Ultimate Spiders and Magic: Episode IV "Friendship Games"

Chapters

Prologue: "Brilliant But Lazy"
Ch. 1: "Gold Standard"
Ch. 2: "The Truth Hurts"
Ch. 3 "Two Sides of a Coin"
Ch. 4 "Crossroads"
Ch. 5 "Rich in Kindness"
Ch. 7 "Night and Day"
Epilogue: "Endless Possibilities"
Ch. 6 "The Friendship Games"

Prologue: "Brilliant But Lazy"

Prologue “Brilliant But Lazy”

On the school grounds, there was one rule: only the elite shall thrive. Peter sat in the chair of the principal’s office with a furrowed brow while Twilight fidgeted in place next to him. Apparently, he had not learned to follow that rule accordingly. In typical Parker fashion, he fit in about as well as a rabbit blending in with a pack of serpents. If his peers could eat him, they most certainly would have quite figuratively.

Peter sat in the chair, expecting the worst-case scenario as a woman with light-blue skin and various shades of violet curled hair pulled in a neat bun sorted through an array of papers on her desk. She straightened the glasses on her face, arching a brow as she surveyed a document. The pair sat in silence for what felt like eons, with the woman alternating her icy blue gaze between the young man and the paper in her hand.

“I don’t believe this,” she whispered, her tone dark and ominous.

Twilight rose in her seat with her hands cupped together. “I’m sorry, Principal Cinch. I tried, but Peter is always missing his assignments and falling asleep in class. He–”

“What happened wasn’t her fault. I didn’t get that much sleep, and–” Peter stated, lifting his head briefly.

“Silence, children,” Cinch harshly declared, causing both individuals to wince in response. Arching a brow, the woman glanced at Peter. “You mean to tell me that in spite of his lack of interest, Peter managed to score the highest in Crystal Prep’s history on his IQ, SAT, and ACT tests?”

Slack-jawed, Twilight’s complexion paled. “What?” She stood from her seat, sharply alternating her gaze between Cinch and Peter. “How is that possible?! He slept through most of it!”

“Do you realize how bad this makes us look here at Crystal Prep?” Cinch questioned, easing back into her seat momentarily. “While we may not be the number one in the nation, we pride ourselves on being top ten in academics and sports. You were the perfect representative for us, so imagine the horrific implications of Mister Parker becoming the face of our school.”

Peter stared blankly at the woman as he dug his pinkie finger through his ear. “I mean, there are worse options out of there than me. You can have a dictator like Doctor Doom? Just a thought. Even if that’s the most extreme example.”

Principal Cinch huffed as her face scrunched into a scowl. “You’re joking, right? Clearly you don’t see the ramifications of this situation. We are a school that prides itself on due diligence and hard work. The idea of a lackadaisical slacker becoming our poster child ruins our public image.” She pulled up two pieces of paper before placing them at the center of the table, pointing at one. “Twilight, your results are impressive. You scored 31 out of 36 on your ACT, 1400 out of 1600 on your SAT, and your IQ tested at an astounding 180.”

Blinking, Twilight smiled and giggled. “Those are my personal best yet! That means I set another record for Crystal Prep’s scores!”

“Don’t sound so proud. You would have set the record had you not just been outclassed!” Cinch barked, standing from her seat before slamming her hand over the desk. Twilight fell back into her seat as the principal grabbed the second sheet, holding it inches from her face. “You said Parker slept through all of his tests? I put you in charge of overseeing his progress and to ensure that he performed at the highest standard. If so, how did he manage to outscore you so laughably? He scored 35 out of 36 on his ACT, 1580 out of 1600, and his IQ results are roughly north of 250. Sounds like he would have scored perfectly had he actually been alert.”

Twilight held a hand over the side of her head as a look of disbelief formed on her face. “That’s not possible. It’s not right.” She glanced to the side, shaking her head in disbelief. “He had only two hours to take the entire test, and he slept through an hour and a half of it!”

The woman stepped from behind the desk before stepping between both students. “We have much to discuss regarding your future at Crystal Prep, Mister Parker. You are an absolute prodigy! I see now that my old standards are too low as you have set the bar to higher degrees. While the reputation of Crystal Prep is my top priority, I do indeed care about your future. It would be irresponsible of me to let such potential wither and die.”

Furrowing his brow, Peter frowned. “I don’t know. I still don’t think I belong here.”

Twilight leaned forward in her seat, shaking her head. “Principal Cinch, please reconsider this. He clearly doesn’t want to be here. You shouldn’t waste your energy on someone who doesn’t care about intellectual growth.”

“Be quiet, child.”Cinch coldly declared. “You have a lot of work to do. I clearly handled your teachings poorly, seeing as how far behind you are. Let Mister Parker be the standard you could only hope to match.” She waved a hand dismissively at Twilight. “We will talk later. Please leave.”

Twilight clenched her fists tightly, pulling at her skirt before she stood to leave. However, she stole a glance at Peter with a venomous glare and whispered, “I hate you.”

Once the girl rushed out of the room, Cinch cleared her throat while never averting her gaze from Peter. “This clearly shows you are brilliant, but lazy. However, I can unlock your true potential and shape you into a true representative of Crystal Prep. You just need to be properly stimulated and challenged.” She offered her hand, smiling darkly. “Let me guide you to a better tomorrow.”

The sun steadily rose over the horizon, giving light to those in its wake. Spider-Man swung across the air on a strand of webbing, relinquishing his hold upon nearing a rooftop. He placed his hands on its edge before leaning forward into a roll, and in one fluid motion, he launched himself through the sky with increased momentum. Some of the citizens at ground level watched his aerial acrobatics, pointing with enthusiasm, while others took out their phones in hopes of capturing him on video.

However, a group of people began to boo, voicing their displeasure, and it quickly spread, with dozens more joining. Groaning under his breath, Spider-Man tapped the side of one of his masked eyes. A small beep could be heard within his ear as a small picture of Jameson appeared at the corner of his screen. Spider-Man lifted his legs before throwing himself even higher in the air midswing, flipping for seconds until he managed to land perfectly on his feet on a rooftop.

“Is this thing on? Jared! Turn up the volume!” Jameson roared before clearing his throat. He glanced to the side, smacking the desk. “What do you mean I’m blowing out the microphone?! Fix that and turn it up!” Clearing his throat again, the man straightened his posture before raising a finger. “This is Just the Facts with J. Jonah Jameson. I love the city of Canterlot. Some of you have pointed out that this isn’t really my home. I’m new here. I will admit that, but I can firmly say that in the 3 weeks I have been here, Canterlot has become my home away from home. I love this city and its colorful inhabitants.” Pausing, Jameson arched a brow to the side before scowling at someone off screen. “That comment wasn’t meant to be racist! Stop reaching, Jared! My niece is literally pink!”

“Uncle John! Remember what Auntie said! Watch your blood pressure!” Diamond Tiara chimed from a distance.

Nodding, Jameson inhaled deeply before sighing. “Anyway. It’s been three whole weeks since Spider-Man perched himself into our fine city of Canterlot, and what has happened since? Just one disaster after another.” He trailed off, pointing at three separate images on his screen. “That freak has vandalized our sign in hopes of shutting us up, but he has another thing coming if he thinks we’ll be silenced by his antics! The first amendment of this great nation protects freedoms of the press so that we can speak the truth to power! Especially if that power is as destructive and reckless as that menace, Spider-Man!”

The camera quickly shifted to Diamond Tiara as she lightly powdered her nose. Her eyes widened at the realization before she tossed her items to the side, hastily straightening her posture. “Second, Spider-Man endangered everyone at the Battle of the Bands by subjecting us to his awful singing! We were supposed to have fun, and that menace made it all about him!” Pausing, the young girl nodded before fluttering her large eyes at the nearest camera. “Don’t forget to vote for me for this year’s Freshman President!”

“That’s a real go-getter, ladies and gentlemen,” Jameson proudly declared, smiling briefly before his face twisted back into a scowl. “Lastly, instead of leaving it to the proper authorities, Spider-Man decides to be a hotshot and fight the Juggernaut near Canterlot High School and the middle of our city, causing lord knows how much collateral damage! What’s next? A brawl in a retirement home?! Are you afraid of that possibility? Good! The sky’s the limit for that freak, and we have to take all the possibilities into consideration.”

Diamond Tiara huffed. “What’s worse is that there is a small group of you foolish enough to idolize this menace. There’s even a fanclub for Spider-Man at my school! We have to be better than this!”

Slamming his open palm onto the table, Jameson sharply stood from his seat as a hand steadily crept on screen, before easing his cup of coffee away from the edge. “Give me time, people! I just got a volunteer to enlist in a program that can help deal with our Spider problem! This is personally being funded by Oscorp’s Norman Osborn! Stay tuned!”

Spider-Man tapped the side of his mask, cutting off the broadcast. “Glad to see my adoring public is as warm as ever. I can finally throw away my blanket,” he grumbled, sliding his backpack’s straps around his shoulders. “As much as I’d like to refute, ol’ Picklepuss has a point. I’m finding new ways to make a mess while saving the day.”

Just as he placed his backpack down, a commotion erupted from the street. A small dog raced across the sidewalk with a broken collar, cutting past everyone in its path. The street itself remained busy, as cars sped by before the dog ventured in their path, skidding to a halt. The animal slammed its eyes shut, bracing for impact, but just as a car readied to roll over it, Spider-Man swung across the air on a strand of webbing, scooping the dog into his arm.

“Hey! Bad doggo! You can’t go playing in traffic!” Spider-Man declared, his masked eyes furrowing. The costumed hero landed on the sidewalk, glancing at the street before gazing at the tiny ball of floof in his grasp. The dog’s eyes widened while the corners of its muzzle curled into a smile, and it panted happily, licking Spider-Man’s face affectionately. He could only let out a defeated sigh, scratching the back of the animal’s ear. “Okay. You’re forgiven. I can’t stay mad at someone so cute!”

“Oh, thank you so much!” a voice called out from behind, prompting Spider-Man to turn towards the source. A girl with bright, fair skin ran to him, her long, pink hair flowing in the wind, and she held several dogs back by their leashes while they pulled eagerly. “That one is really energetic and likes to run off! You’re a lifesaver! I–” she trailed off upon lifting her gaze, catching sight of Spider-Man. . “Oh, my. Um…”

Spider-Man’s masked eyes furrowed as his thoughts ran rampant. “Wait a second. I remember this girl. She’s the quiet one from Sunset’s other group of friends. Great. I’m probably scaring the heebie jeebies out of her.” They stood in an awkward silence for what felt like eons as she quietly stared at the costumed man. Spider-Man alternated his gaze about, scratching the back of his head sheepishly, stammering once the dog in his grasp continued to lick his face affectionately. “Okay. Um… I should probably get going. Got Spider-Man stuff to do.”

“Wait!” the girl exclaimed, stepping forward while squeaking happily. Spider-Man fidgeted in place before slowly surrendering the dog to her and placing it down, allowing the girl to reapply the collar. Her opened mouth formed into a smile as she eventually accepted the item. Spider-Man heeded her call, pausing, and the dogs in her grasp surrounded him, each taking a moment to sniff his legs. All of the canines’ tails wagged happily as the costumed man lowered to a knee, petting each to the best of his ability. The girl smiled widely as the tiniest dog of the pack jumped onto its hind legs eagerly, leaning onto Spider-Man’s leg amidst the windstorm of affection from the hounds. “Are you the real Spiderman?”

“I am,” Peter declared, standing back upright before raising a finger. “I can tell you said it without the hyphen. Easy mistake. It’s Spider Hyphen Man.” His masked eyes widened as a realization came to mind. “Aren’t you scared of me?”

The girl blinked before furrowing her brow in confusion. “No. Why would I be?”

Slow to respond, the costumed man tilted his head to the side. “Because this city kind of hates me? I mean, the media calls me a menace on a good day and some not-so friendly terms on a bad one.”

Her eyes widened a little at his words briefly before the girl slowly shook her head. “Oh no. I would never hate you.”

Taken aback, he stammered while easing away. “Are you sure about that? ‘Never’ is a really long time, and it usually doesn’t take me long to disappoint those around me. I mean, you could find out I'm actually a total jerk, just some loser, a freak of nature, or all three at the same time knowing my luck.”

The girl simply smiled. "Twilight was right about you."

Spider-Man froze at the comment, his masked eyes narrowing before staring at her intently. “Hold on. What?”

She closed her eyes briefly as she covered her statement with a small laugh, shaking her head as she stood to her feet. "Nothing."

The costumed man followed suit, standing before folding his arms. "You know, this isn't normally how these sorts of encounters go. I’m used to just swinging off after a rescue or whatever because most people don't want anything to do with me. They either boo, throw trash at me, or hide their kids. I’m trying to work on being less creepy.”

Her eyes softened. “I can tell that you’re just misunderstood. Spiders often are. Despite being helpful, they rarely get the thanks that they deserve. You helped us at the Battle of the Bands, and I never got the chance to actually thank you. Besides, you couldn’t be a bad guy if these puppies adore you. Dogs are a great judge of character, you know,” she stated, glancing down at the dogs as they all happily stared at Spider-Man with wagging tails. Her cheeks then flushed to a shade of pink, matching her hair before she glanced to the side. “Plus, I’m… um... actually a fan of yours. There’s even a fan club at our school dedicated to you.”

“Sorry. What?” Spider-Man blurted out, never shifting his bug-like stare from the girl. He chuckled nervously, waving a hand dismissively. “It almost sounded like you said you were a fan.”

The girl smiled. “That's because I did.”

Spider-Man’s neck cracked as his head snapped to the side. “Seriously? You are?”

There was a brief pause before her smile widened, the girl bashfully glancing off to the side. “Yes. I'm, uh, actually a really big fan of yours to be honest. A few others are, too.”

Taken aback, Spider-Man scratched his cheek with a finger. “Why? I mean, I’m flattered that such a pretty girl is a fan, but people usually think I’m creepy, since I look like a literal giant walking spider. If I had extra arms, eyes, and hair, that would totally be the case.”

The girl’s eyes widened as the temperature in her face rose even further. She turned her head to the side, almost to hide behind her hair. “You... really think that I’m pretty?”

“Absolutely. More than that, I’d say you’re very beautiful, really, and… I’m thinking out loud again,” Spider-Man grumbled as an exasperated expression formed on his masked face. Clearing his throat in a vain attempt to save face, he hopped onto the nearest wall and perched himself in place. “What’s your name, and what’s the club called?

The girl seemingly lost herself in a drift, evident by the glossy stare in her large blue eyes, but she evidently found her footing, nodding. “It’s the Spider-Man Appreciation Society, or the S.A.M.S. Club for short.” Her eyes widened briefly before she lowered her head politely. “Oh, and I’m Fluttershy by the way, um, Mister Spider-Man. ”

Spider-Man grinned while scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “You sure that isn’t copyright infringement? I hope you guys aren’t hit with a cease and desist. But hey! I can tell you’re using the hyphen. Thanks for that. And it’s just Spider-Man. No need for a ‘the’ or ‘mister’. We’re about the same age.”

Fluttershy’s smile widened. “Oh, good!” She paused, seemingly as if catching herself before glancing to the side while a saddened look formed on her face. “Anyway, I've taken up a lot of your time. You're probably really busy, and I should be going, too. Do you... think that we might see each other again?”

“Of course. I’m always in the neighborhood,” Spider-Man cheerfully declared, firing a strand of webbing onto the edge of a nearby rooftop.

She smiled before nodding. “I know. I see you all the time, actually.”

“Then you’re at the top of my priority list,” he chuckled, pausing before scoffing under his breath. “That came out weird. Never mind.”

He gave a nod in return, gesturing a friendly wave before leaping into the air and swinging into the distance. Fluttershy stared with a wide smile as the costumed man swung off, shaking her head briefly. She steadily resumed walking the dogs in her grip, all while stealing glances in Spider-Man’s direction as he whooped loudly enough for his voice to echo throughout the vicinity. Meanwhile, Peter eventually reached his destination and flipped to a landing on its rooftop.

“Not going to lie. That felt pretty good,” he mumbled, shifting his gaze skyward.

Exhaling, the young man took his backpack off before disrobing his costume. After a few seconds, Peter managed to put on his casual attire while tossing his tights deep into his bag. Flipping over the side of the building, he perched himself onto the wall and waited. Once certain no one was within his immediate vicinity, Peter landed to the ground before slowly exiting the alley.

“It’s hard to believe that I have a fan. I mean, there’s Flash, but I didn’t think there’d be others,” he whispered, glancing to the side with a furrowed brow. “I thought all of Sunset’s friends hated me, but maybe they’re turning around on me? Wishful thinking, so I will assume it’s just her. I’m fine with that. Maybe I can get to know her if I’m lucky?” Suddenly, a realization came into mind, evident by the bemused glare that formed on his face. “Oh, wait. I forgot that they hate both of me, whether it's Peter B. or Spider-Me. Man, this bites. That Fluttershy was super cute, too. Starting to think I’m just bad luck when it comes to, like, everything.” He shook his head, scoffing. “Hopefully, things will get better at the lab. Maybe Dracula will be nicer today.”

“Look who is late. Again,” Twilight sharply barked, glancing at Peter from the corner of her eye briefly before returning her attention to the braces on Spitfire’s legs. “I still don’t understand why Doctor Octavious would sully his name by hiring someone like you.”

Peter rolled his eyes, retrieving a lab coat from the nearest hanger before sliding it over his shoulders. “Nice to see you, too.” He walked up to both women, prompting Twilight to immediately distance herself from him. Once she reached the other side of the room, the girl began analyzing an array of spectrographs through a microscope. Peter shook his head before kneeling in front of Spitfire, narrowing his gaze on the gears within her leg bracers. “You meet the newest signee?”

Spitfire nodded, smirking. “She seems pretty nice. We were actually having a nice conversation before you walked in.” The woman arched her brow, catching sight of Twilight glaring at Peter from the corner of her eye briefly before she returned her attention to the microscope. Just as Spitfire pulled herself to a standing position, leaning onto the young man for support, she let out a low sigh. “Did you spit in her cereal or something? I know that look, and there’s clearly no love lost between you two. That girl straight up hates you.”

Peter frowned, glancing to the side as he walked backward with Spitfire leaning on him. “That’s the thing. I don’t know. I only interacted with her a little back at Crystal Prep, but it feels like she’s had it out for me since day one.” A scent entered Peter’s senses, causing him to tilt his head to the side. “Are you wearing perfume? I didn’t think you were the type. It’s good on you.”

“You’re the only one who noticed. Thanks. I like to change things every now and then,” Spitfire whispered, tightening her grip on Peter’s forearms as she took slow steps across the room. “Unintentional or otherwise, you crossed her, and it looks personal.”

Peter weakly smiled. “Sounds about right. Everyone seems to hate me for just existing.”

Spitfire chuckled. “Off topic, are you going to be participating in the Friendship Games? You’d steamroll the competition.”

“And I’d risk giving myself away,” Peter whispered, shaking his head. Spitfire’s knee buckled momentarily, causing the woman to collapse, but Peter leaned forward, pulling her into an embrace. Clearing his throat, the young man helped eased Spitfire to her seat before unclipping the brace from her limb. “I’m staying out of it. I wasn’t an athlete before the accident, and it’d be unfair to everyone. It wouldn’t be right if I used my abilities for personal gain.”

Spitfire chuckled, reaching out until her hand was inches away from the young man’s face. “Keep talking like that, and you’re going to make me blush.”

Frowning, Peter narrowed his gaze as he analyzed the brace in his grasp. “I’m being serious.”

“So am I,” Spitfire grinned, playfully flicking the side of Peter’s forehead. As the young man walked to the desk behind her, she nodded. “That’s pretty mature and honorable. It’s a shame you’re on the young side.” Sobering, Spitfire leaned back into her seat. “I just hope you’ll find a good excuse to stay out of it. I hear rumblings that Canterlot High is really determined to break their losing streak this year.”

Peter nodded. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. Trixie really seems on edge about it.”

Smirking, Spitfire leaned her chin against her hand. “There’s trouble in paradise? I’ve noticed you’ve been awfully quiet about the redhead lately.”

“With Sunset? Honestly, I don’t know,” Peter questioned, taking a screwdriver in hand before loosening up a central gear in the brace. Furrowing his brow, the young man hummed under his breath. “She says things are complicated and needs time to figure stuff out. I don’t know. She was really vague about it.”

Slow to respond, Spitfire shrugged. “To be fair, you did come here at an odd time. She’s very different now than how she was when she first got here. Very… alpha. That girl would have chewed you up and spit you out if you met back then.” Taking a bottle of water in hand, the woman paused to drink some of the cool substance before responding further. “It really does feel like she’s undergoing changes, and maybe she’s afraid to let you in. Your guess is as good as mine. Give her time to figure things out. Once the world makes a little more sense, she’ll come around.”

“How long could that be?” Peter lightly asked, arching a brow.

“If you’re lucky? Maybe a few days? If I’d have to say, it’d be by the time you graduate,” she declared, clearing her throat after a few seconds. “From college.”

The brace squeaked in protest as Peter tightened his grip, the steel folding under pressure. Taken aback, the young man let out a defeated sigh while surveying the damage. “Ah, crumbs.”

“Parker!” Twilight howled, slack-jawed before speeding from across the room in a flash. “You clumsy oaf! I needed that!” Her hands trembled as she held them out, resisting the urge of every fiber in her being to strangulate Peter on the spot. However, Doctor Octavious entered the room with a small carrier case in hand, and he paused, arching a brow at the sight of his pupils. Twilight’s demeanor softened immediately as she gazed upon her mentor, all while sharply pointing a finger at Peter. “Doctor Octavious! Peter was late (again), and in his carelessness, destroyed a valuable piece of equipment!”

Doctor Octavious straightened his shades. “It was just simple equipment, Twilight Sparkle. It was most certainly an accident. It can be replaced, and I’m certain Peter wouldn’t mind making some repairs.”

Peter nodded, tilting his head to the side as he stared intently at the brace. “Sure thing. I can even make some improvements if you give me a little time.”

Gritting her teeth, Twilight threw her hands high over her head. “That’s not fair, Doctor! You always go easy on him!” She paused to glance at the clock on the nearest wall. Inhaling deeply before sighing, the girl removed her lab coat before hanging it onto the nearest rack. She threw her purse strap over her shoulder while storming out of the lab. “Good day. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

Once the girl had closed the door behind her, completely exiting the vicinity, Peter exhaled. “Thanks, Doc. She hasn’t made things easy.”

Doctor Octavious waved a hand dismissively. “Weather the storm, my young friend. She reminds me of my old colleague to a degree. With time, she’ll come around.”

Peter’s brow twitched involuntarily. “I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, Doc.”

“Perk up, my boy! I have something that will cheer you up!” Octavious greeted, his smile as wide as the horizon. He retrieved a syringe from his case, edging closer to Peter until they were inches apart with an unsettling gleam in his eye. “A blood sample that you promised me!”

Slow to respond, Peter just stared at the man with bemusement. “I knew you were a little too forgiving, Doc.”

Meanwhile, Twilight walked out of the lab before retrieving a small device from her purse. “It’s fine. Just a minor setback. I came here to find the source of the energy anomalies here in Canterlot High.” She paused, placing the device within a golden locket before sliding it over her neck. “This is my chance to apply for Everton. I just have to find the anomalies causing the drastic energy spikes using my spectrometer.”

She turned, ready to depart, but something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Walking to a newspaper stand, the girl stared at the front page of the latest print. A rough sketch of a being sat in the shadows from a fair distance, staring ominously as rain poured over him. The main headline read “Masked Creature Continues to Stalk Canterlot. Who or What is the Spider-Man?”

Twilight narrowed her gaze at the picture, frowning intently. “Whatever is causing the disturbances has to do with him, and I’ll find out who he is. I swear.”

To Be Continued…

Ch. 1: "Gold Standard"

Chapter One “Gold Standard”

The sun peered through the clouds, allowing its light to spread throughout the land beneath. Sunset ran through the school courtyard, clutching at her purse as she passed several students. Making her way past the equine statue at the center of the courtyard, the girl eventually reached the main door at the front of Canterlot High. Rainbow Dash stood on the steps with her back turned, pausing to glance at Sunset from the corner of her eye.

Easing to a halt, Sunset’s eyes softened. “What’s wrong, Rainbow? What’s the emergency? Is it something having to do with magic? Do I need to get in touch with Twilight again?”

Applejack walked up to the pair with a bemused glare. “It’s not that kind of emergency, Sunset. If I had known any better, I would have stayed at the barn.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled sheepishly. “Well, it is a big deal.” She turned around with her guitar in hand, pointing a finger at a broken string. “I can’t perform with this, and I’ve got an audience.” Sunset turned to the side, furrowing her brow at a trio of younger girls sitting at the steps behind Rainbow. Each gestured a friendly wave, prompting Sunset to do the same. Rainbow posed, smirking while gripping her guitar tightly. “They want to see a taste of the magic we used to defeat those sirens! What kind of hero would I be to deny them that request?”

Scoffing as she approached, Rarity rolled her eyes and clutched a pair of pins in her hands tightly. “You made it sound so urgent! I was in the middle of customizing the cutest dress.”

Fluttershy frowned lightly, placing her hands over her hips. “I was giving the little animals at the vet their medication. Looks like I’ll have to start over when I get back.”

“And I had a pie in the oven! I had to take it out early,” Pinkie declared, popping up behind Rarity and Fluttershy with a finger raised. However, she simply shrugged and giggled afterward. “Oh, well. I can always make more.”

Shaking her head, Sunset reached into her backpack before retrieving an extra string. “Just be careful with this one.”

“No promises! When I rip and shred, I’m a wild animal!” Rainbow Dash grinned, riffing her guitar before pausing momentarily.

One of the girls leaned forward in her seat, narrowing her light violet gaze. “Is it true that you blasted some monsters with a rainbow pony cannon?” She stood from her position, holding out her hands while making explosive gestures with her hands and mouth. “That sounds so cool!”

The second straightened the large pink bow in her bright crimson hair before nodding. “You say that, Scoots, but I’m more interested in that Spider-Man fella! Does he have multiple arms, legs, and eyes?”

Scootaloo bounced to her feet. “Is he more of a spider or a man?”

Applejack furrowed her brow and shrugged. “I already told you that we don’t know much of anything about him, Applebloom. He just showed up and left.”

Scoffing, Rainbow Dash shook her head and waved a hand dismissively. “He just got in the way before I had to save the day!”

“Try not to think about him too much, girls. He is far too unsettling for anyone’s good,” Rarity declared, shuddering involuntarily.

Brushing a hand through her lavender hair, the third girl playfully tapped her elbow into Rarity’s side. “You’re just saying that because you’re afraid of spiders.”

Clearing her throat, Rarity paused as her face flushed. “Shush, Sweetie Belle.”

Rainbow Dash smirked, pausing before stealing a glance at her smiling pink-haired cohort. “You know something? You’ve been grinning nonstop all day. Like, way more than usual. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so hard before.” she questioned, freeing the girl from her self-induced trance. Blinking, she narrowed her gaze while placing a free hand over her hip. “Spill the beans already. What happened?”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened at the comment, causing her to blink rapidly before glancing to the side. “I wouldn’t say that anything happened. Well, maybe it did. I just met someone that I really admired yesterday, and it turns out that he is just as nice as I thought he’d be,” she nodded, gigging involuntarily, “Actually, he’s nicer. All of the dogs I was walking loved him.”

Rarity edged closer with an arched brow. “He? So, you met a boy then? That would most certainly explain the glow about you!” The corner of her lips curled into a devilish grin as a dark tint filled her eyes, all while she rubbed her hands together greedily. “Oh, Fluttershy, do share the details already! You’ve never really openly expressed an interest in boys before! Please! Hold nothing back!”

Shaking her head, Fluttershy continued to smile as her cheeks flushed to a shade of pink. “Um… I’ll tell you about it later.”

Rainbow Dash looked to the other girl, raising an open palm. “Hold on! You can’t just drop everything and leave it with a ‘I’ll tell you later’. That’s not how it works! We know you! If you don’t say anything now, we’ll never hear about it again!”

Clapping her hands together, Rarity grinned uncontrollably. “Goodness! Rainbow is right! You can’t just expect me not to pry now that we know you’re interested in someone! What is he like? Is he tall? Is he handsome? What’s his name?”

Just as Fluttershy opened her mouth to respond, everyone paused as someone approached. Peter whistled obliviously, walking accordingly to the music playing within his earbuds. Sunset lifted her head and smiled at the sight, but Rainbow frowned in response, clutching at her guitar. He paused momentarily upon glancing at the group, abruptly (and clumsily) lowering to a knee before tying the laces of his shoes.

“Real smooth, Parker!” he whispered, fumbling over the strings as if they were snakes avoiding his grasp.

Rarity walked to Sunset with a furrowed brow. “I have been meaning to ask you something, darling.” She alternated her gaze between Sunset and Peter as he mindlessly hummed to himself. “Just why is it that you associate with such nefarious company, Sunset? It goes without saying that they don’t exactly have the best reputation. The recent addition of that Aria girl has done them no favors either, after everything that’s happened at the Battle of the Bands.”

Sunset blinked. “What do you mean?”

Clearing her throat, Rarity was slow to respond as if she was considering her words carefully. “I’ve just noticed that you have taken in the company of questionable individuals recently, and I’m simply just worried that they will become a bad influence. You’ve worked so hard to make amends for your past mistakes, and I would hate for it to become unraveled thanks to a group of ruffians.”

A soft chuckle escaped from Sunset’s mouth. “Ruffians? They’re all harmless.”

Applejack crossed her arms as a look of uncertainty formed on her face. “Ditzy, sure. That girl’s just as clumsy as a bull in a chinashop, but what about the others? I saw that you added another to your ranks recently?”

Pinkie Pie emerged between the girls with a finger raised. “Oh, Eris! She’s the one who pranked Vice-Principal Luna with the whoopie cushion twice,” she giggled momentarily, “That was funny.”

“So funny that she’s still serving detention for it,” Rarity interjected, placing her hands over her hips.

Sunset waved a hand dismissively. “Eris just likes playing her share of pranks. Besides, Rainbow Dash does the same thing, right?”

Just as Rainbow Dash glanced to the side sheepishly, Applejack huffed. “That’s fair, but what about that siren, Aria?”

Slow to respond, Sunset pursed her lips before nodding. “You all gave me a chance after I messed up. I’m just doing the same for her. Apparently, she took a liking to Peter, so I’m just going along with the motions,” she paused, tracing a finger across her cheek, “Although, I’m pretty sure that Aria hates me for some reason. Half the time lately, it feels like she’s just glaring at me.”

“You’re not exactly doing the best at selling your case, dear. Besides, the difference between you and her is that you actually accepted our help,” Rarity declared, frowning before shaking her head, “We actually reached out to her a few times, and she was very rude to us. Is she always like that?”

Sunset stammered, hesitantly waving her hand from one side to another. “Aria’s just a little… dry.”

Rarity continued to hold a bemused gaze at the redheaded girl. “There’s dry, and there’s overly apathetic. I don’t think she intends to change her ways at all. We even tried talking with Adagio, and we were given the same response… with a bit of crude sign language as well.”

Pinkie Pie pursed her lips. “Oh! I thought she was telling us we were number one!”

Slow to respond, Sunset exhaled. “Okay. I admit that Aria isn’t the most welcoming person right now, but my point is that she isn’t doing anyone any harm,” Narrowing her gaze, Sunset waved a hand dismissively, “Give Aria some time. She gets along with everyone else in the group, so I imagine she’ll come around eventually.”

Rainbow smirked. “What about Trixie? She just used a trap door on us to keep us out of the Battle of the Bands, not to mention everything else about her claiming to be the most powerfulest or whatever.”

Sunset’s brow twitched as she gritted her teeth. “It’s. Not. A. Word. Stop it.”

Oblivious, Rainbow eyed her guitar, strutting its strings fiercely and swiftly until wings and ears materialized into existence onto her head and back. “How do you even stomach being around someone who’s so arrogant and self-absorbed?”

Exasperated, Sunset stared blankly at the girl before reaching out and grabbing her shoulder. “I’ve had a little practice,” she whispered, exhaling once Rainbow’s energetic wings and ears vanished from existence. Tracing a finger against her own cheek, Sunset hummed as if deeply considering the question for what seemed like minutes. “I mean, Trixie’s… um. Well, she can be… Uh…” the girl stammered aimlessly until she could only inhale deeply before letting out a sigh, shrugging. “Okay. I can’t defend Trixie. She’s a bit of a special case, but if you’re around her long enough, you just get used to it. Indefensible attitude and narcissism aside, she’s virtually harmless. All bark and no bite, you know?”

