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

"Mm-mm-hm," muffled Gabby's voice before she swallowed, "I don't think I've ever eaten banana cream pie this delicious in my whole life, Mrs. Parker! Thanks!"

"Well," the warm-hearted Pegasus chuckled, as she placed her cleared plate onto the kitchen table, "I can't say that I've ever received any compliments about my cooking from a Griffon before either, so I guess that makes us even."

"Yeah, I know. We Griffons can be pretty cranky, sometimes. Okay, most of the time."

"To tell you the truth, I've never so much as met one before. So, I would be none the wiser."

By now, it has been well into the afternoon of the following day, when May and Gabby conversed after completing their meals. The Crusaders sat at the table also, eating their own slices after having lunch, as well. Their concentration so deeply centered on the dessert, they could hardly join in without a mouthful themselves, only allowing for much more muffled speech from Scoots than Gabby. "Mmpyah! Thankf, Muffiv Pahker! Itf great!"

"Be sure to chew and swallow first, Scootaloo. And I must say," She continued, "meeting such a high-spirited young lady during this unpleasant time is definitely reassuring. I mean the way you've helped comfort these little ones here, while also tending to our sick friend. With such a caring nature, it's no wonder you enjoy the girls' company."

"Little kids smiling always makes my day," beamed the Griffon hen, "Heck, anyone's smile makes my day! Helps me to know that they can be happy with me too!"

"It's always helpful to give someone a kind smile. At least, that way, they could find some reason to carry on."

"And also, a lot of times, the best kind of smiles are from little foals or chicks!"

"Oh, yes," May nodded in reminiscence, "I remember how my nephew came running downstairs every morning, for breakfast. I always saw how happy he was to see me and his uncle, my little Peter. Then I noticed he started smiling at the beginning and end of each day, before going off to school and seeing me to bed, making sure he got one from me back. So much like Ben."

"Mm," gulped Applebloom, "Yur nephew sure sounds like a mighty nice pony to be with."

"The times when his is actually around, he most certainly can be."

"So," Sweetie Belle began, after finishing her own plate, "What does your nephew do, anyway?"

"He studies sciences at the university," the Pegasus mare replied, "Not sure which ones, exactly. Very bright in those areas. Able to work in the laboratories there for part time. He also took work for a city newspaper as a photographer, to help pay for his tuition. Ever since I moved, he no longer had to worry so much about helping me with the bills."

"He sure does sound like a hard-workin' pony tah boot."

"An' pretty smaht, too," the tan Earth Pony remarked after her yellow cousin.

"I think he would totally be awesome to hang around with," the orange filly beamed, wings outstretched with excitement.

"Me too," said Gabby.

"And I'm more than sure he would definitely enjoy you young ladies' company, also." They then noticed a scarlet bubble expanding past them with a soft pong, knowing that was Spider Bite's magic enveloping the Castle, as per his routine. It gently reverberated throughout the palace, as it did the previous occasions, before it eventually reduced to silence once again.

"Why does that young man keep insisting on using that annoying sound? It's not as if the whole world would end the moment he lets up. He should be resting, not exerting any more energy."

"So," the white Unicorn inquired, "I heard my sister Rarity say once that Spidey and the rest of you were humans in your world. What exactly is a human?"

"Yeah," followed Scootaloo, "And what's your world like?"

"Is it anythin' like ours," Babs Seed asked, shortly before Applebloom, "Do yah have ponies there, and hang out with 'em?"

"Oh, ho-ho," she chuckled lightly at the sudden curiosity from the four fillies, "One question at a time, please, dears. I'm afraid there's a whole lot to explain. In fact, I can honestly say I don't know everything there is to know about where I'm from, either."

"Ooh, ooh," exclaimed the Griffon, "I love to learn about new things! I'm so, so glad that I made this trip! If I wasn't glad then, I most definitely am, now!"

