Ultimate Spiders and Magic: Episode II "Rainbow Rocks"

Chapters

Prologue: Music Makes the World Go Crazy
Ch. 1: Negative Vibes
Ch. 2: Different Yet Familiar
Ch. 3: Seeing is Believing
Ch. 4: Too Rich For My Blood
Ch. 5: Battle of the Bands
Epilogue: The Voice of Reason

Prologue: Music Makes the World Go Crazy

Prologue “Music Makes the World Go Crazy”

Trixie brought a hand over her eyes, groaning outwardly. “No. This time, could you at least try to put some effort into it?”

Rolling his eyes, Peter shrugged before tapping a finger into the microphone and clearing his throat. “Hello, New York~! Your pants are down~!” he sang, his voice cracking underneath a piercing tone. Snips and Snails covered their ears while others stared in his direction with looks of disgust, anguish, and humor. Trixie quickly snatched the microphone away, frowning as Peter obliviously nodded proudly. “What do you think? I give that an eight on the Richter scale.”

Slow to respond, Trixie cleared her throat and raised a finger. “How should I put this without breaking your little heart? Um… Your voice resembles a dying cat being slowly run over by a steamroller. With spikes. Twice.”

“That’s… kind of dark,” Peter blankly responded, tilting his head to the side.

Throwing her hands into the air, Trixie held a widened glare. “It’s where your singing has brought me! Your voice drags me to the dark depths of an endless abyss! You are by far the absolute worst singer I have ever heard!”

Exhaling, Peter shook his head and glanced to the side. “Come on! I can’t be that bad! Right?” He glanced around at everyone around him, blinking once nobody offered a rebuttal. Some even removed headphones, staring at the young man with looks of bemusement. Peter could only lower his head shamefully. “Okay. So, maybe it is that bad, but it’s not my fault I was transferred to Glee, the School Musical. I told you, I don’t sing. I don’t even play the harmonica.”

Trixie shared a glance with a pair of girls before nodding in a defeated manner. “I thought I could at the very least use you as an extra, but it would appear that I have sadly overestimated you. Everyone in this school can practically sing with some form of decency. Of course it’s the one bumpkin that I take under my wing that can’t. Even these two oafs have at least some form of rhythm.”

“Ha!” Snips and Snails exclaimed, giving each other a high five before standing proudly.

Trixie sharply turned with a glare, pointing at the pair. “Trixie didn’t tell you two to stop. Keep dancing, you monkeys!” Once Snips and Snails began tapping their feet in place and stumbled into a heap, Trixie rolled her eyes before releasing an exasperated sigh. “Good help is so hard to find these days.” Waving her hand dismissively, she closed her eyes and sighed upon facing Peter’s direction once more. “I’m not mad. Trixie is just… disappointed. I expected a little more from you, Parker, but I suppose some people are just terrible at things.”

“Like you and physics?” Peter muttered under his breath.

Trixie waved off the remark. “Don’t focus on me. We’re here about your shortcomings. Carry on, bumpkins. Should I need you, I’ll call you.”

“I don’t have your number,” Peter muttered, unable to react as Trixie handed him a tiny slip of paper.

“You do now, and don’t worry. I already have yours,” Trixie nonchalantly declared, nodding.

Slack-jawed, Peter just stared at the girl. “Huh? But how?! Since when did that happen?”

Trixie shook her head, laughing pompously. “A magician never reveals her secrets.”

Snips raised a finger. “Coach Spitfire gave it to her.”

Trixie’s brow twitched madly. “Silence, cretin!”

“Coach Spitfire, huh?” Peter furrowed his brow upon accepting the item, blinking at the sight of a number and the word ‘Greatestest’ written above it. Peter simply groaned, crushing the paper in a fist before thrusting it into his pocket. He watched as Trixie went on about her business, consulting with her band members while also scolding Snips. “I swear that she’s just trolling me at this point. The first time in my life that a cute girl gave me her number, and I honestly don’t know how to feel about it. If this isn’t Parker Luck, I don’t know what is.”

“There you are, Parker,” a warm voice called from behind, freeing the young man from his self-induced trance. Spitfire rolled up to him on her wheelchair, arching a brow as she analyzed her surroundings before settling her gaze on Peter. “Are you joining the Musical Showcase? You don’t strike me as the singing type.”

Peter snorted, grinning. “You clearly just missed my audition. I was just leaving. Your timing couldn’t be any better.” The pair shared a nod before departing, sharing pleasantries as they went. Once they passed through the school’s front doors, Peter smiled at the woman. “You ready to meet Doctor Octavious? I told him all about your situation, and he’s eager to help.”

Spitfire’s brow lowered as she frowned lightly. “I’ve only seen the guy a couple of times during school meetings. Nothing enough to gain an impression, but if you trust him, I’ll give it a try. Just the idea of going into rehab is scary.”

“Oh, he’s a really brilliant mind. His work in prosthetics is amazing and second to none. If there’s anyone that can help you, it’s Doctor Octavious,” Peter confidently responded, shifting his gaze skyward. “Sometimes, the first step is the hardest. In your case, it’s as much figurative as it will be literal. You’re trying now. That’s all that matters. I’ll give you support in any way you need, Coach.”

Smiling, Spitfire nodded. “I appreciate that, Pete,” she paused before smirking, “After what we’ve been through, we’re friends. So, when it’s just the two of us or after school hours, just stick with Spitfire.”

Peter snorted. “It’s funny that the first real friend I make here is you, and you’re not even a classmate. How old are you again? Nineteen?”

“Twenty. You’re a little on the young side for me, and I’m not into dating anytime soon. We’ll see what happens when you graduate,” Spitfire bluntly stated before her eyes widened at a realization. “Wait. I’m your first friend? What about Sunset Shimmer?”

Slow to respond, Peter shrugged. “She seems nice, but we haven’t hung out long enough to know anything outside of our names.”

Spitfire scoffed. “That’ll change, but you have to let it. Just try not to pay any attention to rumors about her.”

“Rumors?” Peter questioned, tilting his head to the side.

Spitfire narrowed her gaze. “When you hear, you’ll know.”

“As cryptic as ever,” Peter grumbled, glancing to the side, “Sure. That isn’t getting old at all.”

Clearing her throat, the woman arched a brow. “It’s no different from what you’re going through. Ever since Diamond Tiara started that podcast with her uncle, ol’ Webhead’s name quickly became mud.``

“When you put it that way, it makes a little more sense,” Peter retorted, shrugging.

Spitfire nodded. “Anyway. What about you and Trixie? Word on the street is that she’s taken you under her wing. Heck, she’s quick to remind anyone who will listen about it.”

Exasperated, Peter snorted. “Friend? I mean, sure, we hang out a lot, but she’s always bossing me around. It’s hard to say she’s friendly.” Pausing, the young man shot the woman a glare. “You gave her my number.”

The corner of Spitfire’s lips curled into a smirk. “She kept asking, okay? That girl doesn’t know when to shut up sometimes.” Straightening her demeanor, the woman huffed lightly. “I’ve seen the way Trixie treats people she doesn’t like. Trust me, from what I see and hear, she has a soft spot for you. She gave you her number?”

“Yeah, but--” Peter responded, trailing off.

Spitfire raised a hand and waved a finger. “I think I’ve made my point.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Peter groaned, holding a bemused glare.

“Nothing that girl does makes sense. Trust me, you’ll learn,” Spitfire chuckled, snorting once the young man threw up his hands in a defeated manner.

Just as Peter readied to respond, a young girl approached the pair. Brushing a hand through her bright blonde and crimson hair, she waved politely. “Hi, Peter! Hi, Coach Spitfire!”

Peter’s eyes widened as he dumbly raised a hand, chuckling sheepishly. “Oh! Uh… hi, Sunset!”

Spitfire lowered her shades over her eyes, grinning under her breath as she quietly strolled away. “Carry on. I’ll see you at the lab, Parker.”

Once the woman was out of hearing range, Peter eventually shook his head free of the building cobwebs and faced the girl. “What’s up, Sunset?”

Sunset smiled, placing a hand over her forearm before brushing it nervously. “N-Nothing. I was just checking on you. I noticed you weren’t at lunch today.”

His eyes widened at the comment. “Oh, shoot! I forgot about that! Something came up with Doctor Octavious. I recently just signed up for an after school job with him, and we were discussing today’s assignment. I didn’t mean to blow you off.”

“It’s okay. Maybe we can try again tomorrow?” Sunset reaffirmed, holding her smile.

Peter let out a relieved sigh before nodding. “That’d be great. Thanks!”

Glancing to the side, Sunset grinned. “Before then, how about I introduce you to my friends?” Faster than Peter could react, a group of five girls steadily approached the pair. Each held a welcoming smile, but that did nothing to quell Peter’s uncertainty, evident by his shifty gaze. Sunset cleared her throat. “I’m still trying to work on being friendly, but these girls have been helping me with that. Maybe you guys can--?”

“I’m Rainbow Dash!” the blue girl exclaimed, stepping between Sunset and Peter while pointing a thumb at her chest. Blinking, she edged up to the young man and frowned once she peered up at him slightly. “The way Sunset described you, I’d thought you'd be taller.”

A girl with curled violet hair stepped forth, her skin matching that of bright white snow. “Rainbow dear, please. You’re embarrassing him.” She cleared her throat and laughed. “I’m Rarity. It’s a pleasure.”

“I’m Applejack! You must be new around these parts,” a blonde girl stated, tipping the hat on her head downward in a welcoming gesture. She stepped to the side and held out a hand, revealing a meek pink-haired girl who froze in place while offering a weak wave. Applejack huffed. “This here’s Fluttershy. Don’t mind her. It takes her some time to warm up to new folks.”

Peter awkwardly shifted his gaze about, gripping the handle of his backpack soundly. “I know the feeling,” he muttered, blinking. His mind ran rampant, as if containing a storm. “Geez. Is everyone so forward here, or am I just out of the loop? It’s not like I was any good at making friends at my old school. All I had was Harry and Eddie back home.” Peter lifted his gaze, as if breaking himself from his self-induced trance, and glanced to the side before yelping at the overabundant sight of pink mere inches away. Slack-jawed, he could only yelp in response. “What?!”

“Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie!” the girl greeted obliviously, bouncing in place.

Stammering, Peter glanced at each girl with a blank gaze. “So, are those your real names, or are we using made up names? Where I’m from, your names are a little literal and on-the-nose.” Each girl arched a brow at his question, causing Peter to scratch the back of his head sheepishly. “Sorry! I didn’t mean anything by that! I have a terrible habit of saying what’s on my mind when I get nervous. It always leads to awkward moments, and I just walked into another wall.”

An awkward silence filled the air as everyone just stared at the young man. However, as if the fates were granting him mercy for once in his life, police sirens began to ring throughout the vicinity. The girls turned their attention to the side once a pair of law enforcement vehicles sped past the school, but once they returned their line of sight to where Peter previously stood, they couldn’t locate the young man. Looking around aimlessly for what seemed like minutes, no one could spot his location.

Rainbow Dash folded her arms and huffed. “What’s with that guy? Was he making fun of our names?”

“He seems rather aloof. Are you sure you want to engage with someone like that, Sunset? If he’s in someone’s company like Trixie’s, I suggest that you approach with caution,” Rarity replied, narrowing her gaze.

Sunset waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t forget that he’s new here. We did kind of just rush him. I don’t think he was ready at all for us. I say we give him some time.”

Fluttershy cleared her throat before raising a hand. “Um... does he know what happened with you last semester?”

“N-No. At least, I don’t think so,” Sunset stammered, frowning before lifting her gaze. “If it’s okay with you guys, could you not say anything to him about that? It’s a little refreshing, not being reminded of that.”

“If he doesn’t know about it yet, it’s only a matter of time before word slips through the grapevine,” Applejack calmly stated, placing a hand over Sunset’s shoulder. “Ah promise we won’t say anything, but it’s better if he found out from you before anyone else.”

Sunset was slow to respond before she eventually nodded. “I’ll tell him. Soon.”

Applejack winked at the girl and smiled. “Ah see what you meant. The fella is kinda cute.”

Scoffing, Rainbow Dash folded her arms and shook her head. “Sure. If dorks are your thing.”

Rarity shrugged. “Anyway, let’s get back to business. How about we start practicing for the Musical Showcase while we still have some time?”

Rainbow Dash eagerly nodded, pulling out a few papers from her pockets. “Yeah! I’ve got some lyrics ready! Let’s get started!”

Pinkie cheered, jumping in place. “Yay! This will be fun!”

As the girls continued to converse and plan their next motion, Sunset glanced to the side, sighing. “I wonder where he went? I hope I didn’t overdo it.”

Elsewhere, Peter managed to change into his Spider-Man attire before taking to the skies, swinging through the city on threads of webbing. “Smooth one, Parker. You handled that about as well as everything else in your life: terribly. If I never hear another song in my life, it’ll be too soon.”

Elsewhere, within the confines of a local cafe, everyone seemingly conversed and ate in peace. A faint melody echoed throughout the restaurant before it dissipated, fading from existence. Soon, a young couple glared at each other, bursting into an argument, while others around their position did the same. Even the manager rose from the back, yelling at the employees in the kitchen.

“You never listen to a word I have to say!” a girl exclaimed, pointing sharply at the boy sitting across from her. “I wanted chinese, but you wanted tacos! How can you eat that garbage?!”

Taken aback, the boy slammed a hand against the table. “Seriously?! Chinese is nothing but rice and no substance!” he paused, rolling his eyes to the side, “Sort of like you.”

Meanwhile, the manager held a look of disgust, and he scowled, pointing at a dish. “What are you cooking out here? The steak is overcooked! Is this your idea of rare? Any more, and the cow would dance in the sun!”

The chef waved his spatula at the manager angrily. “How about you actually cook for yourself for a change?!”

As each argument escalated, a trio of girls sat in the corner of the cafe with their gazes centered on the building animosity. Each pulled back their hoods, allowing their hair to flow freely. a sparkling green aura escaped from the arguing pairs before flowing towards the three girls, seeping into their bodies. However, each exhaled in an exasperated tone once the mist had been fully absorbed. The arguments around them had also ceased, with everyone slumping with exhaustion.

One of the girls shook her head, brushing a hand through her poofy orange hair. “That’s hardly enough. It wasn’t even an appetizer,” Narrowing her rose-tinted irises, she scoffed, “This was way easier back in Equestria. Everyone’s too bloody nice here. At this rate, we’re not going to last. Our magic’s going to wither and dry away.”

Sitting across from her position, a second pink-skinned girl groaned. “What’d you expect, Adagio? This crummy town is overly positive. We can hardly draw any negative energy from the inhabitants here.”

A blue-skinned girl next to her perked up, shifting her rose gaze skyward. “I don’t know. I actually kind of like it here.”

She rolled her violet eyes before allowing her chin to rest in the palm of her hand. “It’s bad for us, you moron. Unless you like, you know, starving.” Her violet and neon pigtails fell to the side and drooped, as if mirroring her bleak demeanor. “God, I’m hungry.”

“Me, too! I can go for some tacos right now,” the cheerful girl obviously stated.

Adagio rubbed her fingers against her temples and exhaled. “Aria! Sonata! Shut up! You two always have something stupid to say! How about you actually help try to figure out a way to fix this mess?!”

Aria rolled her eyes, bemused. “You’re the one with the plans, and every time, they end in failure. It’s your fault we were banished here in the first place by that stupid bearded pony and stuck in our current situation.” Apathetic, the girl snorted before straightening her posture momentarily. “Let’s take over the world, she says. No one can stop us, she says. I’m the oldest, so I’m the smartest, she says. Ugh! Give me a break.”

Adagio’s eye twitched at the comment as she gritted her teeth and lifted her trembling hands, resisting the urge to strangle her sibling. “Why, you little--!”

Oblivious, Sonata hummed. “How long has it been again? Feels like ages.”

“A month,” Aria groaned, waving a hand dismissively. “Maybe two or three? I don’t remember. Or care.”

“It could be worse. At least we still have our amulets,” Sonata responded, shrugging haplessly before poking at the crimson jewel laced around her neck.

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Adagio gave an affirming nod. “Yeah. You’re right. Plus, there was that explosion that happened at Canterlot High recently. I know the scent of Equestrian magic anywhere. We need to go and investigate that school soon.”

Sonata clapped her hands together. “I hope they have good food!”

Slow to respond, Aria just stared at the girl. “You’re an idiot.” Pausing, she returned her gaze to Adagio. “I don’t know if you noticed, but there’s been a swelling of negative energy lately. It’s small, but it’s noticeable. I wonder what’s gotten into the people over the weekend?”

Arching a brow, Sonata glanced to the side and pointed. “Maybe it has something to do with that guy?”

Both Adagio and Aria arched a brow at her comment before following the direction in which she pointed. Just outside, a car raced past the cafe with a man perched onto its hood. He reached into the driver’s seat, yanking him out with a toss before latching him to the nearest pole with a ball of webbing. Gripping the hood, the man flipped overhead and landed on his feet with the vehicle on his shoulders. Exhaling, he managed to gently place the car back to the ground.