Applejack scoffed, rolling her eyes while chuckling. “If you say so.”

Huffing, Rainbow pointed at the young man in the distance while he finished tying his shoes. “What about him?”

Sunset blinked, humming as her gaze fell to the ground. “Peter is… a bit mysterious. I honestly don’t know what he’s thinking. Half the time, he runs off with little to no explanation. When we’re around each other, he’s super cute in a geeky way,” As her thoughts ran, Sunset glanced skyward while letting out a low sigh, “He seems pretty open with Aria and Eris, but it feels like he keeps me at arms length. It’s like he doesn’t trust me.”

“Are you certain that siren hasn’t put him back under a spell? You saw how prone to suggestion everyone was during the Battle of the Bands?” Rarity asked, holding a hand over her mouth.

Applejack winced. “Have you heard them try to sing without their magic? It’s like nails on a chalkboard.”

Waving a hand dismissively, Sunset huffed lightly. “No. It’s not that. Without those necklaces, they can’t control anyone. All they can do now is feed on negative emotions to sustain themselves,” Blinking, the girl chuckled sheepishly, “Really, Aria doesn’t even boss him around. Trixie does that enough for everyone.”

“What could he possibly have to hide that isn’t illegal? It just makes him look sketchy,” Rainbow Dash sharply barked, all while shrugging her shoulders, “Think about it. He lets the shady characters come close to him, but can’t talk to someone honest and good natured? I’ve been saying it from the start, but the guy’s a creep, simple as that.”

Fluttershy placed a hand over her chest. “I think you’re being a little harsh, Rainbow Dash. He might just be a little shy.”

Snorting, Rainbow Dash huffed. “There’s shy, and there’s secretive. It doesn’t help that he’s secretive with the wrong people. Sunset’s my friend, and I just don’t want anything bad to happen to her, you know?”

Crossing her arms, Applejack narrowed her green gaze. “While you do make a good point, don’t you think you’re pushing this a bit hard? Is this still over that boy calling you Skittles? It’s not like you to hold a grudge over something so small.”

“You know I hate being called that! It just–!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, trailing off as her gaze fell to the side, “Okay. Maybe you’re right. I may be laying it on a bit thick, but I still don’t trust the guy.”

“Oh, hey! I know who that is!” Sweetie Belle cheered, her voice cracking. She hopped to her feet and sped past everyone, skidding to a halt once they were a few feet apart. Sweetie gestured a wave and smile, prompting Peter to remove his ear buds. After a brief duration, the girl nodded feverishly. “I never got a chance to thank you.”

Peter arched a brow, staring intently at the girl for what seemed like ages. “Thank me? Who…?” His eyes widened upon spotting the flow of poofy lavender locks over her head. “Oh! You’re the girl who lost her lunch. I mean, not in a gross way, but…” Clearing his throat (and thoughts), Peter chuckled under his breath, “Anyway, I tend to ramble. Are you doing okay?”

Sweetie Belle smiled. “I’m okay. You gave me your sandwich without thinking twice. That was really nice of you, and I never had a chance to thank you. I’ve been thinking so much about it,” She brushed her forearm bashfully while glancing to the side, “I was really starting to think I wouldn’t see you again without learning what your name was.”

Glancing to the side, the young man hummed, “It’s Peter B. Parker. What about you?”

“I’m Sweetie Belle,” she quickly responded, unknowingly edging closer to Peter. The temperature in her face steadily rose, evident by the pink tint staining her cheeks, “You’re a little taller than I thought.”

However, before the distance between them could grow shorter, Rarity reached out and pulled her younger sibling away. “That’s enough, Sweetie,” she sternly stated, narrowing her icy gaze on Peter before turning to depart, “How about we take this to the auditorium?”

Rainbow Dash nodded, sliding her guitar strap over her shoulder. “I can use some more space anyway.” She walked to the door, prompting Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to stand from their seats. Soon, everyone followed suit, entering the building. After Rarity and Sweetie Belle walked inside, Rainbow turned, pausing upon noticing one of her friends still standing behind. She furrowed her brow. “Sunset! Are you coming?”

Sunset’s eyes softened as she shared a glance with the young man, who seemingly just shrugged in response. She soon shook her head. “You guys go on ahead. I’ll catch up in a few.”

Peter walked up to the steps before Rainbow exited the vicinity, closing the door behind her. He shared a glance with Sunset while easing his earbuds back into place. “Was it something I said?” he lifted an arm before sniffing the underside, “Do I offend? I actually don’t smell like garbage today.”

Crossing her arms, Sunset smiled lightly. “Don’t let it get you down. I think they’re still just a little skeptical about you,” Her demeanor softened as her shoulders lowered, “I know you’re a good guy, but maybe you can help your cause by opening up to them.”

“That’s funny, coming from you. But sure. Last time I did that, I put my foot in my mouth, and they’re still holding a grudge because of it,” Peter dryly muttered, rolling his eyes.

Sunset blinked, frowning. “Are you okay? It feels like you’ve been more agitated than usual.” she reached out, ready to place a hand over his shoulder, “Do you want to talk about it?”

Peter instinctively pulled away before she could make contact, shifting his attention to the phone in his hand. “Not really. I’ll get through it. I always do.” The latter of his statement was low, delivered through a whisper, but Sunset never averted her gaze from him. Peter shifted inwardly, turning to the side. “Anyway, I guess I’ll leave you to it. For once, I’m not running late to class.”

“Hang on. I wanted to ask you if we’re good?” Sunset questioned, her voice wavering.

Pursing his lips, Peter’s frown deepened. “I don’t know. Are we? You’re the one who cut me off, and I still don’t know why.”

Sunset winced, inhaling deeply before sighing. “It’s complicated. I can’t go into detail about it, but I’m trying to figure things out. I just need some time.”

Exasperated, Peter scoffed lightly. “It’s fine. A bit vague, but almost everything is nowadays. Do what you have to.” His eyes widened suddenly as sirens erupted in the distance. He glanced to the side. “I’ll catch you later.”

Just as Sunset readied to respond further, Peter walked into the building past the girl, before shutting the door behind him. The girl could only let out a defeated sigh as she sat onto the lowest step, brushing a hand through her crimson hair. She soon reached into her backpack, retrieving a diary and pen. Lifting her gaze momentarily, Sunset stared longingly at the clear skies above before returning her attention to the book in her grasp.

“Hey, Princess Twilight. It’s me, Sunset. How are things in Equestria? Learn any new spells?” she murmured, narrowing her gaze, “Things have been pretty quiet here since the Battle of the Bands. I was just thinking about you. We’re still trying to figure out how our magic works exactly. It always seems to activate when we’re playing music or singing, but everyone seems to really like it, especially Rainbow Dash. I think she really likes the idea of having superpowers. If I had to guess, I believe she’s pretty jealous of your friend, Spider-Man. I’d love to know who he is, if you’re willing to share.”

Pausing, Sunset’s eyes softened as she shook her head slightly. “I’m really writing because I could really use your advice. I’ve been in this world for a while now, but I still don’t feel like I belong here. I’m always asking myself… What am I doing? You helped us the last time you were here, and I didn’t do anything to help. Plus, I can’t grasp why we pony up everytime we play music. So much has piled up. There’s even a boy that I really like, but I can’t bring myself to date him, because I’ve got so much on my mind. It’s really unfair to him, and I can tell that he’s really frustrated about it. To top it all, I’m homesick. Life’s a mess right now.”

The corner of her lips managed to curl into a smile. “I still can’t believe you’re married. What’s your family like? Still no hint to who the lucky guy is? One day, right? Either way, I’d love to hear from you, especially if you have any advice. Talk to you again soon.”

As Sunset eased her diary back into her backpack, an individual walked up to the statue at the front of the school. Pausing, the person held a device in hand before holding it near the statue. The needle on the radar buzzed uncontrollably. They wore a hoodie, concealing their face while looking around and ensuring nobody was watching them. Sunset stood from her seat with a furrowed brow, staring intently at the individual.

“What are you doing?” Sunset questioned, causing the hooded individual to glance in her direction momentarily. Faster than she could react, they spun around, before bursting into a sprint. Taken aback, Sunset stumbled forward, while eventually gaining ground. “Hey, wait!”

Without hesitation, the person raced across the busy street and narrowly avoided traffic, and Sunset skidded to a halt, unable to pass once mere feet away. In the process, the individual jumped into a bus as it slowed to a halt. Once inside, the transport vehicle sped off before Sunset could hope to do the same.

She watched with a narrowed gaze, tilting her head to the side as the bus faded into the distance. “Who was that?”

Meanwhile, within the confines of the bus, the individual took a seat at the back of the bus before pulling their hood back. Soon, a flow of lavender and pink were freed, revealing Twilight as she inhaled deeply before sighing. She retrieved her radar from her pocket, furrowing her brow as she stared intently at the device. The girl pecked away at its buttons, exhaling upon glancing at the numbers on its screen.

Twilight removed her glasses before shaking her head. “The energy signature was massive, but it doesn’t explain anything. All I know is that there’s an electromagnetic anomaly.” Placing her glasses back over her face, the girl frowned, “I’ll have to go back and find the signal. There’s something that I am missing.” She closed her eyes, slowly yielding to slumber. As her mind drifted into an abyss, the past surfaced, and the girl could only mutter a weak yet firm saying. “I have to do better.”

The grounds of Crystal Prep were meant only for the elite to walk upon. Yet, Twilight tiptoed lightly, not wanting to agitate those around her. She clutched her books tightly against her chest while navigating the halls, wanting to reach her destination as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, as Twilight cut around a corner, something obstructed her path, and she collided face first into what felt like a stone wall, losing her glasses in the process.

Out of instinct, the girl dropped to the ground in a haste and brushed her hands across the floor, desperate to reclaim her spectacles before any harm could come to them. However, the task proved daunting with her blurred vision, prompting her hands to sway even more frantically. Soon enough, a group of five students surrounded the girl before one of the males picked up her glasses.

“Look who it is! Cinch’s pet,” he called out while placing the glasses on top of the nearest locker, well out of Twilight’s sight and reach.

A girl huffed, folding her arms in a pout. “Ever since you became Principal Cinch’s apprentice, she’s been buckling down on all of us! The tests were already hard enough as is! Now, Principal Cinch wants us all to try harder because someone had to set new school records.”

Another male student snorted, lowering to a knee before swatting the books out of Twilight’s grasp. “Congratulations. You’re the new gold standard. Now, school sucks thanks to you. Go crawl back into your closet.”

Just as one of the girls reached out with a devilish grin, Peter slipped between her position and Twilight before straightening the glasses over his face with a finger. “Hi! Excuse me. Is this the way to the cafeteria?” he lightly asked, alternating his gaze between the five students surrounding the lavender skinned girl. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly while holding a full bottle of water in his free hand. “I’m terrible with directions, and you guys are my only hope to not starve.”

Everyone shared a befuddled glance before one of the male students walked up to the oblivious young man. “Get out of here. We’re in the middle of something,” he growled, reaching a hand out to Peter’s shoulder.

A faint buzz rang throughout Peter’s cranium before he raised his bottle near his mouth, squeezing the plastic. Water shot out past his head, splashing over the stranger’s face. The boy staggered back, throwing both hands over his wettened eyes.

“Oh, geez! I am so sorry!” Peter innocently exclaimed, turning to remove his backpack from his shoulder, “Let me get that for you.”

That same second, one of the girls watching the spectacle readied herself to reach out. Peter’s head rang in response, prompting him to duck out of her reach while retrieving a dry cloth from the confines of his bag. The girl tripped over his frame, slipping due to the small puddle left from the bottle, and she fell into the unwaiting arms of her unsuspecting cohort, inducing a domino effect of bodies. Peter tilted his head to the side at the sight, blinking while the remaining two members of the group watched him while slack-jawed. They helped their friends from the mangled heap, walking away with flushed expressions soon afterwards.

Peter chuckled sheepishly, shrugging. “Was it something I said? I swear that I am not usually this clumsy.” Once the group had left the vicinity, he reached onto the top of the locker and retrieved the pair of glasses before lowering to a knee. Peter soon gently placed the spectacles in Twilight’s hand, prompting her to immediately slide them back over her eyes. Nodding, the young man scooped up her books and extended them over to her. “Is everyone always so friendly around here? Are you okay?”

Twilight nodded, inhaling deeply before sighing. “Thank you. I’m fine. That’s pretty normal, sadly,” She stood back to her feet, nodding, “What’s your name?”

Taken aback, Peter scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Oh, sorry. The name’s Peter. I’m actually new here. I just transferred from Empire State.”

Reminiscent to lightning striking a rod, Twilight’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “Wait! You’re the new prospect Madame Cinch informed me about.” Straightening her posture, the girl managed a smile before extending her hand. “My name’s Twilight. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Madame Cinch told me that your grades were extraordinary and that you excel in physics. I can introduce you to her.”

Accepting the gesture, Peter gently took her hand into his own. “I’d like that. Thanks.”

“Hey! Check it out!” a voice erupted, freeing Twilight from her dream.

The girl stirred from her brief nap, shaking her head. Everyone on the bus held their gazes by their windows, looking intently outside. Twilight blinked, inhaling sharply once she caught sight of someone swinging in the distance high above the ground. Narrowing her gaze after fixing her glasses, the girl discovered Spider-Man swinging across the city skies on a strand of webbing. However, she paused as a small set of beeps reached her ears. Twilight glanced at her radar device, inhaling sharply upon spotting its needle following Spider-Man.

“I knew it! He’s got something to do with the energy spikes in this city!” Twilight exclaimed, narrowing her gaze, “I’ll have to investigate Canterlot High a bit further. And if I’m lucky, I’ll find out who or what this Spider-Man really is.”

To Be Continued…

Ch. 2: "The Truth Hurts"

Chapter Two “The Truth Hurts”

Sunset stood at the sidewalk, furrowing her brow as she watched the bus fade into the distance. She pursed her lips before rubbing her chin. However, her eyes widened at a realization, and she turned, inhaling sharply at the sight of someone sitting by her abandoned purse. Once the street had cleared of traffic, the girl rushed across and passed the main statue. Yet, she slowed upon recognizing the hint of lavender and pigtails sitting in her place.

Aria sat with her legs crossed, lifting her bemused gaze from the diary in her hand. “So is this what you like to do with your free time? Write to your friends in Equestria? That’s pretty convenient. I sure wish we were able to do the same when we were banished here.”

“Why are you reading my diary?” Sunset lowly questioned, her voice apprehensive. She held out her hand, glaring at the siren, “That’s supposed to be private.”

Scoffing, Aria shrugged before snorting. “Then, don’t leave it open next time.” She tossed the item to the girl, earning an exasperated glare in return, but the siren paid it no mind, glancing to the side, “Besides, I only read a little of what you had left open. I honestly could care less about what you do in your spare time.”

Frowning, Sunset stared at the girl for what seemed like minutes before her demeanor eventually softened. “This is actually the first time we’ve talked alone since the Battle of the Bands, isn’t it?”

Feigning ignorance, Aria placed her hands over her cheeks and dramatically gasped. “Wow. You finally noticed.” Her face scrunched as a scoff escaped from her mouth. “You really are dense.”

Sunset’s expression fell, evident by her lowered gaze. “So why now then?”

Aria used a pinkie finger to trace the inside of her earlobe, shrugging dismissively. “I was just hanging around until I heard you and your friends talking about me,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “While I appreciate you trying to stick up for me, don’t bother. If it wasn’t obvious enough, I don’t want anything to do with that group. I can barely tolerate you as is.”

Sunset arched a brow. “Is there a reason why?”

Agitated, Aria gritted her teeth and snarled. “You’re seriously asking that? Well, thanks to you and your friends, we were blasted by a rainbow horse and utterly humiliated at the Battle of the Bands. Sure, it was for a good reason, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She pointed a finger at the girl while scowling. “Plus, I can’t sing anymore. Do you know what it’s like for a siren to lose that? It’s in our blood to sing, and you all took that from us.” Pausing, Aria inhaled deeply and sighed while allowing her anger to subside. “I knew you were dense, but I’m actually surprised how insensitive you are.”

“Insensitive? I’m not…!” Sunset declared, trailing off as Aria’s words steadily sank into her mind. Slow to respond, the girl clenched her free hand into a fist before narrowing her gaze. “That wasn’t the intention. We were just trying to stop you from taking over the school,” Sunset reaffirmed, edging forward while standing her ground, “Look, I’m sorry that you lost your ability to sing, but you brought this on yourself.”

Aria eased back, shrugging her shoulders dismissively. “Hey. You were lucky. We heard about your little incident. After you bullied everyone, turned into a demon, and blew up the front of the school, your friends checked on you. We didn’t get that luxury from you at all. It’s weird that even the costumed weirdo was nice enough to check in on us.”

Sunset opened her mouth, ready to protest, but her words sank into her stomach, evident by her defeated expression. “Oh, no. I didn’t.”

Huffing, Aria simply shrugged. “Relax. I don’t hate you or your friends for it. Like I said, you did what you had to for good reason. My problem is that you carried on like it never happened, and yet you’re puzzled as to why I wouldn’t like you. Give me a break.” She turned to the side, pausing to gaze at the clear skies overhead, “Just because I don’t hate you doesn’t mean I have to like you. Seeing that the lot of you didn’t even care what happened to us reinforces it. So yeah. I just don’t care about you. If anything, you remind me of someone who’s just as entitled, and it’s annoying.”

Folding her arms, Sunset narrowed her gaze. “Okay. I get it, and I’m sorry. I know when someone has a grudge. Trust me. I used to be good at that.”

Huffing, Aria managed a dry chuckle. “Guess I wasn’t as subtle as I thought,” Pausing, the girl exhaled before returning her gaze to Sunset, “We’ve never been able to get along with Equestrians, and I just can’t shake off how I feel. Can you blame me, pony girl?”

Sunset’s eyes widened briefly. “Wait. How do you–?”

“We were able to tell the second we met you. I can smell your Equestrian stench a mile away. You ponies smell so… frilly. I don’t like it,” Aria snorted, frowning while scowling. She trailed off, tapping a foot against the floor impatiently upon catching sight of Sunset’s pale complexion, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”

The pair stood in silence for an awkward amount of time until Sunset eventually relaxed, evident by her lowered shoulders. “Well, don’t call me that. I left that life behind a long time ago. Besides, I never interacted with a siren outside of you and your sisters.”

“I know, but you Equestrians are all alike. You spout friendship and acceptance, but you never gave sirens a chance. It’s why you were so quick to banish us,” Aria whispered, glancing to the side.

Blinking, Sunset raised a finger objectively. “I thought you were banished because you were trying to take over the world… like you three tried again here.”

Slow to respond, Aria cleared her throat as her face flushed to a shade of pink. “That was Adagio’s idea. Don’t change the subject. Besides, it’s not like anyone ever asked why we tried such a thing.” Waving her hand dismissively, Aria sobered before crossing her arms, “I’m here because I heard you talking about Peter. You’re wondering why he doesn’t trust you? Look in a mirror, you hypocrite.”

Taken aback, Sunset furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

Aria paused, staring back at the other girl with a look of bewilderment. “And I thought Peter was dense. You really are stupid. What is it about geniuses being so damn dumb?” Exasperated, Aria rolled her eyes while scoffing hashly. “Whatever. I don’t care anymore. If you have to ask, then you don’t deserve an answer.”

Reaching out, Sunset snatched hold of Aria’s collar before glaring intently. “I’m fine with you not liking me, but don’t push it! I may be reformed, but I’m not above decking you if I have to!”

The corner of Aria’s lips curled into a dark smirk. “Wow. This is a first. An Equestrian resorting to physical violence, and it’s a unicorn? Here I thought all of you ponies were too fluffy for your own good.” She took hold of Sunset’s hand before pulling it away, freeing her collar. Exhaling, Aria stepped back and grumbled. “Look. Peter’s keeping his distance from you, and it bothers you. How the hell do you think Peter feels about what you’re doing to him? You’re the pot calling the kettle black. Stop looking so close, take a step back, and you’ll see the bigger picture.”

Sunset opened her mouth, ready to protest, but she paused, glancing to the side. “I…Argh!” Throwing her hands over her face, the girl fell to a step and shook her head sadly. “God. I’m so stupid. I’ve been insensitive to everyone lately. Peter. You. It feels like I haven’t learned a thing!”

“It’s a two-way street, pony girl. You can’t expect others to open up when you won’t,” Aria stated, pausing once sniffles escaped from Sunset. Clear energies emitted from the girl before they rushed into the siren, causing her to inhale sharply involuntarily. Aria’s eyes softened while she glanced to the side shamefully. “Okay. Look. You’re different from Peter and everyone else. I get that you have to figure things out, but if you want things to change, maybe you have to start opening up. Peter’s not complicated at all. Give him the same energy you want, and he’ll return it tenfold. It really is that simple.”

Lifting her head, Sunset wiped her face clean with a forearm. “You’re… right. I’m still trying to learn from my mistakes, but maybe it’s time I start trying to move on,” Nodding, she managed a smile, “Thank you, Aria.”

Grumbling under her breath, Aria shook her head. “You’re a weird Equestrian. Why am I, a siren, having to give friendship advice to a pony? Friendship is your schtick, not mine.” Retching inwardly, Aria turned before steadily walking away. “Well, whatever. I just wanted to point out the obvious. Whatever happens next is on you. Just don’t blame others for your mistakes.” Aria soon gestured an empty wave with her back still facing Sunset, eventually raising a middle finger. “You still suck, by the way.”

Arching a brow, Sunset held a bemused glare. “Glad to see I’m number one in her book, too.” She soon placed her diary back into her purse before sliding its strap around her shoulder. “She’s right though. I have to talk to Peter soon.” Biting down on her lip, the girl chuckled sheepishly. “Hey, Pete. I’m actually a talking pony from a parallel dimension. So, anyway, want to grab some lunch?” Inhaling deeply before sighing, Sunset could only venture into the school with a defeated expression. “I hope he likes ponies and older women.”

Amidst lunch at Crystal Prep, all of the students conversated and ate casually. Near the back of the room and out of viewpoint, Peter sat alongside Twilight with a pair of empty bowls under him. He poured the remaining contents of his container within the third, slurping the coup down instantly, and Twilight simply watched with a widened gaze, dumbly holding an orange in her hand. Once finished, Peter wiped his mouth clean with a cloth before chuckling sheepishly.

Blinking, Twilight stammered about. “Um, you’re not quite what I expected.” She furrowed her brow as she slowly peeled the skin from the orange. “You were recommended to Crystal Prep, but you certainly don’t act like it.”

“That a bad thing?” Peter questioned, arching a brow, “Nah, I was actually worried about that. I was only transferred here because my old school got blown up, and my aunt thought it was a good idea to give this place a try”

Twilight managed a smile as Peter unbuttoned his vest. “It’s not. I don’t really fit in either. I guess I’m just happy to see that I’m not the only one,” She trailed off, glancing to the side shamefully, “I’m sorry if that sounds selfish.”

Peter’s eyes widened before he shook his head. “No way! Don’t think like that. Empire State was pretty standard in terms of hierarchy, and I was at the bottom of the totem pole there. By default, I don’t stand a chance at such an elite school.” Stealing a glance at some of the students glaring at them from a distance, Peter shifted his gaze back to Twilight. “What do you say we stick together? I can be your umbrella while you show me around. I’m not good for much, but I can be a good meat shield.”

Slow to respond, Twilight’s eyes softened as she gazed upon the young man. “I’d like that. Maybe we could share theories on quantum physics and mechanics in my closet?” She straightened her glasses while straightening her posture, retrieving a diary from her purse before writing on its pages. “I’ve read that you excel at mathematics and physics, so I’d love to see your thesis on quantum chemistry and technology.” Pausing, the girl chuckled sheepishly. “That sounded better in my head. I’m sorry if it came off weird.”

“Don’t worry about it. Sure. That sounds fun. It’s not often I get to talk geek with someone and they actually understand,” Peter grinned as Twilight mirrored his action. However, he paused momentarily, blinking as a realization crept into the back of his mind. “Wait. Did you say closet?”

Twilight continued to write, shrugging nonchalantly. “Yes. I live there.”

“Oh, okay,” the young man lightly responded, nodding. Blinking, Peter’s jaw dropped while his complexion paled, reality striking his mind like a storm, “You live in a closet?!”

Doctor Octavius hummed happily as he stared intently into a microscope. “Fascinating. Your blood and genetics are incredible. I see high traces of radiation and regenerative qualities. From what I can summarize, you can heal from just about any injury or trauma, and most toxins would be ineffective against you.” He stood upright, retrieving a syringe from the nearest shelf before walking up to Peter. “I believe another sample is in order. I’d like to run more tests. With your consent, of course.”

Peter inhaled deeply and sighed, shrugging before rolling one of his sleeves up. “Sure thing, Doc.”

“Good. Now, try to relax, my boy,” Octavious murmured, furrowing his brow. Pausing to wipe the young man’s arm with a sanitized cloth, he pressed the syringe against his skin, but the needle bent, unable to penetrate the surface. Octavious stared at the broken needle with a widened gaze, lifting his goggles momentarily. “Amazing. The density of your skin is almost like that of steel. How have you kept this a secret from your doctor visits?”

Pausing, Peter glanced at his arm with a furrowed brow. “Sorry about that, Doc. I have to force myself to relax.”

Octavious grinned, warmly placing a hand over Peter’s shoulder. “It’s not relaxing if you have to force yourself. That’s counterproductive.” Once the older man retrieved a second syringe from the shelf, he held it over Peter’s arm and waited. “Let’s try again.”

Slow to respond, Peter closed his eyes and exhaled. His thoughts raced uncontrollably, making the simple act of relaxing impossible. His surroundings buzzed and echoed, as if the tiniest sounds could be heard. Gritting his teeth, Peter winced while a train roared from far outside, as if it was only inches away. Suddenly, a high-pitched squeal followed, causing bolts of pain to throb across his cranium.

Beads of sweat began to drip from his face as overstimulation became apparent, evident by the vein pulsating over his forehead. Fortunately, the sounds ceased before everything silenced, and Peter let a relieved sigh escape from his mouth while his muscles eased. Octavious managed to slide the needle into his arm, drawing blood before placing the syringe in a safe case. Just as he prepared a bandage, the doctor watched as the wound had already closed and healed entirely.

“Excellent, my boy. I’ll inform you of what I find next with this sample,” Octavious happily declared, pausing to peck away at the keyboard nearby. Once he turned, Peter could only exhale while rubbing a hand over his throbbing cranium. Sobering, Octavious quickly retrieved a bottle of water from across the room before offering it to his pupil. “Are you okay? I’ve noticed you have been rather taxed as of late. Are your extracurricular activities taking a toll?”

Shaking his head, Peter downed the contents of the bottle in a pair of gulps. “I’m not sure, Doc. Everything’s been fuzzy. All of my senses have been going into overdrive lately. It’s like when I first got my powers but tripled. I can literally feel everything.” Peter’s body twitched involuntarily as he alternated his gaze wildly, snapping to a halt. Once Octavious handed him another bottle of water, the young man consumed the liquid instantly and exhaled. “Did I say tripled? I think I meant quintupled.”

“It certainly might explain some of your agitation as of late. I noticed you bent a pair of tongs yesterday,” Octavious huffed, lowering the goggles back over his face before returning his attention to the microscope nearby. He glanced out of the corner of his eye, managing a smile. “I noticed you fixed them, but I have a keen eye for detail.”

Placing a hand over his face, Peter could only shake his head. “Some of it is this. Most of it’s just dealing with everything else. My social life sucks. Everyone else hates Spider-Man.” He pointed a thumb behind his position, aiming it at the locked door at the other end of the room. “Plus, there’s her. She’s been glaring at me nonstop since coming here.”

“Don’t mind Twilight, my boy. She reminds me of an old colleague. I chose her for a reason. The potential you both share is unmatched… should you give each other the benefit of the doubt,” Otto calmly declared, reaching out with a pair of scissors in hand. He snipped a piece of Peter’s hair from his head, placing it in a clear bag after struggling to free it from the surface. The older man nodded and grinned mischievously behind a dark gleam in his goggles. “Another sample to document. Science thanks you, Mister Parker.”

Bemused, Peter stared at his mentor with a twitching brow. “Glad at least one of us is optimistic, Doc. I wish you could share some of that hope with me.”

Octavious sobered, placing a hand over the young man’s shoulder. “Have faith, Peter. I know you are trying your best. What you are doing is using your gift to help mankind, whether it’s what you do as your alter-ego or Peter Parker. You will see the fruits of your labor soon enough.” Pausing, the older man straightened his goggles with a finger before nodding. “I believe it is nearly time that I talked with both of you, but it can wait until you are both fit to listen.”

“If you insist, Doc, but I won’t hold my breath,” Peter murmured, scratching the back of his head.

Octavious returned his attention to the microscope before straightening his posture. “Go home, Peter. I’ll continue studying your blood sample. Rest your nerves and stay hydrated. We will talk tomorrow. ”

Nodding, Peter stood from his seat. “Thanks, Doc. I’ll see you later.”

Disrobing his lab coat, the young man walked out of the room and placed it onto the nearest rack before exiting the building. As Octavious locked the door to his office, he returned his attention to the microscope containing Peter’s blood sample. Meanwhile, within the confines of her room, Twilight narrowed her gaze as she tightened a pair of knobs with a screwdriver on a small round device. A small purple dog with traces of green fur rested by her foot while she finished working on the device. Placing her screwdriver down, the girl closed the item, and it glowed in response, emitting a neon blue light from its violet, metallic surface as a star emblem materialized into existence at the center.

“The spectrometer is ready. I’ll be able to track electromagnetic signals with this,” she whispered, cupping the item in the palm of her hands gently. “It will lead me straight to the anomalies in the area.”

A pair of knocks were heard at the door, freeing the girl from her trance. “Come in!” she stated, smiling upon sharing a glance with Doctor Octavious. Her dog stirred to life before stretching, walking to the older man as its tail wagged. Twilight nodded, placing the item down momentarily. “I wanted to thank you again for the opportunity, Doctor Octavious.”

Otto folded his arms. “It’s my pleasure, Twilight. Your intellect is a welcomed addition.” He glanced to the side, furrowing his brow at the sight of a blanket and air mattress near the corner of the room. “Are you okay staying here? We can make accommodations and rent you a room.”

Twilight waved a hand dismissively and grinned. “That won’t be necessary. This is already an upgrade compared to my old closet. I appreciate the thought.” The dog panted happily, returning to the girl’s side, and Twilight smiled, nodding. “Spike’s grateful, too.”

Otto glanced to the side, growling under his breath. “I can’t believe that she put you in such a terrible living condition. Just what are you doing, Abacus?” he whispered, clearing his throat once Twilight glanced in his direction. “Is there a way I can convince you to stay and possibly transfer to Canterlot High? I’d love to make you my apprentice,” Octavious declared, leaning forward with a hopeful smile.

“With Parker?” she darkly whispered, prompting Otto to nod in response. The girl inhaled deeply before scoffing, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Doctor Octavious, but I can’t bring myself to work with someone who has such little regard for those around him. My stay here is only temporary.”

Octavious let out a low sigh before managing a nod. “I urge you not to be so hasty, but I want you to know that I accept your decision. Parker may surprise you. I wouldn’t have chosen him to become my apprentice had I not seen his potential. Same with you. At least think it over for a day or two.” As the girl glanced to the side with a softened gaze, as if considering his words, Otto brought a hand to his chin. “What’s your intention, and where will you go?”

A gleam sparkled from the girl’s eyes as she took hold of the device on her table. “With my spectrometer, I’m going to find and contain the source of the electromagnetic anomalies spreading throughout the area. I have a few theories, one being that the Spider-Man is partially responsible.”

A bead of sweat trickled down the side of Otto’s face as he chuckled nervously, pausing to clear his throat. “I see.”

Oblivious, Twilight centered her gaze on the spectrometer and smiled widely. “I’m hoping the results will help secure my application for Everton and/or Oscorp.” Suddenly, Twilight’s eyes widened as a realization struck her mind like lightning to a rod. “I almost forgot that I have to finish my transfer and give Principal Cinch my documents.”