The brown Pegasus took a trey of soup and water for the Griffon to carry, then they traveled up the stairs with the fillies joining them, trotting by May's side. She began speaking to them by offering a brief summary of a human being, how horses and ponies could not speak or trade, but helped humans work the land and carry heavy loads. She then carried on to certain advances in technology, such as motors, cars, tractors, airplanes and phones. She mentioned also how she only noticed a steam engine here, along with a peddled helicopter hovering by. Much to everyone's bewilderment, she told them how Griffons, Unicorns and Pegasi were only considered mythical creatures in her world, found only in legends and fables. As soon as they had passed the foyer, and climbed the staircase, the foals stayed with May Parker to rest for a while, as Gabby continued to deliver Spidey's refreshments.

"Oh, dear. Let me tell you, I haven't had much use for stairs since I moved out of that condo in Queens. Just stepped on a lift to the apartment I took up. Peter felt slightly crushed about it, but knew that there was a time to move on, especially since he was starting college then."

"Anythin' wrong with yur wings there," the yellow Earth Pony asked politely.

"Not at all, Applebloom," she smiled back, "Just takes this older bird a while to get used them right now. Maybe someday, but for the moment I'm just using stretch exercises to keep their muscles from getting stiff."

"You think maybe you can show me those exercises," the orange Pegasus spoke in earnest.

"How about later today, Scootaloo," May gleamed as she hugged her, "after seeing our friend first? This past month has helped me memorize most of the techniques. I'll be more than happy to share them with you. You may still have a ways to go and grow, but it will certainly help to practice using them regularly."

"That'd be awesome!"

"You ready to move on now, Mrs. Pahkuh," Applebloom's tan cousin said, noticing the mare Pegasus rising back onto her hind legs. "Yes, I believe so, young lady. Just be sure not to rush me down the hall, alright?"

They escorted her through the hallway, then entered into his room to find him reclining on his pillow, and wearing his scarlet hood with his sunglasses, once again. Gabby stood at his bedside, grinning at the entering ponies to assure them everything was well. His previous glass of water already emptied, they noticed him pull down the cloak over his head even further upon Sweetie's retrieval of it. The trey on his bedside table was near the levitating cup, its steaming substance now reduced to half of what had been served. The fresh cup of water they offered he gently held with his scarlet aura, replacing that of the filly Unicorn's own teal gleam, before he took a sip. He then placed it down, next to the bowl of soup, and said, "Thanks again, Mrs. Parker. And you too, girls. Gabby. You really didn't have to do this."

"Nonsense, young man. This is exactly what Nicolas recommended, and that is precisely what we intend to give you."

"But what if something happened while you're here? I can't have any of you take such a dangerous risk while stuff like this is going on."

"Don't worry, Spider Bite," the Griffon perked, "I can help out around here until everypony gets back! And if you want, we can maybe make an emergency plan. Just in case."

"But for now," May persisted, "you should be looking after your own health. Give yourself exactly what you need before anything else."

"Thanks, I'll make a note of that. But now that I'm actually doing it, Princess Twilight and the others haven't been seen or heard from by anypony, since last night. And without any clue if Chrysalis has been here and took them. Even Starlight vanished into thin air. Lucky enough that Gabby and I are still around to keep an eye on the place, until we can figure out what happened, only able to send a message to Celestia and Luna by mail pony-"

"Hush now! You're supposed to rest and recoup. Not drain your mind away with worries." May had approached his bed, raising a hoof to help fluff his pillows. With slight unease, he muttered, "Mrs. Parker, that's practically my profession. And some career choice I've made, let me tell you."

"Goodness, you know you can be worse than my nephew, at times. At least he hasn't been sick lately. In fact, I don't recall him ever getting more than a slight cold a few times, recently. And even then, he was much quieter than he normally would be."

"Really," he smirked in disbelief, "Just a few measly colds? That's it?"

"Well," she answered in kind, "when he was small, Peter had a terrible case of food poisoning. Then the following year, a slight case of tonsillitis. Luckily, it wasn't serious enough to rush him to the hospital and have them removed. A few accidents here and there while growing up, but he has kept himself in overall, good health since then. Unlike someone I know, of late."

"You sure know how to count your blessings, Mrs. P," he nodded in admiration, "And those of your nephew."

