Ultimate Spiders and Magic: Episode V "Neogenic Nightmare"

Chapters

Prologue: "Metamorphosis"
Ch. 2: Transfiguration
Ch. 3: "Primalism and Territorialism"
Ch. 4: "Fight or Flight"
Ch. 5: "Self-Defense and Preservation"
Epilogue: "Evolution and Adaptation"
Ch. 1: "Interconnection and Manifestation"

Prologue: "Metamorphosis"

Prologue “Metamorphosis”

Images flashed violently throughout the vicinity. Peter ran across a dark abyss, pausing while taking in bated breaths. Beads of sweat fell from his forehead while the earth shook, causing him to lose his footing. Suddenly, a creature rose from underneath the earth and towered over his frame. Peter could only blink at the sight of a massive spider, its legs stretching across the void.

Faster than he could hope to react, the spider lunged forth, and everything faded to light, leaving only the sounds of feral roars to echo throughout the area. Peter shot up from the bed, panting wildly. He glanced to the side, groaning at the sight of shattered pieces of what remained of his clock. The sounds of gathering traffic echoed in the distance alongside the simple chirping of birds.

Yet, Peter clutched at his ears in a vain attempt to cut off the intrusive sounds from piercing his cranium. Suddenly, buzzing entered the fray, and his mind rang profusely in response. Peter snapped his head about erratically as the world crawled to a halt. The young man reached out instinctively, his hand vanishing in a blur, and he paused, eyeing a fly captured between his trembling fingers.

“It’s just a fly, dude. Calm down” Aria blankly stated, standing at the doorway. The girl crossed her arms, arching a brow as Peter hesitantly released the fly’s wings, allowing the bug to venture off. “Are you okay? You’ve been on edge for the past couple of days.” No response was received as Peter stood from the bed, tossing the sheets to the side. The bags under his eyes were dark, and his expression was unreadable. Aria reached out as he readied to pass, but he twitched, shifting to the side to avoid her touch. The girl blinked at the act, frowning. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been on edge for the past few days. You’ve practically been jumping at shadows lately.”

Biting down on his lip, Peter shook his head and continued walking. “Nothing. I just don’t want to talk about it.”

Slow to respond, a sensation snaked through Aria’s back and caused her to shiver involuntarily. She raised a finger, ready to question the young man, but he had already disrobed from his pajamas, walking down the stairs in his casual attire in what seemed to be a literal second. Aria alternated her gaze about, slack-jawed. Yet, she simply shrugged, as if accepting the phenomenon, before following closely behind.

The pair eventually made it downstairs, taking their respective places at the table. Various plates were neatly spread across, each holding an array of freshly prepared foods. May walked into the room with a smile, placing a plate down before approaching her nephew and managing to place a kiss onto his forehead. Peter withdrew in response, his muscles tightening, but he soon exhaled, managing to ease back into his seat.

Fortunately, May seemed to have not noticed as she took an apple into her grasp, biting into the treat, but Aria stared intently at Peter with an arched brow, frowning. Avoiding the siren’s gaze, the young man shifted his line of sight to the meal placed across the table. Fumes from each dish stimulated his senses all at once, sending his mind into a vortex. His stomach churned, causing him to gag inwardly, and Peter turned away, shaking his head in a disapproving manner.

Aria tilted her head to the side, her eyes widening at the feat. “Okay. What the fu–”

“Language,” May politely interjected.

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Aria simply nodded. “My point is that we know something isn’t right. It’s not like you to turn away food.”

After taking a pair of small bites, May’s eyes softened before she placed her apple down momentarily. “Is everything okay?” She narrowed her gaze while leaning forward in her seat until she towered over the boy. “You look pale, Peter.”

Peter pursed his lips and huffed, gently swatting away May’s hand before she could make contact with his forehead. “I’m fine,” he growled, exasperated until a loud snap echoed throughout the room. Everyone glanced to the source, spotting the corner of the wooden table crushed under Peter’s grip. Exhaling, the young man dropped the shattered pieces of wood to the floor and waved his hand dismissively. “I’m sorry. I was just overwhelmed for a second. Nothing to worry about.”