Otto’s smile faded as his expression softened. “Between the two, I’d recommend Everton. They’re quite the coveted independent program. Try to stay away from Oscorp if you can.” Just as the girl tilted her head to the side, holding a bewildered expression, Octavious cleared his throat. “Best of luck to you, Twilight. Just be careful when examining the unknown. Scientific curiosity is not worth the safety of others.” Lowering his head, Otto peeked over his goggles and allowed his brown eyes to surface briefly. “Give Abby my regards.”

The pair shared a nod before Octavious exited the room, retreating back into his office. Twilight returned her gaze to the spectrometer before sliding a thread through a small opening near the top. Once the task was complete, she placed the item around her neck, as if it were a pendant. Determined, Twilight eased Spike into her backpack, before leaving the building. Once she stepped outside, the spectrometer hummed to life and glowed intensely. Nodding, Twilight took hold of a few documents, sliding them into a folder before venturing forth.

The next day, school progressed as normal, and students consulted within the library, including Sunset and the others. Applejack sat back with her feet placed at the table, while everyone else sorted through an array of books. Fluttershy quietly watched while holding a small rabbit in her grasp. Meanwhile, Sunset paced in place, alternating her gaze between the ceiling and the ground.

“I’m telling you that some girl was snooping around the portal. I don’t know why, but as soon as I called out to her, she ran for the bus before I could get to her,” Sunset declared, furrowing her brow.

Fluttershy lifted her gaze, tilting her head to the side. “Do you think she came from Equestria?”

Sunset shook her head. “No. I would have noticed if the portal was actually opened. I’m pretty sure she was from here.”

Rarity huffed, brushing a hand through her hair. “Good! The last thing I need is another tussle with the forces of evil. The wear and tear on my wardrobe can’t bear another beating.”

“Still, there was a mysterious figure poking around the portal. Don’t you all want to know who is behind it?” Sunset questioned, holding out her hands to the side.

Pinkie nodded feverishly, raising a finger. “I bet it was a nighttime statue cleaner! Or a gardener.”

Rainbow Dash walked from around the corner with a book in hand, smirking. “No way. I totally know who it was. Think about it! Seeing as to how they got on a bus from the city and hop back on a bus heading to the city, I’ll bet they go to…”

“Crystal Prep,” everyone in the group blankly stated with the exception of Sunset Shimmer.

Rainbow Dash nodded, scoffing. “Yep. With the Friendship Games happening tomorrow, they’d totally prank us by defacing the Wonderbolt statue.”

Bewildered, Sunset held a widened gaze. “That seems like a bit much. Why would they take a bus just to do that?”

Applejack folded her arms. “Because Crystal Prep is our biggest rival?”

Rarity arched a brow. “Because that’s just what the students of Crystal Prep would do?”

Rolling her eyes, Rainbow Dash exhaled harshly. “And despite the fact that they beat us in everything… from soccer, tennis, golf, and whatever else,” she paused and held out the book in her hand to Sunset, revealing a page of the Canterlot High equine statue with a wig over its head, socks over its hooves, and a mismatch of clothing over its being. “They always have to gloat!”

Sunset stepped back before shrugging dismissively. “Seems silly to me.”

“Silly?!” the girls blurted out in unison, causing Sunset to stagger in place as they all stared intently in her direction.

Rainbow Dash placed a hand over her hip. “I bet you think the Friendship Games are silly, too?”

“I mean, it’s not like we’ll be dealing with the forces of magic this time,” Sunset stated, furrowing her brow.

Fluttershy placed a hand over Sunset’s shoulder. “No. We’ll be dealing with a school full of meanies,” she paused, sharing a glance with the girl, “Not everything has to be magical to be important.”

Sunset’s demeanor lightened as she chuckled sheepishly. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know it’s a big deal.”

Rarity waved a hand while shaking her head. “That’s quite the understatement, darling. It’s taking the school a bit longer to revamp the field, after Spider-Man nearly destroyed it fighting that oversized brute.”

Sobering, she glanced off to the side. “I’m just surprised about this rivalry. Isn’t the whole idea of the Friendship Games for our schools to come together and get along?”

“Pretty hard to get along with someone who beats you at everything and rubs it in your face,” Applejack mumbled, holding a bemused glare.

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Not anymore! Things are going to be different! Flash Thompson’s going to be leading the boy’s team to victory! Dude was a decorated champ back at his old school!” The girl smugly grinned, flexing her arm. “Plus, I have a plan myself! We’re going to recruit the best and–!”

“That’s stupid!” a voice boasted from behind their positions. Everyone glanced in its direction, spotting Peter sitting at a table with Trixie, Aria, and Ditzy. The young man shook his head furiously while crossing his arms. “You can forget it!”

Slack-jawed, Trixie pointed a finger at him. “What do you mean?! The Friendship Games are important to us! Do you really want Crystal Prep to beat us again?!”

“You didn’t say anything about those guys!” Peter barked, glancing to the side.

Aria smirked, resting her chin in the palm of her hand as she watched the pair. “I’m surprised. I didn’t think you had this in you. I kinda like it.”

Sunset walked over the table with a brow raised. “What’s going on?”

“Oh! Excellent timing, Sunset!” Trixie huffed, pointing her finger at Peter. “This cretin says he refuses to participate in the Friendship Games!” She nodded, raising a hand dramatically. “You should show your school spirit and participate!”

Peter folded his arms, tapping a finger impatiently. “Oh, sure! Let me go out and try my best for a school that activately hates me to beat another school that hates me even more than they do.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, the young man scowled. “I used to go to Crystal Prep, and they suck just as much.”

Ditzy tilted her head to the side. “You went to Crystal Prep?”

“Just for a semester before I transferred here,” Peter stated, pausing once the entire library grew silent. He peeked up, noticing every student glaring in his direction. Most began to whisper while others scowled. Exhaling, Peter threw up his hands in a defeated manner before grabbing his backpack. “On that note, I’m out of here. I’ll watch your stupid games, but I’m not participating.”

Rainbow Dash watched as Peter hurried out of the library before sharing a glance with her friends. “That guy went to Crystal Prep? Huh. That explains a lot.”

Fluttershy walked up to Rainbow Dash with a firm gaze. “Try to be nice. It sounds like he was picked on a lot there, and you haven’t been nice to him either.”

Sunset bit down on her lip. “Peter, wait!” She sped after the young man, ignoring the glares the other students gave. Soon enough, Sunset reached the outside and spotted Peter down the hallway. He paused, glancing at the girl from the corner of his eye, and Sunset eventually slowed to a halt once they were a few feet apart. “Are you okay?”

Peter simply shrugged. “It’s no big deal. I haven’t been here long enough to care.”

Pausing, Sunset glanced to the side while rubbing her forearm. “We should talk. I have questions, and I know you have some as well.” She pointed a thumb behind her position. “After school over lunch? My treat.”

Slow to respond, Peter managed to nod. “Sure. Just text me.”

Sunset waved as the young man coldly walked off, wincing inwardly once he was out of hearing range. “Please don’t screw this up.”

To Be Continued…

Ch. 3 "Two Sides of a Coin"

Chapter Three “Two Sides of a Coin”

Twilight paced in place as she stood outside of a door, pausing to gaze upon the words ‘Principal’s Office’ embedded on its glass. She alternated her gaze between the door, hallway, and watch on her wrist, all while tapping her foot impatiently. Eventually, she lifted her sight once Peter staggered in her direction. As he attempted to straighten his ruffled clothing, the young man cleared his throat nervously upon sharing a glance with Twilight as her eyes narrowed into a glare.

“What are you doing? I told you to get here early!” Twilight declared, stomping a foot against the floor.

Peter glanced to the side, clearing his throat. “Sorry. Traffic was cluttered,” He paused, easing his mask into his pocket while Twilight exhaled, “Did I miss anything?”

Inhaling deeply, Twilight straightened her glasses before shaking her head. “You can’t keep doing this. Once one makes a commitment, you are supposed to honor that request. This is the fourth time that you almost missed something important,” Crossing her arms, the girl frowned, “It just really makes me feel like you don’t care. You’re either sleeping through class, bored, or not there altogether.”

Glancing to the side, Peter scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “I know, and I’m sorry. Things have just been….hectic lately.”

“Hey. Did you hear?” a female student with large silver-blue pigtails asked another mere feet away, paying no mind to the pair nearby. “There was a chase in the city, and that Spider-Guy slammed into the hood of a car, caving the whole engine in!”

Her fair-skinned friend shrugged, brushing a hand through her short blue hair. “What’s his deal? I get that he was just stopping it, but he can learn to be a lot more subtle. Things seemed peaceful before he showed up. I hope he doesn’t hang around for much longer.”

Twilight’s brow furrowed as both girls walked off, frowning as Peter continued to pack his pocket aggressively. “Spider-Man,” she growled under her breath, blinking once a realization came into mind. Returning her attention to Peter, the girl’s demeanor seemed to soften as her shoulders loosened. “You just said that traffic was congested. It sounds like Spider-Man was responsible for that. I’m sorry for lashing out about it.”

Peter shrugged, waving a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it,” he paused, raising a hand as Twilight readied to open the office door, “Hold on. I just want to ask something. How do you feel about Spider-Man?”

A low growl escaped from the girl’s mouth as she straightened her glasses. “What’s there to feel? He’s an irresponsible man who flaunts his power aimlessly, and trouble follows him wherever he goes.”

“Ouch,” Peter whispered, glancing to the side.

Cupping her chin in the palm of her hand, Twilight narrowed her gaze. “However, I am curious about him. Where and how did he get his abilities? What else can he do, and how can it be beneficial in the hands of someone more responsible?” Shaking her head, the girl turned to face the young man. “That doesn’t matter. Principal Cinch wants to meet you finally. We’re already late, so I hope she’s willing to forgive you. Just try to act decently.”

Peter chuckled under his breath. “Oh, come on. How bad can it be?”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter sat at the edge of the auditorium with his arms crossed alongside his group of rejects. He furrowed his brow at the sight of a room full of students. Each clamored wildly as Flash Thompson stood at the center of the stage, motioning his hands in an encouraging manner, and everyone responded in kind, growing louder considerably. Peter winced before throwing his hands over his ears, groaning while his senses blared.

“I know pep rallies are loud, but this is ridiculous,” he grumbled, letting out a relieved sigh once the ringing in his cranium ceased. Trixie and Ditzy joined the cheering, applauding while Aria sat in place with a bemused expression. Peter scoffed before shrugging. “Well, at least they aren’t singing this time.”

Faster than anyone could react, Rainbow Dash sped next to Flash before skidding to a halt with a microphone in hand. “Crystal students are super athletic, super ready, and super motivated, but there’s something they’re not!”

Peter’s complexion paled as his brow twitched involuntarily. “Oh, please. God, no,” he whispered, arching a brow as the lights in the room dimmed. Rainbow’s foot tapped to a beat, only fueling Peter’s dismay further. He raised a finger defiantly while shaking his head. “I swear to all that is holy, please do not break into a song.”

As if on cue, Rainbow Dash clutched her microphone tightly and smiled. “We are Canterlot~! We will win~” she sang, marching across the room with the band marching behind her. Everyone joined in sync without prompting, and Peter watched in confusion, slack-jawed with his arms out. Suddenly, wings, ears, and a tail magically sprouted from Rainbow’s body before she hovered high above the ground, never ceasing her singing. “For friendship will make us powerful~! They know well that in the end, they will never be able to defeat us~!”

Aria sank into her seat with her palm lazily covering half of her face, grumbling, “Aw, ****. Here we go again.”

Peter watched as everyone remained in rhythm, many of the students joining in unison without breaking a beat, and he threw his hands up, pointing at everyone. “Seriously?! Did you all practice this?! How is everyone in sync?! Why does this keep happening?! I have so many questions!”

Everyone continued to sing in spite of Peter’s protests, some even dancing. Aria huffed. “Dude. Just give up. Once they start, there’s no stopping it.”

Exasperated, Peter threw his hands up in defeat and stood abruptly. “All right. I’m about to head out. I just can’t today,” He grumbled under his breath, “Fury tells me to keep a low profile, but these girls are flaunting their powers openly. That’s some serious bull–!”

“Have you no school spirit?” Trixie interjected, frowning as she raised a finger objectively.

Peter walked without stopping, refusing to hold eye contact with anyone. “Nope. I’m a sheep with the choice of siding with a pack of lions on one end and tigers on the other. Either way, both outcomes suck.”

Aria readied herself to stand, holding an annoyed expression of her own. “Take me with you.”

Trixie reached out and grabbed the siren’s forearm, pulling her back into her seat. “Oh, I don’t think so! I already have your outfit sized and fitted! You, Ditzy, and I shall wow everyone with our Canterlot Cheer Routine!”

Ditzy grinned, clapping in place. “Come on, Aria! It’ll be fun!”

Aria’s usually stoic expression faltered, shrinking into that of plea once she shifted her attention to Peter. “You can’t just leave me here!”

Inhaling deeply, Peter stopped in his tracks. “You’re right. I can’t just leave a friend behind–” he paused, gasping upon spotting something in the distance. He pointed dramatically behind Aria, “Hey! What’s that?!”

“What?! Where?!” Blinking, Aria turned sharply, but she found nothing, only Rainbow and the band continuing to sing their number. Once she faced back in Peter’s direction, he had already halfway reached the door on the other side of the room. Aria’s brow twitched madly. “I don’t know what’s worse. The fact that he had the audacity to try the oldest trick in the book or that I fell for it. Both are equally insulting.” Slowly but surely, Aria turned around and found Trixie smiling evilly while Ditzy grinned obliviously. She could only stare dumbly at the pair with a dark yet empty glare as a vein throbbed on her cheek and forehead. Eventually, Aria sat back in her seat. “Whatever. I’ll kill him when I get home.”

Easing past everyone, the young man snorted as Flash shot him a smirk. Eventually, he managed to escape and reach an empty hallway. Pausing, Peter rubbed at his throbbing cranium. “What’s going on? I feel like my senses are cranked up even more than usual.” Someone walked up to the young man, lightly tapping his shoulder, and Peter exhaled, turning to face the source with a scowl. “Flash, I’m not in the mood for your– Oh.”

Sunset placed her hands over her hips and managed a smile, lifting her bright gaze to meet his own. “You look like you’re having another rough go.”

“Nah, I just… I don’t…” Peter stammered, pointing a thumb behind his position as his face burned. Eventually, his brain ceased to function, evident by his sheepish expression and hapless shrug. Peter’s eyes shifted across the girl’s form before snapping to the ceiling. “Jiminy Cricket. What brings you by? I thought you would’ve been in there with your friends and today’s musical number… and magic show.”

“Rainbow Dash is just doing what she can to get everyone ready for the games. I’ll join back with them later. I owe you lunch and an explanation,” Sunset stated, never averting her gaze from the young man’s, “Had a place in mind?”

Peter shook his head, grinning mildly. “Anywhere but here is my vote.” Just as he readied to reply further, Vice-Principal Luna entered the vicinity and shared a glance with the girl. Peter pursed his lips and pointed a thumb behind his position. “Looks like you have company. Just text me where you want to go and when.”

Sunset nodded, sharing a wave with the young man. “Just wait for me by the courtyard. I’ll be there soon.” Once Peter had exited the vicinity, Sunset turned her attention to the older woman. “Yes, Vice-Principal Luna?”

Slow to respond, Luna frowned. “I won’t take up much of your time, Sunset. I’m just here to ask that you and your friends keep your magic in check during the Friendship Games. The last thing I want is for us to be accused of cheating.”

“Of course. I’ll just have to convince Rainbow not to show off,” Sunset stated, earning a warm smile from the woman.

Luna glanced to the side, analyzing her surroundings with a furrowed brow before turning back to Sunset. “I also have an assignment for you. I want you to discover exactly why you and your friends are magically transforming. Maybe then, you can learn to control it properly.” Pausing, Luna waved a hand dismissively while smiling inwardly. “That’s all. Enjoy yourself. If it’s any consolation, I think he’s cute. What’s he like?”

Shrugging, Sunset chuckled nervously. “He’s a bit of a mystery, so I’m hoping to find out more about him.” Blinking, the girl inhaled deeply before sighing. She ran in the direction Peter departed, ignoring the rising temperature in her face. “And I hope he’ll learn more about me, too.”

Twilight alternated her gaze about between the door and hallway, as if contemplating a means to avoid the matter, but she eventually yielded, sighing before entering the room. The lights were dimmed, leaving the abode considerably dark in comparison to the rest of the building. Twilight glanced to the side, sharing a glance with a young woman donning bright pink skin. Once the smaller girl took a seat at the center of the room where a desk stood, the woman brushed her hand through her yellow and violet highlights in her hair.

“Glad you could make it, Twilight,” she declared, straightening her posture.

Twilight nodded. “Sure, Cadence. Do you know what’s going on?” Just as the woman readied to respond, a male with bright white skin and royal blue hair closed the door to the office and took a stance alongside Cadence. Taken aback, Twilight blinked at the sight before returning her line of sight towards Cadence. “What’s my brother doing here?”

“As an Alumni, Principal Cinch thought it would be great if Shining Armor gave you a little… perspective,” Cadence whispered, trailing off while sharing a brief glance with the young man.

Twilight frowned. “Perspective on what?”

“For the Friendship Games, of course,” a voice declared from behind before the chair spun around and revealed an older blue-skinned woman with her violet hair neatly pulled into a bun. With her posture straightened, she glanced to the side. “Did you not compete in the Friendship Games, Shining Armor?”

Feeling the temperature in his face rise momentarily, Shining cleared his throat and chuckled. “Yes, Ma’am. I did.”

Principal Cinch leaned forward over the desk, never turning her gaze. “Do you recall who won?”

Huffing, Shining smirked while straightening his collar. “Crystal Prep! We always win!”

Nodding, Principal Cinch narrowed her gaze before folding her arms. “Indeed. We always win.”

Shrinking into her seat, Twilight’s eyes softened. “Why did you ask to see me?”

“I’ll be honest, Twilight. It doesn’t really matter who wins or loses. What is important is that we’re expected to win because Crystal Prep has a reputation,” Principal Cinch declared, standing from her desk before walking to the trophy case across the room. She stared intently at her reflection within the golden surface of one of the awards, glancing to the side afterward. “It is because of that reputation– my reputation– that we have everything here at Crystal Prep and for everything you’ve done here.” The corner of her lips curled into a dark smile as she stepped back towards her seat. “I’ll be frank. You’ve done quite a lot, haven’t you?”

Biting down on her lip, Twilight shifted her gaze about nervously. “I guess?”

Principal Cinch soon retook her seat, managing a small smile. “Don’t be modest. You are the second best student this school has ever seen and my prized apprentice.” She paused, placing a closed hand over her mouth before clearing her throat. “What I don’t understand is why my star pupil refuses to compete.”

“In the Friendship Games?” Twilight questioned, straightening her glasses.

Shining raised a hand objectively. “Look, Twilight. I know it’s not really your thing, but the Friendship Games are a really big deal to this school. Plus, everyone could really use your help.”

Retrieving a small array of papers from her desk, Cinch scrolled through the lettered documents. “It actually seems Canterlot is undergoing something of a renaissance. Test scores and grade point averages are up considerably. Even athletics are on the rise.” She flipped through the pages, pointing a finger at a pair of names on the sheet. “I’ve done my investigation and discovered that a broken stunt woman has had quite the effect on the athletics program there, and an old colleague of mine has garnered some influence in the academics. While I strongly disagree with his methods, I admit that he is very brilliant and can understand easily why Canterlot is amidst developing quite a reputation. All the more reason why this simply can not stand.”

Twilight shook her head. “Principal Cinch! I can’t compete in the Friendship Games! My work is too important to–!”

“Ah, yes. Your work,” Cinch whispered, nodding before settling her gaze on the pair across the room. “Cadence, could you and Shining Armor gather my contact information for Everton?”

Cadence nodded firmly, exiting the room with Shining following behind. “Of course.”

Once the pair closed the door behind them, Cinch retrieved an envelope from underneath her desk before opening it. “I’ve read your work, and it is quite impressive. The advantage of having a reputation is the influence one gains. Should you lend your intellect to our cause, I can ensure that you are accepted to Everton.” A dark expression surfaced on the woman’s face as she pulled the envelope away from Twilight’s reach, her brow furrowing. “Should you refuse, I can’t guarantee your acceptance. Do I make myself clear? You will participate in the Friendship Games and make certain our reputation remains intact. Understood?”

“Thanks for humoring me,” Sunset lightly declared, easing into her seat. Once Peter did the same from across her position, the girl watched as he eyed the plate of tacos with a widened gaze. Smirking, Sunset waved a hand dismissively. “I said it’s my treat. I’ve been around you enough to know how much you like to eat. I’m just sorry that it isn’t fancy.”

Peter lifted one of the tacos, holding it under his nose briefly, and as the warm scent filled his senses, the young man let out a content sigh. “I can’t afford fancy or moderate. Sometimes, the cheapest foods are the best. Besides, who doesn’t like an easy taco from the Bell?” Pausing, Peter devoured a pair of tacos instantaneously before casually taking a sip from his cup of cola. He glanced to the side, frowning. “To be honest, I needed this. I’m sick to death of everyone talking about the stupid games or whatever it is. I just hope this isn’t too pricey.”

Sunset shrugged, pausing while stealing a glance at her empty wallet before slipping it back into her purse. “Don’t worry about it. I do think it’s silly how serious everyone is taking it, but I’ll still support my friends in any way that I can.” After a brief silence, Sunset inhaled deeply before sighing as the corner of her lips curled into a light smile. “Anyway. That’s not what I brought you here for. I wanted to talk with you about a few things and apologize for not being more honest with you. So, if you have any questions, I’ll answer them to the best of my ability.”

Faster than Sunset could react, Peter dropped everything on his plate and slid it to the side. “Okay! First question. The magic. Your friend just grew wings, ears, and a tail in front of the entire rally, and nobody batted an eye. Is that just a thing here?”

Slow to respond, Sunset shrugged. “It hasn’t been a thing for long, but everyone just seems to accept it for what it is.” Blinking upon failing to hear a response, Sunset faced Peter and was greeted with a slack-jawed glare. Resting her chin in the palm of her hand, the girl hummed. “I take it that’s not normal for you?”

Shaking his head, Peter scoffed. “No way. I mean, yeah, but not really.” The young man trailed off, scratching the back of his head as his scattered thoughts settled. “I guess what I mean is that we know these kinds of things exist. Heck, back home in New York, there were aliens, mutants, and gods all gathered throughout the city, but even then, things weren’t casual. Like, your friends use their powers openly. Are there no secret identities?”

“I guess there’s no need to be secretive if everyone’s okay with it?” Sunset politely interjected, smiling until Peter’s expression darkened. Once a low growl escaped from his mouth, the girl narrowed her gaze. “What’s wrong?”

Pursing his lips, Peter huffed before straightening his posture. “Nothing. Sorry. It’s just a matter of opinion, but I think you’re playing a dangerous game. You have abilities, but shouldn’t you keep it under wraps? What if the wrong people found out?”

“You think someone might want to hurt us?” Sunset questioned, arching a brow.

Peter raised a finger objectively. “Maybe not you directly. It’s just something to consider.” Brushing the thought to the side, the young man waved a hand dismissively. “Okay. Changing topics, there is something I’d like to know. Why have you been pushing me away? You say it’s not me, but I’d totally understand if it was. I have a tendency for ticking everyone around me off and not knowing why… sometimes,” Peter paused, letting out an empty laugh, “Rambling aside, I’d just like to know what’s going on.”

Brushing a finger over her cheek sheepishly, Sunset hummed under her breath. “I honestly wouldn’t know where to start. I guess I can confess to… not being from around here.”

“That’s not too out there. When you blew up the school, how did you manage that? Was it magic? Are you a mutant? Did you create a bomb because you’re a mad chemist?” Peter asked, tilting his head to the side.

Sunset snorted inadvertently, placing a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. “I almost wish it was that simple. I’m actually…” she whispered, trailing off before alternating her gaze about. Once certain no one in the restaurant was prying onto her conversation, the girl leaned closer to Peter. “I’m actually from another dimension. I slipped into this reality through a portal a few years back, and I’m more or less stuck here.” Sunset’s head fell shamefully as she covered her face with a hand, a weak groan escaping from her mouth. “That’s probably the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard, right?”

Peter crossed his arms. “Not really. Back where I come from, we’ve had like three alien invasions over the course of a year. I’m more fascinated by the idea that multiverse theory actually exists!” Rubbing his chin with a hand, Peter furrowed his brow before his eyes widened at a realization. “If you’re serious, does this mean your friend is from that same world? It would explain why I’ve been getting so many mixed signals from her lately. She hates me one second, then she’s nice to me the next before hating me all over again.”

“You noticed that?” Sunset whispered, furrowing her brow. “Hold on. You know Twilight from this world?”

Nodding, Peter scoffed. “They’re two totally different people. The one I know is from Crystal Prep and a coworker. To say I’m not on her Christmas card list would be an understatement.” Trailing off, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “When I talked to your Twilight, it was like she knew me. No. She almost knew me too well.” Shaking his head, Peter’s eyes brightened. “Anyway. What’s your dimension like? Any differences worth noting?”

“Multiverse can be backwards. Try not to overthink it for now. Things are similar yet different, and what I’m about to tell you is the hardest part to admit,” Sunset stated, biting down on her lip. She stammered about, attempting to slow her racing thoughts with no succession, and Peter patiently waited with a raised brow, huffing. Eventually, Sunset lifted her gaze to meet his and sighed. “Well, I used to be a unicorn in a land called Equestria.”

An awkward silence filled the space as Peter stared at Sunset with a bewildered expression. Suddenly, he burst into light laughter while waving a hand dismissively. “Ah, good one. It almost sounded like you said you were a magical pony from a parallel dimension.” He continued to chuckle, ceasing upon noticing Sunset’s unwavering expression. Shifting to an upright stance in his seat, Peter blinked. “No way. Seriously? So, the magical rainbow horse at the Battle of the Bands and Rainbow Dash just now?” Chuckling halfheartedly, the young man smirked. “Next thing you’ll probably tell me is that the wicked witch I know is actually a princess in your world. That’d be ridiculous, right?”

Sunset bit down on her lip, smiling sheepishly. “Well…”

Slack-jawed, Peter stared at the girl with a pale complexion. “No.”

“It’s shocking to me, too. And guess what? She’s married with three kids. To who? I don’t know. He must be quite the charmer, and Twilight was adamant that I wouldn’t believe who it was,” Sunset stated, as if convincing herself of the truth as well.

Glancing to the side, Peter shook his head and huffed. “I feel bad for that guy. Must be a total weirdo.”

“The only hint she gave me was that it’s Spider-Man,” Sunset declared, casually taking a sip from her cup. Suddenly, a thud reached her feet, and the table shook in response. The girl peeked up, unable to locate Peter, who had seemingly disappeared. Sunset shifted her gaze about, attempting to locate her friend. She blinked once Peter’s hand rose from underneath the table, and he managed to pull himself back to his seat, his face a sickly shade of blue. Sunset tilted her head to the side, furrowing her brow. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Clearing his throat, Peter grabbed the nearest napkin and wiped the sweat from his face. “I think I’m gonna be sick. It’s something in these tacos.” Once Sunset nodded, she reached into her purse before retrieving an antacid pill. Peter accepted the item once it was offered, averting his gaze to the ceiling with a groan. “I’ve never felt such a strange combination of pity and indigestion.”

Sunset nodded, shifting her attention. “Anyway. Yes. That is magic carried over from my world. I came to this dimension from a portal, and some of the magical properties from Equestria filled this land. To what extent? I don’t know. It’s something we’re still trying to figure out.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, the girl lowered her gaze while brushing a hand through her crimson and blonde hair. “I’ve actually been tasked to find out why my friends and I have been transforming as of late. At first, it was only when we sang, but it’s been happening sporadically.”

“The power of song? Lord help me,” Peter grumbled, grimacing at the thought before clearing his throat. He reached over to the plate and retrieved a pair of tacos, scarfing them down in a couple of bites. “It makes a little sense why things are a bit off around here, but thanks for helping me make some sense of… everything. So, how long have you been here?”

Sunset glanced to the side, brushing her arm shamefully. “A few years. I’m actually older than I look. My body’s actually de-aged a bit because of the magic. I’m a twenty-year old in a sixteen year old body. Are you weirded out? Now, you have to understand why I couldn’t just tell you the truth from the start.”

Peter nodded, managing a small smile. “I totally get it. I appreciate you trusting me with that.” As if a thought came into mind, the young man’s brow lowered. “How many know the truth?”

“Just my friends, Aria, and you. Please don’t tell the others,” Sunset pleaded, edging closer to Peter until their faces were inches apart.

Sobering, Peter’s expression softened. “Of course.”

The corner of Sunset’s lips curled into a smile before she eased back into her seat. “That’s everything about me. I’d love to know more about you. We’ve been around each other for a few weeks now. You’re so mysterious though.”

The blood in his body grew cold, evident by his pale complexion. “Not really my intention. I’m just still getting used to this school. I wasn’t really popular at Empire State, and it wasn’t any better at Crystal Prep. Things got so weird there that I asked to be transferred here.” A bemused glare surfaced on his face as he chomped away at the last taco, frowning. “I’m beginning to think that was a mistake, too.”

“So, you did go to Crystal Prep. What made you leave there?” Sunset questioned, resting her hands over her thighs.

Peter huffed, crossing his arms. “It’s a school for the elite. I just didn’t fit in there. Plus, the principal was obsessive,” He raised his gaze, shaking his head, “If you’re trying to get me to participate in those stupid Friendship Games, just stop. I’m not interested. The last thing I want is to be in the middle of two factions that equally hate me.”

Sunset placed a hand over Peter’s shoulder. “Give everyone some time. They just haven’t seen the best side of you, like some of us have.” She squeezed his shoulder assuringly, relinquishing her hold upon noticing she had been at it for a few seconds. Sunset cleared her throat and brushed the wrinkles from her dress shirt. “And don’t worry. I’m not forcing you to join. I honestly feel it’s silly how seriously everyone’s taking it, but I’m going to participate more for them than myself. However, I’d like it if you came to watch. You can… cheer me on.”

Scratching the back of his head, Peter exhaled before letting out a defeated sigh. “Okay. I’ll watch, but I’m not cheerleading.” As if satisfied with his response, Sunset clapped and grinned. The pair maintained eye contact, smiling before Peter glanced to the side. A bus rolled across the street and came to a halt outside of Canterlot High. Soon, an array of students began to exit the vehicle, each wearing matching burgundy uniforms. Peter groaned inwardly as he sank into his seat. “Oh, no. It’s them.”

Sunset furrowed her brow, alternating her gaze between Peter and the students gathering outside. “Who? Crystal Prep?” Once the young man weakly nodded, shamefully shielding his face with a hand, Sunset stood from her seat. “I have to find my friends and make sure they don’t do anything they’ll regret. I’ll catch you later, tiger.”

“Huh?” Peter blurted out, his eyes widening momentarily. Just as he lifted his gaze, Sunset leaned over and gently pressed her lips against his cheek. Before he could hope to respond, the girl skipped out of the building. His thoughts grew fuzzy as his face burned, and the young man could only grin to himself. “Tiger, huh? That’s a new one.” Glancing back outside, Peter stared intently at the gathered crowd for what seemed like an eternity before he narrowed his gaze upon a familiar sight. “Hang on. That’s–!”

He hopped from his seat and sped outside. With a narrowed gaze, the young man sped across the street before reaching the courtyard. Many of the Crystal Prep students caught sight of him, some recognizing his appearance almost immediately. Their expressions turned sour, some even whispering amongst themselves. Peter stayed on task, maneuvering past everyone until he reached his target. An older man turned, lowering his shades upon sharing eye contact with him.

“Mister Parker! Your timing is impeccable,” Otto stated, managing a smile.

Peter alternated his gaze before holding his hands. “My timing? I’m surprised you’re out here, Doc. Don’t tell me you’re interested in the games, too?”

Twilight emerged from behind Octavious, straightening her glasses before shooting Peter a glare. “You!”

Grimacing, Peter frowned. “You’re here, too? I think I’m going to be sick.”

A girl with gray skin and a large pair of silver-blue pigtails stopped in her tracks, fixing her glasses momentarily. “Wow. You’re pretty rude,” She continued on her way, sharing a glance with Twilight, “I still think he’s cute.”