“Come on, guys! The speed limit clearly says twenty-five, not eighty!” Spider-Man retorted, snatching the door from its hinges and holding it overhead. A pair of masked men stumbled out of the backseat, prompting Spider-Man to use his free hand to fire balls of webbing onto their backs respectively. The impact from both sent the men flying into the nearest walls, expanding to cocoon form. Placing the door down, Spider-Man brushed his hands free of dust. “Just stick around, boys. The cops will be here shortly.”

Spectators began to surround Spider-Man, many holding out their phones. However, many booed his presence. “Get out of here, you menace! Go back to your own city!”

“Yeah! Jameson’s right! We don’t need you blowing up our schools!” a second exclaimed.

Adagio, Aria, and Sonata watched from within the cafe, inhaling sharply as traces of sparkling green energy escaped from the mob and seeped into their bodies. They stood from their seat and made their way outside, watching as the crowd continued to heckle Spider-Man. Some even threw debris at the masked man, increasing the volume of their boos considerably until they echoed throughout the vicinity.

Grumbling inwardly, Spider-Man leapt into the air and swung into the distance. “I guess the honeymoon’s over. It was fun while it lasted, I guess.”

As the crowd continued to converse, with many posting their recordings, a wide collective smile formed on the trio’s faces with Adagio placing a hand on her hip. “Girls! I think we just found our meal ticket!”

To Be Continued...

Ch. 1: Negative Vibes

Chapter One “Negative Vibes”

Peter inhaled deeply before exhaling. Students all around were preparing for the Musical Showcase, an annual event Canterlot High School hosted yearly. Everyone could enter and sing their own original song. Winners were decided by the judges and people in attendance. Peter could only shrug at the indifference he felt, knowing he had no sense of musical practicality.

Trixie had already assembled a band and wrote her own song. Thanks to his performance, Peter was left out of the gathering. The young man let out a relieved sigh. His reputation within the school was already in tatters with him being the new student and folly to Flash’s influence. Merely being associated with Trixie didn’t help matters due to her arrogant nature, nor was socializing with the likes of Snips and Snails.

Peter rolled his eyes. Even with a clean slate, things were almost worse off than they were at Midtown High. Yet, he shrugged before nodding. At the very least, he was seemingly free of Trixie for a time with her attention being occupied. It was clear she was a girl who craved admiration, and winning the Musical Showcase was the best method to achieve such a goal.

“Or she could just be nicer. There’s that,” Peter groaned inwardly, arching a brow as he watched some students hang banners in the hallway for the Musical Showcase. He paused, stealing a glance at the watch on his wrist before alternating his gaze about. “I’ve still got some time to kill before lunch. Guess I’ll go see what Doctor Octavious is up to.”

Just as the young man exited the vicinity, Adagio walked into the hallway with a furrowed brow. Aria followed, exhaling as she crossed her arms in a fit of bemusement. Sonata cheerfully eyed the scenery, smiling widely while even waving at passing by students. Both of her sisters shot her a glare, prompting the blue girl to straighten her posture.

Rolling her eyes, Aria huffed. “Are you sure that Spider guy is even here?”

Adagio analyzed her surroundings before frowning. “Don’t be so dense. It’s not as potent as it was last night, but he’s around here somewhere. No doubt about it. He’s practically oozing negative energy.” A coy smirk surfaced on her face. “Poor boy must be all in his feelings.”

Sonata held a finger against her chin as she tilted her head to the side. “I wonder what he looks like? Do you think he has eight legs? I bet buying pants must be a chore for him. I bet he has a hundred eyes.”

Adagio slammed a palm against her head. “He’s not an actual spider, moron. You just saw him last night!”

Blinking, Sonata hummed. “Oh, yeah. I forgot.”

Exhaling, Adagio rubbed her temples. “Anyway. If that was the case, we would have found him already. If he’s blending in with everyone, we have to find him based on his negative emotions. With that podcast going, he’ll glow like a beacon for us.” Clearing her throat, Adagio placed a hand over her hip. “Don’t forget, there’s Equestrian magic here, too. We find the source, and we’ll get our old powers back!”

Aria raised her hands and shrugged. “And what do you plan to do when you find either? I hope you have a plan that won’t blow up in your face for once.”

“I always have a plan,” Adagio spat confidently, failing to cause a change in Aria’s bleak demeanor. Sonata simply whistled, unaware of the argument her sisters were having. With a harsh exhale, Adagio waved a hand dismissively. “Now shut up and just follow my lead.”

Just as the trio readied to venture forth, Sunset Shimmer casually approached them with a hand gently raised. “Hi. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before. I noticed you were looking around, and I can’t help but feel you’re new around here.”

The trio shared a glance with each other, smiling widely, before Adagio cleared her throat and nodded. “We were trying not to make it too obvious. My sisters and I just transferred here.” The girl paused, lowering her head politely. “I’m Adagio Dazzle. These are my sisters, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk.”

Sonata waved eagerly, showing a smile with teeth. “Nice to meet you!”

Aria scoffed, her mouth twitching as it strained to form something resembling a smile. “Charmed, or whatever.”

Adagio swiftly thrust an elbow into Aria’s arm, earning a growl from the dismissive girl. She quickly returned her attention to Sunset, holding her smile. “If you have time to spare, we’d really appreciate getting a tour of the school.”

Sunset simply nodded, accepting the gesture with a smile of her own. “Um, sure! I don’t mind at all.” She pointed behind her position, narrowing her gaze. “Lunch is about to start soon. So I can show you around before we head to the cafeteria.”

Just as they began walking ahead, Sonata caught sight of another banner. “What’s the occasion? Is there a party or something?”

Sunset’s eyes widened before she grinned. ‘Oh, that! It’s the Musical Showcase! Everyone enters in groups to perform songs! The winning band is based on how many votes they earn from the audience and judges. It’s pretty popular every year.” Nodding, Sunset shared a glance with the trio before turning her attention back to the path ahead. “It’s free to enter. Maybe you three should think about it?”

Brushing a hand against the crimson pendant around her neck, Adagio shared a brief nod with her sisters before the corner of her lips curled into a wicked smile. “We just might.”

Aria held out a hand, eyeing her nails before she smugly laughed. “We have been known to sing from time to time.”

“Hello~! We sing, like, all the time! It’s how we get people to do what we want!” Sonata obliviously declared, smiling. Aria slowly shifted her gaze while Adagio sharply turned, shaking her head. Blinking and ever blissfully unaware, Sonata shrugged. “What’d I say?”

Adagio cleared her throat and waved her hand dismissively. “What you meant to say was that the Musical Showcase sounds like a great way for us to meet the other students.”

Sonata nodded. “Yeah. That’s exactly what I meant to say.”

Bemused, Aria stared blankly at her sibling before crossing her arms. “I swear you are the absolute worst.”

Huffing, Sonata shot a glare back. “I know you are, but what am I?”

Adagio stepped between the pair, exhaling before facing Sunset with a tired smile. “Please excuse them. They’re idiots.”

Sunset stared at the trio for what seemed like an eternity before her eyes widened at the crimson amulets around their necks. She slowly extended a hand, reaching at the jewel. “Those are pretty.”

Faster than she could react, Adagio grabbed Sunset’s wrist before she could hope to contact the gem. Blinking, she relinquished her hold and laughed nervously. “Sorry! These are very precious to us, and we’d hate for anything to happen to them.”

Adagio slowly walked past Sunset, prompting Aria to follow in a huff. Sonata stayed behind, blinking dumbly as she shared a glance with Sunset. Adagio reached back and grabbed the girl’s arm, leading her away. Sunset watched the trio with a furrowed brow, frowning as she hummed inwardly.

The cafeteria seemed even more lively than usual, with everyone conversing heavily and loudly about the upcoming spectacle. Peter alternated his gaze about, attempting to find a bright array of red hair in the masses. After failing to find his target, the young man took a seat at the corner of the room. Away from the center was his preferred locale, and he had a better chance to avoid unwanted attention.

Once seated, Peter reached into the confines of his backpack before retrieving a sandwich. The treat was tightly packaged between two slices of bread, holding lettuce, tomato, and turkey. His stomach growled in anticipation, yet he paused, glancing around once more. Fortunately, he saw Sunset waving from a distance with a tray in hand before she made her way to the table where Peter resided.

“Sorry I’m late! I was a little tied up,” Sunset whispered, waving lightly.

Peter smiled. “No problem. I’m glad you made it.”

Sunset watched the young man with a narrowed gaze. “How do you feel about Canterlot High so far? I know your first day was pretty rough.”

Slow to respond, Peter lowered his gaze while scarfing down his sandwich in four bites. “It’s okay. I’m still adjusting and getting used to things. I’ll have to get back to you on that.” He retrieved a second sandwich from his backpack, holding it momentarily before chomping away at it. As if a realization came to mind, Peter cleared his throat after quickly finishing the treat and chuckled sheepishly. “Oh sorry! I, uh, get carried away while I’m eating.”

Sunset blinked before chuckling. “It’s okay! I’m just surprised. You’re so slim. Your metabolism must be insane!” She slowly ate away at her apple, pausing once it was halfway gone, and the girl could only stare with a widened gaze as Peter had already completely ingested a third sandwich. Clearing her throat, Sunset raised a hand. “Where were you from before you moved here? How was it there?”

“In New York? Queens, specifically. It was the same, just way more crowded. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it a little,” Peter responded, glancing to the side. “If you’re asking about Midtown, the only things I miss from there are my two best friends, Harry and Eddie. I was bullied a lot, and those two always looked out for me. I haven’t been able to get in touch with either since I moved here. It kinda shows that I can’t catch a break here from Flash. My semester at Crystal Prep wasn’t much better before I came here.”

Her eyes softened. “Give it time. I know things will get better. I’ll see if I can get Flash to lighten up. He told me that you two have known each other for years.”

Just as she readied to reply further, a male student accidentally dropped a pencil underneath her seat. Sunset arched a brow before retrieving the item, offering it back to the boy. However, just as the student was about to accept the gesture, he froze upon making eye contact with Sunset and released a frightened yelp. Faster than anyone could react, the boy reached into his pockets and retrieved seemingly all of his spare change before offering it to Sunset. Peter’s gaze widened at the sight as the boy trembled in place, slamming his eyes shut.

More surprisingly, Sunset snarled at the gesture. “I don’t want your lunch money! I’m not mean! Got it?!” she yelled, her voice sharpening. The boy ran off, breaching through the nearest exit doors without slowing. Many of the surrounding students stared at Sunset, further fueling her frustration. Clenching her hands into fists, Sunset glared at everyone glancing in her direction. “Come on! I’m not mean!”

Everyone stopped in their tracks as Sunset’s voice echoed throughout the cafeteria, and they eventually shifted their attention elsewhere. Peter watched with an arched brow. “Whoa.”

Sunset’s eyes widened once she faced Peter, her entire face flushed. “Oh, no,” she moaned, burying her face in the palms of her hands before she sank back into her seat.

“What was that about?” Peter questioned with a furrowed brow.

Slow to respond, Sunset folded her arms and sighed. “Right before you transferred here, I was the school bully. It’s not something I’m proud of. I even… blew up the courtyard.”

“That was you? How’d you manage to do that?” Peter blurted out, tilting his head to the side. “You have superpowers?”

Blinking with bewilderment, Sunset stared at the young man. “You don’t seem surprised? Doesn’t that seem a little weird to you?”

Peter retrieved a wheat cake from his backpack before shrugging. “I mean, sure, but where I come from, there were superpowered folks all over. I mean, the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men all live in New York.” Scarfing the sweet item down in a single bite, Peter took the time to clean his face and hands with a napkin. “So what happened?”

Shaking her head, Sunset glanced to the side brushing her arm. “It was magic, and I don’t have those powers anymore. When I did, I abused them… all while looking like a demon. My friends that I introduced you to and a girl named Twilight Sparkle stopped me. They forgave me and took me under their wing while Twilight went back home. Now I’m just trying to make amends, but not everyone can forget what happened so easily.” Sunset cleared her throat and exhaled. “So that’s my story. I know it’s pretty weird.”

Peter glanced to the side. “Twilight. Where have I heard that name before?” Shrugging, the young man dismissed the thought before returning his gaze to Sunset. “Eh, it doesn’t matter. I know what it’s like when you screw up. The best thing we can do is try to make up for our mistake, even if we never make up for it entirely.”

“Is that from experience?” Sunset asked, arching a brow while smiling.

Peter hastily cleared his throat. “N-Not really. It’s something my aunt and uncle would say.”

Sunset’s smile widened. “Well, I like it. I’ll try to remember that.” The girl paused, brushing a hand through her crimson and blonde locks. “Thanks for talking with me and not… running away. Hopefully this isn’t the last.”

“If it’s up to me, I’d like to have lunch with you again. It’s nice having a normal conversation for once,” Peter cheerfully stated, smiling widely. Like lightning to a rod, his eyes shot open at a realization, and his “Oh, God. That came out wrong. I meant--!”

“I’d like to have lunch with you again, too,” Sunset politely interjected, causing the entirety of Peter’s face to flush to a shade of pink. The girl giggled, leaning forward in her seat. “Same time tomorrow?”

Just as Peter opened his mouth to respond, a hand fell and smacked the table between the pair. Flash held a smirk. “Hope I’m not interrupting!”

Exhaling, Peter shook his head. “Not at all, Flash. I was just leaving.”

Sunset quickly stood between the young men, with her back to Peter as she faced Flash. She angrily pointed a finger at the taller boy. “No, Flash. You need to leave Peter alone. This has gone on long enough.”

Flash’s brow furrowed as he frowned at the girl. “I never thought you’d hang out with a dweeb like Parker. I thought you were cool, but it sounds like you’re just a loser like everyone says.”

Extending a hand out, Peter stepped in front of Sunset and faced Flash with a narrowed gaze. “Hold on. It’s one thing to pick on me, Flash, but leave Sunset out of it.”

Flash blinked at Peter’s sudden defiance before he alternated his gaze about, sharing glances with the surrounding students. Eventually, he simply nodded. “You’re right, Parker.” Suddenly, Flash snatched the juice carton from Sunset’s tray and poured its contents over Peter’s head. The juice left the young man’s hair drenched as it seeped into his clothes. Flash dropped the carton while the whole cafeteria erupted into laughter. “Try to stay hydrated, Parker.”

Peter gripped the handles of his backpack until his fists trembled. No empathy was shown, evident by the countless smiles around him, and the surrounding laughter only grew in volume, echoing through the confines of his mind. Slamming his eyes shut, Peter frowned. He buried himself in thoughts of anguish before he quietly walked out of the cafeteria. Flash turned to his audience, waving his arms about as he reveled in their splendor. Sunset stared intently at Flash for what seemed like an eternity before she faced the direction Peter left.

Just as she readied to depart, Flash brushed his hands free of dust. “So you’re really choosing that dweeb over me? After what you did, I’m the only thing keeping you popular.”

“Grow up, Flash,” Sunset darkly whispered, pushing through the door.

Flash shook his head. “Don’t say I never gave you a chance. Have fun with the losers, loser.”

As the cafeteria continued to laugh at what had transpired, Adagio and her sisters sat at a table nearby. Aria glanced off to the side while Sonata, with a tray in hand, ate away at small slices of pizza. Unbeknownst to everyone, green sparkling energies traveled underneath the area and seeped into the trio. Each inhaled sharply at the filling sensation before their demeanors eventually relaxed.

“That was refreshing,” Adagio blissfully declared, holding a firm gaze on Flash as he retook a seat with his entourage. Her lips curled into a devilish smile. “I like him. He’s certainly assertive.”

Aria scoffed before shrugging. “Comes off as a total meathead to me, but whatever floats your boat, I guess. I do feel a little bad for that other guy. The taste of his negativity just then was almost… too rich. Like it had been bottled up for too long.” Her eyes softened momentarily. Yet, she brushed aside the thought and rolled her eyes. “Oh, well. At least his misery is our lunch, but I hate junk food. I hope he loosens up a bit.”

Sonata scarfed down a slice, burping slightly afterward. “The cheese pizza isn’t so bad, but I bet tomorrow’s will be better. It’ll be Taco Tuesday!”

Adagio grumbled, tapping the table just loud to get her siblings’ attention. “Would you two be quiet? I can’t be the only one who recognized the negative energy pouring out of that boy.”

“Who? The dweeb? You can’t be serious,” Aria scoffed, prompting Adagio to give an affirming nod.

Sonata’s eyes widened. “Whoa! You mean he’s--!”

Adagio lunged forth, covering Sonata’s mouth with her hand. “Of course, you fool! He’s Spider-Man, but keep that to yourself,” she whispered, stealing a glance of their surroundings. Once certain no one had heard them, Adagio relinquished her hold and shielded her mouth with a hand. “If we exploit him, there’s a chance he’ll just move away, and we’ll lose our meal ticket.”