An awkward silence filled the room as both May and Aria blinked at the young man. Peter immediately retrieved the nearest fork and grabbed the nearest plate, scarfing down all of the scrambled eggs in one fell swoop. Soon, he nodded before doing the same for the bowl of oatmeal, repeating the process for the bacon, hash browns, and cinnamon rolls until everything on his end had been consumed. However, his stomach growled loudly, protesting its dissatisfaction with the amount it had ingested.

Faster than anyone could react, Peter snatched Aria’s bowl of fruit away and practically inhaled the sweet contents before she could salvage anything. Wiping his mouth clean, the young man’s eyes widened upon settling on the basket of apples on the nearby counter. Aria’s face twisted with disgust as she watched Peter violently devour every apple in his sight, core and all within the span of a minute. May stared at her nephew with bewilderment, simply watching as he stole her apple and ingested it as well.

Aria threw up her hands in disgust and shook her head. “Great, now I never want to eat anything ever again. Thanks alot.”

May’s demeanor remained steadfast, as she sweetly stared at the young man. “Did you eat enough? I can cook more if you need.”

Retching, Aria threw a hand over her mouth. “You cooked enough to feed a family of five, and this runt just cleaned out the kitchen on his own.”

Peter shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just hungrier than usual because I, uh, stayed up late with Doctor Octavious on an assignment.” He trailed off, grabbing his backpack from the nearest rack. “We found a strange anomaly in a sample.”

“Any luck in figuring out what makes it strange?” May innocently questioned, retrieving the dishes from the table.

His gaze fell to the ground as a dark glint filled his eyes. “No such luck. Hopefully that changes today,” he declared, clearing his throat once Aria glanced again in his direction. Throwing his arms high overhead, Peter forced a smile and walked out of the room. “Okay! That’s enough of that! I’m running late. I’ll see you both after school.” Both women watched as Peter exited the home, closing the door behind him, but he slammed the hinges (albeit lightly and swiftly), causing the glass to shatter. He awkwardly stood in place, like a deer in headlights before he sauntered off, waving sheepishly. “Don’t worry, I’ll fix that!”

Undeterred, May shook her head as she simply exhaled. “That boy’s poker face is as terrible as Ben’s. Of all the things for him to inherit, it would be that Parker pride.” She shifted her gaze, blinking upon settling her gaze on Aria. The younger girl’s complexion paled as she rubbed at the goosebumps forming over her forearms. May’s eyes softened before she placed a warm hand over her shoulder. “You’re an empath. Can you tell what he’s feeling?”

Aria furrowed her brow, motioning her hand suggestively. “It’s not as black and white as it sounds. I feel and feed off of negative emotions.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, the girl bit down on her lip. “Either way, I don’t know what I’m feeling from him. He’s giving off all types of vibes: confusion, frustration, and something overwhelming.”

May edged closer, placing a hand over her chest. “Overwhelming? What is it?”

Aria’s usual stoic demeanor faltered, evident by her softening gaze. “Fear.”

Deep within the confines of Canterlot High, a small gathering of students sat in the auditorium. Each brandished a shirt bearing Spider-Man’s masked logo at the center. Small posters of Spider-Man were scattered throughout the room, each picture as detailed as the last. Ditzy was among the group, holding her widened gaze at the person standing behind the podium on stage.

Meanwhile, Flash Thompson cleared his throat as the school bell rang. “That ends today’s session of the S.A.M.S Club. Let’s thank Ditzy for making the cookies.” He held his hand off to the side as the blonde chewed on one of the spider-shaped sugar cookies. Swallowing mid-bite, Ditzy clumsily waved to the crowd, and Flash rolled his eyes in response before straightening his posture. “Now I turn things over to our Vice-President. Take it away, Fluttershy.”