Letting out a defeated sigh, Twilight waved. “Thanks, Sugarcoat,” Twilight’s glare only sharpened upon shifting it back to Peter, “The feeling’s mutual. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Slow to respond, Peter blinked. “Did that chick just say that I’m cute?” The young man’s thoughts ran. ‘Whatever. I’m actually married to this demon? If I’m lucky, it’s multiverse theory, and it’s not me that Spider-Man.’ Shaking his head, Peter returned his attention back to his professor. “Still curious as to why you’re here, Doc.”

Placing a hand over Peter’s shoulder, Otto’s eyes softened behind his dark glasses. “My boy. Like you, I have old ties to Crystal Prep that I wish to resolve.”

“Old ties? Like what?” Twilight asked, placing her hands together.

“Don’t mind him, Twilight. He’s always had a flare for the dramatic,” a voice chuckled from behind. Everyone turned to the source. Principal Cinch steadily approached the trio. Twilight sank in place, biting down on her lip, and Peter stepped back, frowning as a bead of sweat trailed down his cheek. However, the woman’s gaze never left that of Octavious, who held firmly with his arms crossed. Principal Cinch’s lips curled into a coy smile. “Hello, Otto.”

Octavious straightened his shades with a finger, smirking. “Hello, Abby.”

“Otto?” Twilight squeaked as her glasses tilted awkwardly to the side.

“Abby?” Peter questioned, his brow twitching involuntarily.

Both children stared at the adults with bewilderment before they both erupted in unison with their fingers pointed. “WHAT?!”

To be continued…

Ch. 4 "Crossroads"

Chapter Four “Crossroads”

Peter and Twilight stared at the adults for what seemed like an eternity, their expressions of shock and disbelief. The other students of both Canterlot High and Crystal Prep remained oblivious, sharing passing glances. Yet, Octavious and Cinch remained stoic as they approached each other. The air in the vicinity grew thick, making the simple act of breathing difficult. Once mere inches from each other, Otto extended his hand, and Cinch responded in kind, accepting the gesture.

“It has been quite some time. You seem well,” Octavious stated, managing a smile while lightening his hold on her hand.

Ever prude, Cinch huffed before pulling her hand away and straightening her posture. “So, this is where you scurried off to? I must say that I’m surprised. It’s rather… small and undervalued for one with your level of talent.”

Octavious grinned, straightening his glasses with a finger. “I prefer the term quaint. Besides, there are diamonds to be found in the rough.” He paused, placing a hand over Peter and Twilight’s shoulders respectively. “Case in point, these two are absolutely brilliant.”

Cinch smirked, grabbing Twilight by the arm before turning her around with her hands placed over both her shoulders. “On that, we agree. I should have known you would attempt to snatch my pupil from underneath my grasp. Quite the underhanded tactic. I always knew you had it in you. Just like Norman.”

Huffing, Otto frowned. “Please, refrain from comparing me to him.”

Sobering, the woman lowered her line of sight and centered her gaze on the boy by Otto’s side. “Relax, dear. I’m simply admiring that ambition you keep in check. I’m just more surprised to see you have recruited Mister Parker into your ranks. He was quite unruly and unfocused under my watch.”

Twilight nodded, poking her lips out. “Exactly.”

Chuckling, Octavious crossed his arms. “I was tempted to believe that. My first assumption of young Parker was that he was brilliant but lazy.”

Bemused, Peter glanced to the side with a blank stare. “I’m standing right here. Thanks, Doc.”

Cinch frowned at the young man before arching a brow at Octavious. “He’s as unrefined as ever. Clearly, you haven’t taught him your sense of etiquette.”

Otto placed a hand over his mouth and cleared his throat. “While Parker is unorthodox, I believe he is quite charming when you get to know him more. From personal experience, I’ve learned that there is far more to the boy than meets the eye. As his mentor, the best I can do is push his strengths while overcoming his weaknesses. The same goes for Miss Sparkle. I can tell she’s felt your harsh influence.”

“Mind your tongue, Otto. My students are disciplined and know their place. With a tighter leash, I could take Peter Parker to the stars,” Cinch stated, easing Twilight to the side while taking a step towards her old colleague. As she brushed a hand through her violet hair, the woman narrowed her gaze. “This is exactly what held you back at Oscorp, Otto. You always compromised yourself behind your ideals instead of seeing the task through to the end.”

Peter blinked, glancing to the side. “Oscorp…”

Otto inhaled deeply before sighing, frowning. “Those days are of an old life… for both of us.”

“Indeed. We are here to perform at our usual standard and win the Friendship Games,” Cinch declared, walking past Otto and Peter with Twilight in tow. She paced onward before eventually coming to a halt, raising her hand. All of her students reacted accordingly and gathered around her position. “Crystal Prep. Until the field is ready, I urge you to go to the gymnasium and prepare yourselves. We start in an hour. You are dismissed.”

Each of the students departed, breaking off into groups before heading for a shared destination. Twilight followed suit, entering Canterlot through the main door, but she stopped once the spectrometer around her neck hummed to life, emitting a neon light. The girl took hold of the item before holding it out like a compass, walking in the direction it pointed. Meanwhile, Cinch shared one final glance with Octavious, straightening her posture while exiting the vicinity. Otto followed the woman’s movements with a stern gaze behind his shades, inhaling deeply before exhaling.

Peter leaned over with a finger and brow raised, poking the side of the older man’s arm. “So, are you going to explain what that was about?”

Stammering about, Otto glanced to the side and removed his shades momentarily. “Right. Well, as you can tell, Abacus Cinch and myself have a history.”

“You mean Abby?” Peter whispered as the corner of his lips curled into a coy grin, causing Otto’s face to burn to a bright shade of pink. The young man could only shrug in response. “I’m just more surprised you two knew each other and that you both worked at Oscorp.”

The good doctor hastily wiped his shades clean before placing them back over his face. “Yes. Well, we were younger then. Just two upstarts sharing their beliefs after having graduated from college together with a shared goal in mind: to lend our intellect to the benefit of mankind.” Sobering, Otto grimaced. “It was when we joined Oscorp that our beliefs came at a crossroad.”

Peter’s brow furrowed. “What happened?”

Slow to respond as his eyes softened, Otto straightened his dark glasses. “A lengthy tale for another day. I can summarize saying that our ideologies simply did not coincide. I firmly believed in the benefit of mankind while maintaining firm moral principles while Abacus wanted to fill her scientific curiosity at any cost necessary.”

“Doc, your ideals are exactly why I love your work and consider it an honor to be by your side,” Peter retorted, nodding. “You’re a humanitarian. You help people without compromising your morals.”

Otto’s eyes softened before he placed a hand over Peter’s shoulder. “Thank you. That’s kind of you to believe. One’s legacy is important, and I’m grateful to have left something of an impact.” Sobering, he shook his head and huffed. “Needless to say, Abacus and I had our share of disagreements. It’s actually quite similar to the dynamic you and Twilight Sparkle share.”

“Is that why you left Oscorp?” Peter questioned, narrowing his gaze.

Otto nodded, crossing his arms. “Indeed. While I can’t speak for Abacus, I left Oscorp years ago due to wanting to uphold my principles, seeing how they were drifting down a darker path under its current CEO. After what happened to Ms. Spitfire, I can see my intuition was correct.”

Peter glanced to the side, cupping his chin in his hand. “Yeah. That’s the vibe. I just wonder why Principal Cinch quit Oscorp.” Blinking as if a realization came into mind, the young man arched a brow as he shifted his gaze back to his professor. “Hold on. You said Twilight and I are similar to you and Principal Cinch? Don’t tell me that’s why you recruited us both.”

“Yes and no. I recognize the potential you both have, and I believe you two can bring out the best in each other with a moderator watching over you,” Otto stated, pausing to alternate his gaze about as if he was searching for something. “However, I do fear that young Twilight is bound to repeat Abby’s mistakes without the proper guidance. Her scientific curiosity may get the better of her.”

Shrugging, Peter grumbled under his breath. “I don’t see it, Doc. As far as I know, she just hates me, and nothing’s going to change that.”

“Twilight simply finds your approach lackadaisical and infuriating. I consulted with her to take a more relaxed approach if possible rather than just pushing forward without a second thought,” Otto calmly replied, cupping his chin in the palm of a hand. “She seemed to have considered the notion.”

Stammering, Peter blankly stared at the man. “Dude! I tried that too, and she nearly bit my head off about it. Why does she listen to you but not me? I mean, I get you’re a charming guy, but what gives, Doc?”

A bead of sweat trailed down Otto’s cheek as he shook his head. “A lesson, my boy. Women hold men to what are deemed ‘expectations’, and I fear you failed to reach Twilight’s.”

Peter raised his hands defensively. “How?! I didn’t even do anything.”

Otto simply nodded. “My boy. That is the rule of nature. You will come to understand that men are simply doomed to fail when it comes to pleasing the other sex. We simply are incapable of reaching their set standards, no matter how hard we try, and they are incapable of relaying their message to us in a simple way.”

“So… women make no sense?” Peter dryly murmured, his brow twitching.

Otto placed a hand over Peter’s shoulder, nodding. “To us? Yes, but women understand themselves and hate each other for it.”

Peter glanced off to the side with a weary expression. “Women are scary.”

Otto cleared his throat and smiled lightly. “Indeed, but don’t give up, my boy. Life teaches you a lesson every day, if you are attentive enough in the class of life.” He took a step back, beginning to depart before glancing at the young man from the corner of his eye. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. A quote by Thomas Edison. Perhaps mingle with some of your old cohorts? But for now, I must return to the lab. Your unique bloodwork could yield fantastic results.”

The older man exited the vicinity soon after, leaving Peter to his thoughts. As an uncertain expression graced his features, he could only chuckle inwardly. “Doc is always so optimistic. I can really use that.” Shifting his gaze skyward, Peter let out a defeated sigh before catching sight of many students approaching the football field. He followed the masses with his shoulders slumped. “I guess I’ll check things out in the gym before I go find a seat.”

Soon, everyone had left the sanctions of the courtyard. However, Twilight walked back outside with her spectrometer in hand, never averting her narrowed, violet gaze from its glowing surface. “There it is again. A huge electromagnetic signature is in the area, but where? What’s causing it?”

A pair of students walked past the girl, each gesturing a wave and smile. “Hi, Twilight,” one gently stated, pointing a thumb in the direction of the field. “Hope to see you at the games.”

Twilight blinked, tilting her head to the side at the comment before frowning. “And why is everyone here acting like they know me?” She shifted in place, extending the device out until she reached the equestrian statue at the center of the area. “Doesn’t matter. I just know there’s a connection between Spider-Man and the electromagnetic anomalies plaguing the area. I’ll have to keep investigating.”

Meanwhile, Sunset walked into the area completely oblivious to Twilight’s presence as she somberly stole a glance at her diary. “Still no reply. I wonder what’s going on with Twilight?” She steadily approached the other side of the statue, placing her hand over the mirror as a faint smile graced her features. “Maybe there’s another way to reach her…”

Suddenly, the spectrometer levitated from Twilight’s grasp and pulled itself towards the statue. Crimson and golden sparkling energies twisted from Sunset’s hand, spinning into the statue as she attempted to pry herself free. On the other side, Twilight reached out and managed to grab the device as it glued itself to the statue, all while magical energies spiraled into its surface. Eventually, the spectacle ceased, prompting the spectrometer to drop back harmlessly around the girl’s neck. Both girls snapped back, falling to the ground simultaneously, and they both peeked up, their eyes widening as they finally noticed each other.

“What did you do?” Sunset questioned, pulling herself back to a standing position.

Just as Twilight managed to force herself to her feet, Cadence emerged from the bus with a clipboard in hand. “Twilight. I need you to check in with the others.”

Blinking, Twilight stared at her device with an intense narrowed gaze briefly before shutting it completely. She quickly ran off as Sunset reached out, retreating back into the confines of the school. An awkward silence filled the air as the red-haired girl glanced in her direction, but she eventually brushed those thoughts to the side. However, Sunset inhaled sharply once her hand brushed against the statue and nothing transpired. She repeated the process to no avail, frantically tapping her hands against the stone’s smooth surface.

“Where’s the portal?” Sunset exclaimed, her complexion growing pale. “Where’s the portal?!”

“What do you mean you’re leaving?” Twilight asked, watching as Peter emptied his locker. She straightened her glasses as he fumbled out, stomping out of frustration. “Principal Cinch just said that you scored the highest SAT results in Crystal Prep’s history! She wants to make you her personal apprentice! How can you say no to that?”

Peter snorted, easing another folder into his backpack before lowering his head. “I don’t really care about that. I just… I don't like her approach, and I don’t fit in here.” He glanced at the girl from the corner of his eye, frowning. “I’m transferring right away, and I don’t know where. Apparently, I’ll find out tomorrow.”

Sugarcoat walked up to the pair with her arms crossed, bemused. “Heard you were about to leave. It’s a shame.”

However, just as she opened her mouth to speak further, a freckled girl with yellow skin and pink hair with a blue highlight approached, smiling sweetly. “Sure! You’re leaving just in time!” She trailed off, her expression snapping to that of anger instantly. “Fly off on your golden parachute, while we pay the price!”

Taken aback, Peter raised his hands defensively. “Whoa. Hyde and Jekyll much? What are you talking about?”

Sugarcoat slid a hand out, easing her friend back before shifting her gaze back to Peter. “What Sour Sweet is trying to say is that you set a new bar here at Crystal Prep.”

Two more girls approached, stepping past Twilight before surrounding Peter. One with blue skin, violet eyes, and multiple shades of purple hair eased forth with an arched brow. “Sorry, dearie. I can’t say that we appreciate the idea of you running off. School was challenging enough before you showed up.”

“Just say it like it is, Sunny Flare!” the last girl interjected, her voice carrying throughout the hall with a crack. She bore amber eyes and a short blue hairstyle, even doning lightning symbols on her boots. Once Peter pulled himself to a vertical stance, she folded her arms aggressively. “Principal Cinch was already starting to come down on us harder because of the teacher’s pet, but now, she’s upped the ante threefold! The least you can do is stick around for the aftermath!”

Fixing her pink glasses, Sugarcoat huffed. “Dial it back, Indigo. Your forehead is getting wrinkly.” All of the girls straightened their posture, each shooting a glare at Peter as they passed. However, Sugarcoat paused before shrugging. “Wish you were sticking around. I always thought you were cute, in a geeky way.”

Blissfully unaware, Peter gestured a wave once the squadron of girls departed the scene. However, like lightning to a rod, his brain chimed in well after the fact. “Wait. Did she just–?” Snapping back to reality, Peter turned to the side and shared a glance with Twilight. She simply stared at him while he took hold of his backpack. After the young man slid the straps around his shoulders, he sheepishly extended a hand. “Thanks for showing me around. Maybe I’ll see you around one day?”

“See you around? That’s it? You’re in your own little world, and you still don’t get it!” Twilight growled, slapping Peter’s hand away before turning sharply. “Never have I met such wasted potential! I just wish you cared half as much about your studies as you did yourself! Maybe then, you and I could have–!”

As if catching herself, Twilight ran before Peter could hope to question her. He stood, alternating his gaze between the direction the girl took and the exit door. He reached out, ready to pursue Twilight, but Peter inhaled deeply before sighing, proceeding to walk towards Crystal Prep’s main door. Casting any doubts to the side, the young man never lifted his gaze while stepping into the free world.

Meanwhile, Twilight reached her closet and slammed the door behind her. Spike emerged from her backpack with his ears perked, pausing once his owner slid to the ground position with her knees pulled to her chest. The dog sniffed, managing to position himself onto her lap, and she responded in kind, pulling him into a tight embrace. She could only bury her face into Spike’s fur, sobbing uncontrollably.

“What do you mean the portal’s gone?” Applejack questioned, arching a brow as she and her friends progressed towards the gymnasium. A banner labeled ‘Welcome, Crystal Prep’ hung over the door while students of both schools continued to enter the room. “Did it really just vanish?”

Sunset reached the door with a glare in her eye, pausing to face the others.“I mean it’s gone and disappeared. Trust me. I tried to open it, and nothing happened.”

Everyone shared a concerned gaze while coming to a halt. Rainbow Dash raised a hand objectively. “How did that happen?”

Shaking her head, Sunset let out a low sigh before she pointed across the room. “I don’t know, but it has something to do with that Twilight.” While students of both Canterlot High and Crystal Prep mingled (albeit weakly), Twilight clumsily bumped into various objects as she watched her spectrometer. Sunset narrowed her gaze and clenched her hand into a fist with a sense of determination. “Leave this to me.”

Rarity nodded. “Be gentle, dear. I know you will handle this with class and–”

“Hey, Twilight!” Sunset barked, stomping towards the girl. “What have you been up to?!”

Twilight stammered about, nearly dropping her device and glasses, but she managed to recollect herself, chuckingly sheepishly. “Oh, nothing! I’m just… Uh…”

“Who wants to know?!” Indigo spat out, stepping between the pair while glaring intently at Sunset. “If you know what’s good for you, back off.”

Folding her arms, Sunset remained still and held a glare of her own. However, Rainbow Dash smirked before pointing a thumb at her chest. “How about you show us what’s good then?”

As Twilight took the opportunity to quietly step away, Applejack raised her hands defensively while stepping between everyone. “All right. Let’s settle down. We don’t wanna get too competitive before the games even start.”

Sugarcoat rolled her eyes and scoffed. “The games aren’t really competitive, since we’ve never lost.”

Fluttershy’s gaze fell to the side as she stood with her arms folded. “Well, that’s not a very nice thing to say.”

As both sides delved deeper into their argument, the door to the gymnasium opened once again, and Peter dumbly walked in with his phone in hand, unaware of the brewing situation. However, all of Crystal Prep ceased upon noticing his existence, all of the girls shifting their gazes away from the Rainbooms. In turn, all of the Canterlot students mirrored their actions and frowned upon spotting the young man as he continued to peck away at his phone. Oblivious, Peter’s brow furrowed while he completed another puzzle, stopping in his tracks momentarily.

“I need a new app. I feel like I’ve played the crap out of Mind-Sweeper, and– Why am I in danger?” he blurted out, blinking as his cranium buzzed. Eventually, Peter caught sight of his surroundings and could only exhale upon noticing what felt like the entire world staring him down. His brow twitched as the hairs on his arms stood on end. “Oh. That’s why. Social danger. Great. I really prefer the physical danger. Blunt force trauma? No problem. Accelerated healing has that covered. Being the biggest loser in school history in two programs? That’s the stuff that gives someone Vietnam flashbacks.” he grumbled inwardly, sliding his phone into his pocket before weakly gesturing a wave after what felt like an eternity. “Hi, everyone.”

Sour Sweet pointed aggressively at the young man. “You’ve got to be kidding! It’s you!”

Peter shrugged, grinning nervously. “Yeah, it’s me.”

Indigo Zap furrowed her brow, alternating her gaze between Peter and Rainbow Dash. “I see you’ve pulled this dweeb into your ranks.”

“Wow,” Peter mumbled, holding a bemused glare.

Waving her hand dismissively, Rainbow Dash shook her head and scoffed. “No way. This guy isn’t with us. We just found out he used to be with you. Take him back for all we care.”

“Wow!” Peter exclaimed, holding out a hand in disbelief.

Rarity rolled her eyes, stealing a glance at Sunny Flare. “He’s a bit too rude for us… Something you share in abundance.”

Sunny arched a brow, placing her hands over her hips. “Are you sure he’s not picking up bad habits from you? Birds of a feather flock together, after all.”

“Wow!” Peter yelled louder, his brow twitching as all in the immediate vicinity simultaneously insulted and dismissed his presence. Both parties continued to throw insults at him, prompting Peter to casually remove himself from the center of the room. He could only grumble incoherently, stomping away in a huff. “There’s the stinger. I was right. Both sides suck.”

“So, this is the hole you crawled into!” a voice boasted from behind, causing everyone to turn in their direction. A tall male with pale yet fair skin entered the abode, brushing a hand through his long, luscious blonde hair, and his large blue eyes narrowed while his lips curled into a coy smile. He wore a Crystal Prep vest and uniform, straightening the decorative flower in his pocket. Everyone paused once he walked up to Peter, towering over his frame. “I thought I recognized you when we pulled up.”

“Who’s he supposed to be?” Applejack whispered, arching a brow.

Sunny Flare scoffed, staring intently at the girl. “Are you serious? That’s Prince Blueblood. He comes from one of the richest families in the nation, and he’s one of Crystal Prep’s greatest students!”

Rarity frowned, tapping a foot impatiently while her face twisted with disgust. “He’s also one of the most entitled and selfish boys I have ever met!” Everyone stopped, each glancing at the girl’s outburst, and Rarity cleared her throat, hastily brushing the wrinkles from her skirt. “At least, so I hear.”

The air thinned, making the simple act of breathing difficult as Blueblood glared down Peter with an unreadable expression. Everyone carefully watched the pair from both sides, neither faltering, as if a storm was about to erupt at any moment. However, all hints of darkness on Blueblood’s face dissipated as bright warmth filled his features. His mouth curled into a wide smile once he reached out, wrapping his arms around Peter’s body. Blueblood playfully brushed his face against the smaller boy’s, tightening his hold with the strength of a playful bear. Students from both Canterlot High and Crystal stood slack-jawed, unsure of what to make of the spectacle as Peter struggled in his grasp and flailed helplessly.

“My friend!” Blueblood cheered, unable to contain his laughter. “I’m so happy to see you again!”

Peter strained, attempting to free an arm, to no avail. “Good seeing you too, Double B.”

Rarity’s eye twitched before she inhaled deeply and let out a low sigh. “I knew that boy was bad news from the start.” She turned to face Sunset while pointing a finger at the pair. “I warned you that he associates with ruffians and miscreants. Do you need any more proof than this?”

Blinking, Sunset arched a brow. “What do you mean? This looks innocent enough.”

“Um,” Fluttershy stammered, easing closer to Sunset until she was in whispering range. “Rarity had a really bad incident with him last year. She’s still very… sore about it.”

Just before the conversation could hope to continue, a loud tapping echoed throughout the gymnasium. Peter flinched, clutching at his ears, and the other students turned to the source, finding Cinch at the center of the stage. Those from Crystal Prep walked to the opposite end of the gym from those of Canterlot, giving their principal their undivided attention. Meanwhile, Twilight crawled underneath the bleacher before coming to a halt.

The spectrometer suddenly flipped open, causing a portal to materialize into existence while energy spiraled about wildly. The girl paused, peeking at the forest behind the portal, and a stomp sent tremors through the earth, knocking Twilight down by proxy. She quickly grabbed her device and closed it shut, causing the portal to dissipate from sight. Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed the incident, allowing Twilight to slip free through the main door.

Slowly but surely, Pinkie weakly staggered to her friends with bags underneath her eyes and shoulders slumped. “Hi, guys!”

Taken aback, Applejack placed a hand over her shoulder with a softened gaze. “Pinkie! What happened to ya? You look run down.”

Pinkie shook her head and shrugged. “I don’t know. I was trying to get everyone to party and ponied up, but then, the magic just drained right out of me when Twilight came by.”

Sunset raised a brow. “Did you say drained?” She glanced at her surroundings before shifting. “Hold on. Where is Twilight?”

Principal Cinch cleared her throat, removing her glasses while pausing to polish them with a cloth. “I would like to thank Principal Celestia for her unconventional welcome. It’s been four years since the last Friendship Games, but it feels as if nothing has changed.” As every student continued to turn their attention to the woman, Peter rolled his eyes and exited the vicinity with a bemused glare. Blueblood followed his compatriot while Cinch continued, folding her arms behind her back. “Canterlot continues to pick their competitors through a popularity contest, while Crystal Prep picks their top twelve students. It is a comfort to know that even after so many years of losses, Canterlot stays committed to its ideals… however misguided they may be.”

While each student watched, a cloaked individual peeked his head from behind the bleachers as Cinch continued her speech. He narrowed his hazel gaze on the woman before analyzing his surroundings. His dark blue uniform bore that of a spider emblem on his chest, and he slid a golden shield onto his back, its icon bearing that of a sun. A buzzing coursed through his cranium before his eyes widened at a realization. Brushing a hand across his beard, the man paused upon reaching the door while turning his attention to the stage. His gaze softened upon settling on Vice-Principal Luna as she stood with her arms crossed.

The man’s hardened features dissolved, evident by the warm smile on his face while he pushed through the gym’s double doors. “She’s beautiful here, too.”

Meanwhile, Cinch smugily grinned. “I wish you all the best of luck, in spite of the inevitable outcome.”

To be continued…

Ch. 5 "Rich in Kindness"

Chapter Five “Rich in Kindness”

“It’s been a few weeks since we last talked. I was beginning to grow worried,” Blueblood stated, leaning against the nearest wall with his arms crossed. The corner of his lips steadily curled into a warm smile as he straightened his posture, eyeing the settings of the tea shop they currently stood in. “For all intents and purposes, I thought you didn’t like me anymore. You could still check your social media every now and then.”

Peter huffed, shaking his head while alternating his gaze between the taller male and the girl behind the register. “Sorry, Blue. Things have just been pretty crazy for me these past few weeks. I’m still trying to adjust from the move. Plus, I have a pair of jobs after school.” His eyes softened as he glanced to the side. “It’s no excuse. I could have taken a few seconds to call or text.”

The blonde waved a hand dismissively before patting Peter over the shoulder assuredly. “Don’t take it so personally. I’m just giving you a hard time. Your Aunt has already filled me in on why you’ve been out of sorts.”

“You’ve been speaking with Aunt May?” Peter questioned, blinking.

Nodding, Blueblood raised a finger objectively. “Of course. My parents are funding FEAST, and my parents love to check on their investments. Besides…” he trailed off, glancing to the side as the temperature in his face rose mildly. “My mother loves Mrs. May’s company. She’s always going on about sharing recipes and making time for a yoga session together.”

Peter grinned. “Your mom’s always super nice. I’ll see if I can come crash at your pad again soon.”

“Speaking of, I did manage to order you a Playstation Five. I just wanted to give it to you personally,” Blueblood nonchalantly stated, furrowing his brow. “I’ll need your address before long.”

Slack-jawed, Peter stared wildly at the taller male. “Dude, are you serious?! Those things are pricey and rare! I can’t repay you for something like that! They cost between seven-hundred to a thousand bucks, if you’re lucky! How’d you even get it?!”

Blueblood shrugged, brushing his hand over his forearm bashfully. “My father has connections. Besides, I ordered two, so I can have someone to play with.”

Peter hummed, slapping the back of Blueblood’s shoulder playfully. “Really? You’re such a softie! I mean, I really wish you didn’t spend your money on me. I’ll pay you back! I swear!” He nervously chuckled, clearing his throat. “After I take out a loan and sell my kidney.”

The notion seemed to have thrilled the blonde, evident by his wide smile. “Oh, please. It’s a gift. For a friend. This is exactly why I’ve missed you, old chum. If anything, Crystal Prep has just been boring without you.” Chuckling under his breath, Blueblood smirked while sliding his hands into his pockets. “From what I saw back in the gymnasium, you clearly haven’t lost your magnetic charm.”

Rolling his eyes, Peter shot the taller male a bemused glare. “Story of my life. I don’t even know what I did on both ends.”

“Allow me to educate you on the Crystal Prep end. Whether you like it or not, you became Principal Cinch’s favorite prodigy,” Blueblood declared, shrugging while walking to the door, “You set the standard for the rest of us. Granted, Twilight Sparkle had already done that, but since your immediate departure, Principal Cinch has really doubled down on everyone in terms of maintaining that academic excellence you set.”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter paused to scratch the back of his head. “That’s part of the reason I left. She was so obsessed with the reputation that it felt like nothing else mattered.” A saddened gaze filled the young man’s eyes as he lowered his wallet. “I didn’t think my choice to leave would cause everyone else so much trouble. It might even explain why Twilight hates me. If anyone’s gotten it bad, it’s her… being right under Cinch’s thumb.”

Blueblood walked back up to Peter with a furrowed brow. “Stop taking everything so personally. It’s more of an annoyance than anything else for most of us.” He trailed off, frowning upon seeing the wallet in Peter’s grasp. “What are you doing?”

Blinking, Peter retrieved a few bills while extending it to the girl patiently waiting behind the register. “I’m paying for our tea.”

Reaching a hand out, Blueblood shoved Peter to the side before easing into his place. “Oh, please. I’ve got this.”

“Double B, it’s my treat. I don’t mind,” Peter interjected, attempting to step back into place, but the taller male remained firm, smacking the back of his hand with a light tap. Grumbling, Peter pressed his hand against Blueblood’s face. The pair wrestled in place, each trying to remain in front of the register. The girl watched blankly as they squirmed, blinking before the taller of the two eventually prevailed, with his arm wrapped around the smaller one in a headlock. Peter strained, grumbling under his breath. “Really? You have to resort to brute force on the nerd? That hardly seems fair.”

Unknowingly to Peter, a somber gaze filled Blueblood’s blue irises as a warm smile graced his features. “You’ve forced my hand, nerd.” Once Blueblood offered the girl payment, he relinquished his hold and eased his wallet back into his pocket. “Everyone is either trying to get something from me or having me pay without my consent. You’re the only person who doesn’t like for me to spend money on them, and it’s refreshing, in spite of how meniscal it is. The gesture alone speaks volumes.”

Peter dumbly lifted a finger. “So, can I pay next time?”

Faster than he could react, Blueblood reapplied his headlock with added force, and a vein throbbed over his forehead as Peter struggled. “No. So, stop asking and accept my generosity.”

Eventually, the girl filled a pair of cups with a liquid substance before handing it to Peter. Blueblood watched as his friend downed his drink in a few sips, a satisfied sigh escaping from his lips. They soon walked outside, pausing to glance at the darkened sky. Eventually, Peter offered the second cup to Blueblood and smiled upon glancing up at his taller frame.

“Try this,” he stated, holding it mere inches from his face. “Boba tea is super satisfying, and I know how much you like your mango. You’ll get a kick out of the mango milk tea flavor!”

Taken aback, Blueblood’s eyes widened at the gesture. “I appreciate it, but you know Mother has me on a stringent diet. There’s so many unnatural ingredients in our food.”

Peter placed the cup into his hands, raising a finger afterward. “Dude, you have to live a little. Just consider this a cheat day.” As Blueblood eyed the treat with a furrowed brow, Peter grinned. “At least take a sip. If you don’t like it, I’ll drink the rest. You owe me that much, since you paid for it and choked me out to do it.”

Slow to respond, Blueblood mock-frowned at the demand before shrugging his shoulders in a defeated manner. Pressing his lips against the straw, the young male inhaled lightly with a small sip. Blueblood paused as the sweet substance filled his senses. Soon, his eyes widened before he repeated the process, nodding his approval. Peter smiled triumphantly, gesturing a thumbs up while his friend sighed contently mid-sip.

“Trust me. I don’t always bat a thousand, but when it comes to junk food, I’m your guy,” Peter stated, finding a table before easing into a seat.

Blueblood soon mirrored his actions, sitting across from Peter’s position with his drink still in hand. “Even a broken clock is right twice a day,” he muttered, grinning upon receiving a blank glare from his compatriot as his brow twitched violently. A bead of sweat trailed down his cheek afterward. “Oh, my. That’s a nice look on you.”

Snorting, Peter rolled his eyes. “Well, knock it off. I get enough sass from a couple of my other friends as is.”

Arching a brow, Blueblood folded his arms. “And I was worried that you were without friends. What are they like?”

Peter shook his head and huffed, blanketing the majority of his face with a hand. “We’re not really a popular lot. Some would say we’re the bottom of the barrel on the social ladder. There’s Trixie, Aria, Ditzy, Eris, and Sunset.”

Blueblood whistled, nodding firmly. “You dolt. You’re swimming in estrogen and don’t know it. I bet they’re all quite gorgeous, too, and you have no idea what even to do with it all.”

Oblivious, Peter seemingly missed Blueblood’s comment before raising a finger and twirling it around playfully. “We’re dubbed the Loser Brigade.”

“Who was the genius that came up with that?” Blueblood scoffed, taking a sip from his cup. Once he glanced over, finding Peter with his hand sheepishly raised, Blueblood could only grumble under his breath. “Of course you’d call yourself something so self-deprecating.” Once the pair shared a laugh, the taller male involuntarily jumped as something vibrated within his pocket, and he quickly retrieved his phone, peeking at its screen. “Well, if you are friends with them, I’d imagine they are quite charming.”

