Chapters A ringing sound fills Peter's ears. He digs his hooves into the rocky surface, pulling himself free of the rubble. Throwing himself on his back, Peter was given the view of a void. No stars, no light, just blackness. That ringing was growing quite annoying at this point.
"Sp......" was that a voice? Peter brought his hooves up to his head; it was getting too noisy in there. "Spider....." the ringing seemed to die down as the voice became clearer and clearer. "Spider-Mane! What's your status?" A very authoritative voice this pony had. Wait wasn't a question asked?
"Come again?" Peter asked. His voice was scratchy, his throat ached as he spoke. What in tartarus was he doing?
"What's your status Avenger?"
"Uhh....alive. Yeah. Also a little groggy... What are we doing again?" He was pulling himself up on all fours, finding it difficult with the injuries he had sustained from doing whatever it was he had done.
"We were trying to stop Sombra from gaining control over the Crystal Empire--" Peter's eyes widen. He remembered how he was called in to aid his fellow heroes and princesses in stopping Sombra from controlling the Crystal Empire. He remembered how they were too late. How bad things got so quickly. How they were pushed to the edge.
"I'msorryCapIgottafindmywife!" He stopped listening and took off in a full on gallop, frantically searching for his wife. She had to be okay, had to be alive, he couldn't lose her too. It was a vow. His spider-sense flared when he ran across a set of debris. The shards of the castle were stacked on top of each other and according to his spider-sense, someone was underneath. He fired a net onto the crystals and, with a deep breath, flung them over his shoulder. Peter quickly looks back to find Rainbow Dash laying in the crater. Fear took a hold of his heart as he drops into the hole. Peter pulls Dash close to him, checking her for a pulse. It was faint but it was present. She needed medical attention urgently.
"Stay with me Dash; you'll be okay soon." Peter whispered in her ear. The only response he got was a pained groan. Better than nothing, he thought. His spider-sense went off again, something to his far right. As he galloped over his mind raced back to the battle that had transpired. Mainly the thing that ended it all. A crystal heart, powered by magic the princesses stated would stop Sombra, a last resort in case they were killed. And killed they were, leaving the Avengers with the heart. Tony Stark aka the Iron Stallion, built a machine to use the magic within the heart as a beam. The plan was to distract Sombra and when the opening came, Stark would fire the machine.
As Peter threw more crystals out of the way he recalled how the distraction failed. He and a few other heroes were too battered to keep up with Sombra. The machine was destroyed with the heart in shambles. They were desperate for a win, and desperate ponies did drastic actions. Tony had taken the remaining shards of the heart and placed them within his armors arc reactor, giving him a power boost. He was the one who took the fight head on with Sombra. He was also the one who ended this fight. Spider-sense had gone off before a bright wave of magic struck them all. Sombra was torn to shreds, and Tony was nothing more than a helmet of a fallen hero.
There was nothing more Peter wanted to think about. He was already surrounded by so much death. Fellow heroes, royal guard ponies, some of the elements had fallen. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack were the three of the six that were no longer with them.
Twilight Sparkle Parker finally emerged with the help of Batmane, another hero who participated in this battle. He was in no better shape than Spider-Mane. Twilight asked about her husband as she recalled the events that led to this moment. Wayne led the way, Twilight helping him stay upright and moving. Pain shot through her being as they walked. So much pain. But this was nothing compared to the sight that befell her. There in a pile of darkened crystals was Peter holding his dead friends close. He no longer wore his torn mask, opting to rip it off before finding the bodies. His tears were streaming down his face as he held them tightly. Twilight tore away from Bruce who stood there with pain written all over the mask of the bat. Some of his friends and family had fallen. Too many dead....he didn't know how to take it all at once. He dropped to his knees as Twilight wrapped herself around Peter and the girls.