Stammering sheepishly, Fluttershy shared a nod with Flash before facing the crowd. “Thanks, Eugene. We’ll all meet again this Friday afternoon.” The girl smiled sweetly, gesturing a small wave. “Please tell your friends about the club. We’ve reached almost fifty supporters online and ten members here. Let’s show everyone that Spider-Man is a good person.”

Everyone clamored before standing from their seats. Some left the room, venturing for their respective classes, while others stayed behind to conversate. Just as Fluttershy took hold of her purse, Flash walked up to the girl. “Hey, Fluttershy. You have a minute?”

Taken aback, Fluttershy blinked a response before sharing a glance with the young man. “Um, sure. What’s wrong, Eugene?”

Flash reached into his pocket, retrieving a small note. “Were you interested in going to the dance Saturday night? I’m told that someone really wants to go with you.”

“Really? Who?” Fluttershy questioned, tilting her head to the side before accepting the letter. She gently opened the folded slip of paper, scanning through the passage of words. Suddenly, the girl inhaled sharply while shifting her gaze skyward to the young man that towered over her. The temperature in her face rose, evident by the pink stain filling her cheeks, and she fidgeted in place, losing control of her nerves. “This can’t be right. Um, Spider-Man is asking me out?”

Sobering, Flash crossed his arms. “I’d like to believe it, but I’m not sure if I buy it. Why would he suddenly want to show up to something like a school dance? No offense, but we have no idea how old he is either.” Fluttershy glanced to the side, as if considering his words, but there was hope apparent in her large blue eyes as she bit down on her lip. Flash could only scratch the back of his head. “I mean, I get it. I’d love to meet him too, but don’t be surprised if it's a prank. I’ll come to the dance just in case.”

Fluttershy nodded, holding her purse tightly against her chest while the corner of her lips curled into a smile. “That’s really sweet of you, Eugene. Thank you.”

A pair of students close by chuckled at the name, prompting Flash to snap his head in their direction before shaking his clenched fist. Once they had hastily retreated, the young man huffed. “Don’t sweat it. I’ll catch you later.”

Flash rushed in the direction the two boys ran off towards, cracking his knuckles while grinning evilly. Once he had left her proximity, Fluttershy furrowed her brow before gazing at the letter in her hand. “Is this actually real?” she whispered, losing herself in thought as she gazed skyward. “We did talk, and I know he attends our school. I’m just surprised he’d be so direct. He came off so shy. It’s actually kind of, um, attractive.” Droning, Fluttershy walked off as her mind drifted into a haze. However, she paused. “If Twilight knows him, then there’s a chance that I do as well. I know how tall he is, what his voice sounds like, but what does he look like?”

As she pondered inwardly, departing the room, Diamond Tiara watched from a distance with an evil grin. She pecked away at the phone in her hand. “The dummy has taken the bait. Let’s make sure this welcoming party is up to snuff!” she grinned, placing her phone back into her pocket. “Silver spoon! Get the arrangements!”

Trixie laughed confidently as she stood on the bleachers. “I knew our cheers would lead Canterlot to victory! Now that the games are over, we must resume spreading the Great and Powerful Trixie’s name!” she declared, hopping from her place in the stands before eyeing the rest of the gymnasium. Most of the other students ran throughout the track, all while Coach Spitfire supervised. Snips and Snails watched the girl with widened gazes, as if waiting for her command. Trixie brushed a hand through her silver-blue hair before huffing, raising her head high while pointing at the pair. “So… Speak, minions. What do you have to report?”

Snails brought up his hand over his forehead in a mock-salute, stammering as his mind drew a blank. However, he retrieved the thought before nodding. “Oh! Some new girl just transferred. We hear she’s from Crystal Prep.”

“I actually saw her,” Snips interjected, raising a finger. “She’s very pretty and wears glasses. She was one of the main competitors for Crystal Prep.”