Forcing a cough, Peter cleared his throat and nervously glanced to the side. “Charming is probably the last word I’d use. Ego-centric? Clumsy? Chaotic? Dry? Fiery? Dorky? By our powers combined, we are the Loser Brigade.”

Blueblood huffed, snorting involuntarily. “Really? Captain Planet? Well, at least you didn’t slander the Power Rangers.”

“Super Sentai,” Peter matter-of-factly stated, earning a blank glare from the blonde. He nodded, folding his arms. “I prefer Gekirangers, personally.”

Scoffing, Blueblood rolled his eyes. “Anyway. All the more reason I’d love to make their acquaintance. I could use a change of pace.” He scrolled through the walls of text, pausing upon catching the headline. “Oh, it looks like Crystal Prep won the first event: the academic decathlon, and it was very close. It came down to Twilight Sparkle and your friend, Sunset.” Pausing, Blueblood arched a brow at Peter. “That’s surprising. It’s usually never close. Which begs the question, why did you not want to participate? You would have swept the competition, if your GPA is anything to go off of.”

“It’s not really my thing. Besides, you saw how everyone treated me. Why would I want to get involved when both sides hate me?” Peter questioned, tapping a finger against his forearm impatiently.

Blueblood simply nodded before taking another sip of his drink, smirking devilishly. “How on earth did you manage that? I mean, at least Sugarcoat still has a soft spot for you. I think she really likes you.”

Peter waved a hand dismissively and scoffed. “Yeah, right. No one’s that direct. We both know she’s just teasing.”

Arching a brow, Blueblood could only shrug. “Maybe you’re right. My point is that I do my best to keep people at arm’s length, and I’m still more popular than you. I mean, having money helps.” He glanced to the side, blinking upon catching sight of Peter’s brow twitching once more. Raising a hand defensively, Blueblood chuckled. “My point is that you have a knack for rubbing people the wrong way without trying, so I fully understand why you wouldn’t want to participate.”

Sobering, Peter shrugged. “It’s not just that, Blue. Even if I did compete, I wouldn’t do any good in the grand scheme of things. I nail the academic section? Great, but what about the physical stuff? You know I don’t have a single athletic bone in my body. It just wouldn’t work.”

“That’s fair. I got pulled into the games myself. They require at least one male to participate, and I’m representing Crystal Prep this year. I can’t say I would have enjoyed being forced to compete against my only friend,” Blueblood declared, his firm voice diminishing to a whisper.

Peter managed a smile, relaxing his shoulders. “Come on, I can’t be your only friend. You’re way too cool to just have one friend.”

Pursing his lips, Blueblood frowned. “You give me and everyone I’ve ever interacted with too much credit. You actually see me as a person. Everyone else just sees me as an opportunity… or a blank check.” As if catching his thoughts, the blonde cleared his throat and waved a hand dismissively. Peter opened his mouth to question him further, but Blueblood furrowed his brow upon glancing back at his phone. “Anyway, I’m solely competing because my mother would really like it. Looks like someone named Flash Thompson will be representing Canterlot.”

Sobering, Peter’s eyes widened. “That’s not surprising. The dude’s a meathead, but he’s one of the best athletes in the nation. You’ll have your work cut out, Double B.”

“It’s okay. If I’m lucky, the girls will give me enough of a lead to work with,” Blueblood stated, standing from his seat before stretching his limbs high overhead. “It was fun catching up, Peter. Now that I know where you are, I fully expect us to maintain contact this time.” He extended his closed fist to his friend. “Will you be at the games tomorrow? As a spectator, of course.”

Peter simply shrugged, chuckling before bumping his fist against Blueblood’s. “Fine. I’ll root for you, but I may be forced to cheer for Canterlot if my friends are nearby.”

The pair eased closer, shifting their fistbump into a firm handshake before pulling apart to wiggle the back of their fingers in a rhythmic motion. Blueblood soon gestured a wave, departing the scene after grabbing his tea. Peter soon did the same, watching his friend leave the vicinity. He readied to do the same, inhaling deeply before sighing.

However, his cranium buzzed, yet it didn’t blare. It simply hummed as if cooing, causing Peter to lift his gaze skyward until the sensation ceased. Blinking upon failing to locate the source, the young man walked out of the area, but he paused momentarily, taking one final look back before resuming his path. Meanwhile, a bearded individual watched from a rooftop with his arms crossed, and he smirked, placing a hand over his humming temple. Afterward, he extended it out and eyed his fingers with a narrowed gaze.

“I can’t say I don’t miss this. It’s been so long,” the man whispered, shaking the thoughts from his head. With a deep huff, he broke into a sprint before leaping high into the air, wind coursing through his short gray and brown hair. “Enough with the nostalgia. I know who and what the kid is. I’ll just watch him from afar… for now.”

The sun beamed, giving light to the land under its wake, and Spider-Man flipped gracefully through the air before landing upon a vantage point near the top of a clocktower. He lowered into a squat, easing onto his bottom. Students steadily gathered around the field, filling the stands as the Friendship Games athletic decathlon was set to begin soon. Peter raised the lower portion of his mask, revealing only his mouth, before retrieving a bagel from his paper bag.

“The one day I wish for crime to run rampant turns out to be one of the slowest. I could really use the excuse to miss these stupid games,” he muttered, taking a chomp out of his pastry. A pigeon soon landed next to his position, tilting its head to the side. Spider-Man’s masked eyes arched at the sight before he broke off a piece of the bagel, placing it by the bird. “What do you think, pal? Should I stick around?” With a simple and aloof gaze, the pigeon seemingly nodded before pecking away at the treat. Peter could only exhale, tossing the remnants in his mouth. “You’re right. I’ll just stop complaining and go watch. I’m only doing this for Sunset, Blue, and Trixie. This day can’t end soon enough.”

Just as he pulled himself to a standing position, Spider-Man pulled his mask back down over his face and eyed the land beneath his position. Aiming his hand to the side, a strand of webbing fired off and latched onto the side of a building. He readied to dive into a swing, pausing upon catching a glimpse of pink isolated behind a trail of bushes. His masked eyes narrowed, widening upon recognizing the fair and yellow skin the individual bore as they lowered to a sitting position.

“Oh, hey. It’s that Fluttershy girl. Geez, the metaphorical names in this town are still weird to me, but I do call myself Spider-Man. So, who am I to judge?” he whispered, never averting his gaze for what seemed like an eternity. “Maybe I should stop and say ‘hey’? It wouldn’t be too weird? I mean, she did say that she isn’t scared of me, and we had a pretty good talk the first time. Granted, that was for Spider-Man, and I have no idea how she feels about Peter Parker. I mean, she was really nice to be around. She’s one of the folks who seems to actually like Spider-Man, but what’s to say she doesn’t want anything to do with me personally?”

He paused, folding his arms while tapping his foot against the ground impatiently. “Heck, when her friends were hounding me, she was the only one to defend me. So, maybe? Agh! What would I even say?”

Peter’s foot rapidly beat against the stone, sending mild tremors through the clock tower’s upper structure. The pigeon flapped its wings in response, ascending until it landed on Spider-Man’s shoulder. Freeing himself from his self-induced trance, Peter shared a glance with the bird and ceased his tapping. He exhaled after the bird cooed attentively, and a defeated sigh escaped from the young man’s mouth once he traced a finger over the pigeon’s head.

“Don’t overthink it and go say hi already? You make a good argument. Oh, and tell Howard I’ll see him around,” he whispered, conceding with a nod.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy eased herself behind the school’s hoof monument and concealed herself within the surrounding bushes. She paused, alternating her gaze about before taking her backpack in hand. Once certain her surroundings were clear, the girl managed a smile while pulling the bag’s zipper back, and a small kitten poked its head free, meowing happily. Suddenly, Spider-Man soared onto the scene, landing and perching himself on the hoof monument in a kneeling stance. Upon glancing at the shadow peering over her, Fluttershy’s expression morphed into that of the biggest smile.

Gesturing a wave, Spider-Man quickly leapt from his position and landed a few feet away from the girl before anyone could hope to see him. “Excuse me for dropping in, but I was just in the neighborhood.”

Fluttershy waved eagerly as the temperature in her face rose, evident by the pink staining her cheeks. “Hi.”

Slow to respond, Spider-Man cleared his throat after an awkward amount of time. “Um. Hi. Uh, this is actually kind of weird. I mean, I usually tend to surprise people with the sudden landing thing.”

“I have a pet tarantula named Harvey. He’s always doing the same thing, so I’m used to it,” Fluttershy gently replied.

“...Harvey?” Peter trailed off, pointing a thumb behind his position after freeing loose thoughts from his cranium. “I know this looks weird. Usually, when someone hides in the bushes, it means they don’t want to be disturbed. I can leave you to it if you’d like. Uh… whatever it is you were doing. I won’t pry or make assumptions.”

“Oh, no! I’m happy that you came. I, uh, was just thinking about you,” Fluttershy meekly declared, holding her warm gaze on the man. She rubbed the head of the kitten, earning a soft purr in response. Suddenly, the kitten leapt from the backpack and pranced over to Spider-Man. The pair seemingly stared at each other intently for what seemed like minutes, but the cat simply meowed, brushing its side against the man’s leg affectionately. Fluttershy smiled once Spider-Man scratched its backside. “I knew you weren’t a bad person. First the doggies, and now, this.”

Taken aback, Spider-Man’s masked eyes widened before they furrowed. “Well, I’m just glad to be on someone’s good side.”

Fluttershy tilted her head to the side. “I know it’s hard for you. Spiders are always misunderstood. They are actually very helpful to people, but they are so afraid of human contact. Like now? I’ve noticed you’ve been more twitchy than usual. It’s just in their nature. It’s kind of like how you are: always saving the day, yet everyone’s scared of you.”

Chuckling under his breath, Spider-Man scooped the kitten into his grasp and offered it back to the girl gently. “Thank you, but you’re giving me too much credit. I’m just not good with people. I either creep them out or offend everyone. Sometimes both.”

“Give them time. You have a growing fanclub! I, uh, think I mentioned that before?” she questioned sheepishly, managing a smile while accepting the kitten. Blinking, the girl’s eyes widened when a realization came into mind. “Um, if you don’t mind me asking, I’ve noticed you are usually around Canterlot High. Are you a student?”

Spider-Man glanced to the side, twitching. “N-No. Why would you think that? I mean, most of the weird hijinks that happen in this city always occur here.” He raised a finger defensively. “Sunset Shimmer turned into a demon before I even got here, right? Plus, those sirens were also at a concert here. The Juggernaut started a fight in the courtyard of this school.” Folding his arms, Spider-Man’s masked eyes closed as he nodded in an exaggerated fashion. “Yeah. I may as well station myself here. This school is a magnet for trouble. You’re just lucky that I happen to be in the neighborhood.”

Fluttershy’s brow arched as a knowing smile graced her features. “Sure.” Slow to respond, a thought steadily entered her mind, and blinked, tilting her head to the side. “Um, how do you know about Sunset Shimmer? No one really talks about it outside of the school, unless…”

An awkward silence filled the area as Spider-Man stood awkwardly, his muscles and brain ceasing to function. He quickly glanced to the side, dramatically pointing in the distance. “Oh, I think I hear police sirens. I’d better get on that! I’ll catch you later. Good luck at the Friendship Games– Crap!”

Spider-Man shot out a strand of webbing to the side without looking, latching a strand of gossamer to the side of a car, and once he yanked the line, the vehicle’s door snapped off the hinges. The pair watched as the car’s siren went off after the door skidded to a halt. A student soon walked into the vicinity, slack-jawed as he eyed the car.

“Spider-Man just ruined somebody’s car!” he cried, angrily pointing at the costumed vigilante.

Clearing his throat sheepishly, Spider-Man hastily fired a second strand towards the nearest building. Fortunately, it managed to latch onto the nearest building this time, and Spider-Man babbled incoherently, pulling himself into a swing. Fluttershy could only watch as he took flight, swinging into the distance, and she blinked upon watching the angered civilian give chase with his phone in hand, falling behind miserably.

“Stupid!” Spider-Man exclaimed, narrowly avoiding a street light upon his daring escape.

Fluttershy’s mouth curled into a smile after a brief duration. “So, he is around my age, and we go to the same school.” She clapped her hands together, releasing a happy squeal from her mouth.

Suddenly, Twilight stumbled through the bushes and into the vicinity with her spectrometer in hand. “Energy readings are spiking!” She peeked up after straightening her glasses, catching sight of Spider-Man turning around the corner in the distance. A growl escaped from the girl as she clenched her free hand into a fist. “I just missed him! Agh!” Blinking, Twilight lowered her gaze and upon sharing a glance with Fluttershy, her demeanor softened. “Oh.”

Managing a smile, Fluttershy held out the kitten. “Do you want to give her a treat?”

Twilight’s gaze lowered momentarily before she shared a smile, taking a seat next to the pink-haired girl before removing her backpack. “Looks like I’m not the only one smuggling their pet into school grounds.” Once she unzipped the bag open, Spike reared his head out and happily panted. Twilight raised her gaze, blinking dumbly once Fluttershy opened her bag further and allowed a hamster, bunny, and bird to free themselves. “Wow! Uh… all I have is Spike.”

Fluttershy gently reached out and pulled the dog from the bag. “The resemblance is uncanny! Does he talk?”

Her glasses fell at the question, but Twilight managed to straighten them with a finger, all while sheepishly shrugging. “Not that I’m aware of.”

The animals steadily surrounded Fluttershy as she rubbed Spike’s belly. “Congratulations on winning yesterday.” The girl paused, allowing the bird to perch onto her finger, and she faced Twilight with a softened gaze. “You were great, but it really didn’t seem like your teammates were happy about it.”

Glancing to the side, Twilight inhaled deeply before sighing. “No one at my school gets excited about anything they didn’t do for themselves. There was one, but he left a few weeks ago.” She brushed a hand over her aching eyes before turning away shamefully. “I can’t blame him. It sounds silly, but I’m just upset that he didn’t take me with him. I figured if he had planned on transferring, he would have told me in advance. We talked all the time. We were friends. He actually made Crystal Prep… fun for me.” Inhaling deeply, the girl let out a desolate sigh. “But no. He always kept his secrets, and I found out about the transfer when everyone else did. He even had the nerve to act like it surprised him, too.”

“That sounds awful. You must have been really hurt by it,” Fluttershy whispered, frowning. She held out a hand. “Did you like him?”

Twilight narrowed her gaze, as if contemplating the girl’s words, and she soon nodded, brushing a hand through her curly hair. “It took me a while to realize it, but yes, I did. Sure, he was lazy and acted irresponsibly, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his company. Compared to everyone else at Crystal Prep, he had something no one else did.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “Really? What was that?”

The temperature in her face rose as what seemed to have resembled a faint smile formed on her face. “A soul. He was brilliant, and whenever he actually focused on something, you could see how much of a humanitarian he was. He always stood against Principal Cinch, never sacrificing his beliefs. I guess that’s also why he infuriates me to no end. He’s wasting his potential, yet he’s braver than I can ever be… when he’s motivated.” Shaking the thoughts free from her mind, Twilight returned her gaze to the pink-haired girl. “Sorry. You’re really easy to talk to. I don’t even know your name. I’m Twilight.”

“It’s Fluttershy, and don’t mention it,” she sweetly declared, managing to smile upon spotting something of interest. Before Twilight could react, Fluttershy gently offered the bunny to her. “Here, hold him. It will also help.”

Taken aback, Twilight hesitantly accepted the gesture. “Um… why?”

Fluttershy closed her eyes and continued to smile reassuringly. “Hugging animals always helps me feel better.”

Shaking her head, Twilight frowned. “Well, that doesn’t sound…” she trailed off once the bunny nudged its head against her cheek. Soon, the girl’s demeanor softened as she leaned into the creature’s fuzzy touch. Slowly but surely, the girl placed a hand on the back of the bunny’s head and embraced its warmth fully. “Oh. It actually kind of works.” Her eyes widened at a realization before she faced Fluttershy with a softened gaze. “You’re on the other team, and you just lost. Why are you being so nice to me?”

Fluttershy knelt next to the girl, simply nodding. “You look like you needed it.”

Suddenly, magical energies enveloped Fluttershy’s form and levitated her from the ground. A pair of ears, wings, and a tail sprouted from her body, sparkling into existence. Twilight snapped to her feet with her mouth agape, staring at the phenomenon. Soon, her spectrometer hovered from her neck and flipped open. The energies surrounding Fluttershy spiraled into the glowing orb at the center. Before long, several dark portals materialized into existence around the girls.

Spike staggered back, falling into one of the pathways, and he fell through another, stopping in place once he landed between the energies flowing from Fluttershy and the spectrometer. The pink-haired girl weakly fell to the ground, managing to capture the dog before collapsing to the ground. Twilight snapped the spectrometer shut, causing the surrounding portals to dissolve from sight instantaneously, and Fluttershy rolled onto her stomach, peeking up at the girl while her magical appendages vanished.

Twilight rushed towards the pair, lifting the dog into her grasp. “Spike! Are you okay?!”

Shaking his head, the dog nodded before sharing a glance with his owner. “Yeah. I’m fine.” The gears in Twilight’s head slowly churned, pausing before spinning off the wheels. A loud shriek escaped from the girl’s mouth as she broke into a sprint, retreating into the school not before dropping her dog. Spike landed awkwardly on his bottom and immediately gave chase, never averting his gaze from the direction his owner sped towards. “Twilight! Wait!”

Fluttershy attempted to push herself back to her feet, but she failed, weakly gesturing to a wave as she remained prone on the grass. “Uh… bye.”

Meanwhile, Spike managed to close the gap between himself and his owner. “Twilight! Wait for me!” The girl skidded to a halt upon reaching a corner, and she pressed her back against the wall, holding a widened gaze on the dog. Oblivious, Spike’s expression softened. “Why did you run off like that?”

Twilight paused, holding her hands out before throwing them high over her head. “Oh, I don’t know! There was the glowing girl who was suddenly flying! Then, there were the space portals! Now, my dog is talking!” Inhaling deeply before sighing, the girl lowered to her knees and gently cupped her dog’s face into her hands. “How do you feel? Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?”

Spike dropped to his bottom, scratching the back of his ear with a hindleg. “I don’t know. This is weird for me, too. I fell into that portal and landed in a forest. Before I knew it, I took another step back and fell into that nice girl’s arms. Suddenly, I could talk and understand you. Not sure why I couldn’t talk before.”

“Twilight!” a voice called out from behind, prompting the girl to instinctively shove Spike into the nearest locker. Principal Cinch soon reached her position, crossing her arms. “Who were you talking to?”

Clearing her throat, Twilight shrank in place and pulled at some strands of her hair. “Oh! Myself! It’s a nervous habit. Sorry.”

Cinch arched a brow, staring intently at the girl, but she soon shook her head, placing a hand over her shoulder. “Don’t apologize, child. I’ve noticed it’s a habit those with brilliant minds share. Otto would prattle to himself for hours.”

Twilight let out a relieved sigh, managing to share a glance with the older woman. “Were you looking for me?”

Nodding, Cinch straightened her posture. “Indeed, I was. It is quite the coincidence that the same Canterlot High students moving onto the next event are the same nice girls that were so interested in you. Don’t you agree?”

“I’m not sure,” Twilight muttered, her gaze lowering.

The woman walked to the side, glancing down the hallway. “Perhaps you should get to know them after all.”

Slow to respond, Twilight furrowed her brow. “But I thought you wanted me to avoid them.”

“Let’s just say that I’m covering my bases. Canterlot High is truly inspired this year, and we’re fortunate that Mister Parker refuses to participate,” Cinch stated, her expression brightening momentarily. “We simply must take advantage of the situation. The other students informed me of what happened in the gymnasium. It seems young Peter is rather ostracized here, and those girls are the catalysts. Who knows? With them sharing such an interest in you, perhaps you can learn the secret of Canterlot High’s newfound success and even tempt those girls to push Mister Parker back into our waiting arms?”

Twilight’s expression stiffened at the mention of Peter’s name, but she shook her head, placing a hand over her chest. “I don’t know. Spying feels wrong, and I don’t want to see Parker get hurt.”

“It’s not to hurt him. It’s to simply… push him back in the right direction. It wouldn’t be fair for me to lose both my best students in such a short time span.” Cinch huffed, stealing a glance at the ceiling before placing both hands over the girl’s shoulders. However, Twilight avoided eye contact, and Cinch frowned at the act, relinquishing her hold. The older woman steadily turned and departed. “It’s your decision. It’s not as if your application to Everton hangs in the balance.” She stopped in her tracks, coldly glaring at Twilight from the side of her eye. “Wait a second. Yes, it does.”

Once the woman exited the vicinity, Twilight simply leaned against the locker and pulled her knees to her chest. Spike freed himself from his space and joined her side, leaning his head against her hip.

To be continued…

Ch. 7 "Night and Day"

Chapter Seven “Night and Day”

Stars glowed in the night sky as students from both Crystal Prep and Canterlot High filled the stands in front of the school. The air in the vicinity grew thin, making the simple act of breathing difficult. There was a sense of uncertainty among the competitors of Canterlot, evident by their saddened and concerned expressions. Those from Crystal Prep simply stood with firm glares, the only exception being that of Twilight. She meekly sat in place, holding a saddened gaze upon the spectrometer in her grasp.

Cadence took hold of her microphone before clearing her throat. “Since the score is tied, the final event will determine the winner of the Friendship Games.”

Vice-Principal Luna walked forth with a pair of flags in hand, each bearing a logo of both schools respectively. “Somewhere on campus, a pendant from each school is hidden. The first team to find their school flag and bring it back wins.”

“As soon as both teams are ready, we’ll begin,” Cadence interjected, sharing a nod with the other principals.

Peter watched from the roof of the school, pacing back and forth with his arms crossed behind his back. “This is so stupid. I still can’t believe they’re all still willing to go through with this stupid event in spite of what happened. Usually, giant killer plants from another dimension crashing the party would be enough incentive to stop anything.” He stopped in place, tapping his foot impatiently against the ground. Like lightning to a rod, an idea struck Peter’s mind, and he raised a finger suddenly before retrieving his phone from his pocket. “Duh! The cops may not be able to stop this, but I know SHIELD would be a great help right now!”

Unfortunately, the signal on his phone dropped while an image of a young girl with poofy blue and pink hair filled the screen. “Hold it, Peter Parker,” she calmly stated, alternating her gaze briefly. “This entire matter is confidential.”

“Were you seriously tracking my phone? Guess I’ll have to bug my phone, too,” Peter mumbled, furrowing his brow. “Hang on. You’re, uh, Special Agent Butterscotch, right? Or was it Gumball? Peanut Brittle?” Snapping his fingers, the young man nodded and hummed. “Oh! I got it! Bonne Bouche!”

The girl’s brow twitched as she bit down on her lower lip. “It’s Sweetie Drops, you idiot!” Growling through gritted teeth, she inhaled deeply before letting out a low sigh. “Now, you have to do what you can to keep this contained on your own. We’ll make sure nothing extracurricular gets broadcasted outside the city limits.”

Slow to respond, Peter stared intently at his phone with a narrowed gaze. “Are you serious? The one time I call for help, and you guys decide to step back? What was the point of Fury sending me here? There are freaky things happening, and what’s worse is that no one’s really reacting to it!”

“Use your head for a second. Collateral goes beyond just property damage. Could you imagine what would happen if people outside this region found out about the anomalies happening here?” Sweetie Drops stated, waving a finger suggestively. “What would stop some of the bigger bads from investigating and wanting that power for themselves? Heck, most people can’t handle the idea of colorful skin pigmentation, let alone magic or whatever it is.” Pausing, the girl sobered and plainly stared at the young man. “So, tell me. Would you rather keep this under wraps or potentially start a worldwide panic?”

Exasperated, Peter could only smack his phone against his forehead multiple times before returning his bemused gaze to the screen. “So, you’re saying it’s all on me? No pressure. I still don’t even know what’s going on half the time here.”

Sweetie Drops huffed, glancing to the side momentarily while waving her hand dismissively. “I know it’s about to start, Lyra! Let me finish this call!” she lightly stated with a smile, her demeanor shifting completely. Just as Peter arched a brow, ready to respond, Sweetie’s face retook its firm expression. “Look, I don’t get it either, but Colonel Fury sent you here because he trusts you to handle it. The fact that he didn’t have you booked for going AWOL for your little stunt with the reality-warping mutant speaks volumes. I’ve seen him punish agents for doing far less. Even now, I’m advised to standby and let you handle the situation at your own discretion. Personally, I would have thrown the book at you.”

Peter watched as his screen flashed back to its settings, rolling his eyes afterward. “I should’ve known it’d be too easy if I got SHIELD involved. Then again, I’m more surprised about Fury. It almost sounds like he likes me?” He shifted his gaze skyward, furrowing his brow. Snorting involuntarily, Peter laughed inwardly. “Nah. That’d be ridiculous. Anyway, is there anyone else I can call? Magic isn’t really my expertise, and Eris is out of town with…” His eyes widened at a realization before his mouth morphed into a hopeful smile. “Of course! Doctor Strange! He can fix all of this!” Peter pecked away at the screen, groaning once a dial tone hummed out. “Oh, come on! What could he possibly be doing that’s more important than this?!”

Elsewhere, Stephen floated before a massive creature with a weary gleam in his eye. “Dormammu! I’ve come to bargain!” he exclaimed, only for the creature to smash his massive fist over the sorcerer. His body sank under the impact as massive clouds of dust spread from the impact. Suddenly, Strange emerged from his previous position with his arms crossed. “Dormammu! I’ve come to–!” he repeated, only for a boulder to crush his frame. Materializing into existence in a flash, Stephen could only gaze up at the monster with an exasperated gaze as it glared menacingly in his direction with embers simmering from the corners of its mouth. Exhaling, Stephen rolled his eyes while a fireball sped towards him. “Dormammu! I–”

Peter soon tossed his phone back into the confines of his backpack. “Okay! Guess I really am on my own this time. If I’m lucky, the plant monsters were just a one-time thing. Things can’t possibly get any weirder, right?” Folding his arms, the young man shook his head and grumbled under his breath. “Ah, who am I kidding? It’s not a matter of if but when. I just wish I knew what was possibly causing all of this.”

Beside the stands at ground-level, the Rainbooms all stood with a shared look of concern. Fluttershy’s gaze fell to the ground as she brushed her forearm bashfully. “I don’t want to play this game anymore.”

Rainbow held her hand to the side and edged forward. “But we have to play! This is the last event!”

“It’s a little difficult to focus with all of the magic-stealing and portal-opening,” Rarity declared as she made gestures with her hands.

Sunset shifted her gaze to the side, stealing a glance at the violet-skinned girl standing amongst the Crystal Prep competitors. “I still feel awful about what I said to Twilight,” she whispered, placing a hand over her chest.

“Especially since she obviously didn’t mean to do all the stuff she did. She’s actually really nice,” Fluttershy softly yet firmly stated. Sunset threw her hands over her face shamefully, prompting everyone in the group to shift their gazes back towards the pink-haired girl. Fluttershy sheepishly stepped back until she was concealed by Pinkie Pie. “Um… sorry.”

Applejack raised her hands defensively while clearing her throat. “Let’s just finish this last event and prove to Principal Cinch that we aren’t a bunch of cheaters.” The blonde gently placed a hand over Sunset’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Then, you can apologize to Twilight.”

Elsewhere, Cinch stood with her arms placed over her hips. “I know that I’m asking you to beat a team that isn’t playing fair, but Canterlot High must be made to understand that beating Crystal Prep is simply not an option.”

Sugarcoat arched a brow. “What if they grow wings again or free more of those giant plants?”

Brushing a hand through her violet hair, Principal Cinch walked by her students and steadily approached the one hiding near the back. “Good questions, but I do believe we can fight fire with fire.” The older woman fixated on the spectrometer hanging from the girl’s neck with a narrowed gaze, smirking. “I’ve seen what your device can do, Twilight. Capturing and containing magical energy is fine, but have you considered releasing it? Imagine the possibilities if we could wield such power.”

Twilight shook her head, clutching at the device. “I don’t even know what it does!”

“Oh, come now. You’re starting to sound like Otto. I know how much you want to understand it,” Cinch darkly declared, closing her eyes briefly while the rest of the students gathered around them, “He was never willing to make the hard decisions, because of his morals and pride. Why should we handicap ourselves, when Canterlot has already used magic to their advantage?”

Peter blinked as his cranium lowly buzzed. “Uh, oh…”

The older woman straightened her glasses with a finger and arched a brow. “Unless you have no interest in Everton? To be frank, I believe you have more knowledge packed into that little device than everything Everton could ever offer, and it’s finally given you an edge over young Peter Parker.” The corner of her lips curled into a wicked smile. “Use this opportunity to reclaim your title as the very best.”

Luna stepped forth, holding her mouth inches from the microphone. “If both teams are ready!”

Both groups from Canterlot High and Crystal Prep respectively began to step towards each other. The crowd’s hushed murmurs steadily grew in volume, morphing into that of anticipating cheers. Cinch pushed Twilight ahead of the group until she was at the frontline, and Sunset responded from her side, mirroring her action until they both stood adjacent. Twilight took her spectrometer in hand, inhaling deeply before opening its lid. Peter’s body stiffened as his cranium screamed, buzzing wildly while he glanced from his position.

The orb at its center glowed before energies erupted, generating a shockwave. The impact knocked everyone within a few yards to the ground. Suddenly, a black and violet orb levitated into the air, while the spectrometer dropped harmlessly to the side. Gravity yielded as Twilight couldn’t free her hands from the energy, causing the young girl to float alongside it. She glanced back at her classmates and principal, only for Cinch to step back with a terrified expression. The energies steadily spread and enveloped Twilight, illuminating the entire courtyard.

She reached out, screaming as her body faded into the light. “Help… Me–!”

Throwing his mask over his face, Spider-Man leapt from the rooftop of the school and soared through the air towards the spreading energy. He reached out, nearly capturing Twilight’s hand with his own, but a stream of electricity spun out, wrapping around his body. Spider-Man twisted in place, fidgeting uncontrollably while sparks ignited. A second shockwave generated from the energy afterward, slamming into the costumed man with enough force to knock everyone in the vicinity back to the ground. Spider-Man’s body pinwheeled violently before crashing into the nearest wall, imbedding his frame into the shattered stone and brick.

Within the stands, Jameson stood to his feet and glanced to the side. “Diamond!”

Nodding fiercely, Diamond took out a phone from her pocket and held it firmly onto the scene. “I’m on it, Uncle Jameson!”

Several of the spectators mirrored her actions, each taking out their phones before taking pictures and videos of the incident. Meanwhile, Sweetie Drops surveyed her surroundings with an arched brow. She soon turned her back, retrieving a small device with a red button at its tip. Upon pressing it, every phone in the vicinity hummed loudly before their screens dimmed to black.

Diamond blinked, staring at her deceased phone for seconds before the realization struck her mind like lightning to a rod. “Hey!” she exclaimed, smacking her hand against the phone in a vain attempt to revitalize it somehow. As everyone shared her reaction, Sweetie Drops eased her device back into her sleeve while smirking inwardly. Elsewhere, Diamond grinded her teeth to the core before tossing her phone to the side. “I don’t believe this!”

The energy soon burst from Twilight’s body, materializing into a new form as dark demonic wings sprouted from her back. Her long hair floated, resembling a rising flame. Her teeth sharpened into fangs while a jagged, bright horn formed from her forehead, and a long tail sprouted from her form. Finally, after a pair of dark stockings and gloves morphed over her arms and legs, light energy ignited over her eyes. Spider-Man stirred back to life, his masked eyes widening, and he pried himself free from the stone, shaking the cobwebs out of his cranium while the girl cackled maniacally.

“You were right! I didn’t understand magic before, but I do now!” Twilight exclaimed, her horn igniting a fiery blue trail of energy before unleashing a beam from her extended hand.

The magic smashed into the equine statue, reducing it to shards of stone, and a portal materialized into existence, revealing a castle deep within. A fissure cracked along the outskirts of the portal, spreading throughout the ground until a line of breakage formed in the air. Twilight unleashed a beam onto it, causing it to rip and spread, revealing more of the land behind it. A pair of ponies blinked at the phenomenon before retreating in a panic. Suddenly, more tears began to appear, and Twilight blasted each with a beam of magic, causing each to reveal more of the land within.

Sunset pulled herself to her feet, pausing upon gazing at what was transpiring. “Equestria?”