Steve Rogers held up Stark's helmet. His face dropped when he let the Captain Equestria drop from his being. So many of his friends were hurt or dead. He couldn't bear to tell those close to these fallen heroes that their son, daughter, brother, sister, lover....was gone.
Peter lifted his head after he caught wind of shuffling on his left. He prayed this wasn't Sombra, somehow still alive despite being ripped apart moments ago. He survived being ripped apart before according to the princesses. Lucky for Peter, it wasn't Sombra back from the dead. Though I'm sure Parker would've preferred that over the sight he got.
Hank Pym was cradling a body and not just any body, it was the body of his daughter Hope. The older stallion could only cry as he held her close, praying to some power that she'd wake up. Peter was going to comfort his teammate, but Rogers beat him to it. Steve placed a hoof on Hank's shoulder. Pym shrugged off the gesture.
A funeral was arranged for the fallen. Most of the remaining heroes attended. The noticeable exceptions were Pym and Wayne. In Peter's mind, Bruce made the most sense to be away. He had a track record of being a no show to these things. Pym on the other hoof, didn't make sense. His daughter was being buried and he wasn't here.
Twilight nestled her head into Peter's chest. Right. There was no time to think about that. He lost some close friends, no...they were family. Peter wrapped his arms around Twilight, rubbing her back while resting his chin on her head. The families of Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie had arrived. They....looked devastated. Peter grit his teeth, unconsciously squeezing Twilight. She responded with pushing herself deeper into him.
"Don't do that. Don't blame yourself like you always do. This isn't your fault. This isn't your fault."
"I should've--"
"This isn't your fault." Twilight held Peter tightly. He returned the favor as his tears began to flow. It was so easy to blame himself for every death of those close to him. It was easier to tell himself he could've done better, that he could've pushed himself further, that he could've done something to change the situation! It was crushing to accept the reality that this was out of his control. Twilight pulled Peter closer to her.
A month had gone by since the funeral. The world was trying to move on from the losses to the best of its ability. Princess Cadence had to take the position as ruler of Equestria. A rather daunting task, but with the support thrown her way she was eager to please. Bruce Wayne and Pepper Pots did what they could with Wayne Enterprise and Stark International, setting up charities for those who lost their homes in the battle. They also spent their money working to rebuild most of and the cities and towns that surrounded the Crystal Empire. Statues were built to honor those lost in the fight. They were kept clean regularly by generous citizens and guarded by the royal guard. Peter and Twilight were found spending more time in Feast than their own home. The couple did everything they could to help the Crystal ponies. Thanks to Pepper and Bruce's generous donations they had a lot more to work with. Rainbow Dash and Rarity were also found lending a helping hoof to their friends. But with every good thing there's always something bad that comes with it. The world didn't know that a new age was coming. An age that would put them under the heel of a machine hellbent on keeping them down.
It took them all by surprise. The creation of Hank Pym, as it proclaimed, was born from hatred and loss. No pony knew what it was originally built for, Pym was killed by it seemingly. What they do know was that it was hunting down those who fought in the battle against Sombra. It didn't care about anything other than killing them. Many of them died. Hal, Barry, Banner, Jessica Drew, Jason, Barbara, Cadence, Shining Armor, Flash Thompson, and a guard named Sentry were the first victims of Ultron. The bot showed no signs of slowing down. Wayne Manor was blasted to bits with Stark tower facing a similar fate moments later. The few that remained tried fighting back, but with every hero meeting their end the more hope was drained from everyone. As the days raged on more and more Ultron bots showed up. An army was made to follow this new age, an army with the intent to obliterate hope.
The treebary shook violently as Ultron bots laid down the heavy fire. Spike had been told to hide while Peter and Twilight gave it their all with the bots. The protection spell Twilight had cast was doing its best to keep them safe, but the question of how long could she keep it up crossed Spike's mind when he saw the cracks beginning to form around the bubble. He wanted to help them in some way, he wanted to be there with them, he...was scared they'd fall like all the others.