Trixie arched a brow while crossing her arms. “And this concerns Trixie how?”

Both boys shared a glance, forcing the lumps in their throats down with a swallow. Eventually, Snails glanced to the side. “Rumor has it that she likes someone.” He soon turned his entire head to the prone individual on the bleachers. Peter laid curled in a fetal position, groaning as he clutched at his sides. Snails cleared his throat. “Well, it’s not really a rumor, either.”

Snips haplessly shrugged. “Yeah. Her name’s Sugarcoat, and she’s blunt. Anyone asks her why she transferred, and she says it’s because she wants to be closer to her friend, Twilight, and the cute guy that used to go to Crystal Prep.” As Trixie stared in his direction, Snips waved his hands defensively. “Her words, not mine.”

Trixie frowned, cupping her chin in the palm of her hand. “Is that right? That could be problematic,” she muttered, the latter under the hint of a whisper. Clearing her throat, the girl placed her hands over her hips. “I could care less about her interest in Parker, but I still want you both to keep an eye on her. Trixie could probably make use of her.”

“You got it, boss!” Snips and Snails declared, nodding before venturing off.

However, the pair managed to trip into each other and fall in a heap. Trixie rubbed at the bridge of her nose with her fingers, exhaling. “Why can’t I find competent help?” Once the boys had walked out of hearing range, Trixie walked to Peter with a furrowed brow. “Are you going to join me in the world of the living, Parker? You have a lot to make up for since you did not help me during the Friendship Games.” Only a grumble was received, prompting Trixie to lean over the young man as he continued to clutch at his sides. Her eyes soon softened as she knelt next to him.“Are you okay? This isn’t like you at all.”

Peter groaned, wincing as his fingers dug into his ribs. “It just feels like my sides are on fire.” Shaking his head, the young man eventually pulled himself back to a sitting position before exhaling. Fortunately, the pain subsided enough for his thoughts to clear, and Peter waved a hand dismissively. “It was just something I ate. It’s no big deal.”

Satisfied with his answer, Trixie sprang back to her feet and nodded. “Of course. You are such a glutton that you obviously overindulged.” Crossing her arms, the girl frowned as she glanced at Coach Spitfire in the distance. She raised a finger smugly and grinned. “Shame on you, bumpkins. I was worried that something was actually wrong. Trixie can tell that you are obviously trying to avoid today’s endurance assignment. Again.”

“Nothing gets past you,” Peter blankly declared, his voice lacking any enthusiasm as a bemused expression formed on his face. Suddenly, a scent of lavender rushed through his nostrils. The young man shook his head as his senses flared, but he could only glance at the source from the corner of his eyes, eyeing Trixie while she stood a few feet away. “Did you change your deodorant? You usually go with the rose and vanilla variety.” His mind flared, screaming before reality set in, and Peter threw his hand over his mouth after it was too late. “Uh! I mean–! It’s not… Ah, crap.”

Blinking, Trixie’s eyes widened at the statement. However, surprisingly oblivious, she glanced to the side as a faint shade of pink stained her cheeks. “Oh. Trixie is surprised you actually noticed. I was trying something different and…” she trailed off, her demeanor uncharacteristically softening. “Do you happen to like it? Not that Trixie cares what you think, but even I am not above constructive criticism.”

Shrugging, Peter coldly swiped his hand over his nose a few times as if to remove the scent. “It’s… loud. Go with something more subtle. It’s like I walked through a perfume aisle.”

Glass shattered within the confines of Trixie’s mind, evident by the bemused glare on her face. “You insensitive brute,” she whispered through gritted teeth. Resisting the urge to strike the boy, apparent by her trembling fist, the girl merely scoffed before brushing a hand through her hair. “Trixie will consider your words, but only because I have far greater options to experiment with.”

Blood rushed into Peter’s cranium, making the simple act of standing challenging. He staggered in place, placing a hand over his head. Meanwhile, a jock sporting a football jacket walked up to Trixie with a smirk. “Hey, girlie. There’s a dance coming Saturday. Was hoping you’d come with me.”