“Fair enough. So what do we do about him?” Aria questioned, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. “You know there’s a chance he’ll try to stop us if he finds out what we’re up to.”

Raising a finger, Adagio huffed. “I know. We’ll keep tabs on him. Now that we know who he is, that shouldn’t be a problem. He’s so miserable right now that he’s just radiating negative energy.”

Sonata hummed, pursing her lips. “Do we have to? It almost doesn’t feel right.”

Glancing to the side, Adagio glanced at a banner hanging high overhead before grinning. “Think of him as an appetizer before the main course. Besides, I’m more interested in this Musical Showcase. We can use that to our advantage. That feeding has restored some of our old power.” Clearing her throat, Adagio stood and motioned for her siblings to do the same with a hand. She faced the cafeteria with a coy grin as the amulet on her neck gleamed. “How about we motivate everyone to try something a little different?”

Meanwhile, Peter stormed down the hallway with a glare in his eyes. Sunset eventually caught up to him, placing a hand onto his shoulder. “H-Hey! I’m so sorry that happened, Peter!” she cried out, shaking her head.

Peter could only shrug before exhaling. “It’s not your fault. That’s pretty typical of an interaction with me and Flash. It’s not the worst he’s done. I’ll be fine.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, his gaze fell. “I’m just sorry you got dragged along for the ride. Sounds like you lost your place at the cool table.”

“They can have it. After that, I wouldn’t be caught dead with them. Besides…” Sunset whispered, trailing off. The temperature in her face steadily rose, evident by the pink stain on her cheeks. “That was pretty cool of you to stand up to Flash like that. I can tell you really wanted to hit him but chose not to.”

Peter chuckled sheepishly, waving off the compliment, but his eyes shot open as something warm fell over his cheek. Sunset had leaned in, planting a soft and brief kiss on his jaw. Never had his senses gone into overdrive to such a degree (excluding the day his spider sense activated), with the entire world growing fuzzy. Peter held a hand over his cheek once Sunset pulled back, never losing her smile. The pair shared a wave before the girl turned, jogging away.

Left to his own devices, Peter could only chuckle. “Getting dunked on by Flash doesn’t seem so bad now.”

Elsewhere, Sunset could not remove the smile from her face. Yet, she slid to a halt before reuniting with her friends as they exited the principal’s office. Sunset arched a brow. “Huh? What are you all doing here?”

Applejack was the first to step forth. “Sunset! Did you hear? The Musical Showcase has been changed into a Battle of the Bands!”

Rainbow Dash crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. “Some girls calling themselves ‘the Dazzlings’ just convinced the entire school to do it!”

“We even tried to talk with Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna about it, but they’ve already agreed to it and signed them up,” Rarity stated, shaking her head.

Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Something doesn’t seem right. We feel they might be influencing everyone. The way everyone reacted to their song was… scary.”

“When did this happen?” Sunset questioned, her eyes widening.

“It was right after your dweeb-friend got dunked in-- Ow!” Rainbow Dash bluntly replied before Applejack threw an elbow into her forearm.

Rarity raised a hand defensively. “We were about to follow you, but they started singing right after you left. It was those girls you were giving a tour to earlier.”

“Yep! Adagio, Aria, and Sonata!” Pinkie exclaimed, shrugging upon receiving glances from her friends. “What? I remember everyone’s names.”

Applejack frowned. “This is serious. What do we do? Maybe Twilight would know what’s goin’ on?”

Rarity pursed her lips. “The portal’s closed. There’s no way to get in touch with her.”

Sunset’s eyes widened as a realization came into mind. She gave a wave to her friends, motioning for them to follow her as she ran off. “There’s a journal we can use! Come on!”

To Be Continued...

Ch. 2: Different Yet Familiar

Chapter Two “Different Yet Familiar”

Sunset sat in the courtyard with the others, reading through a book. Rainbow Dash kicked a soccer ball in place while Rarity carefully added some gloss to Fluttershy’s nails. Applejack and Pinkie sat underneath the horse statue, humming their respective melodies. Sunset turned momentarily, staring at the mirror positioned next to her position before letting out a low sigh.

Rainbow Dash paused, scooping up her soccer ball in her hands. “Are you sure she’s coming?”

“She’ll be here,” Sunset calmly retorted, closing her book shut. “We just have to wait.”

Before long, a small ray of energy materialized into existence where the mirror previously stood before it expanded. Suddenly, a small being with long violet hair holding a lone pink strand at the center fell from the spiraling portal and crashed in a heap. Sunset rushed to the individual, kneeling next to the person. A girl with purple skin steadily lifted her head, blinking upon sharing a glance with those surrounding her.

With a sheepish smile, the girl giggled nervously. “I’m back.”

“Twilight!” everyone exclaimed, rushing to the girl before embracing her soundly while Sunset watched from a small distance.

Sobering, Twilight broke the embrace and shook her head. “I’ve got some bad news about those girls. We need to talk.” She held out a hand and furrowed her brow. “I have to get used to this again.”

Pinkie edged closer to the girl before arching a brow. “Hey, Twilight. Are you okay? You seem different.”

Twilight simply smirked. “A lot has happened since I last saw you girls.”

“A lot? It’s only been a few weeks since we last saw you,” Applejack responded, crossing her arms before shrugging. “Then again, a lot can happen in a few weeks.”

Slack-jawed, Twilight’s eyes widened. “A few weeks?” She reached out, eyeing her violet skirt and blue shirt. Pursing her lips, Twilight continued to survey her slim frame with a furrowed brow. The girl soon ran to the mirror, brushing a hand over her face upon gazing at her reflection. “Yeah. A lot can happen in a few weeks.”

“What do you mean by that?” Rarity questioned, holding a hand over her chest.

A look of uncertainty filled Twilight’s violet eyes as she glanced around aimlessly. “Uh, nothing. Let’s find a quiet place to chat. We can catch up while I brief you about your situation.”

Peter walked through the halls of the school with a bemused expression. Everyone had been practically consumed by the upcoming Battle of the Bands approaching to the point of annoyance. He paused momentarily, arching a brow as students seemed to have stared him down angrily. Simply shrugging, Peter pressed on and continued his way before eventually reaching a locker. From afar, Adagio stood with a devious smile on her face and watched the young man intently.

“Is it just me or is everyone unusually crabby today?” Peter questioned inwardly, sorting through the contents of his locker. “It’s like nobody can make up their mind. Are they overly positive or negative? It’s such a headache. Speaking of which, I have a huge migraine.” He paused, rubbing a hand over his temple momentarily. “I can’t tell what that’s about. It’s like my Spider Sense won’t stop buzzing, but I’m not in danger… as far as I can tell.”

Suddenly, a hand slammed into the locker next to Peter, prompting the young man to face the source. Flash chuckled lightly while smiling widely. “Parker! Don’t you know it’s rude to not say hello? This is exactly why nobody likes you.”

Peter merely blinked before scoffing under his breath. “I thought it was because you won’t leave me alone.” He closed his locker before slowly turning to leave. However, he paused upon spotting a spider emblem on Flash’s chest, matching that of his alter-ego. Peter raised a finger. “Nice shirt, by the way.”

Flash smirked, placing his hand over the emblem. “That’s probably the only cool thing you ever said. Spider-Man is the absolute coolest, not that you’d ever get that.”

“Seriously? A lot of people consider him a menace, here and back in New York,” Peter declared with both shock and bewilderment.

Reaching out, Flash grabbed hold of Peter’s collar before lifting him from the ground. “I don’t have to explain anything to you, Parker. I just think he’s cool. Enough said. If I hear you saying anything bad about him, we’re having a little chat.”

“Sure, sure,” Peter quickly affirmed, nodding while raising his hands defensively.

Content with the answer, Flash readied to lower the smaller boy, but his eyes widened as a realization came to mind. “Hey. It’s Tuesday! You know what that means!” Flash rushed outside with Peter in tow before tossing him headfirst into the nearest dumpster. “It’s Garbage Day!”

Peter could only sit in his current predicament with his feet protruding from the canister while surrounding students laughed at his expense. He let out a defeated sigh, blankly staring at the sky. “Thanks, Flash. I almost forgot.”

Adagio entered the fray, inhaling deeply as sparkling energies rushed into her being. Releasing a pleased moan, she brushed a hand through her curly hair. “How divine.” She steadily approached Flash, placing a hand over his shoulder. “Excuse me. I think you missed a piece.” Adagio reached down, picking up a piece of crumpled paper before tossing it onto Peter’s prone figure. She soon smiled at Flash. “I can’t have you littering now. What would everyone think?”

Flash chuckled, straightening his shoulders confidently. “I’ll be more careful next time.” He paused, never losing his smile. “Hey, are you new around here? I’m Flash.”

“His real name’s Eugene– Ow!” Peter bluntly declared from the confines of the dumpster before Flash dropped his backpack on top of him.

“Where are my manners? My name’s Adagio,” the girl politely responded, paying no mind to Peter, “I’ve only been here for a couple of days, but I know all about you Flash. I must say that I’m quite impressed. You just ooze charisma.” Holding out her hand, Adagio winked seductively. “Take me to lunch?”

Flash quickly accepted the gesture, gently taking hold of the girl’s hand. “My pleasure.” As the pair walked off, the young man waved dismissively. “Smell you later, Parker!”

Once they had exited the vicinity, Peter managed to roll back to a vertical base. “That was almost charming. Glad to see Flash is making friends at least.” Exhaling, Peter reached to the side and retrieved his backpack before climbing out of the dumpster. “Is it weird that I’m almost jealous that Flash likes Spider-Man more than Peter Parker? Just like my luck that my biggest fan is also my worst enemy.” He paused, sniffing his arm before frowning. “God, I hope this washes off.”

Within the depths of the library, Twilight scrolled the pages of a book before tapping a finger against a picture. Sunset, as well as the others, gathered around before gazing upon the photograph. A creature stood at the center, harboring scales and fangs. Underneath was a wall of text as well as more pictures of the animal.

“Those girls you encountered are sirens,” Twilight stated as her eyes softened, “They are an ancient race long extinct in my world. They have powerful magic through song and feed on the negative emotions of those around them. The more they feed, the stronger they become. When they sing, they can influence the will of their prey. They were banished from my world by Starswirl the Bearded thousands of years ago.”

Rarity frowned. “They certainly took their time getting started. I wonder why they were so slow moving along?”

Twilight eased into her seat and raised a finger, pausing to stare at her digit momentarily. “Magic works in mysterious ways when it comes to time and interdimensional travel. Somepony–I mean, somebody– explained it to me like an interchanging web. Each strand is going to bring something different. Starswirl banished the sirens from my world thousands of years ago, but for all we know, it’s only been days to them.” The girl trailed off, glancing to the side. “It applies to me, too. It’s only been a few weeks since you girls saw me, but on my end, it’s been far longer than that.”

Pinkie edged closer to Twilight, rubbing the underside of her chin. “Is that why you’re so different? How long are you talking? Hours? Days? Weeks? Years?”

Twilight cleared her throat. “Focus, Pinkie. That’s not important right now.”

Applejack firmly nodded. “She’s right. We’re past that. Those sirens practically turned the entire school on its head with their performance in the cafeteria yesterday. They even got to Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna.”

“Are we affected? I mean, I don’t feel any different,” Rainbow Dash declared, arching a brow.

Twilight shook her head before closing her eyes. “I don’t think so. I can still feel the magic from all of you. Whether you did it subconsciously or not, it acted as a shield. Otherwise, you all would have felt it yesterday. You’re lucky.”

“Um… so what do we do?” Fluttershy meekly questioned, brushing her hands together nervously.

Pausing, Twilight crossed her arms and sighed. “I say we talk to them and see what they want. If we’re lucky, we can avoid any fighting.”

Applejack paused, smirking. “That’s rather diplomatic. You sure they aren’t just monsters? They had to have been banished for good reason.”

Twilight frowned. “Banishment wasn’t the wisest choice. We learned that in hindsight. As a princess now, I’m learning to try every option instead of the most impulsive one.”

Pinkie Pie raised a finger. “Here’s an idea. Why don’t we just call the cops?”

An awkward silence filled the room before Rarity blinked. “That… is actually a good idea for you, Pinkie, but if those girls have already affected the principals, they’d just do the same thing again.” As Pinkie frowned, Rarity patted her shoulders reassuringly. “Don’t be ashamed, darling. It was still an excellent idea.”

Rainbow Dash huffed, elbowing Sunset’s forearm playfully. “Hear that? Maybe that’s why your dorkfriend acted like such a jerk when we met.”

Sunset shook her head while rubbing her forearm. “Knock it off. Sure, he’s a little dorky, but I think he’s cute. Plus, I think you’re being a little hard on him. He’s nice when you get to know him. You saw that he gets picked on a lot.” She lowered her gaze sadly. “I get why he’s a little jaded. I can’t really blame him.”

“Sounds like you have a crush,” Twilight grinned as she slowly began to close her book gently. “What’s his name? Seems like he’s intelligent if Rainbow openly calls him a dork.”

Slow to respond, Sunset chuckled nervously. “It’s nothing, really! I mean, yeah. His name’s Peter Parker. He’s a new transfer that’s been here for a couple of weeks now.”

Twilight finished closing her book. “A new student?”

Rainbow Dash huffed. “Don’t let her fool you. The guy’s a total flake. He even made fun of our names when we first met.”

Applejack arched a brow, rolling her eyes. “You sure are taking that personally. The fella ain’t from around here. It was just an honest mistake.”

Twilight smirked. “Please don’t tell me that he called you Skittles.”

Snorting, Rainbow sharply pointed her finger against Twilight’s forehead. “No! And if he even thinks about it, I’ll kill him!”

Rarity eased next to Twilight, smiling. “Speaking of that, darling. You should catch up with Flash. I remember you two being quite close the last time you were here.”

Blinking, Twilight’s head tilted to the side. “Who?” The girl’s brow furrowed as she dove into thought for what seemed like ages before a realization struck her mind like lightning to a rod. “Oh! Flash! Sorry. That slipped my mind. A lot has happened since then. I’ve–”

Rarity paused, her mouth falling agape once her gaze settled on the ruby gem around Twilight’s neck. “I must say that gem is precious! Where did you find such a gem?”

Chuckling, Twilight gently took hold of the ruby gem before easing it back underneath her shirt. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Long story short, I’ve met someone.”

“Sounds romantic! You must tell us about the lucky boy!” Rarity cheered, squeezing both of Twilight’s shoulders tightly.

Twilight gently broke away from Rarity’s grasp with a sheepish grin. “I’ll tell you about him later. I promise. Right now, we need to talk to the sirens first.”

Sobering, everyone shared a nod before rushing out of the library. Pinkie Pie took the lead, bouncing in place. “Ooh! There’s a party going on right now! All of the bands are gathering there.”

“That’s where we’re headin’. Come on!” Applejack stated, increasing her pace.

However, Twilight took hold of Sunset’s forearm once they reached the door. “I’m glad you’re moving on.”

Sunset blinked. “What do you mean?”

“I can tell you are trying your best to make amends. Just keep doing your best. I already see a difference in you. So, don’t get discouraged!” Twilight murmured, releasing her hold before waving a hand dismissively. “Anyway, let’s go!”

Scratching the back of her head, Sunset could only stare at Twilight as she exited the room. Her lips slowly curled into a smile before she quietly followed. “R-Right!”

Peter stared blankly at the courtyard. Many of the students had gathered, all of which were participating in the upcoming Battle of the Bands. Each group was broken off into sections, keeping to themselves. Peter sorted his way through the crowds, arching a brow at some of the themes being performed. Some of the students continued to glare at him sharply, prompting the young man to keep his line of sight straightened. Eventually, he reached the center stage and paused upon recognizing a flow of silver-blue hair.

“Oh, geez. Trixie. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad to see you,” Peter declared, alternating his gaze about. “I feel like everyone’s out to get me. I’ve been getting stink eyes all day. What’s going on? They run out of tacos on Taco Tuesday or something?”

Scoffing harshly, Trixie flung her notes to the side before abruptly turning to face Peter. “Your timing, as usual, is impeccable.” She faced the two girls singing behind her position and motioned a hand, prompting them to cease immediately. “What do you want? Can you not see that we are busy? My band is going to crush and dominate the competition. The last thing I need are distractions.”

Peter reached down and retrieved the notes the girl dropped before scrolling through the walls of text. A bemused expression formed on his face. “Tricks Up My Sleeve? Now, you’re just asking for it. You sure you aren’t being sponsored by the rabbit? Put an ‘x’ in there, and he’ll sue.”

Rubbing her fingers against her temples, Trixie exhaled. “I don’t have time for this. You are nothing but a nuisance right now. I almost wish I never met you.”

Taken aback, Peter winced at the comment. His eyes softened. “Ouch. Even for you, that was kind of low. Did I do something wrong?”