Spider-Man leapt onto a flagpole, perching himself near the top on its side. “I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like you’re literally ripping your way into another dimension. It doesn’t take a genius to realize how much of a bad thing that is!” He raised his hands defensively, shrugged, and nodded. “So, how about we just put the magical beams down and go home?”

Releasing himself from his position, Spider-Man grabbed hold of the pole before swinging himself in place until his form sped into a crimson blur. Soon, he relinquished his grip and dove out towards the girl with his feet fully extended. However, a massive bipedal creature fell from a portal just between Twilight and Spider-Man. The ground crumbled under its weight as it landed, sending tremors coursing through the earth. Its green fur was thick, and its hands, feet, and face were fair. A low growl escaped from its mouth, a large pair of fangs growing from the underside of its jaw. It stood upright, towering over everyone until its shadow engulfed half the courtyard.

The surrounding winds intensified before Spider-Man could connect, practically ensnaring his body before sending him careening to the side. He managed to land, planting his feet as firm gusts of wind circulated throughout the area. Many of the students staggered in place, hanging on to each other in attempts to keep the building winds from hoisting them away. The creature raised its claws, causing a burst of wind to lift Spider-Man’s feet from the ground. As he flailed about, attempting to recollect his footing, the monster lunged forth and tackled the masked man to the ground with its fangs drawn. Spider-Man instinctively stopped the creature’s massive head with his hands and one foot, straining as he barely managed to avoid its collective chomps.

Twilight smirked at the sight. “I fully understand how magic works now! So, I don’t have a need for you anymore!”

Sunny Flare watched her classmate, glancing to the side as Cinch steadily backed away. “Hey!” she called out, causing the older woman to stop in her tracks momentarily. Narrowing her gaze, the girl glared at her principal. “Where do you think you’re going?!”

“Anywhere to avoid that… monster!” Cinch exclaimed, pointing at the transformed girl before she turned sharply and resumed running. “And I suggest you do the same!”

The main competitors of Crystal Prep watched as their principal retreated into the building, all before sharing concerned gazes with each other. In the distance, as Vice-Principal Luna helped a student to their feet, a tear materialized mere inches away from her being. Twilight smirked and unleashed a beam in her direction. Luna lost her footing and could only watch helplessly as the energy neared, throwing up her hands defensively. However, an older man sped across the vicinity in a flash and skidded to a halt, deflecting the energy with his shield in hand.

The beam ricocheted off the weapon’s surface, redirecting towards Twilight instantly, and the girl’s eyes widened as she was unable to react, the beam slamming into her torso. The impact launched her across the yard until she landed on the street, leaving a small crater. Luna blinked at the sight, stammering as the grizzled man straightened his posture. Both shared a glance, with a widened ocean-blue gaze meeting a pair of warm hazel irises.

“Are you okay?” he calmly questioned, the wind ruffling his short brown and gray hair slightly as he extended his hand.

Slow to respond, Luna accepted the gesture and allowed the man to pull her back to a vertical base. “Y-Yes, I’m fine. Thank you,” she stated, finding herself lost in the man’s unyielding gaze. Blinking, a baffled expression surfaced on her face. “Captain America? No. You’re not him. You look vaguely familiar. Have we met?”

“Easy enough mistake. Don’t overthink it. I’m just passing through the neighborhood,” he firmly stated, nodding.

Feeling the temperature in her face rise, the woman alternated her gaze between the man’s dark-blue uniform, spider insignia over his chest, and the bright shield slid over his free forearm. Eventually, she managed to peer down onto her hand, finding it still firmly in the grasp of the stranger. As if realizing his error, the man cleared his throat and relinquished his hold before turning to face the yeti as it continued to try (and fail) to bite Spider-Man. Huffing, the stranger slid the shield from his forearm and gripped the metal tightly.

“Get the students inside. Spider-Man and I will handle this,” he declared, edging towards the monster before breaking into a sprint. With his shield raised, the man bashed the steel against the side of the monster’s head with a thunderous crack. A shockwave generated at the point of impact, all while the metallic twang echoed throughout the vicinity. The creature lost his grip on Spider-Man, allowing the older individual to follow up with a stiff knee to the center of the face. The blow sent the beast back into the nearest wall, causing piles of stone and debris to cover his frame upon falling. Slow to respond, the man faced the masked vigilante while straightening his posture. “Are you okay, kid?”

Spider-Man’s eyes narrowed. “That you, Captain America? I–” he trailed off, his cranium humming. The world slowed to a halt as both individuals stared at each other, their minds buzzing together. They reached out, holding their hands mere inches away from each others’ faces. “Whoa. You’re just like me. Are you… me?”

“Yeah. I’m you from another dimension. It’s a lot to take in, I’m sure,” the older man reaffirmed, nodding while managing a small smile.

Reaching out, Peter traced a finger along the hair over the older man’s face. “Full beard? I didn’t think I had the genes for it.” Pausing, he eyed the dark-blue costume and muscular features of his taller doppelganger before whistling. “I hope I hit your growth spurt. I know you’re way older than me, but good gravy! You are jacked! You can even give the good captain a run for his money! Speaking of…” he trailed off, tapping a finger against the surface of the shield. “You clearly took some inspiration. What’s the shield made out of? Are you still Spider-Man or Captain Spider? And why aren’t you wearing a mask?”

Huffing, Older Peter rolled his eyes while allowing a faint smirk to grace his rough features. “I forgot how much I used to talk when I got excited. Anyway, don’t worry about it. I had the same build as you when I first started. You’ll put muscle on over time. Just keep doing what you're doing, and my identity isn’t really a secret where I live. Plus, while we are the same guy, we look different enough for people to not be able to put the pieces together.” Flexing his arm, the older man glanced at his younger counterpart from the corner of his eye. “I’ve seen how everyone treats you. Would they honestly believe you’d grow into this?”

Spider-Man snorted, lifting both of his slim arms before groaning inwardly. “Point taken. I’m you, and I don’t believe it.”

Lifting his shield, the older man eyed the symbol of the sun at its center. “To answer your other questions, the shield’s infused with metal and diamond from my world. It’s ten times stronger than steel and can repel magic.” Older Peter crossed his arms briefly after sliding his shield over the strap on his back. “I started as Spider-Man, but my role now is Spider-Knight.”

A glint sparkled from his masked eyes as he leaned forward, squealing while fidgeting in place. “Dude! That’s so metal!”

His eyes narrowed upon the white sections of his counterpart’s uniform before settling on the spider logo covering the entirety of his chest. “Thanks. Nice suit, by the way. It looks like an updated version of my old red and blue suit. I see you have armor placed over the chest, hands, and ankles. Is that for shock absorption? It took me years to add something similar to my design.”

Taken aback, Spider-Man nodded before raising a finger. “Yeah. I’ve had help with it. Colonel Fury and Doctor Octavious helped improve my original design.”

Older Peter arched a brow at the names given, staring at his younger self for what seemed like an eternity. “I have a lot of questions about that,” he calmly interjected, inhaling sharply once a sharp surge coursed through his cranium. A hand shot from underneath the rubble, sending shards of stone flying about. Spider-Knight took a defensive stance, raising his shield. “We’ll talk later. We have a little business to handle first.”

Spider-Man’s masked eyes furrowed as he lowered his body into an unusual squat, raising his hands. “What’s with the sasquatch? Please tell me he’s friendly and likes beef jerky.”

“It’s a yeti from my world. It’s lived for centuries, but it usually stays in solitude,” Older Peter stated, tightening the strap of his shield while the creature steadily pulled its body free from the rubble. “Its name is Aeolus. Think of it as a magic-wielding Bigfoot.”

Spider-Man tilted his head to the side. “Aeolus? Like the Greek god of wind? Why–?” he questioned before the yeti fully emerged from the rock with a snarl, raising its claws slowly. In response, the surrounding winds intensified and lifted many of the stones in its current. Exhaling, Spider-Man could only nod inwardly. “Okay. I got the name now.” Aeolus roared, lowering before rushing forward in a primal stance. Spider-Knight leapt into the air with his shield drawn, and Peter grumbled, shaking his head. “Oh, this is exactly how I pictured my day going: fighting an airbending yeti alongside an alternate future version of me. Just once, I would like to have a normal week in this stupid town!”

Suddenly, Twilight’s wings spread before she levitated from the ground. Yet, her wicked smile resurfaced upon glancing at the surrounding rifts and Aeolus’ charge towards the Spider-Men.

However, Sunset stood her ground and peered up at her winged form with a firm yet softened gaze. ‘Twilight! You can’t do this!”

Twilight huffed, her eyes widening maniacally. “Why not?! There’s a whole other world out there, and it’s filled with magic!”

Just as Sunset readied to respond, Twilight fired another beam past her, as yet an additional rift materialized into existence. A different portal soon appeared, causing traces of electrical currents to surge across the vicinity. Aeolus roared in the distance as a gust of wind slid underneath a trio of students, hurling them into the air, but Spider-Man fired three strands out, latching each onto their chests. Planting his feet, he managed to pull all three students to the ground and lead them into the school. Spider-Knight, meanwhile, flipped high over the yeti’s head and landed in front of it, unleashing a trio of punches across the jaw in rapid succession.

Just as the man readied to throw more strikes, Aeolus lashed out wildly, and Older Peter managed to block its massive claw with his shield, standing firm as a massive clang echoed throughout the area. However, a tremendous squall of wind followed behind the blow, causing Spider-Knight to stagger, in spite of his feet not leaving the ground. Yet, the earth cracked and loosened, as if being pried free, and the man couldn’t avoid the yeti’s second strike as it delivered a rising swipe to his shoulder. A shockwave erupted from the impact, launching the older man into the flagpole, and the metal bent around his frame, snapping in two.

Spider-Man leapt back into the fray, swinging through the air on a strand of webbing. Aeolus motioned its claw upon catching a glance of the masked man from the corner of its eye. Suddenly, a whirlwind engulfed Peter’s body, causing him to spin rapidly in place until his form vanished into a crimson and blue blur. Tightening its claw into a fist, Aeolus lashed to the side, and Spider-Man was jettisoned into the wooden stands where the spectators previously sat, causing the foundation to rupture. A dust cloud erupted from the ground and spread, all while shards and metal and wood scattered about.

Sunset’s eyes widened at the spectacle, before she returned her attention to Twilight. “But, you’re destroying this world to get to it!”

“So what?! There’s more magic there, and I want to understand it all!” Twilight yelled, unleashing a beam at Sunset.

The girl narrowly dove out of its range, landing mere inches away from Twilight’s spectrometer, while the energy crashed amidst a gathered crowd. She eyed the device with an arched brow, before taking it into her possession. Meanwhile, the energy sank into the earth, emitting a glow until it shattered, and a fissure quickly spread, causing some of the students to nearly fall into its opening. Applejack managed to grab hold of one of the students before they could plummet into the abyss, straining as she held them in place.

Rarity did the same for another, stumbling forth, but she gripped the edge, whimpering as her fingers loosened. The stone gave away, causing the girl to fall into the pit. However, a hand reached out and captured her forearm. Rarity peeked up, blinking upon sharing a glance with Flash Thompson. The young man pulled the girl and the other student back to solid ground, glancing to the side as Blueblood joined in to help as well, yanking Applejack in a similar fashion. Meanwhile, the Crystal Prep students joined in the rescue efforts, holding onto a student long enough until Flash and Blueblood could assist them.

Aeolus stared intently at the crowd, slurping its tongue across its mouth. Yet, it was stopped in its tracks the second it took a step in their direction. Spider-Man shot a pair of strands of webbing onto the back of its shoulders, pulling against the yeti. Faster than it could react, Spider-Knight emerged with the broken flagpole in hand, swinging the item like a club into the creature with enough force to launch it several yards. The gossamer stretched to its limit before snapping back, causing the yeti to spring back to the ground.

Both Spider-Men lunged forth in unison with their fists extended, delivering a fierce punch to the center of its face. A thunderous crack rang throughout the area, sending a wave out potent enough to shatter all glass in the immediate vicinity. Aeolus crashed to the earth, groaning as he attempted to stand. However, the Spider-Men jumped over the prone yeti, each unleashing an array of webbing over its being, and within a couple of seconds, Aeolus was cocooned in a ball, leaving only his eyes and muzzle exposed.

Spider-Man exhaled before his masked eyes furrowed, narrowing on Twilight. “Yeti’s down! Let’s take care of her next!” Just as he lowered his body, Spider-Knight stepped in his path with his arm extended. Peter stared at his older counterpart. “What are you doing?”

“Let them handle this. If we stop them now, they won’t learn a thing, and I have dealt with Midnight Sparkle in my world,” Spider-Knight firmly stated, sharing a glance with his younger self. His rough demeanor softened, evident by his warm gaze. “Trust Sunset Shimmer to right this wrong.”

“Uh, seriously?” Spider-Man questioned, alternating his gaze between the man and girl. “If I don’t do anything, something bad could happen. Again.” His voice darkened as he trembled, resisting every urge to venture forth. “I can’t live with myself if I just stand by.”

“If anyone knows what you mean, it’s me. I get it, but you can’t always shoulder the world’s problems alone. You have to let your friends help you once in a while,” Spider-Knight calmly retorted as he lowered his shield before yielding it onto his back. “Do you know anything about magic or how it works?” An awkward silence filled the air as Spider-Man raised his finger to respond, but he simply shook his head, grumbling under his breath. Older Peter walked up to his younger counterpart before placing a hand over his shoulder. “Then, trust your friend. Don’t make the mistake I did. Give them a chance to see the error of their ways.”

Peter watched as the older man’s entire disposition shifted, losing its edge. His eyes softened, showing hints of sadness, and it was matched only by his wavering voice, cracking. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Spider-Man lowered into a squat while crossing his arms. Meanwhile, electrical currents continued to spark wildy from the surrounding rifts, generating firm gusts of winds from each.

The wind blew through Sunset’s crimson and blonde hair as she gazed upon the spreading portal with a narrowed glare, before facing Twilight with a firm grip on the spectrometer. However, the device began to glow, emitting a bright light at its center. Soon afterward, Fluttershy’s eyes widened as a golden aura enveloped her form. Rays of violet rays shone in different directions, prompting Sunset to shift the spectrometer towards her friends. Suddenly, Rarity, Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie emitted bright auras around their bodies.

Sunset’s eyes widened at the phenomenon while her mouth fell agape, but she shook her head at a realization, turning to face Twilight. “This isn’t the way! I know you feel powerful right now! I’ve been where you are!” Her voice softened, yet it remained firm. “I made the same mistake you’re making. I’ve put on the crown, and just like you, I was overwhelmed by the magic. I thought I could have anything I wanted.”

“You’re wrong! Unlike you, I can have everything I want!” Twilight exclaimed, cackling.

Shaking her head, Sunset tightened her grip on the spectrometer. “No, you can’t! Even with all of that magic, you’ll still be alone! True magic comes from honesty, loyalty, laughter, generosity, and kindness!” she stated, all while Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy glowed in response. Their aura’s shot towards the spectrometer, causing Sunset Shimmer’s body to steadily levitate from the ground in response. “I understand you, Twilight, and I want to show you the most important magic of all!”

Sunset slammed the spectrometer shut before slamming it into the ground. The device detonated in a burst of light before the energies spread out, enveloping the girl. Soon, golden, energetic wings sprouted from her back while a white and pink dress and gloves materialized into existence over her form. Lastly, a bright horn of light gleamed onto her forehead as her fiery hair floated, resembling a flame.

“The magic of friendship!” Sunset cheered, her voice echoing throughout the vicinity.

Everyone clamored at the spectacle, cheering as Sunset unleashed beams of energy onto a pair of portals. The fissures sewed themselves shut, before dissipating from existence in bursts of light. She rapidly did the same for the remaining tears, undoing the damage. Spider-Knight glanced to the side before hoisting the cocooned Aelous high over his head, tossing the yeti into the last portal as it sealed shut.

Twilight watched her work come undone with a widened gaze, roaring while charging towards Sunset with a glowing fist. The redhead responded in kind, flying forward, and once a few feet apart, the pair slammed their hands together. The collective energies ignited on contact, generating a shockwave of light and dark waves. The force of the blow pushed both girls back, before Twilight unleashed a beam of dark energy.

Sunset retaliated, firing back with a stream of her own, and both beams struggled, producing sparks of electricity at the center. Twilight pushed her arms forward, causing her beams to do the same, and Sunset strained, wincing as she was barely able to hold back the opposing energies. Just as it seemed the redhead was ready to be overwhelmed, a large bullet of webbing sped through the air and collided into Twilight’s back. It expanded upon impact, ensnaring one of her arms and wings to her body. She snapped back, catching sight of Spider-Man on a flagpole several yards away.

Blinking at a realization, Sunset peered up at the sudden shrinking of Twilight’s beam and bit down on her lips upon noticing the force pushing her back had diminished considerably. The redhead narrowed her gaze, pushing her arms forth with all of her might. The bright energy expanded, swallowing the opposing stream, and Twilight could only scream as she was engulfed, her form fading behind a blinding light. Slowly but surely, Twilight opened her eyes and blinked, eyeing her undamaged form. She gazed at her surroundings with a skeptical gaze, wincing once she laid eyes on Sunset Shimmer.

The outside world had grown mute, while the distance between them lessened. Sunset offered her hand, placing the other over her chest. “Take my hand, Twilight,” she whispered, easing forth until they were inches apart. “I can show you a better way.”

Twilight recoiled, stepping back while even her wings bent inwardly as a makeshift shield, but she sniffled, tears streaming from the corner of her eyes. Yielding, she could only accept the gesture and gently placed her hand onto Sunset’s. Soon, a warmth spread over Twilight as a trail of golden energy coursed over her body. All dark energy dissipated, shattering into nothingness, and the horn over her forehead broke away, evaporating from sight. In the outside world, everyone watched as two silhouettes gracefully lowered back to the ground. Once the surrounding energies dissolved, Sunset and Twilight were revealed to be back in their normal forms.

Her eyes still swollen with tears, Twilight could only shake her head shamefully. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Sunset simply nodded. “I know.” She managed a smile, cupping Twilight’s hands into her own. “Judging from my own experiences, they’ll forgive you.”

Spike barked happily, leaping into Twilight’s unexpecting grasp, but the girl laughed sweetly, embracing the pup firmly yet gently. Spider-Man watched the sight briefly before firing a strand of webbing onto the side of the school, falling into a swing. Spider-Knight immediately followed, pausing as he caught sight of Luna in the distance. However, just as she turned in his direction, as if feeling his gaze, the older man leapt into the air with his web-strand in hand. Some onlookers pointed at both Spider-Men but quickly lost track of their forms. Meanwhile, Principal Cinch emerged from behind the bleachers with a weary expression, but a glare soon manifested upon catching sight of Celestia, Luna, and Cadence.

“Principal Celestia!” she exclaimed, her usually infallible disposition faltering. “On behalf of Crystal Prep, I demand that you forfeit the Friendship Games!”

Unbeknownst to everyone, Spider-Knight watched the conversation unfold with his arms crossed from the rooftop of the school. “Even after everything that’s happened, they’re still going on about the competition.” He glanced to the side, huffing as his younger counterpart finished putting his casual clothing back over his frame. “It’s almost like reality didn’t nearly just break apart.”

Younger Peter rolled his eyes, placing his mask into his backpack before sliding its straps over his shoulders. “Dude, right? I’ve only been here for a few weeks, but I already know this town is nuts. Oh, and magic sucks. It just spits in the face of scientific logic.”

Scoffing, Older Peter shook his head. “Don’t feel bad about it. I’ve been dealing with it for decades now, and I still feel the same way as you about it. I’ve just come to accept it at this point.” A realization soon came into mind, evident by the man’s widened gaze. He soon walked up to his younger counterpart with a stern glare. “What was that, by the way? I told you to let them handle it, but you still got involved. Why?”

Chuckling sheepishly, Younger Peter scratched the back of his head. “Well, last time I checked, you said that I have to let my friends help me, right? So, of course I’m going to help them right back. It’s only fair.”

Slow to respond, the corner of Older Peter’s mouth curled into a smirk before he turned his back to his smaller counterpart. “You’re a stubborn kid. I’d scold you for being stupid, but since you’re me, I’ll let it slide.” He paused, settling his somber gaze on Twilight and Sunset. Inhaling deeply, Older Peter let out a low sigh and allowed his smile to widen. “Thanks. You’ve given this old soul a little bit of hope.”

Although his words were uttered barely above the hint of a whisper, Younger Peter arched a brow while tracing a finger over his ear. Yet, he quickly nodded and smiled in response. “So, did I hear all of that right? Did the power of friendship literally just win the day?” he groaned, earning a hesitant nod from his aged self. Peter threw up his hands afterward. “That is so cheesy. I really am stuck in an episode of Captain Planet.”

“It… grows on you after a while,” Older Peter muttered, tracing a finger over his cheek sheepishly.

Meanwhile, Principal Cinch crossed her arms. “Clearly, Canterlot High has held an unfair advantage for quite some time, and it’s obvious that your students have been using magic for their own benefits!”

Peter listened alongside his older counterpart, stammering. “Um, I mean, she’s not entirely wrong.” He shrugged dumbly. “The games really should have ended earlier, when the killer plants got involved. Crystal Prep should have won by default.”

Celestia smiled widely as her gaze narrowed. “I believe saving the world benefits us all.”

Raising a finger, Peter nodded in affirment. “That’s also true, but my point still stands. Crystal Prep is technically the right winner.”

Sugarcoat stepped forth and frowned, glaring intently at Principal Cinch. “At least they didn’t manipulate Twilight into releasing all of the stolen magic and turning her into a power-crazed magical creature that nearly destroyed the world all just to win a game.”

The entire vicinity simply stared at the girl after her dry and blunt response for what seemed like minutes. Brushing a hand over his beard, Older Peter nodded inwardly and smirked. “I like that one. Reminds me of my wife.”

“She’s weird,” Younger Peter mumbled, arching a brow before blinking at a thought. “Hold on. I met a different Twilight recently, and Sunset told me that she was married to another version of me. Is that you?”

Slow to respond, Older Peter stared at his younger self with a furrowed brow. “What’s with this world’s dimensional barrier? I thought it was weird enough that I slipped through, but you’re telling me that this isn’t new to you?” Clearing his throat, the man waved his hand dismissively. “No way. My Twilight became Midnight and never reverted back.”

Younger Peter let out a relieved sigh, placing his hands over his hips before chuckling. “Man. That’s a relief. I nearly lost my lunch when I found out Twilight and I have like three kids in an alternate reality. That me is insane, but I can tell you have a lot more sense.” He walked up, poking the man in the side. “So, who is she?”

“She’s the princess of the moon, and I’m her knight,” Older Peter grinned, pointing a finger at the blue woman standing between Cadence and Celestia. “There’s my Luna.”

As if an anvil fell onto his skull, Younger Peter staggered in place before collapsing onto his side. “What?!” he exclaimed, his voice echoing throughout the vicinity. Everyone paused, alternating their gazes in hopes of locating the source, but both Peters snapped out of view, sweating profusely as they ducked under the siding of the roof. Once everyone continued their conversation, Younger Peter stood back up eventually, his complexion as pale as the moon in the sky. “Okay. I take it back. You’re even weirder than the other me.”

Taken aback, Older Peter raised his hands defensively. “Hold on. How is that weird?”

“She’s my Vice Principal here!” Younger Peter exclaimed, pointing a finger. He glanced to the side. “I know we have a thing for older girls, but still!”

Crossing his arms, Older Peter grumbled. “That’s not entirely true!”

Younger Peter blankly stared at his older counterpart. “How much older is she than you in your world?”

“She’s two thousand, four hundred and…” Older Peter stated, trailing off once he registered his own words. His face flushed to a shade of pink momentarily before he cleared his throat. “Okay. You have a point,” he relented, exhaling upon catching sight of Younger Peter’s exasperated expression. Older Peter’s face fell flat. “Shut up.”

Meanwhile, Cinch reverted her attention back to Sugarcoat and huffed. “That’s ridiculous!” She snapped back and faced Celestia with vigor, her expression growing wilder by the second. “Obviously, my students have been infested with your magic, and I plan to take this up with the School Board!”

“Actually, you won’t,” a voice declared from behind, prompting everyone to glance in its direction. A dark man with a long black jacket and eyepatch walked up to the woman with a badge in hand. “Colonel Sanders of the FBI. We’d like for you to come with us, Abacus Cinch.”

Peter arched his brow. “Fury?”

“That’s Fury? Why does he look like Samuel L. Jackson here?” Older Peter questioned lightly, holding a hand over the side of his mouth. Once a bewildered expression formed on his younger self’s face, the older man cleared his throat. “Never mind.”

Taken aback, Cinch blinked. “On what grounds?”

Sliding his badge into one of his many pockets, Fury cleared his throat before arching a brow. “Extortion. Child Endangerment. That’s just the start of it.” Turning his back, he glanced in the direction of the school roof where both Peters quietly stood before huffing under his breath. “An old student of yours informed me of your shady activities, so I’d advise you to come along quietly. Save what’s left of your reputation before it’s shot to sh…um, kingdom come.”

Cinch opened her mouth, ready to respond, but she simply shared a glance with those around her. However, all three Principals simply shrugged, managing a smile. Blinking, the older woman glanced at all of the students with something resembling that of a look of plea. Yet, it fell on deaf ears as the combination of students stood together and withheld their silence. Defeated, Cinch straightened her posture and brushed the wrinkles from her dress before walking past Fury.

Turning sharply, Fury steadily departed before pausing momentarily. “You good people think you can keep this little incident quiet? We don’t want word getting out and causing a panic.”

Celestia nodded. “That won’t be a problem.”

“Good,” Fury huffed, nodding as if accepting her word. He resumed his walk, all while clearing his throat before exclaiming, “We’ll keep in touch!”

Rainbow Dash tilted her head to the side, watching as Fury and Cinch faded into the distance. “Man! That guy’s loud.”

Meanwhile, a bemused expression morphed on Peter’s face as his brow twitched. “I really hate that guy.” Inhaling deeply, the young man shrugged and shook his head. “Ah, well. At least the day’s saved, and it didn’t get any stupider.”

Older Peter exhaled, swiping his hand against the back of his younger counterpart’s head. “You dumb rookie. Word of advice: never tempt fate.”

Just before Peter could ask anything, Celestia walked up to the rest of the students with a softened gaze. “Well, I know these Friendship Games have not been what any of us expected, but given what all of us have been through, I think it’s fair to declare us all winners!”

All of the students cheered and clamored, raising their hands victoriously. However, a blonde spectator garbed in a leather jacket crushed his cup of soda before hurling his bag of popcorn behind his shoulder. “Oh, this sucks!”

Blueblood folded his arms, eyeing his fellow students with an arched brow. “Seriously? How is anyone happy with this?”

Slack-jawed, Flash Thompson held out his hands in disbelief. “No! I’d rather lose than be given a participation trophy! They bring people together for all the wrong reasons!”

Older Peter scoffed, merely shaking his head at that aspect, but he glanced to the side, catching his younger self with a wild gaze. Treading the thin line of sanity, it was merely a matter of time before it eventually snapped under the weight of the illogical and nonsensical. Evident by his twitching brow, Younger Peter had long plummeted into the depths, and he screamed at the moon, practically howling. Yet, his screams were drowned out by the cheers of the students beneath his position, which only prompted him to yell even louder.

“I must admit,” Older Peter blankly stated, staring simply at his counterpart with a bemused gaze, “I did not see that one coming.”

To be concluded…

Epilogue: "Endless Possibilities"

Epilogue “Endless Possibilities”

“Folks, I am an honest man. I have only my word to give, and I trust all of my fine viewers to spread it to the masses,” Jameson muttered, inhaling deeply before slamming his open palms onto his desk. “Spider-Man continues to be the biggest menace in this city! Yesterday, I bore witness to a monster terrorizing all of the children at the Friendship Games, and you want to know what that webbed freak was doing? Standing idly by while a young girl took it upon herself to solve the issue! Her name is Sunset Shimmer, a student of Canterlot High.”

Pausing, the man cleared his throat and eased back into his chair. “Now, do not misunderstand my meaning. I do not condone vigilantism, and I am fair. But there’s a difference between Sunset and Spider-Man. Sunset doesn’t hide behind a mask, and she did what was absolutely necessary.” Jameson removed his cigar from his mouth, pointing it at the camera. “Spider-Man is a hotshot, sticking his head out only for the glory, and he always goes back into hiding until it benefits him!” He paused, glancing to the side. “What? I’m contradicting myself? If I wanted your opinion, Jared, I’d pay you for it! Now, shut up and keep the camera steady!”

Shooting up from his chair, Jameson stood upright and walked to the side. However, the camera didn’t follow. “Jared! What are you doing?! We’re live! Come on! What am I paying you for?!” Suddenly, the view shifted sharply, crashing to the floor before hastily straightening back onto Jameson. The man eyed the camera with a scowl. “Well, as long as I’m breathing, I’ll never let Spider-Man have the glory, and I’ll be the voice that calls it like it is! He’s destructive and out to silence me! Need proof? Here it is!”

Afterward, Jameson slapped a photo onto the camera’s screen of a car with its door missing, and he fumed, taking in bated breaths through gritted teeth. “Witnesses caught Spider-Man vandalizing my car right before the annual Friendship Games between Crystal Prep and Canterlot High! Instead of holding himself accountable, that creep fled the scene of the crime like the criminal that he is!” Tossing the picture to the side, Jameson continued to pace across the room with the camera barely managing to follow his movements. “I was only there to support my niece, but I was attacked for speaking only the truth! Where is the justice in that?!”

Soon, a small pair of pink hands took hold of Jameson’s, prompting the older man to glance towards the source. “Be careful, Uncle Jameson. Remember your blood pressure,” a voice sweetly declared off screen. Inhaling deeply before sighing, he took a seat while the camera panned to the side until Diamond Tiara was at the center. Once in full focus, the girl raised a finger and waved it. “I don’t understand why some of you think Spider-Man is doing any good. He destroyed my uncle’s billboard, ruined the Battle of the Bands, picked a fight with that meathead Juggernaut at my school, and made the Friendship Games all about him!”

Her composure steadily slipped, evident by the pen in her trembling grasp squeaking in protest as it struggled not to snap. However, the girl straightened her poofy hair before smirking. “Not to worry. I have a funny feeling that Spider-Man will be disappointing some of you very soon.” Clearing her throat, Diamond Tiara’s demeanor perked before she smiled widely. “Uncle Jameson and I will continue to deliver Just the Facts! More of you are seeing the truth as we officially have over five thousand followers on our social media! Donate to our Paypal to help Uncle Jameson pay for the damages to his car! This is Just the Facts!”

Peter lowered his head, groaning while closing his phone as he sat alone on a bench. The sun rose through the clouds, clearing the cloudy skies. The aftermath of the Friendship Games was still evident as both students from Crystal Prep and Canterlot High filled the courtyard. However, the air had eased, allowing everyone to mingle on much friendlier terms.

Yet, Peter’s face twisted with disgust as his gaze fell on the golden medals draped around everyone’s neck. “This is so lame,” he groaned before a student walked by with a box in hand, tossing a golden medal in his lap. The gesture seemed to have only angered Peter further, evident by his twitching brow. He gripped the small trinket in hand, glaring at its shiny surface. “Why did I get one?! I didn’t even compete!”

“Tell me about it. This entire fiasco is a farce,” a voice declared from the side, freeing Peter from his self-induced trance. Blueblood took a seat next to his friend, frowning as he removed the medal’s strap from around his own neck. “There should either be a clear cut winner and loser. A draw would have made more sense as well. This mindset that everyone wins is patronizing.”

Bemused, Peter shook his head and glared at nothing in particular. “We had home-field advantage, and we were responsible for any on-field hazards. Crystal Prep won by default the second those monster plants showed up, but I keep getting shut down everytime I bring it up.” The young man rolled his eyes and huffed, exasperated. “Everyone is so desperate for a win here that they can’t see this is a far worse result. Sure, they didn’t lose, but they didn’t win either.”

Blueblood arched a brow, smirking. “You know, for someone who doesn’t care about sports, you’re strangely passionate about this.” Waving his hand dismissively upon receiving a glare from his colleague, the blonde simply inhaled deeply before sighing. “Don’t worry. I’m in full agreement. If anything, your stance makes me respect you even more than usual.”