“Do I even know you?” Trixie questioned, arching a brow before waving a hand dismissively. “At any rate, Trixie is not interested. I have prior engagements.”

Undeterred, the jock eased closer while stepping between Trixie and Peter. “Look, if you’re saving yourself for this dweeb, don’t bother! We all know you can do much better. You hold yourself to such a high standard. It’s mind-boggling that you even associate with such a loser.”

Before Trixie could utter a response, Peter rose between the stranger and herself with a glare in his eyes. “The girl said she wasn’t interested. How about you leave?” he growled uncharacteristically, firmly placing his hand over Trixie’s shoulder before stepping in front of her. The jock scoffed, rearing his fist back, but he stopped in his tracks upon catching a glimpse of the other’s face. A flow of crimson filled Peter’s irises as he snarled, his voice distorting. “Now!”

Taken aback, the jock stumbled back while alternating his gaze about before running away as fast as he could. Trixie blinked, tilting her head to the side. “Woah. I never knew you had such aggression in you, Parker.” The girl paused, unable to contain her smile as she waved a hand over her sweating forehead. “It’s quite… refreshing.”

“Wait. What?” he questioned, pausing as if he was freed from a trance. Peter’s rampant thoughts cleared as he glanced to the side, catching sight of his reflection within the shiny surface of the metallic siding of the bleachers. He quickly threw his hands over his eyes before turning sharply to avoid contact with Trixie. “I-I have to go. Some dirt in my eyes.” Ignoring Trixie’s comments, Peter rushed out of the vicinity with his gaze fixated on the ground. “I’ve gotta get to Doc!”

“Hey, Pete!” a voice called out, causing the young man to skid to a halt.

He turned, cursing inwardly as Sunset approached with a smile. “Ah, crap. Why now?” As if the fates were truly against him, Rainbow and Rarity stood a few feet behind the redhead, fueling Peter’s dismay even further. Keeping his face lowered, Peter held his face up in an attempt to avoid eye contact. “Oh, great. They’re here, too?”

“Are you okay? We haven’t had a chance to talk since the end of the Friendship Games,” Sunset innocently questioned, brushing a hand through her crimson and blonde hair. She paused, blinking as Peter refused to glance in her direction. “What’s going on?”

Peter shook his head furiously, hunching over until he was practically curled in a kneeling position. “N-Nothing. I, uh, tried to shave.”

Rainbow Dash crossed her arms, snorting. “Shave what? His whiskers?” Rarity shushed the girl, raising a finger over her mouth. An awkward silence filled the air as both girls watched the young man remain curled, practically mimicking the defensive mechanism of the lowly turtle. Rainbow pointed, furrowing her brow while sharing a glance with Rarity. “What’s with this guy? I told you that he was weird.”

Sunset, seemingly ignoring her friends, slowly reached out to touch Peter’s shoulder. “Actually, I was hoping we could go for some ice cream later.”

“Don’t touch me!” Peter hissed, swatting Sunset’s hand away as it neared. He twitched violently, taking several steps back. Sunset winced, clutching at her hand while a bruise formed, and Rarity stepped forth, placing her hands over her friend’s shoulders. Out of instinct, Rainbow Dash snarled before stomping towards the young man. However, Peter’s demeanor softened. He glanced to the side shamefully while still shielding his face from everyone’s viewpoint. “I’m sorry! I–”

Dash watched as Peter took off, snapping around the nearest corner at breakneck speed. The girl clenched her hand into a fist, scoffing. “Yeah. You’d better run.” Her eyes widened at a realization before she faced Sunset, eyeing her bruised hand softly. “See? I told you that guy was bad news. We need to get you to the nurse’s office.”

“Rainbow’s right. Come, darling,” Rarity declared, pulling Sunset to her feet before leading her away.