Trixie inhaled sharply before shaking her head. She walked towards a lever, shrugging before pulling it back. “We’ll talk later. Probably. Just stay out of my way until the competition is over. Please.”

That same moment, a small alarm blared in Peter’s cranium before the floor beneath his feet opened. The world slowed from his perspective, giving the young man ample time to escape the situation, but he ignored the response, standing with a bewildered expression at the absurdity of the moment. Time returned to normal as gravity prevailed, leaving Peter to yelp as he crashed to the waiting earth below. He lay prone, stretched out on his back, but his expression remained blank as Trixie seemingly nodded her approval before closing the door shut.

“Not gonna lie. I don’t know which is worse: the fact she actually hurt my feelings or that she just Wile. E. Coyote’d me,” Peter whispered, letting out a defeated sigh. He glanced around his surroundings, nodding upon spotting a ventilation shaft high above his position. “Why is there a trap door here in the first place? It doesn’t make any sense. That’s such a safety hazard. I just hope Trixie doesn’t pull that move twice. Someone can get hurt,” he groaned before dumping a nearby mattress in place where he had previously fallen. Climbing the wall, Peter entered the vent before leaping behind the stage where nobody stood. Brushing the dust from his clothing, the young man shook his head. “I’m out of here. Today has sucked more than usual.”

As he ventured off, green sparkling energies escaped from his frame before they rushed into the sirens nearby. Adagio’s smile widened while Sonata mirrored her actions, both releasing relieved sighs. Aria shuddered as the energies seeped into her body, scoffing afterwards.

“He’s making this too easy! I’ve never felt so full!” Adagio confidently stated, raising her fists.

Sonata nodded, patting her stomach with a hand. “It’s not a taco, but that’s really tasty.” She paused, tilting her head to the side upon catching sight of the scowl Aria bore. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

Aria shook her head. “I told you that guy’s negative emotions are too rich. I feel like I just ate an entire cake all by myself. Twice. Ugh! I hate junk food.” The girl glanced to the side, pursing her lips. “I don’t know, Adagio. It doesn’t feel right. What happened to that guy to make him feel this bad?”

Shrugging, Adagio chuckled. “Who cares? He’s an open buffet for us! He’s food and is affected by our magic. Don’t overthink it. ”

“Yeah! Don’t look a gift mouth in the horse,” Sonata declared, pausing upon feeling the bemused glares of her sisters fall onto her. “Or something like that.”

Aria frowned as her usually bleak demeanor faltered, evident by the softened gaze in her eyes. “It’s beyond our influence. There’s something deeper, and I don’t like it. He’s a teenager, but I almost feel a lifetime of anguish from him. We’re just adding to it.”

Sonata blinked, alternating her gaze between her sisters. “Maybe Aria’s right? Do you think we should just focus on everyone else and leave the spider guy alone?”

Adagio exhaled before throwing her hands into the air. “Oh, stop it! You always do this, Aria! He’s our meal ticket until our powers fully return. Until then, stop thinking about it so much! We’re this close to taking over! Why hesitate now? Why do you care? Because you shouldn’t.”

Shaking her head, Aria frowned before folding her arms. “Fine. You’re right. Whatever. It was just a thought. So, what now?”

Adagio rolled her eyes. “When I need you to think, you refuse, but when you don’t have to, you think way too much. I swear, you never make any sense.”

Just as Aria opened her mouth and readied to respond, she glanced to the side as a group of girls approached. At the center, Twilight paused with a concerned expression. “I know who you three are,” she softly stated, causing the sirens to each arch a brow. Raising her hands defensively, Twilight let out a low sigh before nodding. “We need to talk. Alone.”

To Be Continued…

Ch. 3: Seeing is Believing

Chapter Three “Seeing is Believing”

Adagio’s eyes widened at the sudden request before she folded her arms in a huff. “Excuse me? You want to talk alone? What do you take me for?” She paused, frowning at the entourage followed by the girl. “You ask to speak alone, yet you bring a gang?”

Just as the group readied to respond, Twilight held out a hand calmly. “I give you my word. I would like a chance to talk with you, Adagio.”

Taken aback, Adagio blinked. “I don’t recall ever telling you my name.” The air grew thick, making the simple act of breathing rather troublesome. Eventually, Adagio nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll hear what you have to say.”

Aria scoffed, glaring at her sibling. “Typical. You just make a group decision, without talking it over with us. It’d be good to know what we think, you know? Oh, but I forgot. You never cared about that.” Rolling her eyes, Aria snorted before walking past Adagio. “Whatever. Watch this blow up in your face, too.”

Adagio reached out, snatching Aria by her forearm. “I know what I’m doing. Just make sure you’re back before the show starts.” She tightened her hold, edging closer until her icy glare was mere inches away from Aria’s. “Are we clear?”

Aria alternated her gaze between Adagio’s hand and her own forearm. “Let go of my arm, Adagio.”

“Girls! Girls! Things are so tense!” Sonata lightly declared, sliding between both sisters. Just as Aria pulled her arm free from Adagio’s hold, Sonata held a finger high in the air. “I know just what the doctor ordered that will solve all of our problems! What was it that mom always said? Encourage cooperation!”

An awkward silence filled the space, as both sirens stared at Sonata for what seemed like an eternity. Aria lightly tapped her knuckles against the girl’s head, exhaling at the sound her seemingly hollow cranium left. “Not quite ripe yet.”

Adagio frowned, waving her hand dismissively. “My point stands. Be back in an hour.”

Oblivious, Sonata clapped her hands happily. “Yay! I’m starving!”

“Whatever,” Aria snorted, shaking her head.

Adagio placed a hand on her hip as she watched her sisters depart in separate directions. Once they were out of hearing range, she faced Twilight and pointed towards an empty section of the facility. Everyone shared a glance with the violet girl, but she simply nodded, following the siren without hesitation. The trip was brief, and soon, both girls were away from prying eyes and ears.

“Thanks for hearing me out,” Twilight politely whispered, placing a hand over her chest.

“Save it,” Adagio coldly responded, folding her arms. “How much do you know about me? You reek of Equestrian magic.”

Clearing her throat, Twilight raised her hands defensively. “I understand why you wouldn’t trust me. I know you’re a siren, and I know why you were banished here by Starswirl the Bearded.”

“Stop,” Adagio growled, gritting her teeth. Her gaze lowered to the ground. “That’s supposed to be a secret. How in the blazes do you know about that?!”

Twilight shook her head and sighed. “It’s well documented. It happened thousands of years ago where I reside.”

Adagio paused, her eyes widening at the statement. She held her hands over the sides of her head. “I don’t believe it. We’ve only been in this world for a few months. How is that possible?”

“It was an old spell. There are many timelines and realities branching from each other. Your situation was just one of many scenarios,” Twilight retorted, her eyes softening, “I’ve got some experience when it comes to that.”

Exhaling, Adagio forced many thoughts to the back of her cranium before refocusing her gaze on the girl. “So, what do you want? You obviously know much about me.”

Twilight frowned. “What Starswirl did to you and your sisters was short-sighted and wrong, but it doesn’t excuse what you are trying to do.”

Adagio inhaled deeply before glancing to the side. “How sad. I was anticipating that you would understand, but I can’t say that I’m surprised. Stop talking like you know me.”

“I’m serious. I may not know you, but I know someone who is close to you,” Twilight firmly stated, narrowing her gaze, “I’ve seen where your ambition takes you, and it’s self-destructive. In the end, it’s only going to hurt you and your sisters.” Sobering, Twilight managed a smile. “Things are different now. Come back to my world. We found a cure for the sirens there.”

“A cure?!” Adagio barked, scowling as her widened gaze narrowed into a glare. “You’re implying there’s something wrong with us!”

Twilight shook her head furiously. “What? No! That’s not what I meant. You’re being given an alternative to how you feed now, and it would make your life much easier.”

Raising her hand, Adagio huffed. “You’re no different from Starswirl. Whatever you were hoping to accomplish will not work.” She stomped past Twilight, bumping into her shoulder. “Whoever you are, stay out of our way.” Adagio paused, smirking as she began to hum a melody. “I suppose I can just persuade you otherwise~”

Twilight took a step back, holding out a hand in response. “I was hoping to avoid this, but I will just stop you right here!”

Both girls stood in place, pointing at each other, but nothing seemed to have transpired. Adagio blinked, waving her hands as she increased the volume of her humming. Meanwhile, Twilight flicked her fingers repeatedly to no avail. An awkward silence filled the air while both girls paused momentarily.

Adagio ceased her humming, flustered. “I… don’t understand.”

A pink flush filled Twilight’s features as she eyed her fingers blankly. “This usually works.”

Clearing her throat, Adagio frantically waved a hand dismissively as she rushed out of the vicinity. “I-I suppose I’ll let you go for now. Next time, I won’t be so merciful!” The siren walked as fast as possible, cutting every corner until certain Twilight had lost track of her. Adagio clenched her fists tightly and exhaled. “Curses! The Equestrian magic is protecting that girl and her friends! If I’m going to overtake them, I need Aria and Sonata!” Pausing, Adagio wildly shifted her gaze about, “Where are those idiots?!”

“Adagio…” a voice gently called from behind. As the siren turned, Sonata slowly approached with a softened gaze. “Is it true? I overheard everything. Have we really been gone for over a thousand years?”

Pursing her lips, Adagio could only let out a defeated sigh. “I want to say it’s a ruse, but that girl knew way too much. There was no hesitation in her words. She knew about Starswirl and us. I fear she was telling the truth.”

“If that’s true…” Sonata whispered, trailing off as she peeked skyward. “Our friends and family. They’re really gone.” Lowering her gaze, she held out her hands in a pleading manner. “If she’s here, maybe there’s a way we can go back?”

Adagio glanced to the side before shaking her head. “We can’t go back. It’d just be in her time, and she has no intention of helping us. She wants to cure us, but there’s nothing wrong with us. An alternative way to feed? What does that even mean?! It’s a trick, and I won’t fall for it! Just… Trust me, Sonata! It’s too convenient, and we’re so close to succeeding here! It’ll finally be worth it!”

“But… what if she’s right?” Sonata whispered, clutching at the center of her chest, “It’s like what Aria was talking about with that Spider-Guy's negative emotions, with how rich they are.”

“I promise you that she’s not. Deep down, you know I’m right, Sonata. Aria is always overthinking the wrong things, and I can’t have you sharing her bad habits. I need you, Sonata,” Adagio sweetly responded, her firm demeanor softening. Just as Sonata readied to choke back a sob, Adagio leaned forward and firmly pulled her sister into a warm embrace. Albeit brief, she squeezed gently until eye contact was made. Adagio placed a hand over the top of Sonata’s head. “All the more reason we need to win here. Going back is no longer an option. If we’re going to make it, we need to win this. Right?”

Sonata sniffled, brushing a hand over her sore eyes before she forced a nod. “Y-Yeah.”

Adagio shared a nod. “We’ve been forced to live like rats in that shelter since we arrived here, and I’ll make sure we never have to go back. We need to find Aria.”

“Are you going to see what she thinks?” Sonata innocently questioned.

Pausing, Adagio let out a defeated groan. “Let’s just find her first.”

Elsewhere, Twilight slowly walked back towards her group, never averting her gaze from her hands. “My body’s regressed. I can’t use magic like I could before. The rules of this world are far different. I’ll have to come up with a counter spell for the sirens.”

Once in sight, Sunset was the first to approach Twilight. “How did it go?”

Twilight shook her head. “Not good. It was worth a try, but she’s set in her ways.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed. “No surprise there. So, what do we do?”

Slow to respond, Twilight pursed her lips before her eyes widened at a realization. “I have an idea. I can conjure a counter spell, but I’ll need time…”

Peter marched down the sidewalk along the front of the school with a bemused glare before kicking an empty can lightly. “I swear! Can this day get any stupider?!”

Suddenly, a distant sound grew in volume. Peter stopped in his tracks, frowning as his gaze narrowed. He continued to follow the sounds of protest, his eyes widening at a sight. A group of boys and girls towered over a lone individual, each ridiculing to the point of excess. A blonde girl with gray skin sat on her knees, struggling to gather her possessions while the surrounding mob kept edging each item out of her reach.

“What’s with her? Is she blind?” a girl teased, laughing uproariously.

A boy chuckled. “With her eyes crossed the way they are, I wouldn’t be surprised!”

Peter growled under his breath as his frown deepened. Frustration buried from earlier had resurfaced, evident by his clenched fist, but he brushed those thoughts aside, exhaling. Pursing his lips, the young man approached the crowd with a blank stare. From afar, Aria watched with a furrowed brow before folding her arms at the spectacle.

“Hey, guys,” Peter stated, waving at the crowd as he neared. He knelt down next to the girl, grabbing one of her books. “I think we’ve all had our fun. How about we just call it a day and head home?”

Three of the boys exchanged bewildered gazes with each other while two of the girls arched a brow. Finally, one of the boys cleared his throat and reached out. “We’ll finish when we’re ready. Why don’t you get out of the way?”

Peter’s cranium hummed as the boy’s hand neared, prompting him to sway out of his reach. “Oh! Let me just get that,” he nonchalantly whispered before simply lowering and reaching for a second book, causing the bully to fall over his frame in a heap. Peter lifted his head, blinking at the sight of the boy laying face first in the ground. “Yikes! I am so sorry! I am such a klutz.”

Flabbergasted, the second boy pointed at Peter. “What the heck, bro?!”

Sliding the books back into the confines of the girl’s backpack, Peter’s senses blared once more. He lifted the strap, seemingly catching the boy’s foot as he threw a wayward kick. The third lunged out from behind, prompting Peter to casually relinquish his hold, and both boys collided into each other, landing on top of the first in the process. Scratching the back of his head, Peter chuckled sheepishly, while the girls helped their friends to their feet.

“I don’t know what’s going on with me today. I’m not usually this clumsy,” Peter innocently declared, holding his hands up defensively. The girls managed to escort the boys from the vicinity, each muttering under their breath. Once they were out of sight, Peter turned his attention to the girl on the ground. He extended a hand out, prompting her to accept the gesture. Once the young man gently pulled her to her feet, he nodded. “Are you okay? Sorry that happened to you. It feels like everyone’s a jerk today. Well, more than usual.”

The girl exhaled softly while brushing dust from her blue shirt and green skirt. “Thank you. I’m okay. Stuff like that happens a lot,” she gently responded, managing a smile.

Peter readied to respond, but he paused, sharing a glance with the girl. Her eyes were wide, as bright as her blonde hair, yet one of her irises was crossed, poised inwardly. Shaking his head, Peter offered the girl her backpack. She reached out, failing to grasp it initially before eventually managing to take hold of one of its straps.

“Sorry. My depth perception is a bit off. I tend to miss and bump into things,” she whispered, frowning. However, she smiled. “So, I know what a real klutz looks like. You are pretty good at faking. I’d say you’re pretty smooth.”

Peter’s eyes softened while he sheepishly chuckled. “I just got lucky. Besides, don’t apologize. It’s nothing you can help. Looks like you’re making it work. Sounds like you have strabismus.” Sobering, the young man folded his arms. “Is that why those guys were bullying you?”

The girl nodded. “Yeah. They say I look funny. It doesn’t help that I always find a way to bump into things.”

“That’s not right. You shouldn’t listen to those guys. I say you’re cute as you are,” Peter firmly stated, his tone genuine.

The girl’s smile widened at the compliment, and her cheeks flushed to a shade of pink. “You think I’m cute? No one’s ever told me that.”

Oblivious, Peter tilted his head to the side. “What’s your name?”

Blinking, the girl stammered about. “Um, well. Everyone calls me Derpy.”

Peter shook his head, raising a finger. “No way. That’s what they say. I asked for your name.”

Slow to respond, the girl chuckled under her breath. “I’m Ditzy Doo.”

Inhaling deeply, Peter let out a defeated sigh. “Again with the names. I’ll have to get used to that. That’s almost no different from Derpy.” Grinning, the young man nodded. “It fits you. As long as those jerks are around, you should hang out with me. I’m not the best insurance policy, but I promise I won’t let them hurt you.”

Ditzy grinned, clutching her backpack tightly against her chest. “Really? Do you mean that?”

“Yeah,” Peter firmly responded, nodding.

Ditzy edged closer. “Really?”

Peter blinked. “Yes.”

The girl continued to inch forward, her smile widening. “Really, really? Are you sure? You’re not just teasing me?”

Stammering, Peter nervously alternated his gaze about once the girl’s nose practically brushed against his own. “Yes. Really. I wouldn’t offer to help if I didn’t mean it.”

Oblivious, Ditzy (mercifully) edged back before giggling uncontrollably. Beads of sweat fell from Peter’s face as he let out a relieved sigh. Ditzy soon retrieved a slip of paper from a pocket in her skirt, hastily writing onto it upon retrieving a pen afterward.