CRASH !!!
Spike jolted up from his spot and took off for the first floor. He couldn't take it anymore he had to be there! He needed to do something! When he made it downstairs he found Twilight propping Peter up on the bookshelf. His armor was falling apart, his helmet cracked open on its left side. He was gasping for air with how exhausted he was; his splitting headache wasn't making it easier for him to fight.
"They got Feast. Couldn't get a hold of Dash or Rarity. Those bots are everywhere!" Peter gasped. Twilight's horn sparked as her magical aura enveloped Peter's helmet. As she began pulling Peter stopped her with a hoof slamming the helmet back down. "Spider-sense is going crazy. The helmet is helping me stay focused. Besides, we still gotta deal with our rude guests." He points to the cracked dome surrounding their house.
"We can take em." Spike's voice took Peter and Twilight by surprise. Fear took hold of them both with him no longer in the "safe zone."
"What're you doing Spike go back upstairs and stay hidden!" Twilight demanded.
"But I want to help--"
"These things will kill you bud. Leave it to me and Twily." Peter says getting back up to his hooves.
"No! These robots are killing all of our friends and now they're after you guys. I can't just sit by and let them kill you. I-I-I just c-can't lose you guys too." Tears welled up in Spike's eyes. He tried wiping them away, to show that he was strong enough to stand with them, to convince himself that he wasn't a scared little dragon. Before Peter and Twilight could respond however, the dome broke. A whole was blown into the treebary as Ultron bots began to pile inside.
Twilight quickly conjured up a wall and pushed them back. Sweat trickled down her brow as the bots struggled against her. Peter stood tall and unloaded his webbing onto Twilight's wall. The trio made their way upstairs with Peter still firing. Twilight dropped her wall and slumped down to the floor taking in gulps of air. Spike turned back to Peter just in time to see another cartridge fall. Parker dropped back down on all fours, standing defiantly in front of his wife and little brother.
"I'm out of webbing. It'll take a while for them to get through that. We're still not safe though."
"We have to get out of here!" Spike proclaimed.
"We can't....we're surrounded..." Twilight says between gasps of breath.
"....I can buy you guys some time." Peter's statement causes Twilight and Spike to snap their heads up at him.
"We're not doing that....we stick together..." Twilight begins trying trying get to her hooves, but exhaustion fought with her. "I'm not losing you too." She forces out as she tries to stand again. Peter helps her up. The two stare into each others eyes no doubt for the last time. "Please don't do this." She says.
Peter chuckles as he removes his helmet. He rests his head against hers as the two whisper their love to each other. They seal it off with a kiss, the last one they'll ever share.
"I love you, both of you. Stay safe," He turns around placing his helmet back on, "Stay strong for me okay."
What transpired next was something that stuck with Spike, even in his dreams. The Ultron bots tore through the webbing just as Twilight and Spike made their exit. Peter kept the attention on him with the help of two gauntlets he got from Tony before his death. Twilight's horn sparked and spurred till they finally began disappearing from their home. Twilight closed her eyes, not wanting to see what grisly fate fell upon her husband, no doubt why she would go on to believe he still lived years later. Spike however kept his eyes focused on Peter. Spider-Mane stood tall fighting back against these robots. They swarmed him, ripping away at his armor. That didn't stop him. Not even his piercing headache could make him drop. As the two vanished from the treebary, Peter disappeared amongst the horde of Ultron bots. This would go on to be remembered as the day Spider-Mane took his last stand.
Seven years had passed since Ultron's reign began. It ruled over the world with no opposition. Life in this new world was rather simple to live in. Don't cause disorder, don't approach the bots, and don't assist any costumed hero that could still be alive. That last rule made Ultron sound paranoid. There hadn't been a hero sighting since it showed up. The villains of the world disappeared soon after the heroes fell. Something that caught everyone by surprise. No creature knew what happened to them, they were just whisked away one night.
