact that you brought that up means you might actually know something."

"Oh, believe me, Tiger," replied the redheaded, dragon-like thespian, with prop eyelashes. He then sent his eyes outward, to great distances, extending beyond the limits of the beige Unicorn's enhanced vision, "I saw that one coming miles away."

"Touché," he replied, "So, that means you won't tell me what you got from all that."

"Like you asked, I'm simply telling you all that I can. The rift caused by that distortion lasted long enough to possibly send another being or two into this realm. But I can't be absolutely certain. And I suppose you shouldn't, either."

"Guess that's as good a response from you, as any. Thanks, Disco."

"No trouble, at all, Petie," said he, this time, with a long, brown mane, "Now, allow me to show you the door." Before he could politely decline, the web-head saw the Mischievous Master of Disorder twist his talon, pulling a doorknob with his grip, and allowing for a squared opening to emanate from the cleared space of what was once the background. Rolling his eyes from behind the colored lenses, unamused, he asked, "You sure it's the right place?"

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders' newly-rebuilt clubhouse? Yes, I believe so. You do have an appointment with them today, don't you?"

"They just wanted me to come over, and hang out," Pete tilted his head, in reply, "Haven't had that much experience with kids, though. Let alone foals. Any suggestions?"

"None that could be of help to you, I expect. Only my leg and face are part goat."

"Alright," he smirked at Discord's remark, then added before departure, "Just one more thing. Did you deliberately let the three of you take a dive against that bugbear, just to get Fluttershy and myself stuck in that situation with you?"

"I suppose, with all sincerity, we shall never know," grinned Discord. At that, Spider Bite dove directly into the portal, which placed him into a lush field, on a clear, sunny day. Once he had grown accustomed to his abrupt change in surroundings, he noted the sun shining onto the once-burned trees of Sweet Apple Acres, no longer sending its vibrant heat, but now a soft warmth and radiance, indicating autumn was around the corner. The trees, themselves, were beginning to show signs of change in the leaves, which were nearby the restored hut, at the edge of the forest. Okay, Spidey, let's find out what's in store here.