“I’m sorry. I’m just not used to this,” Ditzy admitted, brushing a hand through her golden hair. “I r-really like it. Thank you. You’re very sweet. What’s your name?”

“I’m Peter B. Parker,” the young man stated, smiling.

Tilting her head to the side, Ditzy shrugged. “What’s the ‘B’ stand for? Or do you mean like ‘Bee’?”

Peter shook his head. “You’re looking at it too literally. The ‘B’ stands for Benjamin.”

Humming as she placed a finger on her bottom lip, Ditzy furrowed her brow. “Why does that sound familiar? As a matter of fact, I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.” She paused, offering the slip of paper to the young man. Just as Peter reached out, Ditzy placed her hand over his own. “Now, don’t read this yet! Promise you’ll wait until I leave before you read it, okay?!”

“Sure thing,” Peter calmly responded, tilting his head to the side once the girl’s complexion flushed.

Her smile widened in response before a sudden realization came into mind, evident by her widened gaze. “Oh! I’m late! I really have to go, but–!” she trailed off, attempting to walk past Peter. Unfortunately, she bumped into his chest and stayed still. While her head remained lowered, her smile could still be seen, along with the pink stain in her cheeks. Freeing herself from wayward thoughts, Ditzy backed away. “I’ll find you tomorrow! I promise!”

Peter watched the girl with an arched brow and shrugged. “Maybe I’ll see her. Maybe I won’t. She sure ran off pretty fast. Then again, my name is mud around here, so no surprise there.” Once the girl was out of sight, Peter lowered his gaze and peeked at the slip left in his hand. His eyes widened at the set of the numbers etched across the surface, neatly placed underneath Ditzy’s carefully and beautifully written name. However, his surprise soon turned to dismay, evident by the empty glare in his eyes and twitching brow. “Just my luck. A girl gives me her phone number, and she forgets a digit. This is either a rib or the Parker Luck strikes again.”

Aria exhaled, rolling her eyes once she was next to the young man. “Look, guy. You completely misread that situation horribly. It was kinda hard to watch there. Watching you bumble about is like seeing a deer cross into heavy traffic.”

Blinking, Peter stared at the girl for what seemed like an eternity. “First off… dark. Second. What is it with you girls and your barbaric imagery? And lastly. Um, do I know you?”

“No,”Aria bluntly declared before placing a hand over her hip, “but I’d like to get to know you.”.

To Be Continued…

Ch. 4: Too Rich For My Blood

Chapter Four “Too Rich for My Blood”

Aria bluntly declared, pressing a finger against his chest. “Let me break it down for you. That girl was in a bad spot, and you bailed her out. What girl wouldn’t be grateful for that? She couldn’t stop smiling around you. Anyway, she didn’t leave because she wanted to. If anything, she wanted to stay and chat. Heck, she’s dawdling as we speak!” Scoffing, Aria pointed to the side where Ditzy was walking, catching the girl staring in Peter’s direction before resuming her journey. Aria threw her hands overhead, releasing an exasperated groan. “And when she bumped into you? Ugh. She was like a love struck puppy when you called her cute. It went so far overhead that it could have been an airplane! No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend.”

“What about the missing number?” Peter weakly questioned, holding out the paper.

Exhaling, Aria rolled her eyes. “Her name is Ditzy, you dipstick. The girl is such a klutz. You clearly caught her off guard, and she just got excited. Anyone can see she’s not used to that kind of attention, let alone from a guy.” The girl paused, crossing her eyes. “Besides, you’re forgetting the obvious.”

Peter paused, slamming his hand over his forehead. “Oh, right. Poor depth perception.”

“She clearly wants to hang out with you, so just wait. The klutz will get with you tomorrow,” Aria scoffed,folding her arms. “Jeez, you’re as dense as a rock!”

Slack-jawed, Peter stared at the girl for what seemed like ages before he cleared his throat. “I thought I was having a bad day. You, uh, okay? Granted, you’re not wrong, but still…”

Aria’s eyes widened as she dumbly blinked. “Sorry. That was so painful to watch, that I couldn’t help myself.” Folding her arms, the girl’s stoic expression softened. “I’m Aria.”

“Peter. Don’t sweat it,” he replied, scratching the back of his head. “I mean, you’re right. I have a bad habit of assuming the worst-case scenario.”

Huffing inwardly, Aria glanced to the side. “Now that you mention it, I’m told that I tend to do that myself.” Shrugging, the girl walked to the nearest bench before taking a seat. “Well, I can tell you’ve had a bad day, and I’ve got time to burn, or whatever.”

Peter hummed, hesitant to take a seat before accepting the gesture. “I mean, yeah, but what’s in it for you? I’ve never met you before.”

Shrugging, Aria chuckled under her breath. “I’m curious, I guess. I mean, who wouldn’t be, after what happened to you yesterday at lunch.”

“Oh. That,” Peter flatly groaned, glancing to the side sheepishly, “I had almost forgotten about that.” Rolling his eyes, the young man let out an exasperated moan. “It explains why a girl wants to talk to me. It’s either to boss me around or make fun of me.”

Aria, unphased, stared at the young man with a bemused glare. “You monologue to yourself all the time? You know I can hear you out, right? That’s kind of rude, you dweeb.”

Peter raised his finger and opened his mouth, ready to respond, but he paused, glancing to the side before exhaling. “I keep putting my foot in my mouth. Maybe Trixie was right. Maybe I am rude.” Peter winced, retching involuntarily. “Trixie was right? Ugh. Her dropping me in the trap door was probably warranted then.”

Exasperated, Aria snapped her fingers repeatedly mere inches away from Peter’s face. “Hey! Earth to doofus. Stop that. You’re doing it again.”

Clearing his throat, Peter lowered his head shamefully. “Wow. I was so busy thinking everyone was a jerk that I didn’t realize I was actually being the jerk. I really need to pay more attention to what’s going on.” Sobering, Peter nodded before finally taking a seat next to the girl. “I’m sorry.”

Aria huffed, inhaling sharply as small energies rushed into her. Pausing to recollect herself, the girl shook her head. “Whatever. It’s fine. I’m just irritated. You remind me of… myself. Not just a little, but a lot.” She trailed off, her eyes softening as a pervasive thought crept into her mind. “Am I really like this? I get so stuck in my head that I blow everyone off without realizing it. God, I’m such a bi–” Aria paused, catching sight of Peter’s dumbfound gaze. With a blank stare, the girl threw up her hands in a defeated manner. “Ugh! You are just the worst! Stop making me self-reflect!”

“Huh?” Peter blurted out, taken aback. He raised his hands defensively. “What did I even do? It was your idea for me to vent. Sounds like you need to vent just as much as I do.”

Aria’s eyes softened. “You’re probably right. I could really use–” Like lightning to a rod, the girl caught herself before shaking her head. “Maybe later. Don’t change the subject. Like I mentioned, you clearly have a lot on your mind, after you were humiliated by that Flash guy, but I still see you finding time to help a stranger.” Her stoic demeanor resurfaced as she threw a hand over her face. “I’ve got an eye for this type of thing. It’s easy to see that you’re frustrated, and frankly, it’s frustrating to watch. Need any more explanation? Or, should I move on with my life?”

Scratching the back of his head, Peter looked around aimlessly. “It’s a little sudden, but I guess it can’t hurt. With everyone acting weird, maybe I can use this.” The young man inhaled deeply before releasing a deep sigh. “I’ve only been at this school for a week, and I already feel like I’m screwing up. I didn’t have that many friends to begin with, but it’s saying something when one of the only people that’s friendly to me is the gym teacher. To make matters worse, my old school bully is here, and he’s just rolling out the red carpet for me.”

“Flash, right?” Aria questioned, leaning back into her seat. Small energies seeped into her frame before she nodded, “How long have you known each other?”

“Since nursery school. He’s always been the best athlete in our class, super confident, and…” Peter nonchalantly stated, placing his hands together.

Aria arched her brow. “...always had it out for you?”

He paused, pursing his lips. “Actually? No. We used to get along, but something changed, once we reached middle school. I don’t know what though.”

Aria huffed, glancing at her nails. “I’ve seen it before. You’re not the only one he picks on, but you’re his biggest target. There’s a reason for that, whether it’s petty or personal. How you find that out is up to you. I don’t care.” The girl shifted her gaze forward while leaning back into her seat. “You have a job? You look and sound like a guy that has way too much on his mind. The fact that you monologue out loud is a bit of a red flag.”

Peter let out an empty laugh. “You could say that. I have a side job. I work in prosthetics with Doctor Octavious. My other job is a little more stressful. I see all kinds of people, and I’m always trying my best to help. Yet, everyone seems to hate me for it.”

“That sounds annoying,” Aria huffed, pausing once more energy drew into her frame. Her complexion paled as she gagged involuntarily. “Ugh. I hate sweets.”

Peter furrowed his brow. “You okay? You look a bit queasy.”

Slow to respond, Aria cleared her throat before straightening her posture. “Yeah, I just feel bloated. I always get like this when I have junk food. It’s nothing.” She shook her head, waving a hand dismissively. “Anyway. Why don’t you just quit? Sounds like you put yourself on the line, and no one appreciates you for it. I understand exactly how that feels. It sucks.”

Shrugging, Peter managed a smile. “Yeah, I could, but I won’t. Someone has to look out for the little guy, and knowing I can make a difference is enough.” The young man paused, lifting his gaze as the sun continued to fall behind the horizon. “I’m frustrated, sure, but the positives are still there. I just have to remind myself to keep an eye out for the good as much as the bad. I was given a second chance. My aunt has a job she really likes, and I’m slowly making some friends.”

Aria’s eyes softened as she watched Peter, her lips steadily curling into a smile. “You’ve had it pretty bad, but you’re still an optimist. That’s honestly a bit… refreshing. ” She stood from her seat, pausing to stretch her arms overhead. “Looks like that talk helped. You’re not the sad sack you were a few minutes ago.”

Peter nodded, his smile widening. “Yeah. It did. It feels like a weight’s been lifted from my shoulders. This is honestly the first time I’ve had a chance to vent since I moved here.” He walked forward, extending his hand to the girl. “Aria, right? Thanks for hearing me out. You’re surprisingly easy to talk to. At first glance, you looked a bit… prickly. But I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Taken aback, Aria’s mouth fell agape as she stared at Peter’s hand. She steadily reached out, ready to accept the gesture, but the girl shook her head, brushing a hand through her hair. “Knock it off. Seeing you all bummed out was annoying. That’s all. But… you’re welcome. I can tell you’re not a bad guy. Your head’s just in the clouds,” she whispered, her harsh tone breaking to a sweet nothing. Exhaling, the girl folded her arms and walked off in a huff. “I-I have to go. If I’m late to the stupid Battle of the Bands, Adagio won’t shut up about it.”

“You’re participating? You sing? I have a… ‘friend’ who is competing as well. Maybe I’ll stick around and watch you?” Peter happily asked, sliding his backpack’s straps over her shoulders.

Aria’s eyes widened before she reached out, placing a hand over Peter’s forearm. “No!” Blinking, the girl cleared her throat and glanced to the side. “I mean, it’s just a waste of time. You really shouldn’t go.” Relinquishing her hold, Aria took a step back and proceeded to leave. “I’ll see you later.”

Peter watched the girl leave, arching a brow once she was out of sight. “That was weird. Everyone’s been acting wonky with this Battle of the Bands stuff.” He paused as his cranium purred. “There’s that tingle again.” Peter stepped away from the school before stopping in his tracks, turning to face the direction of the concert. “Away from the school is safe, but my Spider-Sense is going nuts… where the Battle of the Bands is!” Peter frowned, rushing towards the concert. “Something’s fishy about this, and it ain’t the harbor. Spider-Man is on the case.”

Adagio sat with her arms crossed, tapping a finger impatiently against her forearm. Sonata inhaled deeply before letting out a low sigh. The pair stood on stage behind the curtain, while students continued to fill the stands to near capacity. Eventually, Aria slipped into the backstage, causing both girls to shift their gazes in her direction.

“You certainly took your time. The show’s about to start,” Adagio huffed, frowning as she stood from her seat.

Aria rolled her eyes, glancing to the side. “You said an hour, and I took it. We still have time to spare.”

Growling, Adagio stomped toward Aria with a narrowed glare. “We are on the cusp of our greatest achievement, and here you are, acting as lackadaisical as ever.” Once inches apart, Adagio sharply raised a finger and held it near Aria’s nose. “If we’re to succeed, I need you at your best!”

Blinking, Aria slapped away Adagio’s hand and scowled. “Excuse me? I don’t know where your attitude is coming from, but you can keep it.” The girl frowned, placing her hands over her hips. “You’re the one with the plans, and they always blow up in your face. How about you make sure we don’t fail for once?!”

Sonata stepped between the pair, raising her hands defensively. “Hey! Stop! This is not helping! We already lost everything! We need to start working together!”

“Lost everything?” Aria questioned, arching a brow.

As if a realization struck her mind, Sonata threw her hands over her mouth and shook her head. “Uh, I mean–!” she paused, shifting her gaze wildly.

Aria turned to Adagio, her eyes narrowing into a glare. “What’s she talking about?”

Adagio shook her head dismissively. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Why?” Aria spat, never averting her line of sight.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Adagio growled through gritted teeth, returning Aria’s glare with an icy one of her own.

Snarling, Aria pointed at Adagio. “You know what? No! I’m sick of you straddling me along!” Her usual melancholic and apathetic faded, erupting into a pit of frustration and rage. Aria’s stoic demeanor dissolved, evident by her narrowed glare and snarling mouth. “I’ve always followed you because I care about you, in spite of the countless failures! You always take us for granted! Maybe we wouldn’t fail all of the time if we talked as a group, instead of just following along like your little soldiers. For someone who always thinks they’re right, you sure are wrong most of the time!”

Inhaling sharply, Sonata raised her hands defensively. “Whoa, Aria!”

However, Adagio’s complexion burned as her brow twitched. “Shut up! You think you’re so right? I’m what holds us together!” She edged forth, ready to stomp through Aria, but Sonata intervened, placing herself between both sirens. Adagio clenched her fists tightly. “You say you want me to listen, but look in a mirror ! Almost our entire lives, you’ve always questioned me! You always nitpicked every little thing I did. No matter how hard I tried, it was never good enough for you! You say you care, but you never act like it! Get over yourself!”

Sonata strained, pushing against both girls with all her might but failing as they shoved her to the side. “Adagio! That’s too much!”

Aria threw up her hands and laughed sarcastically. “Oh, sure! Blame your problems on me! You’re so perfect that the idea of anyone complaining about you is outrageous!” She glanced to the side, snorting. “I told you it was a bad idea to revolt against the clan leader, but thanks to you, we were banished! I warned you that taking on Starswirl was a mistake, and look at what happened: exiled to another world! We’re stuck here because you suck at planning and listening!”

Shaking her head, Sonata’s eyes continued to widen. “Girls! Stop!”

Adagio scoffed, crossing her arms. “Maybe my plans always fail because you never fully commit to any of them! Is there anything you actually care about to give a damn?! Sad little outcast, always angry at the world! Thank the stars I’m always here! You didn’t fit in there, and you don’t fit here either!”

Aria snapped back, shoving Adagio before sharply pointing a finger. “The shelter was fine to feed! The school is fine to feed! But it’s never enough! You always want more! Feeding on Spider-Man just doesn’t feel right!” Her posture softened. “He’s so young, yet there’s a lifetime of negativity pouring from him. It’s… toxic and unhealthy. We can’t feed on that!”

“I knew it! The one thing you actually care about, and it’s food! You always feel what you eat! How you were born a siren is beyond me! You’re so stupid!” Adagio huffed, breaking into apathetic laughter. She shook her head in disbelief, placing a hand over her forehead. “This is why the idea of you leading is laughable! You take pity on a stupid boy playing hero! Your sentimentality is grossly misplaced, as it always is! It’s actually a good thing we can’t go back to Equestria! If our kind saw you right now–!”

“That’s enough!” Sonata howled, releasing a frustrated cry. Vibrational waves rushed through the vicinity. The walls shook, trembling as dust fell. Aria and Adagio, slack-jawed, ceased their bickering and stared at the girl. Sonata inhaled deeply before letting out a sigh. “We’re sisters. Why are we arguing like this? You’re both right, but you’re wrong, too. How about you both try to listen to each other? Just this once?”

Adagio opened her mouth, ready to protest, but she shook her head, huffing. “In what world is it right when Sonata is the voice of reason? I will try to listen to you from now on.” She edged forth, placing her hands over Aria’s shoulders. “I just need you to believe in me, just this once. This plan will succeed, but I need you completely onboard!”

Sonata bit down on her lip, alternating her narrowed glare between her sisters. “Now. Are we doing this or what?”

Aria weakly nodded, glancing to the side before returning her line of sight towards Adagio. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll go along with it. We’ve got nothing left to lose.”