"Yeah," beamed Sweetie Belle lovingly, "He's really, really lucky to have an aunt like you!"

"An' we're lucky tah have yah in our home too, Ma'am," the yellow Earth Pony added as she and Babs Seed went up to embrace her. Gabby, Sweetie and Scoots shortly joined them, then brought Spidey in also, through the Griffon hen's not-so-subtle insistence. It was then that the orange Pegasus foal asked, "How long will you be staying?"

"Not too sure, dear," replied May Parker, after they parted from their tight embrace, "I imagine our bedridden friend is still working on that little detail."

"With Princess Twilight and Starlight, yeah."

"But, don't you want tuh stay here? Don't you like havin' us 'round?"

"Oh, absolutely, Babs Seed," she gently answered, rubbing her cocoa brown hoof onto the filly's crimson, magenta mane, "I can never stop enjoying you girls coming around to be with me, or even being here. Maybe I would've loved the idea of staying, but you see, there's a home that I need to get to, where someone is waiting for me."

"Well," Scoots evenly spoke with pursed lips, "I bet he and his uncle can't wait to see you home and tell them all about this place, huh?"

"My dear," she chuckled in reply, "I doubt Peter would even believe me when I tell him. Now Ben, on the other hand, well, that's a completely different story."

"How come," asked Applebloom with a slanted brow.

"Yeah," Scoots spoke, "I mean, sure turning into a pony in a place where there are Unicorns, Pegasi and Griffons might sound strange where you're from. But why wouldn't he believe you?"

"Is it because it would only sound like another one of those legends you talked about?"

"Maybe," the brown Pegasus shrugged in response to the little Unicorn, "He's had such a hard life, I don't think his mind and heart are willing to accept things that might sound like pure fantasy."

"Oh, I don't know," the arachnid Unicorn smirked, "He got to see some crazy stuff while shooting photos of me over the years. Plus you've got Doctor Bromwell and Miss Watson to back you up. Nothing compared to the three of you telling him about talking ponies in a magical land after your disappearing act, though."

"Oh hush, and finish your soup," said May with a squint, before she departed from the room, "Now that reminds of another thing. I wonder if Mary Jane is considering staying there, in Manehatten. Though she might be concerned about her Aunt Anna, as well."

The Crusader fillies strolled out of the web-head's room alongside her, listening to the Pegasus mare, and asking her even more questions. Closing the door from behind, they leave Spider Bite with Gabby, who seemed eager to speak with the stallion a little further. After he heaved a deep sigh, and slouched his shoulders with relief, he said, "Thanks for the assist."

"No problem," she nodded, "I noticed how much you preferred keeping your face, mane and tail mostly covered, so I thought I'd go ahead of the rest and make sure you were ready. Like last time, with the Doc."

"Just didn't think I'd be back in this thing again," he remarked as he examined the fabric he wore, "And so soon, too."

"Wouldn't the cap be enough? Like last time?"

"Can never be too sure. Besides, I think it's better this way."

"What do you mean," Gabby tilted her owl head as one eye blinked, "How come you don't want anypony seeing your face?"

"Because if I'm not careful enough, somepony might point it out, whether or not they mean to, which could reach the wrong kind of ponies' ears. Or people's, whichever comes first. And with that info, they can just find out where I hang out easily, causing more problems for everyone else."

"Well, everypony knows who you are, by now. What you did, and where you're living, and who your friends are. Twilight, Starlight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, the Crusaders, me…"

"That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?"

"It's way more complex than that."

"Does it have to do with being from another world?"

"More or less." The two shared a momentary pause of silence between themselves, as Spidey lowered his head and Gabby pondered what next to say. "Well, there's also your Cutie Mark. Not exactly hard to miss something so amazing."

"Yeah, no kidding," he scoffed lightly, "It's practically a target branded onto me. But nothing a pair of pants can't fix, if I'm ever out of town."

"Wowzers," she muttered back, "I don't think I've ever heard a pony say something like that about their own Mark. And that came from you, of all ponies."

"Mostly because I never had this until last month, when I came here. Didn't even know it existed, until it was brought to my attention."

"But you know what it means to a pony, right?"