Spike didn't have the time to worry about that, work had taken up most of his attention. The Web is where he worked, a small newspaper in Manehatten. It didn't get much traction like the Daily Bugle or the Planet, but it put money in Spike's pocket and it offered him a low profile. Something he desperately needed especially with how frantic Twilight had become over the years. She had been swearing up and down that Peter was alive. Her evidence was that a voice had told her this one night. Spike could only watch as Twilight fell further into madness every day.
Today was no different. Spike pushed open the front door, a loud creaking sound followed the action. He removed his cap and jacket as loud hoofsteps approached. Twilight stepped into view, looking ragged as ever. Bags rested underneath her eyes, her mane was a wild tornado, her eyes bore that crazed tint Spike had grown accustomed to. Something was different though. He couldn't quite place what it was, but Twilight's eyes seemed more vibrant.
"I'm so glad you made it home! I have something to show you." Spike raised a brow.
"What is it Twi?" Twilight smiled and bounced off to the right. Spike, without skipping a beat, followed after her. He followed her into a small room that quite frankly, Spike forgot existed in this shack of a house. The room wasn't much to look at and the bulb above them did very little to illuminate the place. Twilight's smile hadn't faltered since entering this room which furthered Spike's belief that something was up.
"I know you think I've gone crazy since Ultron's reign began, " Spike wanted to protest but Twilight raised her hoof, "I know I haven't made it easy for you and I'm sorry for that. I am very thankful that you kept this place in tip top shape since we hid out here. I think May would've been pleased if she were still with us."
The two sat in silence for a while. This house was filled with memories of an elderly mare and her young nephew trying to make it in the world. An uncle's presence that never left was welcomed with the presence of the aunt. Yet the house was never complete. The nephew never joined them. Twilight could never feel Peter's ghost in this house with May and Ben. She could only feel his memories, his echo.
"The voice that I talk to frequently told me that they've seen him. They told me that Peter was alive and hiding out in Manehatten like us."
"Twilight...." Spike was cut off when Twilight's horn ignited a bright light in the room. When Spike's eyes adjusted he finally took in what was in front of him. Rarity would shriek if she were still with them. Webs coated the room from head to hoof. That wasn't what caught Spike's attention. It was the pictures the webs held. Each one of a stallion who sported a beard and black rimmed glasses. His mane was slicked back and noticeably long. Each of the photos showed the stallion in various places, wearing trench coats and fedoras to conceal most of his features. All these pictures were around an area Spike was quite familiar with. Still, he couldn't quite believe that this was the same Peter Parker that died years prior. Twilight on the other hoof was clearly gung-ho with the idea that this was Peter.
"Could you please just check and see if it's him. If it isn't...then I'll drop this. I'll accept that he's gone and try and move on. But if it is him Spike....bring him home. Please." There eyes meet. Spike contemplated things for only a moment. If this wasn't Peter Twilight could move on from this fanatic behavior. If it was....well that was a big if.
"Fine. I'll head on over tomorrow and see if I can find this guy. If it's Peter I'll try and bring him to you. If it's not you have to promise me that you'll get over this whole mess. Deal?"
"Deal." Twilight gave Spike a somber smile. She hopped off the stool and exited the room with the teen dragon following behind. "I'm going to head to bed. Try not to burn the place down while I'm out." She says with that glint returning to her eyes. Spike watched Twilight disappear upstairs and into one of the bedrooms. He let out a sigh before plopping down onto the couch. Spike's claws found their place at his face as he became lost in thought. There was no way Peter survived, he watched him die. At least, he watched him get overwhelmed. Could he really be alive?
All this thinking became made Spike's head hurt. He got up, grabbed his jacket and cap, and exited the house. Twilight watched his actions from the staircase. She was holding something in her hooves, making sure to keep it close to her chest. Whatever it was she intended to give it to her lover if his death was proven to be exaggerated. Only time could tell.