Adagio nodded feverishly, managing a smile. “Good! We’ll win this for sure! You’ll see!” The audience began to erupt, cheering loudly as the light dimmed and fireworks began to shoot. Adagio waved a hand, motioning for Aria and Sonata to follow, while she walked forward. “Time to take center stage and claim what is rightfully ours!”

Meanwhile, stationed in the field on the outskirts of the field by the stage, Sunset turned to face her group. “Are you ready? The show’s about to start.”

Everyone sorted through their respective instruments, each pausing to glance at Twilight. The girl stopped, staring at her hand while small sparkling traces of magical energy materialized into existence. “Start playing, girls! The spell’s almost ready. As soon as they start singing, we’ll have to counteract them.” She lowered her gaze, stealing a glance at the star-patterned skies. “I just hope he shows up, to buy us some time.”

Sunset furrowed her brow. “He? Who are you talking about?”

Just as Twilight readied to respond, a being soared through the sky in the distance before latching onto the top end of the central flagpole. Spider-Man remained perched, analyzing the environment beneath before holding his blank gaze on the unaware citizens surrounding the stage. However, Twilight, seemingly the only one to notice his presence before he fired a strand of webbing and leapt into a swing, smiled in response.

“...a friend,” she whispered.

To Be Continued…

Ch. 5: Battle of the Bands

Chapter Five “Battle of the Bands”

Spider-Man relinquished his hold on his webbing mid-swing before soaring for several meters, managing to land at the upper end of a flag pole. His masked eyes narrowed at the crowd, each member with a distant gaze and droned expression. At center stage, the Dazzlings continued to sing before wings sprouted from their backs and the gems around their necks glowed immensely. His cranium hummed in response to the vocals, prompting the young man to clutch at his head.

“Spider-Sense is tingling. There’s something weird about that song. It’s like what I’ve been feeling at the school, but amplified,” he muttered, pausing before settling his gaze at one of the girls on stage. A realization struck his mind like lightning to a rod upon recognizing the purple-skinned member of the band, evident by his widened bug-like lenses. “Whoa! Is that Aria? Don’t tell me she’s mixed up in this. It’d be my luck that one of the only friends I make here is one of the bad guys. Again. I really hope that it doesn't become a running trend.”

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the arena, Rainbow Dash struck at her electric guitar furiously and riffed before stealing a glance at Twilight. “How long is this going to take?”

Applejack huffed, smirking. “You’re getting tired already?”

Rainbow Dash snorted, moving her fingers along the guitar strings even faster. Sweat began to pour from her head as she drew in bated breaths. “Are you kidding?! I can do this all day!”

“It’s a marathon. Not a sprint, darling,” Rarity exhaled, rolling her eyes, “Although with you, I suppose there’s little to no difference.”

Twilight opened her eyes. “This is going to take a few minutes. Just play and concentrate!” She extended a hand to Sunset, smiling, “I can use your help.”

Blinking, Sunset slowly accepted the gesture. “Okay. What do you need me to do? Any advice?”

Fluttershy tapped her tambourine while Pinkie beat her drums in harmony. Rarity elegantly played her keytar, and Applejack struck her bass guitar. Magical energies steadily materialized into existence around the group, sparkling dainty as they danced in the breeze. Twilight tapped her foot in synchronization with the music, humming a melody. She soon shared a glance with Sunset, prompting her to do the same, before both girls held the microphone together.

“Think of someone you really like and sing with all your heart!” Twilight replied, nodding.

In the distance, Spider-Man leapt across the upper sanctions of the area, landing on the scaffolding above the stage. “Karaoke night is over, ladies!” He shot out three balls of webbing onto each member’s chest, causing the gossamer to expand upon impact enough to bind their arms to their torso. Sonata yelped as Aria strained to free herself. Spider-Man waved a finger. “You seemed to have left the audience in a zombified state. I’m afraid that calls for a disqualification.”

“Motherfu–!” Adagio snarled before a ball of webbing struck and covered the entirety of her mouth.

“Language! There are kids in the audience! I’d like to think this competition was rated ‘E’ for everyone! What would Captain America think?” Spider-Man stated, firing two more balls in the direction of the remaining Dazzlings. However, Adagio’s eyes glowed bright crimson before the webbing around her mouth disintegrated, causing the same to happen to the incoming gossamer. Exasperated, Spider-Man groaned under his breath. “Of course. That would have been too easy.”

Aria frowned, shaking her head. “I told you not to come here! God, you are so dense!”

Slow to respond, Spider-Man raised a hand. “I’m not welcome anywhere to be fair, but you might have me mixed up with someone else.”

“Save it. We know who you are… Dumpster Boy,” Adagio whispered, causing Spider-Man’s masked lenses to narrow. The girl laughed, smirking. “We feed off of negative emotions. Compared to everyone in this city, you are a cute little puppy with a rain cloud over his head. You made it so easy for us to track you and turn everyone against you.”

Spider-Man’s gaze lowered. “So that’s why everyone’s been acting weird. I thought it was just my usual charm.”

Adagio scoffed. “That’s what makes it so laughable! We hardly had to do anything! Negativity just follows like a magnet! You fed us and refilled our powers just by existing! You project with poor jokes and evade with tomfoolery , but we feel your anguish. You can’t hide your true feelings from us.” She held a hand out as her pupils vanished behind a blinding light. “Bitterness. Anger. Apathy. Guilt. They practically ooze out of you.”

Aria winced, stealing a glance at her sister. “Adagio…”

Spider-Man nodded. “Yeah. I can’t deny any of that.”

Sonata folded her arms. “This is getting hard to watch. Just go home. You can’t do anything to stop us.”

Adagio laughed wildly. “For all your power, you are still a simple outcast with a deep burden. What happened for someone so young to fall into such a pit of misery? It’d be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.”

“It might be pathetic, but it’s important to me. I’ve got reasons to stay, and I’ll find a way to stop you. I’m very stubborn,” Spider-Man affirmed, lowering into a defensive stance.

Adagio snorted. “So be it. We can have fun with you.” The Dazzlings levitated from the ground, each humming in unison as the energies surrounding them spiraled into a tornado. Adagio smirked as her teeth sharpened into fangs. “False bravado. Why hide your true feelings? You can’t keep them from us. I’ve seen your kind before.”

Spider-Man chuckled nervously. “The fun and good-looking type? The funny but misunderstood type?’”

Adagio scoffed. “The little boy playing the hero. You’re out of your league.”

Suddenly, their skin deformed as scales formed over its place. Each Dazzling’s body grew in size before morphing, shifting shape. Their fangs sharpened while each howled, taking the form of ravenous seahorses. Sonata and Aria continued to sing, their distorted voices still holding an elegant tone. The members of the audience remained still, slowly turning their gazes towards Spider-Man. Each began to boo, voicing their displeasure.

Adagio cackled at the sight. “Why fight? Everyone clearly hates you… costumed or otherwise. Such a sad existence.”

“I mean, you’re not entirely wrong, but it doesn’t make what you’re doing right,” Spider-Man bluntly declared, alternating his gaze between the Dazzlings and the crowd.

Adagio opened her mouth, ready to respond, but she paused, shooting Aria a glare upon noticing her lowering voice. “Don’t listen to him! Straighten up! Now!” Adagio exclaimed, prompting Aria to resume her chorus with Sonata. The leader of the group growled as she focused her attention back on the hero. “I’m going to enjoy feasting on your negativity for all time.”

“Think I haven’t heard that before? I’ve heard worse from Jameson. Speaking of… Any relation? Then again, you aren’t really devilish looking. You look more like angry seahorses,” Spider-Man spat, lowering into a defensive stance, “Why are you doing this? I can tell at least one of you doesn’t want to do this.”

“Why explain myself to the likes of you? You’re food,” Adagio coldly declared, the gem around her neck glowing immensely. “And I will not be stopped again!”

Spider-Man’s cranium rang profusely before Adagio rushed forward with her fangs drawn, forcing him to flip overhead once she neared. The siren crashed through the scaffolding, snapping the metal bars upon impact. Parts of the stage shot out, speeding towards some of the spectators at the front row. Spider-Man shot out a pair of strands of webbing, managing to yank the debris from midair before it could come into contact with the innocents.

Just as he landed, Aria released a high-pitched scream and fired a wave of energy from her mouth. Spider-Man sprang into the air, narrowly avoiding the blast, but Sonata followed with a screeching shockwave of her own, sending Peter spiraling violently through the vicinity. Adagio soared overhead in Spider-Man’s path, whipping her fish-like tail out. The blow struck the man with a crack, launching him into the wooden floor.

Embedded in the frame, Spider-Man groaned as he watched all three sirens join together in the sky and continue their chorus. “This is why I hate musicals.”

“The itsy-bitsy spider~” Adagio sang, her pupils vanishing behind a blinding crimson glow.

Spider-Man grumbled as he pried himself free from the wood, managing to stand weakly. “Please no…”

Before he could react, Aria vanished and appeared behind him, shrieking. The blow sent Spider-Man tumbling across the ground. Adagio watched with a wicked grin. “...crawled up the waterspout~”

Peter rolled to a halt, shaking his head. “I hate this song!”

“Down came the Dazzlings~” Adagio sang, prompting the entire trio to unleash a blast in unison. The force of the blow sent Spider-Man ricocheting across every obstacle in his path, until he was sent soaring high overhead. Peter could only yell until he crashed into the waiting ground several yards away from Twilight’s group, causing the earth and rock to crumble under his weight. Adagio watched from afar and smirked. “...and flushed the spider out~!”

Twilight inhaled sharply, ceasing her singing, before she rushed towards Spider-Man. As he stirred with a weak groan, Rainbow Dash shook her head while continuing to riff her guitar. “Twilight! Be careful! That guy is bad news!”

Sunset blinked before frowning. “I know what the podcasts say, but he looks like he’s trying to help. Everyone deserves at least one second chance, right?”

Rarity huffed, shuddering. “Perhaps, darling, but he certainly looks… creepy.”

Everyone else in the group paused, sharing skeptical gazes with each other. Yet, Twilight tightened her grip and helped Spider-Man to his feet without a hint of hesitation. Peter glanced at the group momentarily before turning his attention back to the Dazzlings in the distance. However, Twilight calmly walked in front of him and paused, never averting her gaze from his.

Spider-Man tilted his head to the side after what seemed like an eternity. “Have we met? You look… familiar.”

Twilight shook her head. “Yes and no. It’s complicated. We haven’t met. Not directly.”

Slow to respond, Spider-Man stared blankly at the girl for what seemed like ages. “That’s… not ominous at all.”

“Don’t overthink it. You always get flustered when you do that, and you start pulling your hair,” Twilight whispered, smiling.

“I don’t… Wait,” Peter declared, glancing to the side while his hand instinctively grabbed at the back of his head. “I actually do that. How did you…?” Scoffing, Spider-Man muttered and lowered his head. “Like it matters. You’re not scared of me? That’s kind of rare nowadays.”

“I’ve no reason to be scared, because I know what you are,” Twilight replied, closing her eyes briefly. Soon her lips curled into a sweet smile before she reached out, placing a hand over his shoulder. “You’re a good person trying to do the right thing. That’s all I need to know.”

Spider-Man stared at the girl with a widened gaze, but he soon chuckled under his breath. “It’s been a rough few days, but something about the way you just said that made me feel better. Thanks.” He trailed off, doubling back upon settling his sight on the band in the field. “Um, is there a reason you girls are playing here? I mean, the competition is back that way. You’re a safe distance away, so I guess I can’t complain.”

Twilight raised her hand. “Don’t worry about that. Just know that we’re working on a spell to counteract what the sirens are doing.”

“The sirens? Is that what they are?” Spider-Man questioned, eyeing the Dazzlings as sparkling energies whirled into their bodies. He readied to respond, only to pause upon stealing a glance at the surrounding crowd. Everyone continued to drone aimlessly in a dream state while the girls continued to play their own music, in spite of the Dazzlings’ voices echoing throughout the vicinity. Spider-Man pointed a finger at the group, his masked eyes furrowing. “Hold on. You’re not affected.”

Nodding, Twilight narrowed her gaze. “Neither are you. I can tell you’re physically resistant. The sirens feed off of negative emotions, and their magic grows stronger from it. Don’t let them get in your head. Otherwise, you’ll become their puppet.”

“You said a spell. You mean, like, magic? Magic’s a thing here? I mean, if aliens are real, surely magic isn’t that farfetched,” Spider-Man murmured, alternating his gaze between each member of the Rainbooms, “The ears and tails are magic? I thought you were selling your theme… whatever it is. Magical pony girls? I mean, it’s colorful, like Sailor Scouts, just with an equine theme. I get it. Everyone was into horses at some point.”

Twilight reached out and clapped her hands together mere inches away from Spider-Man’s face, ceasing his rambling. “Focus! You’ll learn what magic is later. The important thing is that we can break their spell and return them to normal. I just need you to distract them long enough for us to conjure the counterspell!” A smile surfaced on the girl’s face, “I hear you’re pretty good at being a nuisance.”

Peter chuckled, gesturing a thumbs up. “Just call me your Pesky Neighborhood Spider-Man!” He leapt high into the air and shot a strand of webbing onto the flagpole, swinging off into the distance towards the Dazzlings. “Leave it to me, Sailor Moon!” Mid-flight, he glanced to the side at a booth where various electronic items were stored, “A distraction, huh? That gives me an idea.”

Twilight groaned under her breath. “The fact that I understood that reference…” She shook her head, retaking her place next to Sunset. Everyone in the group intensified their playing, prompting Sunset to hum in sync with their tune. Twilight readied herself to do the same, but she paused, stealing a glance at Spider-Man as he neared the Dazzlings. Her eyes softened while a sweet melody escaped from her mouth. “Please, be careful~”

The Dazzlings continued holding their melody, causing more of the surrounding energies to seep into their bodies. However, the feedback loop escaped from a microphone and released a high-pitched squeak. Spider-Man landed at the edge of the stage with a small microphone webbed onto his chest. He tapped against the soft end while clearing his throat.

“Hello, Canterlot~! Your pants are down~!” Spider-Man suddenly sang off-key, his voice prompting some of the crowd to clutch at their ears. He swayed his hips, dancing in place. “Hello, Dazzlings~ You make me frown~!”

Adagio blinked at the sight. “W-What are you doing?!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah~! Your song is booty~! Stopping you is my duty~!” Spider-Man exclaimed, his voice cracking profusely.

More of the spectators stirred to life, many sharing bewildered gazes. “What is going on?” a girl questioned.

Flash was amidst the crowd, holding a hand over his aching cranium. “I don’t know.” He looked up, yelping at the sight of the transformed Dazzlings, but he paused, smiling widely upon spotting the costumed vigilante on stage. “But I know Spider-Man’s here to save the day!”

“Damn it!” Adagio roared, speeding forward. Spider-Man fired a webbing onto a pole in the distance and yanked, pulling himself into the air while the siren crashed through the floor where he previously stood. Just as he landed next to Flash, Adagio reared her head from the wreckage and snarled. “He’s ruining everything!”

Flash’s smile only grew once Spider-Man glanced in his direction. “Whoa! This is the best day ever! I’m a huge fan, Spidey!”

Slow to respond, Spider-Man cleared his throat. “T-Thanks. You can actually do me a huge favor.” He pointed at the crowd while holding his attention on the sirens. “I’ll fight the Hocus Pocus rejects. You get everyone who’s even semi-conscious out of the way.”

Without a hint of hesitation, Flash nodded before running off. “You got it, Spidey! Now, get those creeps!”

Once the older boy was a fair distance away, leading whoever was in his range away to safety, Spider-Man crushed the microphone on his chest and huffed. “That’s the idea, Eugene.” He leapt to the stage, landing in a defensive stance once the Dazzlings shifted their attention in his direction. “Is the competition over? Did I win? What do I win?”

“You!” Adagio howled, unleashing a spiraling wave from her mouth.

“I win me?! Do I squeak like a plushie? Please tell me I squeak like a plushie!” Spider-Man happily questioned, swaying his body underneath the blast. The energies tore through the steel behind his position, rendering it to a mangled shape.

Adagio growled, baring her fangs. “That’s it! I intended to keep you alive and feed on your misery, but you’re just a liability! We’ll have plenty of choices, once you’re out of the way!”

Spider-Man shrugged. “Might I suggest a change in diet?” All three sirens snarled in response, each inching closer. Peter chuckled nervously. “Oh, right. Sacred rule. Never talk to girls about their weight or diet.”

Sonata rushed forward, chomping at the young man once she was within range, but Spider-Man fired a ball of webbing onto her snout, causing the gossamer to expand upon impact. She stopped in her tracks, muffling loudly while the webbing covered the entirety of her face. Adagio roared and unleashed a wave of energy from her mouth. However, Spider-Man leapt into the air, vaulting over the blast before driving a swift knee directly into her muzzle.