"And what this particular Mark means to me? Yeah, I do."

"What does it mean to you?"

"A packaged deal." The Griffon was left befuddled and somewhat bewildered, unsure exactly what to make of this somber discourse from a pony who seemed to be upbeat and pleasant every single day of his life. To hear this same, quirky stallion who, only yesterday, found a way to make nearly every moment enjoyable for those around him, say that he did not feel the same about his own gifts and purpose. It was very strange, to say the least. Yes, she was aware that he was not even a pony, to begin with, but it still unnerved her to know another creature besides a Griffon felt distraught by whom he has become, and whom he was meant to be.

"Speaking of which…" As he closed his eyes in concentration, his horn under the hood began to gleam. Just then, the familiar pong vibrated throughout the chamber, and across the entire premises, as before. The echoes faded into soft, regathered silence, as the wall-crawler huffed, "Nothing too exertive. But it still takes a lot of practice to really get used to it. And, again, can't be too careful. Even with my spider sense."

"What can even stop your spider sense from detecting danger?"

"Don't ask." Suddenly, in a poof of green sparks and smoke, a parchment landed squarely onto the bedridden stallion's lap. Pat. He seemed startled by it at first, though recognized the nature and meaning of the scroll's appearence instantly. Without even thinking of using his horn, he instinctively levitated it to his eye level, and began to unroll it.

"Guess not as much getting used to as you thought, huh Spidey?"

"If this scroll came here the way it did," he sharply spoke, "it means it's from Spike, and the rest! We've finally got some news! And not just about them! From them!"

"Whoa-ho-ho there, pal," Gabby swooped over and snatched the rolled piece of paper with her talon, "Doc says you need to take it easy. So, take it easy. I'll read it for you, and you just relax."

"How about that. A Griffon saying 'whoa' to me. Okay, sure, fine," he sighed with bereaved annoyance, "Just please read it aloud. I haven't even got to look at the morning paper today, I'm so bored." She smirked, glad to know that part of him still remained, as she examined the unrolled message herself. "Just promise me to wait after I read to talk, okay?"

"Cross my heart. Hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye," he mumbled, rolling his eyes. "Can't believe Pinkie made me know that by memory."

"Ahem. Dear Spider Bite and Gabby, – Hey! This is for me, too! – We heard you have been in the Castle while we were gone, and duly appreciate your vigilant presence there, during our absence. Heard? Didn't they see us hang out here yesterday? I know Twilight saw you ponies, at least. I imagine you may have been greatly troubled by now, and even more greatly disturbed if the news of recent events has reached the Ponyville Express already. Huh, guess we will have to see today's paper and check, after all. But rest assured, (Ahem!) we are all perfectly safe and well, many thanks to Starlight Glimmer, Discord, Thorax and Trixie. Who? If not for their valiant efforts to rescue us, Chrysalis and the Changelings would have successfully ruled Equestria without anypony's notice. Wow, she had more Changelings? Chrysalis has been overthrown, and now Thorax governs his fellow Changelings. Chrysalis, however, still managed to escape, leaving no trail or clue to her current whereabouts behind. Therefore, I ask that you two please remain in the Tree Palace, until our return. We will explain everything, in further detail. Many Thanks.
Your Friend,
Twilight Sparkle

Wowzers! I bet they've got a whole lot to explain to us! I mean, how did they even get captured?"

"What?"

"How did Starlight and Discord rescue them, if the others were so easily taken?"

"What?"

"And who are Trixie and Thorax? I don't think I've ever met those ponies, before. Discord, neither, but I at least heard about him."

"What?"

"Now I'm beginning to wonder if Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were even around to get our letter. I mean, were they captured too?"

"What?!" The outcry of shock and utter horror was finally difficult for Gabby to ignore, as she viewed the gaping, terror-stricken Unicorn stare on with narrowed pupils. His front hooves were rubbing wildly through his ruffled, brown mane as he exclaimed with great, dumbstruck demeanor, "Man, no wonder I kept getting migraines yesterday! Ngyuh! Spider sense, you picked a lousy time to be subtle!"