As they walked through the school halls, Sunset bit down on her lip and glanced in the direction Peter ran towards. Wincing, she clutched at her throbbing hand. “Why’d he do that? That wasn’t like him at all.”

Rainbow huffed. “You barely know him. These could just be his true colors.”

“While I am tempted to agree, we have to take into consideration that he associates with one of those sirens,” Rarity whispered, nodding. “Perhaps she’s influencing him.”

Sunset pursed her lips, as if considering the girl’s words. Soon, she narrowed her gaze and nodded. “Either way, I’ll have to find out.”

Meanwhile, Peter frantically sped by those around him until he reached an empty alleyway. A steady beep hummed throughout his ear while the foul aroma of the nearest trash pile rushed through his nostrils and crashed into his brain. Lowering his head, Peter strained to recollect himself before leaning against the nearest wall for support. He could only stagger forth, pausing upon reaching the broken remnants of a glass mirror, and he released a scream upon spotting the sharp protrusions formed in his mouth.

His teeth having grown into fangs, Peter quickened his pace as he ran for sanctuary. “What’s happening to me?!”

To be continued…

Ch. 2: Transfiguration

Chapter Two “Transfiguration”

Like lightning to a rod, a bolt struck inwardly through her chest, and Aria shot up from her bed, releasing labored breaths. Beads of sweat covered the entirety of her body as she held a hand over her eyes, attempting to cease her spinning vision. A cold streak snaked down Aria’s back, causing the girl to shiver involuntarily. Suddenly, a crashing sound erupted before the entire building shook violently, and the tremors coursed through the bedroom, forcing the siren to clutch at the side of her bed until the shaking stopped.

Aria alternated her gaze around slowly, inhaling sharply once a deep roar echoed throughout the vicinity. Blinking, she eventually left the safety of her room and stepped into the hallway. Fortunately, no sign of damage had been detected, as everything remained intact, with the exception of some small objects having fallen from the tremors. However, just before Aria could venture any further, May burst from behind her bedroom door and quickly embraced her.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” the older woman questioned, cupping her face in her hands. She only frowned, deepening her intensive glare. “You look pale.”

Grumbling inwardly, Aria attempted to free herself from May’s grasp and groaned upon failing. “I’m fine. I just felt something…. sharp all of a sudden.”

She narrowed her gaze as she searched for any hints of damage, letting out a relieved sigh upon finding no such thing. Tightening the strap on her nightgown, May bit down on her lip and snapped her line of sight to the remaining room in the house. “Peter! Are you in there?”

Both women blinked upon failing to receive a response, sharing a concerned gaze before walking to Peter’s bedroom. May reached out, ready to knock, but the door eased open, letting out a protesting creak. Aria snapped to a halt, inhaling sharply as she gazed at her surroundings. Peter’s entire room laid in disarray, far more than usual. Many of his smaller possessions were scattered throughout the floor, and what wasn’t buckled down stood disheveled.

May carefully entered the restroom before settling her gaze on the shattered mirror and shards of marble that was once the sink, spread across the floor. A brush of cold air entered the abode and brushed through her thin layer of clothing, causing Aria to shiver involuntarily. May soon mirrored her actions, clutching at the straps of her robe before turning to the source. The curtains whipped calmly, poorly shielding the massive hole in the wall where the window once was. As Aria alternated her gaze between the scattered pieces of glass, stone, and wood, May could only shield her mouth with a hand.

“What happened here?” May questioned, pursing her lips.

Aria took in labored breaths, holding a hand over her forehead in a vain attempt to stop her spinning vision. “I don’t know what happened, but it’s bad. I feel residue in the air. Whatever this was, it’s full of anger, confusion, and fear.”

Her mind screamed as she recollected a thought, snapping May back to reality. “I heard a scream and a roar. Do you think whatever caused this took Peter? Or maybe he’s off fighting it?”