“I second that,” another voice interjected, prompting both boys to glance towards the source. Flash Thompson walked up to the pair with his medal in hand, alternating his gaze between them and the trinket. Peter readied himself to stand from his seat apprehensively, but Flash simply raised his hands defensively, displaying his peaceful intentions. “Easy, Parker. I just overheard you talking. Are you telling me that you hate that we won?”

Peter nodded without a hint of hesitation. “It’s more about how we won. Hard to brag about a victory when it's just handed to you on a silver platter. There’s at least a benefit to losing: you learn from your mistakes. Trust me. I do that well.”

Blueblood blinked at his friend, pursing his lips. “How can you be both inspiring and self-deprecating at the same time?”

Shrugging, the young man glanced at the dumpster a few yards away and half-heartedly pointed a thumb in its direction. “It’s a talent,” Peter mumbled, flicking the medal from his grasp. The item glided briefly before landing perfectly in the trash. Afterward, Peter returned his attention to the jock. “If you want to beat me up over it, toss me in the dumpster, or whatever, then get it over with. It won’t change my mind, Flash.”

Yet, Flash simply shook his head. “No way. This is the one time we can agree on something.” He turned, mirroring Peter’s previous action and tossing the medal into the open dumpster. Just before anyone could respond, Flash turned to depart. “You’re still a total lame-o, Parker, but I can respect you for having the pride of a man. Smell you later.” Waving his hand, the blonde left the pair and chuckled before a girl with poofy orange hair took hold of his arm. “Let’s get out of here, Adagio.”

Peter blinked, narrowing his gaze on the girl as she shot him a passing violet glare, but he dismissed the thought once they had left the vicinity. “Eugene and I having a moment. Guess that just completes this weird set of days.”

A pair of shrieks echoed throughout the vicinity as a mob of girls from both Crystal Prep and Canterlot High rushed towards the bench. Blueblood calmly stood from his seat, whispering, “That’s my cue. We’ll keep in touch.”

As he brushed a hand through his silky blonde hair, the young man extended a closed hand to Peter. The two boys quietly shared a fistbump before Blueblood straightened his collar. The girls swarmed the taller boy, shoving Peter out of proximity. Yet, Blueblood paid them no mind and simply walked away, with the mob following.

Pulling himself back to his feet, Peter closed his eyes and huffed. A hand steadily reached out from behind, ready to fall over his shoulder. Yet, Peter snapped back out of reach, twitching involuntarily. His eyes widened, falling onto the source, but his nerves quickly dissipated upon recognizing the flow of short blonde hair and blue gaze. The man chuckled before dropping his leather jacket onto the nearest bench, revealing his muscular frame as his black shirt hugged his frame tightly.

“Easy, Bro! I think you need to invest in some decaf,” the man grinned, eyeing Peter with an arched brow. “You put on some weight since I last saw you! Now, you’re not a total twig!”

Peter’s eyes widened as he could only smile. “No way! Is that you, Eddie?!” The pair embraced, albeit briefly before the blonde pulled the smaller boy into a firm yet friendly headlock. They soon parted, with Peter holding out his hands. “Dude! What brings you here?!”

Eddie smirked, retrieving a small camera from his pocket. “I’m a freelance photographer. I was in town for the Friendship Games to take some pics of the event for a client. You go to school here?”

Nodding, Peter’s expression grew blank. “Yeah. I just transferred here a couple of weeks ago.”

“Small world. I was wondering where you might have gone after what happened to Empire State,” Eddie stated, oblivious as beads of sweat trailed down the side of Peter’s face. Afterward, as if a realization came into mind, the blonde’s complexion paled. “Aw, crap. Things got so crazy that I forgot to take some pictures. I sure hope my client doesn’t flip out about it.”

“Photography, huh? I couldn’t imagine working in that field,” Peter declared, smirking, “Who‘s your client?”

“You listen to a podcast called Just the Facts?” Eddie questioned, pausing to fiddle with his camera. Peter forced the lump in his throat down with a hard swallow, sheepishly shaking his head. Oblivious, Eddie pecked away at the screen and scrolled through a pair of files with a finger. “Jonah Jameson pays me to take pics for his podcast, and on the side, he’s willing to pay extra if I can get him some pictures of Spider-Man.”

Placing a hand over his mouth, Peter forcefully cleared his throat. “Any luck with that? I heard he showed up at the event.”

Groaning, Eddie covered his face with his free hand and grumbled. “No! I totally blanked when I saw him and Captain America working together. I could have gotten a sweet bonus!” He paused, cupping his hand in the palm of his hand before glancing skyward. “Although, it was weird. I was far away. Cap was dressed funny and had a different shield.”

“It was probably for the best. Some dude was probably cosplaying, and I bet your client wouldn’t have been happy if you took pictures of a faker,” Peter lamely explained, waving a finger dismissively. Eddie seemed to have accepted the explanation, nodding. Smiling, Peter walked up and placed a hand over his friend’s broad shoulder. “Tell your boss that you lost your camera to the wind monster thing. There are plenty of witnesses to back your story, me included.”

Eddie grinned, his eyes softening. “Thanks, Little Bro. You’re a lifesaver.” His eyes widened at a realization as he caught a glance of the time at the corner of his camera. “I need to get in touch with the old guy. We’ll have to catch up.” Placing a hand over his shoulder, Eddie pulled Peter close until the sides of their heads graced each other. Holding out his camera, the blonde smiled at the lens while the smaller of the pair gestured a peace sign with his fingers. Satisfied with the photo, Eddie slid the camera into his pocket. “We’ll have to catch up!”

“Well, I work with a man named Doctor Otto Octavious, and Aunt May works at F.E.A.S.T. If you can’t find me here, try those spots,” Peter declared, earning a content nod from the blonde.

Both young men gestured a wave before they parted afterward. Peter’s smile remained intact as he turned. However, he slowed to a halt while furrowing his brow at a familiar sensation coursing through his cranium as something sped towards him with the speed of a bullet. He instantly raised his hand without shifting his gaze, capturing a tiny pebble with his finger and thumb mere inches from the back of his head. Glancing to the side, Peter caught sight of a silhouette on the roof of a tall building across the street. Yet, he simply grinned before venturing towards the source.

After a brief duration, Peter climbed onto the roof and flipped to the top. “You know, there are easier ways to get my attention,” he stated, sharing a glance with his counterpart.

Older Peter, with a burger in hand, smirked. “I’m just keeping you on your toes, kid.” Trailing off, the man chomped down on the treat before a pleased groan escaped from his mouth. “Oh, god. I haven’t had one of these in years. I forgot how great meat tastes,” he cooed mid-chew, finishing the burger after a set of bites.

Tilting his head to the side, Peter furrowed his brow. “No meat in years? What are you? A vegan?”

“Something like that,” Older Peter responded, brushing the crumbs from his hands before crossing his arms. “I take it everything is well?”

Slow to respond, Younger Peter hesitantly nodded. “As well as it can get, I guess. Everyone’s just moved on, like all of reality didn’t almost end last night. I swear, everyone in this region just lives in their own little bubble.” Blinking, his eyes widened at a realization. “Speaking of which, what are you still doing here? I figured you would have vanished back home by now. Don’t tell me that you’re stuck here?”

Waving a hand dismissively, Older Peter smiled at his younger counterpart’s genuinely concerned tone. “I appreciate that, but I’m okay. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t any notable lasting damage. As far as I can tell, most if not all of the portals have been closed. I just wanted to say goodbye and thanks.”

“I get the goodbye, but why thank me?” Peter questioned, scratching the side of his cheek with a finger.

Sobering, Older Peter walked to the edge of the roof. His warm gaze fell on the violet-skinned girl sitting at the front step of the school. “Back in my world, Twilight and I were really close friends, but when I moved away to start my career as a knight, I hardly checked on her. I was so stuck in my own head that I didn’t see the signs that she started studying dark magic. If I had just paid a little more attention, I probably could have stopped Twilight from losing her way.” Placing a hand over his younger self’s shoulder, Older Peter nodded. “You and your friends brought her back from the brink. That gives me hope that maybe I can find a way to do the same for my Twilight.”

“Define friends. Anyway, that was all Sunset. I didn’t do a thing. Besides, Twilight hates me here,” Younger Peter dryly claimed, rolling his eyes to the side.

Narrowing his gaze, Older Peter smirked. “So you think. You’ll understand her feelings when you’re older. Just take my advice. No matter where you go, remember your roots. The neighborhood will always need Spider-Man.”

Arching a brow, Peter dumbly stared at the older man. “My roots? Okay. That sounds a little cryptic.”

“And I know how much you like riddles,” Older Peter chuckled, brushing a hand over his beard while his younger self exhaled.

Younger Peter’s bemused glare slowly dissolved while that of bewilderment surfaced. “That still doesn’t answer how you’re supposed to get home. All of the portals are closed.”

Reaching into his back pocket, Older Peter retrieved a small book before taking it with a pen in hand. “I’ve got a ride,” he coolly declared, writing a passage onto one of its blank pages.

Suddenly, a bright blue aura enveloped the book before it levitated from his grasp. Its cover glowed until energies spiraled into existence a few feet away, spreading until a portal materialized into existence. Both men watched a silhouette form within of what resembled an equine. However, after a surge of electricity channeled across the energies, it shifted into a bipedal creature. Soon, a woman with fair skin stepped through the portal wearing an eloquent blue dress and golden jewelry. Once through, she stopped before Older Peter, standing a couple inches taller than the man. Younger Peter’s mouth fell agape as a pair of angelic wings stretched out from her back before snapping back into place.

“Are you hurt?” the woman questioned, her voice firm yet soft. Her resemblance was uncanny, matching that of the Vice-Principal with the exception of their skin tone. She took hold of one of Older Peter’s hands with both of her own, caressing it gently. “I was worried when Aelous was returned, and you didn’t follow.”

“There were complications,” Older Peter chuckled, sharing a glance with the woman while using his free hand to point a thumb at his younger counterpart, “but we figured it out, Luna. All’s clear here.”

Relinquishing her hold, Luna eyed the younger man with a narrowed gaze as she bent her knees slightly to match his height. “I see,” she muttered, staring for what seemed like an eternity before turning back to face Older Peter, “You’ve aged gracefully.”

Slack-jawed, Younger Peter stared on in disbelief. “Dude. You’re married to my Vice-Principal!” Shaking the cobwebs from his head, a flurry of thoughts raced into his head. “You said that she’s a princess, right? What’s with the wings? If she’s over two-thousand years old, then how old are you?”

A dark glint flickered in Luna’s eyes as she glared at Older Peter from the side, thunder beginning to rumble through the sky. “Why does he know my age?”

Older Peter nervously grinned. “It was just banter. Besides, your age is well documented in history books.”

“What? Ancient history?” Younger Peter whispered, wincing as lightning crackled through the sky.

Clearing his throat, Older Peter simply nodded and hastily waved his hands defensively as the crowd below clamored about the building storm. “On that note, we’re leaving.” The princess managed to smirk at the spectacle before stepping into the vortex, prompting the skies to clear, and Older Peter paused, sharing a final glance with the young man. “I can also tell you’re going through some changes. I’ve been there. It’s scary as hell, but it’s all the more reason you’ll need to lean on the support of your friends.” Gesturing a thumbs up, Older Peter finally nodded and smiled. “See you around, kid.”

Peter watched as his older counterpart’s image faded into a blur, all before the portal vanished from sight in a burst of light. Slow to respond, the young man scratched the back of his head. “This is still weird. How do I explain that to Aria and Aunt May? Also, was it just me, or did she look like a pony back in that portal for a second there? I’m sure I was just seeing things, but…” he whispered, retrieving his own phone from his pocket as he trailed off in thought. Just as he scrolled through the screen, his brow furrowed at the image of an envelope at the corner. Peter tapped the icon before his eyes scrolled through the text contained within. “A message from Doc? He says it’s important that we meet later. Guess I’d better see what he wants.”

Abacus sat alone in her office, sinking into her chair. All of her possessions had been removed from the room with the exception of one document. The words of the FBI agent circled through her head nonstop, and the woman removed her glasses from her face. Everything she had built, the very foundation of her once-irrefutable reputation, had long been tarnished.

A set of knocks were heard at her door, prompting the woman to hastily straighten her posture. Once she slid her glasses back on, Cinch took hold of her document. “I am leaving, I assure you.”

The door eased open and revealed a dark silhouette of a man. “It’s been some time, Abacus.” He walked in, closing the door behind him. “You’ve really made a name for yourself.”

“Skip the pleasantries, Norman,” Cinch coldly stated, glancing to the side, “I know you are well-informed at Oscorp. Surely, you’ve just come to gloat at my utter failure and humiliation.”

The man remained in the darkest side of the room with his gaze fixated on the window. “Oh, please. I am beyond petty squabbles. I’ve come with a proposition.” Norman brushed a hand over his chin. “You have a brilliant mind, Abacus. You were a brilliant aspect to Oscorp before your departure as our lead inspector and talent scout. I’d love to have you back. We can rebuild your reputation and then some.”

Cinch’s eyes widened at the comment as she placed a hand over her chest. She glanced at the side before gazing at the man. “That’s tempting. What do you ask of me?”

“I want to know everything you know about the phenomenons happening at those Friendship Games. We can weaponize the properties here at Oscorp,” Norman declared, edging forth out of the shadows until his face was revealed, “and I want you to help me learn more about Spider-Man.”

Standing underneath the destroyed equine statue, Sunset leaned against the stone with a smile while holding her diary in hand. Fluttershy approached with her bunny in her arms. “Still no word from Princess Twilight?”

Sunset quietly opened her diary, shaking her head upon gazing at the blank pages. “Not yet, but I think I figured out how magic works in our world.” Her smile broadened as the others gathered around her position, each brandishing a golden medal from the games. She tightened her hold on the book, as if hugging it, and the redhead caressed her hand over the sun emblem on its cover, sighing. “We pony up when we show the truest form of ourselves. I was so busy waiting on someone else to give me the answers that I gave up on trying to find them myself. Like Applejack said, I can’t always wait for Princess Twilight to answer all of my problems, when she has enough going on in Equestria.”

Applejack smiled, placing a hand over Sunset’s shoulder. “You sound like you’ve figured everything out with yourself, too.”

Shaking her head, Sunset chuckled. “Not quite everything, but I think I can finally start living my life anew, since I have nothing else to hide.”

Rainbow Dash folded her arms and scoffed. “Don’t tell me this means you’re confident enough to date that dweeb now.”

“Not yet, but I’m more open to the idea,” Sunset grinned, feeling the temperature in her face rise. Sobering, the girl cleared her thoughts and nodded. “I’m sure there’ll be more magical problems for us to solve, but we can’t always rely on Princess Twilight to solve our problems. She won’t always be around.”

Twilight steadily approached with a sheepish smile, holding Spike close to her chest. “Maybe I can be?”

Principal Celestia approached the group with the meek girl. “It seems we have a new Wondercolt joining our program at Canterlot High.” She paused, placing a hand over her shoulder. “Doctor Octavious gave a glowing endorsement and practically begged for us to consider. We couldn’t say no.”

“I’m not sure how much help I can be, but I’d love to try,” Twilight calmly declared, glancing to the side. “If you give me a chance, I promise to try my best. I’ll help you all try to understand magic, and maybe we can even learn more about how Spider-Man is tied to it all.”

Everyone shared a glance with each other, smiling as Sunset pulled Twilight into a warm embrace. The others followed, keeping her at the center of their joined hug. However, the sentiment did not last, as a trail of energy spun into existence mere inches away. The girls paused, blinking as a portal materialized into existence, and a man with a large cape and goatee stomped out with a glare, alternating his gaze about.

“Okay. What the hell is happening here?” he growled, eyeing the group before settling his gaze on the broken equine statue.

Pinkie Pie nodded feverishly, smiling from ear-to-ear. “Yowie-Wowie! It’s Doctor Strange!”

Rainbow Dash alternated her gaze between the man and her friend, as if the gears in her mind slowly churned before speeding to a realization. “Doctor Strange? Like, the Avenger, Doctor Strange?!”

Placing a hand over his mouth, Stephen cleared his throat and dryly huffed. “While I have teamed up with the Avengers, I am not an official member of their team. Lord knows I deal with enough **** as it is.”

All of the girls inhaled sharply at the expletive uttered, each staring at the man with their mouths agape. Celestia furrowed her brow and frowned. “Language! These are school grounds.”

The world slowed to halt as Stephen simply blinked, holding a bemused glare at the absurdity of the situation. Yet, he inhaled deeply before releasing a harsh scoff as he sharply raised a finger. “Ma’am. I am not in the mood. I have had a long day keeping the ruler of the Dark Dimension from invading this realm because someone here started fusing multiple realities together and opened a portal between here and there! I was literally stuck in a five-minute loop where I was maimed, butchered, and slaughtered in countless ways for weeks until we finally struck a deal!” The sorcerer’s usual stoic demeanor evaporated to pure irritation, evident by his constricted pupils and throbbing brow. “Now, where’s the genius who thought that was a good idea?!”

Instinctively, everyone in the group shifted their gazes inwardly towards Twilight (albeit briefly), before they quickly glanced to the side to avoid the man’s line of sight. Soon, the violet-skinned girl sheepishly stepped forward. “Um… hi.”

“So, it was you? Okay,” Stephen grumbled, exhaling as he crossed his arms over his chest. “So, how did you manage that? I would love to know now.”

Twilight bit down her lip, fidgeting with her skirt at the same time. “I created a spectrometer to track electromagnetic signatures, but I didn’t know it was tracking magic. It also absorbed the energies whenever they were at their most prolific. I wanted to understand what it meant, so I kept going until…”

“It grew out of control and manifested because you tried to use it. Of course,” Stephen blankly muttered, earning a nod from the small girl. Slow to respond, Strange glanced to the side and rubbed a finger over his pulsating temple, as if contemplating the girl’s words. Sadly, his calm demeanor crumbled under the weight of the nonsensical, all while he threw his hands up in disgust. “Oh! Well, that makes it better. Are you kidding me?! You nearly destroyed multiple realities because you were curious and wanted to understand?!”

Rainbow Dash rushed forward, sharply pointing a finger mere inches from the man’s chest. “Hey! Back off! Her ex-Principal forced her to open it to try to win the Friendship Games!” She shrugged afterward. “Besides, Twilight apologized already! So, it’s no big deal!”

Unfortunately, Dash’s interjection seemed to push the sorcerer even further down the path of anger, apparent by his trembling lower lip and the vein thumping over his forehead. “No big deal? Kid, you have no idea. Your friend here didn’t just nearly destroy this reality. She threatened the very fabric of the multiverse! And to make matters worse, all of this happened over some stupid high school competition?!” Pausing, Doctor Strange shook his head and forced a laugh. “But it’s okay! She apologized, so it undoes all the damage!”

Wincing, Twilight’s eyes began to swell as tears formed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of that to happen.”

Inhaling deeply, Strange let out a low sigh as he shook his head grimly. “Kid, it may have been an accident, but you have to understand the consequences of your curiosity. You’ve opened portals to multiple worlds and gave them a doorway to this region. We have no idea who or what may have slipped through the cracks. Dormammu nearly invaded, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.” He paused, crossing his arms before shifting his line of sight to the broken equine statue. “That danger remains as long as that portal remains open! It is high time that I finally seal it shut!”

Sunset’s eyes widened at the comment before she rushed to the side, placing herself between the man and the statue. “Wait a minute! You can’t do that! We have a friend that we keep in touch with! If you close it, we’ll never see her again!”

“Oh? So, nothing else is going to come through the portal, right?” Stephen questioned sarcastically, holding his hand to the side.

Just as Sunset readied to respond, the mirror within the statue emitted a bright light. Suddenly, a violet-skinned individual stumbled forth while bearing an uncanny resemblance to Twilight, panting heavily as she brushed the wrinkles from her blue shirt and long purple skirt. “I’m so sorry that I’m late! None of my letters were getting through! There’s a dimensional merge and realities are shifting!” she rambled, waving her hands nervously. Soon a relieved sigh escaped from her mouth. “But I think everything’s settled back into place, so maybe things will get back to normal around…”

Both Twilights stared at each other with their mouths agape, with one nervously straightening her glasses before sheepishly waving. “Um… hi?”

Strange eyed the doppleganger with a twitching brow, alternating his gaze between both girls. “I knew it. This is on me. I deserve this for putting it off for too long.”

Twilight blinked upon finally noticing the man, her eyes widened. “Doctor Strange? What do you mean?”

Slow to respond, Stephen arched a brow. “You know of me?”

“We met years ago in a different dimension. You are a friend of my husband. Rather, a variant of you,” Twilight stated, placing a hand over her chest. “I’m a little familiar with the multiverse theory. My husband is… well-traveled.”

Rarity leaned over, brushing a hand through her long hair. “I think he was here earlier, darling. He was fighting a monster alongside the other version of him.” Her face burned, evident by the pink flush staining her cheeks. “He brandished a shield like a knight in shining armor, was quite toned, and darling, that blue complimented his physique.”

Pinke arched her brow. “Hey! What was so different about them?”

“One was a boy. The other was a man, especially with that well-groomed beard,” Rarity cooed, cupping her cheeks into her hands. “He moved like a knight, never faltering! He didn’t even wear a mask! Not nearly as creepy as… the other one and his bug-like eyes.”

Fluttershy stammered, petting the bunny in her arms. “Um, they were far away, but it looked like they were talking to each other. Almost like they knew each other.”

Twilight blinked repeatedly for what seemed like an eternity, each detail only adding to her confusion. “A beard? A shield? Bulky?” The girl shook her head, huffing. “That doesn’t sound like my husband at all. Plus, I hate it when he doesn’t shave. Must have been another variant.”

“Another?! Well, let’s just throw a party at this rate!” the sorcerer groaned while crossing his arms. Forcing his objective thoughts to the side, Stephen soon glanced in the direction of Sunset. “At any rate, I was aware of the dimensional traveling from the start. When your friend here jumped into this reality, I saw that she was more or less stuck here. I could have intervened then, but when I saw how harmless she was, especially when all she did was terrorize a high-school over a title, I left it alone.”

Sunset furrowed her brow. “You knew from the start? Why didn’t you do anything?”

“As Sorcerer Supreme, I make it my business to know about any and all magical anomalies in the world,” Stephen bluntly declared, arching a brow while shaking his head dismissively. “To be fair, you were just an amped up, overcompensating teenager wanting a crown. Out of everything on my plate, you were an inconvenience at most. Same with those siren girls.”

The man paused before pressing his hands together, causing a circle of energy to slowly spin into existence from the ground. The incantation floated, all while letters began to glow within the surrounding sphere. Stephen twirled his finger, causing each symbol to glow one after the other. “Fortunately, everything sorted out on its own without me having to interfere, but now, I can’t procrastinate any further. That portal is proving to be nothing but absolute trouble. I will return you all home, and maybe, balance will be restored for a little while longer.”

“Wait! My husband is Spider-Man!” Twilight exclaimed, edging closer to the sorcerer.

Sci-Twi leaned over, her gaze vanishing behind her large glasses as Spike fell out of her grasp. “What?” Her face twisted as her brow twitched uncontrollably. “What?!”

Strange froze in his tracks, ceasing the incantation momentarily. “Spider-Man?” He glanced to the side, pursing his lip. “You’ve clearly been in this dimension before. Is he the same person?”

Twilight nodded. “He is. He always speaks highly of you.” Placing her hands together, Twilight lowered her head respectfully. “Please! I understand why you are frustrated, but this world is important to me! I’ve made friends here, and Sunset Shimmer has finally found a place she can call home! We promise to not abuse the portal! So, please don’t seal it shut!”

Grumbling incoherently, Stephen furrowed his brow as the girl poked her lip out in a pout. The man could only release a harsh exhale before dropping his hands, causing the magical energies around him to dissipate. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Fine! I’m getting too old for this,” he groaned, rubbing his hand over his temple. Eventually, he straightened his posture. “All right. I’ll leave the portal open on the ground, so that only you and Sunset Shimmer can access it. I’ll even make exceptions for the two visitors that just left.”

Fluttering her large eyes playfully, Twilight’s smile widened. “Can you also make exceptions for my husband and daughter? Oh, my son might want to come, too. And–”

“Nope! I’m done!” Strange exclaimed, lashing his glowing hand out. Energies spiraled into Twilight’s and Sunset’s chest, gleaming upon seeping under their clothes. The sorcerer turned and waved his hand, causing a portal to spin into existence. However, just before he entered, a dark expression formed on his face. “Be warned. A handful of you can access this portal, but multiversal travel isn’t a game, and the strands of this reality are brittle. Everytime you open this portal, there is a chance a ripple will occur and allow something from a different plane to enter. There are realities that hold nightmares you could only dream of.”

Before anyone could hope to question the man further, Strange entered the portal as it faded from sight. An awkward silence filled the area as everyone considered the man’s words. Yet, Sci-Twilight sat on the ground with her knees pulled to her chest, rocking in place as a dark cloud hovered over her head. Twilight blinked at her counterpart’s reaction, chuckling nervously.

“You actually married that loose cannon? I can’t believe it,” Sci-Twilight groaned, whimpering.

Twilight managed a smile. “Don’t overthink it. He’s really sweet when you get to know him.” She lowered to a kneeling stance, placing a hand over her counterpart’s shoulder. “Trust me. If you give him a chance, it might lead to something beautiful. Or not. I understand every reality is different.”

Rainbow Dash burst into hearty guffaws, clutching her arms over her sides. “Good! If Twilight is hanging with us, we’ll make sure she doesn’t end up with a weirdo like that Spider-Guy!”

Twilight blankly stared at her friend, exhaling. “I see you still haven’t given him a chance.”

Applejack placed a hand over her hip as a concerned gaze formed on her face. “We have to be careful though. What if Doctor Strange was right? What if some bad things made it through the portals?”

Shrugging, Rainbow Dash chuckled. “No sweat! We’ll just kick their butt and send them back to wherever they came from.”

Sunset confidently nodded, clutching at her diary. “Absolutely! No matter what happens, we’ll face it together!”

Peter peeked his head into the lab, alternating his gaze about until he spotted Octavious perched over the central desk. “Hey, Doc! I got your message!” he stated, closing the door behind him. The older man barely lifted his head from the microscope, nodding lightly. He paced in place, alternating his attention between several documents. Peter chuckled, scratching his head. “Have you been locked up in here the whole time? Did you see or hear what happened at the Friendship Games?”

“I was briefed by Celestia,” Otto declared, mumbling inwardly before sharing a glance with his cohort. “A shame that I missed the spectacle. It seems Twilight’s spectrometer yielded uncanny results. I just hate that lives were put in danger.” Sobering, the older man managed a smile after placing the documents down onto the desk. “Thank you for helping her, my boy. Twilight’s gift can benefit all of mankind. I believe now that she is free from Abby’s influence, she can truly use her intellect for good.”

Peter reached out, placing a hand over the man’s shoulder. “I hope so. I’m more worried about you. I know you and Principal Cinch were close.”

Slow to respond, Otto nodded and barely managed a smile. “Thank you. I’m fine. I can’t always lament about what could have been. The best thing I can do is to give the pillars of the future a steady foundation.”

“Even if she hates me?” Peter haplessly stated, shrugging.

Octavious hummed. “Son. If a woman pours that much emotion towards you, it is far more complicated than simple hate. With age comes wisdom.”

The young man blinked, scratching the side of his cheek with a finger as he sank into his lamenting thoughts. “What could have been, right?” Blinking, Peter arched a brow while his gaze shifted skyward. “I wonder…”

His thoughts grew fuzzy, spinning before taking shape. Sunset’s words echoed throughout his mind, of a world where he and Twilight were actually married. A couple materialized into existence before a young baby with short, messy brown hair took shape in a woman’s arms, a patch of purple at the center. They sat at a table in a living room, smiling as light from the outside shone through the curtain’s opening and filled the room with warmth. While her skin tone was ebony, her signature long violet hair with a pink streak at the center was unmistakably that of Twilight Sparkle’s.

The image of the other individual at the table cleared, revealing an aged version of Peter himself. Unlike his other variant, this one was clean-shaven and youthful. A small girl stumbled into the room with a book, her hazel irises as bright as the sun. Her hair was braided, brandishing a flower at the end, and she smiled widely, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Twilight. Both Twilight and Peter grinned as the girl held out the open book, allowing the infant to touch its pages.

The image of the family dissolved in a blur as Peter shook his head, freeing himself of his self-induced trance. Pausing, his gaze lowered while brushing a hand over his chin. “If we just met under different circumstances, could it have worked out?”

“An interesting hypothesis, but I believe deep down, you know the answer,” Otto warmly affirmed, retrieving a small file.

Peter considered the man’s words, evident by his softened expression, but reality came crashing back into his mind, leaving him shudder involuntarily. “Maybe. It doesn’t make it any less weird though.” As if a realization came to mind, Peter held out a hand questionably. “What was it that you wanted to see me about, Doc. You made it seem like it was a big deal.”

Meanwhile, Otto’s light disposition dissolved as his eyes faded behind his dark shades. “Ah, yes. My apologies. I digress. I fear we may have a serious situation on our hands. Are your senses still overloading? Have you had any further episodes?”

Slow to respond, Peter held out his hand as it trembled. “It’s getting worse, Doc. I’m hearing things several yards away. My vision’s like a microscope, and everything is zoomed in.” He leaned over the desk, using his forearm to wipe the sweat from his face. “It’s everything. All of my senses were already cranked up. Now, it’s like I’m flaring up.”

Pursing his lips, Otto crossed his arms. “I’ve run your blood samples over a dozen times, and your molecules are breaking down. A change of structure is occurring in your genes.” The older man removed his shades, somberly gazing at his colleague. “My boy… You are mutating.”

“It is nice to have valid competition: it pushes you to do better.”- Gianni Versace

The End

Ch. 6 "The Friendship Games"

Chapter Six “The Friendship Games”

“All I did was hand Twilight a bunny, and I just ponied up,” Fluttershy whispered, shrugging her shoulders as she walked alongside her compatriots.

Sunset crossed her arms and frowned. “I just don’t get it. Rarity’s magic came out when she made us outfits, Pinkie’s came out when she started the party, and now, Fluttershy with her pet?” She paused, tapping her finger against her forearm impatiently. “Something’s causing our magic to appear, but I still can’t figure out how or why.”

Fluttershy held out a hand before placing it over her own chest. “What’s even weirder is that Twilight’s pendant thing pulled the magic right out of me. I couldn’t even stand up.”

“Like me at the party!” Pinkie eagerly stated, resting a forearm over Fluttershy’s shoulder.

“Or me right before we met Twilight,” Rarity declared, sharing a glance with the pink-haired girl. “I’m just glad you are okay, darling. You picked quite a place to collapse.” Trailing off, Rarity’s brow furrowed upon settling on her friend’s unusually wide smile while she hummed inwardly. “That matter aside, I must say that you are in quite good spirits in spite of what happened. May I ask why that is?”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened at the statement before she cleared her throat, shrinking back into place. “N-Nothing happened. I just met my friend again right before I talked with Twilight.”

“Your friend? Do you mean–?” A glint flashed in Rarity’s bright blue eyes as she snapped towards Fluttershy in a flash of motion, smiling widely. “It was that boy again, wasn’t it?! You spoke with him again?!” Blinking as if a realization came into mind, the girl narrowed her gaze and raised a finger dramatically. “You’ve been awfully secretive about him. Why must you be so tight-lipped about him? We’re friends, aren’t we?!” Rarity whined, pacing in place dramatically while waving her hands to the side. She leaned forth, fluttering her eyes weepingly. “We still don’t know his name or what he looks like. The devil is in the details! Please share something, darling!”

Applejack huffed. “Stop brow-beating her, Rarity. If Fluttershy wants to share, she will. It’s her secret to hold. We should respect that.”

Raising a finger, Rainbow Dash nodded. “I’m curious, too, but she must have a reason, if she’s keeping it close to her chest.”

Clearing her throat, Rarity straightened her posture before huffing. “It goes without saying that I am curious, but I’m also speaking out of concern! It’s not like our darling Fluttershy to be so secretive! I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t show a little care! However, you girls are right, and I will yield for now.”

Sunset managed a smile as her face burned slightly. “I understand, Fluttershy. I had a great talk with my friend as well.”

Taken aback, Rarity’s neck twisted so hard it nearly dislocated itself from her shoulders. She rushed over to the redhead, clapping her hands tightly together. “All of these secrets! Please tell me you are referring to Flash!”

Waving a hand dismissively, Rainbow shrugged. “Boy, are you behind. Sunset’s been swooning over that dorky dude lately, Rarity.”