The force of the strike echoed throughout the vicinity, reminiscent of a gunshot, and Adagio rolled back, her frame bursting through a wooden beam. Aria watched momentarily, glancing to the side briefly, but she shook her head, rushing ahead. Spider-Man’s cranium buzzed in response, prompting the young man to gracefully flip backward into the air and avoid the siren. Before Aria could react, Peter threw a kick directly into her back and caused her to stumble. Sonata eventually managed to free the webbing from her face, only to inhale sharply before Aria tumbled into her.

Both sirens fell into a heap, each grumbling. However, Adagio erupted from the debris. Just as Spider-Man turned around, the siren lunged into him with enough force to tear through the wooden stage. Shards of broken stage scattered from the impact, and the young man rolled across the ground for several meters. Once he stood, a pair of magical beams shot past Adagio and slammed into Peter simultaneously.

He was hurled once more, flying until a steel wall stopped his progress. Aria and Sonata joined back with their sister before all three sirens sang in unison, unleashing a shockwave. The steel gave way, bending until it snapped to pieces behind Spider-Man’s frame, and he bounced off the pavement, eventually skidding to a halt onto his back. He groaned, ready to pull himself back to his feet, but Adagio’s tail slammed onto his chest, causing the earth beneath to crack with a tremor.

Spider-Man coughed as the siren pinned him further to the ground. “I take it you didn’t like the song. I can also sing Kumbaya, if you’d like?” The tail lifted itself briefly before slamming back down with enough force to create a second tremor. Spider-Man shook his head. “I know. None of that. Shame on me. I’m not even on American Idol, and I’m already eliminated. You’re worse than Simon.”

“You seriously thought you could beat us?” Adagio growled under her breath, lowering her head until it was mere inches away from Spider-Man’s.

Spider-Man strained, chuckling under his breath. “Not trying to beat you. I’m just stalling. Hope you enjoy the lightshow.”

Adagio’s eyes widened. “What?” That same moment, bright harmonious energies spiraled around the Rainbooms. Their ears and wings sparkled with a luminous glow before a rainbow materialized into existence. Adagio blinked rapidly, slack-jawed. “What?!”

“Instead of focusing on the shortcomings of others, try taking a hard look in a mirror and fix yourself first! No one’s perfect, but we can at least try our best one day at a time!” Spider-Man exclaimed as he slipped free. Pushing Adagio’s tail to the side, he jumped high into the air. “It’s how I’ve managed so far…”

Faster than any of the sirens could hope to react, Peter spun in midair, leaving afterimages of himself as he rapidly fired an array of web balls in various directions. Each piece of gossamer expanded upon impact, and in the span of only three seconds, the entire vicinity was covered in many blankets of webbing. The Dazzlings were pinned in place, unable to move momentarily. The energy emitting from the Rainbooms rushed out, taking flight before speeding towards the sirens in a fury. Spider-Man reached out, snatching the gem from Adagio’s neck as the beam neared, and he hopped high into the air, narrowly avoiding the light attack.

The energies engulfed the sirens, tearing through their transformed states. Suddenly, their silhouettes retook the shapes of their human forms, and their remaining gems shattered, fading into a crimson mist. Adagio, Aria, and Sonata collapsed to the ground, and the energies dissipated, prompting the Rainbooms to cease their singing momentarily. What remained of the crowd soon regained their senses, evident by their puzzled yet relieved expressions.

Adagio, her clothes mangled and torn from her transformation, lowered her head. She struck the ground repeatedly with clenched fists, sobbing furiously. “Damn it!”

Sonata knelt next to Adagio, placing a hand over her shoulder. Aria simply folded her arms, glancing to the side before quietly departing. Adagio’s eyes widened at the sight, prompting her to reach out. However, Sonata shook her head, all while gently squeezing her sister’s arm. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Adagio lowered her head shamefully. They could only watch as Aria walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

As that was happening, the audience turned to face the Rainbooms, applauding their performance. Rainbow Dash raised her arms victoriously, and Pinkie continued to play her drums feverishly, smiling uncontrollably. Fluttershy, on the other hand, weakly waved before taking refuge behind Rarity and Applejack as they waved to the crowd. Meanwhile, Sunset inhaled deeply and let out a relieved sigh, sharing a nod with Twilight.

The princess averted her gaze and looked skyward. She caught sight of Spider-Man in the distance, who watched from a vantage point away from the eyes of the public. Yet, he looked back at Twilight and gestured a simple peace sign. The girl mirrored his actions before clutching at the gem over her chest, her smile as wide as the horizon. Spider-Man nodded, leaping from his position. He fired a strand of webbing before swinging towards the city, leaving the Rainbooms to bask in their victory.

“Thanks…” Twilight whispered, eventually turning to celebrate with her friends.

To be Concluded…

Epilogue: The Voice of Reason

Epilogue “The Voice of Reason”

Deep within the walls of the homeless shelter, the Dazzlings retreated to their shared personal quarters. Adagio paced across the room with her arms crossed. Sonata sat on the bed with her head tilted to the side, watching her sister quietly. Aria blankly stared out the nearest window, tapping a finger impatiently against her forearm. The cycle had continued for what felt like eons, mere hours after the events of the Battle of the Bands transpired.

“It was perfect! Victory was right there in our grasp!” Adagio declared, huffing between bated breaths. “If that stupid dumpster-diving twerp didn’t get in our way, this city would have been ours for the taking!”

Sonata rocked in place, hugging her knees against her chest. “There’s always next time, Adagio.”

Adagio snapped in Sonata’s direction, throwing her hands into the air. “There is no next time! We lost our gems! Without those, we’re virtually powerless!”

Aria grumbled under her breath. “You should have just left him alone. I warned you that feeding on him was a bad idea, but you insisted on antagonizing him. You were fixated on him, when there were literally hundreds of other options around us.”

An awkward silence filled the room as Adagio faced Aria with a widened gaze, but her stare soon turned into a venomous glare, matched only by the snarl on her face. “No. This isn’t on me. Haha. No. This is your fault.” Her voice remained unsettlingly low, yet there was a firmness behind, unwavering. Adagio pointed sharply at Aria. “You got soft and lost focus. The little spider bore his way into you, because you couldn’t just feed on him like a normal siren!”

Sonata winced at Adagio’s sudden eruption, clutching in place. “Hold on. Wait, Adagio!”

“Seriously? You’re going to do that?” Aria scoffed, her face twisting with disgust as she marched towards her sister. “Every time we fail, you always blame everyone but yourself! Maybe Peter was right. Try looking in a mirror for once!”

Blinking rapidly, Sonata readied herself to stand between her sisters, but Adagio raised her hand, prompting her to stay put. “Peter? Now, you’re on a first-name basis with him?! Why would you befriend our enemy?! It’s his fault that we’re stuck here now!” Roaring, Adagio grabbed the chair beside her and hurled it wildly. The object narrowly missed Aria, smashing against the wall, but she stood unphased, merely folding her arms. Adagio turned her back, resting both hands on the bed. “I’ll never forgive him. As long as he breathes, I’ll be there to watch him suffer. You like him so much? Go join him. One stupid outcast deserves the other.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” Aria bluntly responded, scoffing. Without a hint of hesitation, she walked out of the room with a scowl. “Anywhere is better than where you are.”

Sonata hopped to her feet, standing between her sisters. “Aria, wait! Adagio didn’t mean it! She–”

Trailing off, Sonata alternated her softened gaze between the pair, and she could only let out a defeated sigh once their glares met. Adagio glanced to the side, huffing, and Aria simply exited the room, never looking back. Sonata shook her head, dismayed. The air had grown thick, making the simple act of breathing difficult. Adagio walked towards the nearest window and lowered her head, never freeing her gaze from the reflection within.

Meanwhile, Aria walked to the other end of the shelter, taking refuge in a spare room. She simply fell onto the bed and practically sank into the cushion. Her bleak gaze stared intently at the wall, as a lone tear slid down the side of her cheek. From this moment on, nothing would be the same.

“Are you sure you have to go, Twilight? You just got here,” Applejack sweetly questioned, placing a hand over the girl’s shoulder.

Before she could reply, Rainbow Dash smirked and raised a hand confidently. “Yeah! You can stay for the party! We just saved the day! Again! We deserve a hero’s welcome!”

Sunset folded her arms. “We didn’t do it on our own.”

Scoffing, Rainbow waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, come on. We would have handled it, with or without that guy.” She glanced to the side, frowning. “I still don’t trust him. He gives me the creeps.”

“While I certainly do agree that his appearance is very… unsettling, he did indeed help today,” Rarity declared, trailing off while placing her hands over her hips. “However, I still have reservations about his intentions. Destruction seemingly follows him wherever he goes. Intentionally or not, he did destroy a school. Now, he’s way over here, and we have no idea why. Perhaps if he came out and explained himself, that would be one thing, but instead, he just… creeps about. He slouches and walks like…”

Pinkie hummed. “...a spider?”

“Yes! And it’s weird!” Rarity exclaimed, shuddering.

Rainbow Dash snorted, pointing a thumb against her own chest. “Unless he’s got something to hide. If it was me, I’d do things right out in the open and stick to my guns. I’d be proud of what I'm doing. You ask me? He’s got something to hide. He’s just some masked hero wannabe.”

Bemused, Applejack rolled her eyes and held a blank stare. “You also just want the glory. It defeats the whole purpose of the secret identity bit. Though, I am with Rarity on the destruction thing. Fella’s about as delicate as a bull in a china shop.”

Pinkie nodded. “He should be more open! It’s no fun when someone is all reserved and secretive! I wanna give him a chance, but he’s not giving me a chance to give him a chance!” She threw her hands high over head, groaning loudly. “I mean, we’re celebrating! Right now! And he ditched the party! Who does that?!”

Rarity opened her mouth, ready to respond, but she furrowed her brow, glancing at her silent cohort. “Fluttershy, you have been quieter than usual. What do you think of the unsettling Spider-Man thing? Does he not make your skin crawl?”

Fluttershy shook her head and twiddle her fingers together. “No. I like spiders.” Everyone paused, taken aback by the girl’s simple response. Fluttershy cleared her throat, oblivious. “They have the cutest little eyes, and they’re just so misunderstood.”

Slack-jawed, Rainbow Dash groaned. “Seriously? The one time I need you to make sense, you say something weird.” Shifting her glance, she turned to her friend stationed at the drumset. “Come on! Even Pinkie thinks the guy’s weird!”

Slow to respond, Pinkie frowned and pouted. “Who leaves a party? We’re celebrating because of him, and he just leaves! That doesn’t make any sense!”

Dismayed, Rainbow Dash simply shrugged and exhaled. “Pinkie Pie’s actually making sense. It really is opposite day.” She glanced to the side. “What do you think, Sunset?”

Sunset raised her hands defensively and shook her head. “I’m not sure, really, but I can’t judge. It wasn’t that long ago that I was causing trouble myself. I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but it’d be good to know his side of the story.”

Pinkie popped up next to Sunset, clenching her fists. “That’s the problem! He won’t let us hear him out! All of us are willing to hear him out, just like we did with you.”

Applejack folded her arms and nodded. “Then, it’s agreed. Until we hear from him personally, we keep an eye on this Spider-Man. He causes any trouble, we put a stop to him.”

Twilight just watched her friends with a wary gaze. “Just because you all are ready to hear him out, it doesn’t mean he’ll be ready to open up. Don’t be so quick to judge him. I think one day, you’ll figure that out about Spider-Man. Try not to judge him too harshly.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Twilight’s right. If you come on too strong, it might just push him away even further.”

Rainbow Dash paused, alternating her gaze between everyone around them. “Right. Well, anyway. Hey, Sunset. Where’s your dorky boyfriend? You’d think he would have been over here to check on you, with everything that’s going on.”

Sunset rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Stop that. He’s not my boyfriend. We literally just met.” Blinking, as if a realization came to mind, Sunset looked around before frowning. “I’m sure he knew about the Battle of Bands. Maybe he just got lost in the chaos.”

“Or he didn’t just show up,” Rainbow Dash harshly stated, folding her arms. “I told you that guy’s a total flake.”

Rarity pursed her lips and glanced to the side. “He did come off as aloof, but perhaps we should give him the benefit of the doubt, for now.”

“Who are you girls talking about?” Twilight questioned, furrowing her brow.

Sunset chuckled under her breath. “Don’t pay them any attention. I introduced them to a new friend, and he didn’t leave the best impression on them.” Clearing her throat, Sunset raised a finger. “His name is Peter. I think Rainbow Dash took it personally when he made fun of her name.”

“Ha!” Twilight snorted involuntarily, bursting into short laughter before recollecting herself. As she cleared her throat, attempting to ignore the bewildered gazes from her cohorts, the girl shared a glance with Sunset. “You said you just met this Peter? What’s he like?”

“A jerk that says whatever is on his mind,” Rainbow Dash blurted out, exhaling.

Sunset waved her hand dismissively and chuckled. “I couldn’t tell you too much just yet. He just transferred here a few days ago. From what I could gather, he’s super smart, but gets picked on a lot. I think he’s still just trying to gather his bearings.” She paused, smirking. “Plus, he’s cute, in a geeky sort of way.”

Shaking her head, Twilight could only grin. “It sounds like you put him on the spot when you introduced him to everyone. If I had to guess, maybe he’s the type to just ramble when he’s nervous. Pretty harmless.” She nodded, her knowing smile widening. “Although, I will admit that it takes some getting used to when you’re on the receiving end of it. It can be charming. Usually.”

“That sounds… exhausting,” Applejack interjected, tilting her head.

Twilight exhaled as a bemused expression surfaced on her face. “You have no idea.” She walked over to the mirror’s location before placing a hand over its surface. Magical energies spiraled into existence, igniting as a portal materialized. Twilight turned back to face her friends. “It’s almost time for me to go.”

“Before you return home, I can’t help but voice my opinion on something,” Rarity voiced out, furrowing her brow. “You alluded to him helping us, and the way you spoke with him was so familiar. It was as if you knew who he was.”

Rainbow Dash sped forth until she was mere inches away from Twilight, raising a finger. “Yeah. It would explain why you were cozy with that weirdo. Spill the beans, already!”

Clearing her throat, Twilight giggled sheepishly as the temperature in her face rose. “Okay. You’ve got me. I know who he is.” She waved her hands defensively, shaking her head upon noticing everyone’s widened gazes. “But it’s not my place to tell you exactly who he is. That wouldn’t be fair to him.”

“Okay. That’s fair, but what can you tell us about him?” Applejack interjected, arching a brow.

Pausing, Twilight smiled as she caressed the ruby around her neck. Well to put it simply, he’s my husband. In my world, I mean.”

Almost in unison, the entire group erupted into a mixture of bewildered yet joyous cheers. Rarity was the first to jump forward, cupping Twilight’s face in the palms of her hands. “I should have known! You had this glow about you!”

“That’s great and all, but what the heck? How old are you? You don’t look that much older than us. When did this happen?” Rainbow Dash questioned, tapping her foot impatiently.

Twilight hummed, shrugging. “When it comes to interdimensional travel, time progresses differently between realities. What was a few weeks when I was last here for you girls was almost twenty years for me.” She trailed off, motioning a finger about. “This is technically the fourth reality I’ve been to, and in every one, my appearance has changed drastically. I can go over the hypothesis as to why that happens.”

Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash grumbled under her breath. “Save the geek talk. My head hurts enough already.”

“Well, I get it,” Sunset politely affirmed, holding a smile. “So, what’s he like? Is it Flash?”

Fluttershy twiddled her fingers together, slowly lifting her gaze. “Is he nice?”

Twilight smirked. “It’s not Flash. That’s the only hint you’ll get from me.” Slow to respond, the girl paced in place before holding her gaze skyward. “Well, he’s very sweet, considerate, patient, optimistic, intelligent, responsible, and funny… when he isn’t trying to annoy me. And he’s a bit of a goofball. Life is never boring with him. He’s a great husband and father. To this day, he’s still as awkward and misunderstood as ever.”

“Father? You mean, you’re a mother, too?” Rarity blurted out, her tone light in spite of the expression she bore. “Darling, you can only keep so many secrets.”

Rainbow Dash frowned. “Either way, your guy sounds great, but how do you know this version is the same?”

“That’s true. I don’t know. There are already some differences,” Twilight stated, pausing before freeing her gaze from the starlit sky. “I’ve known him for a long time and given birth to three of his children. Trust me. The similarities are there. The most I can say is that it’s probably the last person you’d ever expect.”

Everyone in the group closed the gap, each taking the time to share an embrace with Twilight individually. Sunset kept her distance, glancing to the side, but she inhaled sharply as a pair of arms wrapped around her neck. Twilight tightened her hold, prompting the red-haired girl to do the same. Everyone joined in, almost refusing to part, but they soon loosened their grip, pausing to share a glance with Twilight.

“Take care of yourselves,” Twilight grinned, alternating her gaze between all of her friends. She approached the portal, pausing momentarily. “I have to hurry back, before someone decides to check on me.”