Rarity’s eyes widened momentarily before she shook her head. “Oh, that’s right.” Glancing to the side, the girl’s face twisted as she gritted her teeth and twisted the ends of her hair in her hands. “That ruffian who somehow befriended that pompous Blueblood. The sooner I forget the better!”

Sunset shook her head, sobering while raising her hands defensively. “It’ll have to wait, Rarity. We have a bigger problem. It sounds like Twilight’s stealing magic.”

Applejack hummed as a skeptical expression formed on her face. “Ah don’t know. Twilight doesn’t seem like the magic-stealing type.”

“Maybe, but she was there right before the portal vanished. I’m beginning to think she may have taken the magic from there, too,” Sunset firmly interjected, lifting her gaze. “It has something to do with that pendant.”

“How?” Fluttershy innocently questioned, tilting her head to the side.

Slow to respond, Sunset’s demeanor softened as her shoulders lowered. “I don’t know. To make matters worse, the only pony, person, or princess that can help is out of reach now, and there’s nothing I can do to stop this. I just feel so useless.”

Huffing, Applejack straightened her posture. “Stop thinking like that. We can’t always go to Twilight when something goes wrong. Maybe it’s time we started walking on our own feet?”

Rarity placed her hands over her hips, nodding. “Applejack’s right darling. You’re doing your best, and I’m sure that Twilight would be proud of you for it.”

Smirking, Rainbow Dash shared a nod with everyone around her. “For now, let’s just focus on beating the Shadowbolts.” Once they eventually reached the nearest exit door, Rainbow turned to face her friends with a smug grin. “As long as we’re on an even playing field, we’ve got nothing to worry about!”

Pausing, Applejack’s eyes widened as she pointed behind Rainbow Dash. “We’re on a playing field alright.”

The girls took in the environment with their mouths agape, eyeing the massive ramps positioned over large piles of dirt. At the center of field stood an archery stand as well as various obstacles scattered throughout the course. The entire field’s space had been taken up, and the students steadily filled the stands to capacity. The girls could only stand in awe, slack-jawed at the transformed scenery.

Sunset freed herself from her self-induced trance before glancing at her compatriots. “Am I the only one who thinks this is overkill?” Pausing, Sunset’s brow furrowed upon catching sight of a duo at the foot of the stands. She momentarily parted and eased in their direction, blinking upon recognizing the hint of blue and violet. Both girls were garbed in matching cheerleader attire, bearing a ‘C’ emblem over their chest. “Trixie? Aria?”

Trixie’s eyes widened before she turned, nodding while shaking the blue pom-poms in her grasp. “Ah, Sunset Shimmer! You are just in time to witness our greatest triumph!” She hoisted a hand high over her head before shifting into a pose with her knees bent. “The Great and Powerful Trixie’s cheers will resonate with you and lead Canterlot to victory!”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Aria rolled her eyes once Sunset glanced in her direction. “Don’t you dare look at me like that. For the record, I didn’t have a choice. Parker abandoned me, and she wouldn’t shut up until I joined.”

The corner of Sunset’s lips curled into a coy smirk. “I can tell. You’re so festive.”

Aria glared at the redhead, the pom-poms crunching in protest under her tightening grasp. “Why, you…”

“Sorry, I’m late!” a voice declared from behind, causing everyone to glance in the direction of the source. Ditzy soon tumbled forth, managing to come to a halt. However, Trixie’s face twisted upon glancing at the crimson pom-poms her friend held before her eyes widened at an unsavory sight. Ditzy’s uniform contrasted against theirs, consisting of a white, blue, and red style. Most stunning of all was the emblem at the center of her chest, being that of an emblem of Spider-Man’s face. After what seemed like an eternity, Ditzy bounced in place and obliviously grinned while sharing a glance with her friends. “What?”

Trixie’s brow lowered, shifting her bewildered gaze into a sharp glare. “You bumbling klutz! What is that?! What did you do to my beautiful uniform?!”

Ditzy’s smile only grew. “Do you like it? I had it made on the off chance that Spidey happens to show up!”

Donning a large frown, Aria blankly stared at the blonde. “I do not know or associate with this person.” She turned to Trixie as her expression turned almost pathetic as some in the stands laughed in their direction. “Can I please leave now?”

“Absolutely not!” Trixie barked, bearing a pair of fangs from her mouth. “We practiced hard for this, darn it!”

Aria’s usual stoic expression resurfaced. “Practiced? We just flailed our arms about while you barked orders.” Glancing to the side, Aria grumbled towards the blonde. “So, why the Spider-Man outfit again?”

“Well, every time something bad happens, he always shows up!” Ditzy innocently declared, a gleam sparkling from her features.

An awkward silence filled the area as Aria’s expression remained ever stoic. “Why would you tempt fate like that?” Eventually, she just shrugged before stiffly straightening her form. “Eh, whatever.”

Trixie huffed, her brow twitching. “You had one job, and in typical fashion, you found a way to botch it spectacularly.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, the girl dropped one of the pom-poms before brushing a free hand through her silver-blue hair in an attempt to recollect her nerves. “It’s fine. Trixie is indifferent when it comes to the Man-Spider…”

“Spider-Man,” Ditzy and Aria muttered in unison, happily and blankly respectively.

Paying no mind to the correction, Trixie huffed. “Whatever! It simply means that we must cheer even harder to ensure the audience isn’t too distracted.”

“...great,” Aria muttered, shaking her pom-poms with the enthusiasm and vigor of a sloth.

Shaking her head, Sunset smirked while alternating her gaze about. “I’m surprised Peter isn’t here. Guess he meant it when he said he wouldn’t join or cheer.”

Scoffing, Trixie pointed behind her position. “Parker’s being rather bullheaded about it, but he at least has the decency to watch from the stands. I can’t say that I’m happy with his choice, but I do accept it.”

Snails eased into the fray with a sky-blue jumpsuit, nodding feverishly. “Yeah. The nerve of that guy! He’s always back-talking the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Wearing a matching uniform, Snips walked up alongside his slim friend with a frown. “We hope you really let him have it next time, boss!”

Releasing a harsh snort, Trixie folded her arms and glared at the pair. “Silence! At least Parker has more backbone than you two!” Trailing off, the girl blinked. She tapped a foot impatiently against the grass as she narrowed her gaze. “Did Trixie tell you to stop?! Keep dancing, cretins!”

Like lightning to a rod, Snips and Snails staggered in place before resuming their synchronized dancing. However, they knocked heads with a crack upon shifting their weights incorrectly. Both boys yelled out, clutching at their craniums while pointing sharply at each other. Aria could only stare dumbly at the scene while Ditzy, oblivious, giggled.

Trixie’s hand met her forehead with a smack before she tossed her pom-poms to the ground. “Fools! Can’t you do anything right?!”

As Trixie berated the pair, Sunset shrugged while quietly dismissing herself. Once she reached her other friends, Rarity clutched at a uniform in hand and huffed. “I must remind you that I find it troubling that you associate with such an unruly bunch.”

Sunset waved a hand dismissively, chuckling. “Oh, please. They’re harmless. You guys are seriously overthinking it.” She paused, arching a brow at the garb before pointing at it. “What’s that?”

Rarity bit down on her lip, erupting with a laugh while handing the spandex to her friend. “Oh, darling! You didn’t think I came unprepared, did you?” Soon, Rarity walked to everyone and handed them a unique uniform. “I made one for everybody! We shall prevail and look absolutely stunning while doing it!” One remained in hand as she glanced about. Upon failing to locate her target, Rarity furrowed her brow. “Where is Fluttershy?”

Meanwhile, while the others conversed, Fluttershy alternated her gaze about quietly. She eased by the school’s gymnasium door before spotting a small poster on the wall. Upon reaching it, her eyes narrowed on a rough sketch of Spider-Man in a dynamic pose above the bold letters S.F.C. at its center. Right beneath the image were a list of signatures. Smiling widely, Fluttershy traced her finger over the number of names listed.

“It looks like we have a few more signatures since the last meeting. I’m happy to see that Eugene has been spreading a good word,” Fluttershy whispered, placing a hand over her warm chest. Her gaze drifted skyward. “I hope I get to see him again.” Once Rarity walked in her direction, the pink-haired girl cleared her throat and stepped towards her in response. “Oh! Um, Rarity. I was just…”

“It’s nothing, darling. Now, come along! We have to change before the Friendship Games begin!” Rarity stated, gently grabbing the girl’s forearm gently. She paused, stealing a glance at the poster’s image before shuddering involuntarily. Inhaling deeply, Rarity let out a low sigh as she recollected her composure. “Most unnerving. I just don’t find the appeal in someone so creepy.”

Fluttershy weakly nodded, following her friend. “He’s not creepy.”

Once the girls had exited the vicinity, Diamond Tiara walked by the poster and paused. “So, that’s the girl Flashy was talking about in his fanclub.” She paused, practically glaring at the image of Spider-Man. “It’s utterly criminal that masked freak has a fanclub! I don’t know why Flashy worships that menace!” she whined, poking her lips out in a pout. Narrowing her gaze, the girl frowned at the image of Spider-Man, but a mischievous grin surfaced on her face after a duration. “If she really wants to meet Spider-Man, then we better not disappoint her!” Opening her phone, Diamond pecked away at the screen. “Maybe if there’s a broken promise and letdown fan, Flashy will come around and realize how much of a mistake this is!”

Elsewhere, Principal Cinch walked before her Crystal Prep students, sharing a glance with each as she passed. “Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap will handle the motocross event.”

Indigo Zap cheered, pumping her fist to the side. “Yes!”

Continuing, Cinch paused upon reaching the next pair of students. “Sunny Flare and Lemon Zest will take care of the short track.” Both girls high-fived and smiled at each other, while the woman made her way to the last two of her pupils. She cleared her throat and straightened her posture, arching a brow at the violet-skinned girl. “Since archery is a standard requirement of our school, anyone should be able to do it. Soursweet and Twilight Sparkle will start us off.”

Every girl seemingly glared in Twilight’s direction while Sugarcoat looked on with indifference, evident by her shrug. Soursweet eagerly stood, smiling widely as she cupped her hands together. “That’s just marvelous!” she cheered, exhaling afterward while her shoulders fell into a slump. The girl glanced to the side, grumbling under her breath. “...if you want to lose before we even start.”

“Rest assured, Soursweet. I have every bit of confidence that Twilight will pull her weight,” Cinch declared, lowering until her face was mere inches from the girl’s. Her expression remained firm. “Is that correct?”

Twilight sheepishly smiled, managing a nod. “Yes, Ma’am.”

Several minutes had passed, and the stands were filled. Once Principal Cinch took a seat alongside Celestia and Luna, Cadence stood before the microphone at their table! “Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Friendship Games Tricross Relay!” she exclaimed, causing the audience to erupt in response. Many raised their hands and cheered, some even wearing decorative ears and caps. Cadence lifted an arm and smiled. “In this event, our qualifying competitors will compete in hurdles, archery, speed gaining, and finally, motocross!”

As the girls stepped into place, preparing to start, Peter eased from behind the stands with a soda in hand. “Looks like I made it in time,” he whispered, taking a sip before furrowing his brow at the field. He shifted his gaze between the archery stand, short track, and ramps, blinking with a widened gaze. “This feels like overkill. Are they sure these are the Friendship Games and not the Hunger Games?”

Unbeknownst to him, a young man with short blonde hair and muscular physique eased into a seat in the stands several feet above his position with a pair of hotdogs and a large cup in his holster. “This ought to be good! Let’s hope the games aren’t a complete wash this year!” he muttered, straightening his black jacket before glancing underneath his position. His brow furrowed upon spotting Peter before his large blue eyes widened and jaw dropped. “Holy crap! Is that–?”

“So! If the competitors are ready?” Cadence eagerly questioned, furrowing her brow before hoisting a horn high over her head and blasting it loudly.

Suddenly, Blueblood and Flash broke into a sprint, both men effortlessly leaping over the first hurdle. The crowd’s cheers grew as both blondes increased their pace, remaining even as they reached the next obstacle. However, Flash gritted his teeth as he steadily put some distance between himself and his competitor. Soon, he managed to cross the finish line before pressing the button on the nearest stand with Blueblood doing the same just a couple of seconds behind.

Fluttershy soon took off into a jog, easing over the roll of hay in her path. Soursweet soon caught up with the pink-haired girl, hurdling over her own obstacles while passing her, and she quickly retrieved a bow and quiver waiting at the end of her pathway. Rolling into a kneeling stance, the girl aimed three arrows at once before firing. Each soared through the sky, connecting to the rolling target simultaneously. Soursweet nodded her approval, smirking as Fluttershy had just finally reached her respective bow and quiver.

The pink-haired girl aimed and fired her first arrow, watching as it soared off course. Undeterred, Fluttershy tried again with her second shot wiggling to the side and landing headfirst into the grass. Lifting her gaze, Soursweet glanced at Twilight who had finally taken the initiative to run, but her foot clipped the pile of hay, causing the violet-skinned girl to crash into the ground facefirst. Blinking at the sight, Soursweet opened her mouth and readied to curse, but she paused, her mouth falling agape once Fluttershy had finally managed to strike her target.

Twilight rolled to her partner’s feet in a heap, straightening her glasses before finally taking hold of a bow and quiver. Applejack quickly leapt over her hurdles, grabbing her items. Soursweet could only watch with a snarl as Twilight fumbled with her arrows and missed every shot, each worse than the last. Inhaling deeply, Applejack let out a deep breath before focusing on her target, pulling her arrow back. She relinquished her hold, allowing the item to soar, and it struck the bullseye, prompting Pinkie and Rarity to race ahead on their skates. All of the Shadowbolts angrily glared at Twilight as she continued to struggle, dropping an arrow. Tears steadily filled her eyes while the world watched her utterly fail.

Once Twilight dropped her arrow again, Sugarcoat shrugged. “You’re really bad at this!”

Soursweet threw up her hands in defeated fashion while alternating her gaze between Twilight and the Wondercolts as they finished their first lap. “Well, this is just perfect!”

Meanwhile, Peter winced at the spectacle after the crowd steadily grew restless with a mixture of clamoring boos and laughter. “This is just brutal. Can someone please just help her or put her out of her misery?”

Applejack shook her head, frowning upon watching Twilight’s tears intensify. “I can’t take this anymore!” In a huff, she walked up to Twilight, and her eyes softened upon hearing her sniffle. Placing a hand over her shoulder, the blonde alternated her gaze between Twilight and the target in the distance. “Let me help you out. Stop aiming at where the target is and go for where it’s going to be.”

“Oh, sure! Definitely take advice from the person you’re competing against!” Soursweet exclaimed, her hair dishelving from its pair of buns.

Rolling her eyes, Applejack folded her arms and sternly gazed at the violet-skinned girl. “Do you want to hit the target or not?” Twilight sniffled, managing to wipe her tears away with a forearm before nodding. Applejack smiled, her eyes softening. “Then, trust me. Take a deep breath and let the arrow go.”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Twilight lifted her gaze and stared intently at the moving target. She pulled the arrow back, holding it in place for what seemed like an eternity. Soon, Twilight relinquished the item, allowing it to soar gracefully across the field. The entire world grew silent, with all of the students waiting with bated breaths and mouths agape. Even Principal Cinch stood from her seat with a widened gaze. Suddenly, the arrow struck the center of the bullseye with a thwack. The crowd roared with applause from both Crystal Prep and Canterlot. Suddenly, the light next to Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare flashed from crimson to green, prompting both girls to skate onto the track.

“You did great!” Spike cheered, climbing onto the archery stage and leaping into Twilight’s waiting arms.

Applejack crossed her arms, arching a brow as Soursweet blinked at the sight of the talking canine. Once the Crystal Prep student completely eased away, with her hands raised defensively, the blonde shared a smile with her other competitor. Twilight walked towards her, wrapping her arms around her body in a warm embrace. Taken aback (albeit briefly), Applejack returned the gesture in full with a grin.

Peter watched the pair from underneath the stands several yards away, nodding. “Wow. That was very nice of Goldilocks. Maybe Sunset’s friends aren’t all that bad?” Blinking as if a realization came into mind, Peter alternated his widened gaze between the girls in the distance and the space under his feet. “Wait. How did I hear that entire conversation so clearly? I’m at least sixty to seventy yards away.” A poke almost could have been felt in the back of his head, evident by the bemused expression on his face. “Wait. Did that dog just talk, too? I really hope I’m just hearing voices, and I’m finally going insane. That’d make so much more sense.”

Pausing, the hairs on Peter’s arms stood on end. Suddenly, the world around him grew silent, and he looked around, furrowing his brow at the muffled sounds. Soon, the young man held a hand over his ear, wincing sharply as the rest of the world’s sounds rushed into his cranium without warning. He staggered back, finding his way underneath the stands without anyone noticing. In the meantime, all four competitors continued to skate across the track. The rumblings of their wheels echoed fiercely through Peter’s equilibrium, in spite of their distance from each other, sending tremors through his muscles. Straining before collapsing, Peter gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to scream as his fingers clutched at his head.

Meanwhile, Applejack smiled at Twilight. “See? I was telling you the truth.” A golden aura emitted from the blonde’s body before a pair of ears and a tail sprouted into existence. Twilight’s eyes widened at the sight while her spectrometer levitated, gravitating towards Applejack. The energies spiraled into the device, and the blonde attempted to pull away, to no avail. Applejack strained while her aura dissolved, collapsing while her ears and tail vanished from existence. “What are you doing?”

Twilight shook her head defiantly, clutching onto her spectrometer’s laces as it continued to pull towards the blonde. “I don’t know!”

Applejack staggered in place, her large eyes fluttering before shutting completely, and she fell back, landing roughly off the archery stage. Fluttershy inhaled sharply at the sight, rushing to Applejack’s side. Simultaneously, all four competitors in the skating race finished, prompting those in the motocross to accelerate forward. The energies finally seeped completely into the spectrometer, allowing it to finally fall. A shockwave generated upon impact, sending out a trail of black energy. However, its pull lessened and caused Twilight to stumble backwards.

Unfortunately, the spectrometer flew from her grasp and snapped open upon hitting the ground. A trio of portals materialized into existence, generating several violent currents of wind to flow through the vicinity. Soon afterward, vines whipped through the openings, and before long, more portals opened and spread across the track. Back under the stands, Peter’s eyes snapped open, while the noises filling his cranium regulated to a normal setting. He slowly pulled himself back to a standing position, furrowing his brow as a familiar tingle buzzed throughout his mind.

Twilight’s mouth fell agape as a surge sparked from the device, sending a chain of electricity into the ground. She quickly stood and rushed to the spectrometer, but a vine lashed out, whipping around her leg before any progress could be met. A plant-like, green head sprouted from within the portal, hissing as it edged toward the girl. Slowly but surely, more portals materialized into existence throughout the motocross track, as Sunset, Rainbow, Sugarcoat, and Indigo raced without realizing what was transpiring.

A large head roared upon emerging, lunging forth before snatching Sugarcoat’s bike into its mouth. The girl held on, yelling upon losing her grip, and she fell from a great height, slamming her eyes shut as the ground neared. Suddenly, a being soared through the sky on a strand with his arm extended and scooped Sugarcoat into his grasp. Eventually, he swung to the other side of the track, placing the girl down.

Everyone’s eyes widened at the familiar hint of crimson, white, and blue before Flash Thompson erupted with glee, throwing his hands high over his head. “All right, Spidey!”

Spider-Man watched the scenery with a narrowed gaze, alternating his sight between all of the emerging portals, vines, and monsters accompanying them. “Anybody got some weed killer?”

He shared a glance with Sugarcoat, who simply nodded as the monster chewed away at her bike. “You sound like somebody I know.”

“Huh?” Spider-Man blurted out, tilting his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

Sugarcoat straightened her glasses, all while narrowing her gaze. “There’s a boy I like. A total dork. Absolutely hopeless, but kinda cute, and you sound just like him.” She brought a hand to her chin and furrowed her brow, eyeing the man deeply. “You both are about the same height, and your frames match up, too. He hated our uniforms. Looking at you now, I can see why.”

“It sounds like you’ve been watching this guy closely. Maybe too closely,” Spider-Man stated, squinting his masked eyes at the girl.

Sugarcoat, ever stoic, lowered her glasses. “You’re not denying it.”

“I’m not confirming it, either,” Spider-Man mumbled. His masked eyes remained unreadable, although narrowing slightly. After an awkward set of seconds, the young man fidgeted in place. “Hard to tell if you’re being seriously blunt or passive-aggressively trolle.”

“How many have figured you out?” she questioned, arching a brow.

Defeated, Spider-Man simply groaned. “Too many, and I’ve only been at this a few months. I wonder if that’s why Tony Stark went and revealed his identity to the world?”

“Eh, he clearly did it for the glory. You don’t have to do that. Just be a little more confident when someone asks you the hard questions,” Sugarcoat simply stated shrugging. Yet, she simply shrugged afterward. “Eh, I mean, I think I know who you are. I could be wrong. Anyway, go save the day. We’ll talk later. Maybe.”

“Um, great? Thanks? Note to self: install voice modifier,” Spidey whispered, watching as Sugarcoat ran from the track. The masked man shot a strand onto the nearest pole, pulling himself to the top. He hung in place, eyeing the multiple plant monsters and their tendrils. “As awkward as that was, what’s with the breakout? More importantly…” Peter droned, staring blankly at the bikes still racing along the track and the civilians remaining seated while the monsters spread. “Why isn’t anyone reacting to this?! Has everyone gone mental?! Why are they still racing like there aren’t giant plant monsters around?!” As the audience simply watched, Spider-Man could only exhale. “Just when you think things can’t get any crazier… or weirder.”

Sunset and Indigo Zap continued through the course , narrowly avoiding vines in their path. Meanwhile, Twilight hastily crawled as the monster pulled her closer to its chomping mouth. Spider-Man leapt from his perch with his foot extended, speeding through the air like a missile. The blow drove the monster into the ground with enough force to shatter the earth, causing a dust cloud to erupt. The vine instinctively lost its grip on Twilight, falling limply to the side.

Just as Spider-Man landed on his feet, a vine lashed out and struck the back of Sunset’s bike. The redhead yelled as she attempted to remain in control, only to skid across the dirt. A pair of vines steadily reached out, ready to claim their prize, but Spider-Man dove past them with his knee lunged forth, driving it into the center of the source’s head. A loud crack echoed throughout the vicinity as a shockwave erupted, sending chunks of dirt from the surrounding piles into the breeze. Rainbow Dash slowed to a halt next to Sunset, allowing her to board the back of her bike.

Spider-Man nodded his approval. “Great idea! Now, you can get to safety even faster!” However, the girls sped onward back onto the track, seemingly resuming the race. Spider-Man raised his trembling hands, as if resisting the urge to strangulate the nearest object. “Or you can totally ignore the blatant danger! God, this school sucks!”

The buzzing in his cranium intensified, prompting Spider-Man to leap high into the air as a tendril lashed at him. The world slowed to a halt as Peter narrowed his gaze to the distance, where the Principals sat. A vine monster rose from the ground behind their stand and leaned forth with malintent. Shooting a strand onto the nearest pole, Peter pulled himself across the field and soared.

A trio of vines reached out at once at their airborne target, but Spider-Man twisted, contorting his form just out of their range. A loud slashing sound could be heard, forcing the young man to hasten his run. However, just as he landed on the stand, the vine monster’s head and two of its tendrils fell to the ground lifelessly. Spider-Man tilted his head to the side upon spotting the cleanly severed ends, alternating his blank gaze in a futile attempt to locate the source. From the shadows in the distance, a golden shield soared back into a dark man’s waiting grasp before he retreated.

Just as Rainbow Dash and Sunset raced across the finish line, claiming victory, Twilight finally grasped her spectrometer. She slammed it shut, causing all of the surrounding plant creatures and their respective portals to dissolve from sight. Spider-Man fired a strand of webbing to the edge of a building before perching himself to the highest vantage point in the area. Meanwhile, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie ran towards Sunset and Rainbow, everyone sharing a glance.

Cadence stood from her seat, taking a microphone in hand. “Attention, students! Please head to the gym!”

Peter watched from his position, his masked eyes squinting at the adults and spectators as they steadily left. “Oh, sure. Now’s a good time to leave?” Pausing, his line of sight remained locked on the principals. With a light nod, Spider-Man leapt to a new point and followed the women. “I’d better follow and see what they have planned. Hopefully, they cancel this stupid event.” He glanced at the emblem on his chest, huffing under his breath. “Better get out of costume while I’m at it.”

“Is everyone okay?” Applejack questioned, concern evident in her voice once the stands were empty.

Rainbow clenched her fists and whooped loudly. “Better than okay! We won!”

Sunset removed her helmet and shook her head. “Sure, we’ve won, but someone could have seriously been hurt if Spider-Man didn’t show up!” Pacing forth, the girl gripped at strands of her hair and pulled. “The magic is going haywire, and I have no idea how to fix it!” Pausing, Sunset let out a low sigh before turning towards Dash with a small smile. “Thanks for coming back for me, Rainbow.”

“Don’t mention it. That’s what friends are for,” Rainbow lightly responded before a bright aura enveloped her entire body. Suddenly, pony-like ears, wings, and a tail sprouted from her form. Rainbow grinned at this, hovering in the air momentarily before landing back on the ground. ‘I love that feeling! We had things under control more than Spiderman anyway.”

“Spider-Man,” Fluttershy weakly emphasized, glancing to the side. She raised a finger as her friends gazed in her direction. “You, um, forgot the hyphen.”

“Um, excuse me?” a soft voice called out from behind, causing everyone to turn to the source. Twilight lowered her head and clutched at her pendant. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to know about the strange energy coming from your school. I thought it was Spider-Man. I didn’t know it was magic or how it works.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged, grinning as she approached Twilight. “That’s okay. Neither do we.”

The spectrometer emitted a bright light before it levitated, opening to reveal its central orb. “Oh, no! Not again!” Twilight screamed, pulling at the device’s threads while the aura emitting from Rainbow spiraled into the orb. Dash strained while everyone watched with a bewildered gaze until she collapsed to a knee. Sunset quickly leapt forward, placing her hands over Rainbow’s shoulders. Twilight continued to struggle with her spectrometer, attempting to close its lid while currents of electricity sparked from its surface. “I’m sorry! It started absorbing energy on its own! I’m not sure how!”

“What do you mean you don’t know how?!” Sunset blurted out, anger pouring from her voice.

She grabbed the spectrometer from Twilight and attempted to close it as well, but a bolt of electricity shot from its orb into the sky. A black portal materialized into existence, revealing a forest within, and immense winds generated, causing most of the girls to lose their footing. Principal Cinch stepped around the corner with a furrowed brow, pausing before snapping back against the wall without anyone noticing. Several yards away on the other side of the field, the bearded man with the shield did the same from behind a mound of dirt.

“There’s the source of the problem. It’s–” the man whispered, inhaling sharply upon settling his hardened gaze on the hint of lavender. “Midni– No. Twilight Sparkle.” Closing his eyes, the man shook the intruding thoughts from his head and returned his sight to Sunset Shimmer. “All right. You’ve got the device. Now, hurry up and break it, so I can get back home.”

Twilight frantically shook her head, still pulling at the device. “Rifts have started opening up, and I don’t know how that works either!”

“Is there anything you do know?! Like how to get our magic back or how to fix the portal to Equestria?!” Sunset loudly questioned, pointing a finger mere inches from Twilight’s face as a look of bewilderment formed on her face. This seemingly fueled Sunset’s anger further, evident by her gritted teeth and sharpened glare. “You’re supposed to be so smart, but did you think for a second that you shouldn’t be messing with things you don’t understand?!”

Sunset took hold of the spectrometer, slamming it shut, and the portal in the sky mirrored its action, vanishing from sight. The older man watched with anticipation, nodding at the redhead, but his expression immediately grew cold once she stepped back, pointing again at the violet-skinned girl.

“Kid, please. Rant after. End this now,” he whispered, his voice trembling into a growl, “I’d do it myself, but I’m already breaking a lot of rules just by being here.”

Twilight’s eyes softened as she held a gaze with Sunset. “But I want to understand! How can I learn if I don’t try something?”

Stomping forward until they were inches apart, Sunset’s hand trembled violently. “Seriously? You want to learn, and you’re willing to put the lives of my friends in danger to do it?!”

The entire world crumbled as Sunset’s words sank in, evident by the tears pouring from Twilight’s eyes. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Turning sharply, Twilight weeped solemnly while running away. Spike chased after, leaving the others behind. Sunset fumed, taking in labored breaths through her teeth. However, Rainbow Dash placed a hand over her shoulder, freeing the girl from her rage-induced trance. Every word uttered echoed throughout her mind, leaving a sense of regret to linger over her thoughts. Sunset’s head fell shamefully before she shielded her face with her hand. Meanwhile, the older man inhaled deeply, releasing an irritated groan as he slammed his face into the dirt.

“Damn teenagers. So dumb and hormonal. She literally could have ended this just then,” he groaned, smacking the center of his forehead. Yet, his demeanor softened as he lifted his head. “No matter the reality I’m in, Twilight Sparkle gets hurt,” he whispered, alternating his gaze before quietly running back into the shadows, “and I’m powerless to stop it.”

Concurrently, Cinch watched the girls with an evil grin, until someone cleared their throat behind her. The woman turned, sharing a glance with Celestia as Luna and Cadence stood nearby. Close by, Peter brushed the wrinkles from his casual attire before leaning his head out. From the safety vantage point of the stage, he watched quietly as Cinch extended her hand out to the side.

“You can’t seriously call that a fair race!” Principal Cinch exclaimed, narrowing her gaze.

Celestia raised a hand defensively, arching a brow. “Principal Cinch, we all saw what happened! You can’t think C.H.S had some type of advantage!”

Cinch’s eyes widened as she crossed her arms. “Can’t I?! Even without your trained attack plants, your students have wings!”

Blinking, Peter threw his hands high over his head. “Oh, my god! Finally! Someone else sees how crazy this town is!” Taken aback, the young man’s face twisted while he shuddered involuntarily. “Oh, great. I’m agreeing with the She-Devil.”

“Plus, that hoodlum, Spider-Man, interfered and pulled one of my students out of the race!” Cinch exclaimed, frowning.

All of the blood in Peter’s body grew cold, evident by his pale complexion, and he gripped the nearest brick siding. “Hold up…”

Humming as if considering the woman’s words, Celestia arched a brow. “Well, I do admit that the race had some insinuating circumstances. Perhaps we should end the games now and declare a tie, due to outside interference.”

Slack-jawed, Peter’s brow twitched as he clenched his hand into a fist, crumbling the brick in his grasp to dust instantaneously. “What?!”

“A tie?!” Cinch blurted out, stepping back.

“Oh, that’s bull****!” a voice exclaimed from nearby. All four women blinked at the outburst and turned their collective gazes towards the source. A blonde muscular male with fair skin halted in his tracks from behind a fence, chuckling sheepishly before straightening his black, leather jacket. He cleared his throat and slowly sauntered away. “Sorry.”

Once the male had completely exited the vicinity, Cinch planted her feet before pointing a finger at Celestia.”Was this your strategy all along?! To have Crystal Prep accept you as equals?!”

Peter watched from his vantage point, clutching at his hair. “Why is this even a talk? Why is nobody talking about the giant killer plants or the space portals?!” He pulled at his strands, nearly pulling them from the root. “It’s just a stupid game! Cancel it already! Call the cops! Someone make sense of it all! Please!”

Cinch straightened her glasses and continued to glare at Celestia. “I think not! The games will continue, and Crystal Prep will prevail in spite of your antics or any performance-enhancing regime your students are on!”

Everyone watched as Cinch steadily departed, allowing Sunset and the others to reunite with Celestia. However, Peter simply laid on his back on the roof with his bemused glare aimed skyward. “This. Town. Sucks.”

Meanwhile, Sunset glanced to the side somberly. “I’m sorry, Principal Celestia. Now, Principal Cinch thinks we’re cheating.”

Celestia’s eyes softened. “It’s not your fault, Sunset. It doesn’t matter what Principal Cinch thinks.”

“No, it is my fault!” Sunset interjected, brushing a hand over her eyes. “I should have taken that device from Twilight when I had the chance. I already screwed up when I brought magic from Equestria here. Then, I was just cruel to Twilight.” She glanced to the side, letting out a low sigh. “Now, I just hope she doesn’t do anything with it before I can apologize.”

To be continued…