Just as Twilight readied to step through the swirling energy, a being with fair yet tanned skin tumbled past her and rolled to a halt. Everyone paused, staring blankly at the individual as they struggled to stand. Their violet and pink locks resembled Twilight’s, while their bright hazel irises sat comfortably behind a large pair of glasses. Soon, the individual stood, patting Twilight’s shoulder and grinned uncontrollably. Everyone stared at the pair, their resemblance uncanny.

“Whoa! Check this reality, huh?! I’ve got fingers again!” the girl exclaimed, holding her hand mere inches away from her face. She paused, eyeing the surrounding group. “Hey, look! There’s everyone! Miss Pinkie! Auntie Applejack! Auntie Skittles!” Humming, she alternated her gaze between every member of the group and paced in place. “Of all the possibilities of the multiverse: teenagers! I bet Dad would get a kick out of this!”

Rainbow Dash blinked, her brow twitching involuntarily. “W-What did you call me?! Don’t call me that!”

“Twilight? Is this your sister?” Applejack questioned, ignoring Rainbow Dash’s evident frustration.

Exhaling, Twilight’s expression grew blank. “No. This is my oldest child, Mayday Sparkle.”

“You forgot the Pa– Ow!” Mayday exclaimed before Twilight’s elbow thrust into her side.

Twilight shook her head. “I left that out intentionally. Now, shush before we risk throwing this world off balance for your father.” Faster than anyone could react, Twilight grabbed Mayday by the end of her braided ponytail and dragged her towards the portal. “On that note, we’re leaving. Goodbye, everyone.”

“Oh, come on! I didn’t get to see anything!” Mayday whined, wiggling uselessly as Twilight smiled and waved farewell to her friends.

Both girls vanished behind the magical energies of the portal before the light within the mirror dissipated. Soon after, the mirror lost all of its glow, and everyone shared a glance with each other. Meanwhile, on the other side of the portal, Twilight trotted through the castle halls while she grew in stature, her hair morphing to an ethereal form. Mayday pouted, snorting as both mares retook their equine forms. Just as they paused, a light-brown stallion with an unkempt mane walked towards them with a grin.

Twilight returned the gesture, lowering her head before brushing the side of her muzzle against his affectionately. “Hi, Peter.”

“Did you girls have fun?” he questioned, chuckling as their moods were evidently opposite of each other.

Mayday shook her head, throwing a hoof overhead. “I would have had more fun if Mom let me explore that alternate dimension!” Exasperated, the mare let out a defeated sigh before departing. “If you need me, I’ll be in the lab.”

The stallion chuckled sarcastically, turning his gaze to Twilight. “Sounds like you had fun. Meet anyone interesting?”

Twilight smiled, winking. “You could say that I just met the cutest boy I’ve ever seen.”

Peter snorted, arching a brow. “I get that it’s me, but it’s still a little awkward. Now, I get why you felt a bit off when I made a pass at younger, alternate you a few months back, during the whole broken Tablet adventure.”

“I do have to ask though,” Twilight questioned, her voice low. “It sounds like things are only going to get more challenging for you there. You’re so young, but it already feels like the world’s against you.”

Sobering, Peter inhaled deeply before eventually sighing. “I’ll be fine. It’s me, after all. If there’s anything good, I’ll gravitate to it and make the most of it.” Glancing to the side, the stallion hummed. “I just wonder who will fill in that gap for me there?”

“Did you hear about how the Rainbooms saved everyone at the concert last night?” a girl questioned in a group, holding out her phone to a nearby friend.

A second nodded, raising her hands. “I was there. I remember seeing three monsters being blasted by a giant rainbow horse that they summoned. It was rad!”

Another emerged with her phone in hand, pecking at its screen. “Hold on! There’s a live podcast going over what happened.”

“You were at the concert last night? I can only imagine how scary it must have been,” Jameson stated, easing back into his seat. “Tell the viewers once again what you saw, Diamond.”

Diamond Tiara raised a finger and waved it. “It was most certainly scary, Uncle Jonah! The concert was fun at first, but suddenly, everything grew hazy before I lost consciousness. My friend, Flash Thompson, helped me up. He’s so brave! Call me, Flash!” She paused, clearing her throat before brushing a hand through her light violet hair. “Anyway, it was then that I saw three weird monsters and Spider-Man at the center of the stage! It was then that the Rainbows unleashed a huge magical blast and wiped them all out! They vanished, but I saw Spider-Man swinging off afterwards.”

Jameson snorted, slamming a fist against his desk. “He was no doubt running away from the scene of the crime. You even confirmed he was singing with those banshees! As soon as his lackeys were dealt with, he ran off with his tail between his legs. A cowardly menace to the core!” He sharply pointed at the camera before snatching it away, holding it firmly onto Diamond Tiara. “Is this what our neighborhood is reduced to? My beautiful little niece and your children can’t even enjoy a simple night of music without Spider-Man trying to ruin everything!”

Diamond Tiara growled, edging closer towards the camera until her face was mere inches away from the lens. “We will continue to expose that wall-crawling arachnid for the menace that he is! Thanks to your support, we have garnered well over ten thousand followers overnight on our podcast and patreon! Don’t let up! We’ll drive Spider-Man out and make Canterlot a safe city again!” She cleared her throat, fluttering her eyelashes seductively. “We accept all forms of payment!”

Jameson chuckled. “This is Just the Facts with J. Jonah Jameson!”

Peter passed by the group, rolling his eyes. “Just my luck. I saved the day, and I’m still blamed for what happened.” He continued to walk down the hallway in a huff, lost in his own thoughts. “Sometimes, the silent heroism shtick is overrated.”

“Oh! There you are!” someone cried out, stumbling into place. Peter’s cranium rang slightly, prompting him to hold out a hand, and he caught hold of a girl, preventing her from careening into the wall. She peeked up with a widened, albeit crossed, gaze and smiled widely. “Hi, Peter!”

Taken aback, Peter’s eyes shot open. “Whoa, Ditzy! Where’s the fire?”

After the young man helped the girl back to a firm vertical base, Ditzy giggled lightly. “Sorry! I was worried! I never got a call from you last night, and after I heard what happened at the concert, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Wow. That means a lot. Thanks. I’m glad you’re okay, too,” Peter whispered before nodding. Like lightning to a rod, a realization struck his mind. “Ah, about the phone number. I would have called, but I think you accidentally left out a few numbers.”

Ditzy’s face flushed as she threw her head down shamefully. “Oh, no! I had a feeling that I messed it up! Let me make it up to you!” She took out a slip of paper from her pocket, pausing to write digits onto its surface. However, she slowly read back over what was written twice before nodding confidently. She surrendered the slip to Peter, earning a warm smile from the young man. “I have to run to class, but I’ll see you later!” Just as Peter readied to respond, Ditzy reared forward and planted a soft yet firm kiss onto his cheek, causing the temperature in his face to rise. “Thanks, again!” she said sweetly.

Once she parted, the girl rushed off. His thoughts ran wild, rampant like a tornado, but Peter managed a smile, nodding inwardly.

“Maybe the hero shtick isn’t all bad, after all,” he chuckled, “I can get used to that.”

Finally returning to the world of the living, Peter began to resume his journey to class. However, a bright image caught his eyes, prompting the young man to stop in his tracks. A small poster rested against the main entrance to the gymnasium, with an image of Spider-Man illustrated onto its surface. Peter’s eyes widened at the sight as they scrolled through the walls of text underneath.

“Join the Spider-Man Fanclub created by… Flash Thompson?!” he blurted out, clearing his throat upon receiving befuddled gazes from passing by students. Once certain they were out of sight and hearing range, Peter continued to read through the text on the poster. “The news thinks Spidey is a bad guy. For those that know he’s a hero, this is the club for you. Sign your name and help spread the word! Anyone can join!” Peter only chuckled under his breath as he scrolled through the page further, placing a finger over a faint signing. “Well, I’ll be. There’s already a small handful of signatures. Maybe there’s hope for me and Eugene yet. Although, it looks like someone had a bad pen. I can’t even read this name, unless they were writing for an ant.”

“Hey,” a voice softly called from behind, prompting Peter to turn to the sound. Trixie stood idle, glancing to the side, as if ashamed to make eye contact. Her usual confidence was not present, evident by her uncharacteristically soft tone. She bit down on her lip before finally lifting her softened gaze. “I take it you’re well?”

Peter blinked, furrowing his brow. “I’m okay. Are you?”

Trixie shook her head. “To be frank, I’m not. I have to apologize to you.”

“That’s… pleasantly out of character for you,” Peter bluntly stated, clearing his throat once Trixie winced in response. Scratching the back of his head, the young man sobered and frowned. “Sorry. Bad timing. As far as I know, everyone was acting weird. Don’t sweat it. I was a jerk, too.”

Reaching out, Trixie gently took hold of Peter’s arm. “Listen! I said something really cruel to you, and I can’t stress enough that I didn’t mean any of it. I threw you into that trap door because I was afraid of what else I would say. I didn’t want to risk hurting you more than I already did.”

Taken aback, Peter stared at the girl with a stunned silence. He opened his mouth, ready to respond, but Trixie wrapped her arms around his neck, choking back a sob. Their gazes never averted from each other.

“Wow. You’re really upset about this. I honestly didn’t think you liked me at all,” Peter lightly stated, feeling the temperature in his face rise.

Trixie sniffled, managing a smile as her eyes welled with tears. “Are you kidding? You’re my favorite bumpkin! I’d never hurt you intentionally. I’ll treat you to ice cream after school. Just please… Forgive me.”

Peter nodded, droning as he lost himself briefly in the girl’s violet gaze. “Yeah, sure. We’re good.”

I’m

Inhaling deeply before releasing a relieved sigh, Trixie hastily pulled away from Peter and brushed a hand through her silver-blue hair. “Excellent! Now that we are squared away, you can begin making it up to me by catching up on our Advanced Physics assignment.”

Exasperated, Peter blankly stared at the girl with a bemused glare. “You know, I was almost enjoying it, when you weren’t being obnoxiously bossy.” As if failing to hear his complaint, Trixie waved a hand dismissively and marched away. Slow to respond further, Peter’s brow twitched involuntarily before he simply followed Trixie. “And just like that, life goes on. I’ll never understand that girl.”

The day had progressed as normal, with everyone recollecting the events of last night. Peter found a moment to himself, taking a seat on a lone bench at the courtyard. He paused, eyeing the watch on his wrist before sliding his sleeve back over it.

“For once in my life, I’m early,” Peter huffed, shifting his gaze skyward. “Wonder where Trixie and Sunset are? I could really go for that ice cream. I’m starving.”

Suddenly, a hooded figure walked up to the bench. “Here you are,” she whispered, pausing to pull back her hood. A large pair of pigtails were freed, revealing Aria as she coolly shared a glance with Peter. “Hey. Can we talk?”

“Aria? Yeah, sure,” Peter responded, sliding to the edge of the bench. Once the girl accepted the seat, he blinked. “How’d you find me?”

Crossing her arms and legs, Aria frowned. “We still sense and feed on negative emotions. Compared to everyone, you still stick out to us. Your scent is just too recognizable.”

Peter huffed. “Maybe I’ll start going to therapy if I’m that negative.” Pursing his lips, the young man alternated his gaze about. “So, if you girls know who I am, what’s keeping you all from spilling the beans to everyone?”

Aria snorted under her breath. “You don’t have to worry about that. Sonata’s head is in the clouds. She’s probably already forgotten who you are.” She huffed, closing her eyes. “Adagio may hate you, but she won’t exploit your secret. To her, you’re a long term meal plan.”

“Great. I’m an open buffet. Better than the alternative, I guess,” Peter replied, easing back into his seat. He shared a glance with Aria as his eyes softened. “What about you?”

Shrugging, Aria lowered her gaze. “I’m not going to say anything. To be honest, you’re not that bad to be around.”

Peter’s eyes widened. “Really? I figured you would be upset.”

“No. That was Adagio’s plan. I was just along for the ride,” Aria replied, folding her arms. The corner of her lips curled into a smirk. “Plus, it’s always good to see Adagio eat crow. I mean, it sucks that I’m stuck here, but I guess this one stings less, because you were the one to end it. If anything? I’m grateful.”

Blinking, Peter scratched the back of his head. “This is so weird. You’re the second bad guy I fought that’s actually being reasonable. If this keeps up, I might just become a counselor.”

A genuine laugh escaped from Aria’s mouth as she shook her head. “I’ve fed on your emotions, buddy. If anyone needs counseling, it’s you.”

“I can’t refute or deny this. Maybe you can be my counselor? After we talked yesterday, I’ve felt better in more ways than I could imagine,” Peter interjected, chuckling.

Aria frowned as her brow furrowed. “I can’t explain that. Usually, when we feed on someone’s negativity, it drains them physically, but it looked like it had the opposite effect on you. So, you either have serious issues, or you can physically take it.” She frowned, staring at the young man dumbly before shrugging. “I’m willing to say you fit both of those scenarios. If it keeps you from going over the edge, we can talk, if you’re ever feeling down. It lets you vent, and it feeds me for a while.”

“Sounds like a good deal. We can start now, with you filling in a gap,” Peter stated while raising three fingers. “Okay. Some questions. What’s your relation to the others? What are you exactly? And what were you trying to accomplish?”

Aria blinked before huffing. “Oh, you mean Adagio and Sonata? They’re my sisters. We’re sirens, banished here from an alternate reality, like that pony princess girl who zapped us. Apparently, Twilight whatever-her-name-is knew all about us.” Tilting her head to the side, Aria held a blank stare at Peter. “You know, you’re taking this pretty well. Most people would assume I’m crazy by now.”

Slow to respond, Peter stammered slowly. “I mean, I don’t get how magic works here, but I’m a dude who was bitten by a radioactive spider and got superpowers from it. Aliens have tried taking over the world before. There’s a guy in the Avengers who was zapped by gamma radiation and becomes a rage-filled, smashing monster. Not to mention, the literal God of Thunder hangs around New York, who I hear is a pretty chill guy. What you’re saying is weird, but not the most unusual thing.”

“Oh, yeah. I remember reading about those guys. I guess magic has just desensitized me to crazy,” Aria bluntly declared, rolling her eyes.

He pursed his lips, frowning. “So, what you turned into was a product of magic, or were you retaking your original forms? Are you angry seahorses or something?”

Aria raised a finger and opened her mouth, ready to respond, but she glanced to the side, as if considering the young man’s question. “I refuse to answer that question,” she whispered, her cheeks flushing to a shade of pink. Eventually, she cleared her throat. “Adagio’s plan was to take over the city and use the people to sustain ourselves. And because we can influence with our singing, it sounded simple enough.”

Peter chuckled under his breath. “Honestly, that could have gone badly for you girls. You make enough noise, and the hammer will come down on you. Literally, what if Thor and the Avengers came? Or the X-Men? I’m sure SHIELD would have been on top of you girls in seconds,” Scratching the back of his head, Peter grinned, “If anything, you’re lucky you got little ol’ me.”

Aria simply stared at Peter for what seemed like an eternity before she slammed the palm of her hand against her forehead. “So, we were doomed to fail regardless. I’m not surprised anymore.”

“So, what are you going to do now?” Peter questioned, furrowing his brow.

Slow to respond, Aria inhaled deeply before letting out a low sigh. “I don’t know. Think I’ll just keep my distance from Adagio for a while. I really don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Peter stood to his feet, brushing the dust from his pants. “Well, maybe you should hang out with us? I mean, we’re just a ragtag group of losers. We can call ourselves the Loser Brigade.”

Aria snorted. “What makes you think that sounds appealing in the least? It sounds like the absolute worst idea.”

Peter placed a hand on her shoulder, grinning. “Because you’d fit right in?”

“Yeah, I guess I would,” Aria chuckled weakly, nodding as she placed her hand over his briefly.

The pair shared a smile before Trixie and Sunset appeared, both holding skeptical expressions towards Aria.

However, Peter nodded and took a stance next to her side. Aria shook her head, huffing. “It’s complicated,” they both simply stated.

Trixie shrugged, waving a hand dismissively while marching onward. “Of course it is. You’re involved, Bumpkins. I suppose you can explain yourself over dessert.”

As everyone walked behind Trixie, Sunset alternated her gaze about before shrugging as well. “We’re doing this? I guess we’re doing this. Everyone deserves at least one second chance.”

Pausing, Trixie walked next to Peter and sharply pointed a finger at him. “This is my treat, but I’ve seen how much you eat! Don’t you dare be a glutton on my watch!”

Peter exhaled, shaking his head. “Sheesh, even when you’re being nice, you’re as fickle as ever.”

Aria watched her cohorts with a bemused glare. “This is really going to be the absolute worst.”

Throwing his arm around her shoulder, Peter grinned uncontrollably. “And you’ll love every second of it!”

“There’s no need to talk about it, because the truth of what one says lies in what one does.”
-Bernhard Schlink

The End