Shaking her head, Aria inhaled deeply before letting out a low sigh. “No. Whatever happened here came from Peter himself. I can still feel him in the middle of all of this.” She walked to the hole in the wall, shuddering involuntarily as traces of vagrant energy seeped into her skin. The girl placed a hand over her forehead. “I just wish I knew what this is.”

May took hold of her phone, pecking at its screen before placing it by her ear. After a few seconds of silence passed, the older woman shook her head. “Either way, Peter’s missing, and he’s not answering his phone. Whatever the case, he may need help.” Dialing again, May narrowed her gaze while easing into the nearest chair in the room. A voice murmured a response on the other side, prompting the woman to nod inwardly. “Hi. I know the timing is terrible, but I need your help with something personal. How soon can you get here?”

Aria pursed her lips and edged closer to the hole in the wall, gazing at the dark sky. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I think I have an idea on who might.” Nodding, Aria stepped over any debris in her path and exited the room. Hastily tossing a jacket over her shoulders, the young girl rushed past May and prepared to exit her home. “This whole situation reeks of trouble. I just hope you’re okay, Pete.”

A chilling breeze circulated through the streets of Canterlot City as most of its residents had retreated into their respective homes for the night. A young couple stood as an exception, walking with their hands laced together as they exited a store. They steadily made their way through the nearest alley, pausing to hold eye contact with each other. However, as their lips were mere inches from connecting, a sound rummaged from behind their position.

The girl stiffened, narrowing her gaze. “What was that?”

“Relax, babe. It’s nothing,” the male stated, placing his hands onto his partner’s waist before pulling her closer. Just as he closed the distance, something shifted behind the dumpster while bumping against the metal container. Blinking, the male stared at the shadow stretching across the alley’s walls, but he shrugged dismissively, chuckling. “See? What’d I tell you? I bet it’s just a dog, going through the trash or something.”

A distorted voice roared, echoing throughout the vicinity. Its rummaging grew in volume, while bits of trash flew from the pile. The male furrowed his brow, stepping towards the commotion, and his eyes widened at a particular sight. Someone sat in a hunched position, their back facing the young couple as they continued to dig through an array of garbage. Blinking, the male eyed the spider insignia on their back with an arched brow.

“Spider-Man?” he questioned, tilting his head to the side. “Why are you digging through the trash?”

The female tugged at her partner’s sleeve as she peeked over his shoulder at the sight. “Are you sure it’s him?” The being continued to scuffle through the garbage, pausing upon finding a bag of fruit before quickly ingesting the lot. Her face twisting in disgust, the girl scoffed. “I guess the rumors were true. He is a freak. Let’s just go.”

The couple shared a nod before taking a step back, but as they turned, the girl’s foot brushed against a small can. As the aluminum object bounced down the alleyway, the being immediately stopped digging through the trash and lifted its head. Releasing a visceral hiss, the creature snapped around and revealed two extra pairs of limbs. Large molars protruded from the sides of his skull, and all six of its crimson eyes narrowed on the couple. Soon, it lumbered as it stood upright and towered over the couple, its spider-like shadow swallowing the entire path. However, tattered remnants of Spider-Man’s costume could be seen over its form.

The male inhaled sharply and held his mouth agape, while his partner screeched at the top of her lungs. Wincing, the fanged creature roared in response, and tremors coursed through the stone walls in the proximity. The couple heeded its warning before running in the opposite direction, both practically tripping over each other in their panic. However, just as they turned around the corner and ran into the street, a patrol vehicle skidded to a halt just a few meters away. The officer driving stepped out and eyed the young adults as they frantically paced in place.

“Is everything okay?” the policeman questioned, raising his hand as he stepped out of the vehicle and approached the couple, “Awful late for you kids to be out.”

Before they could hope to respond, the officer peeked behind their position and inhaled sharply, as a tall bipedal creature lumbered out of the alley with heavy steps. His complexion paled while he frantically reached for his firearm, eventually unclipping it from his holster after what seemed like an eternity. He fired an array of bullets, screaming at the top of his lungs as the couple retreated into the night, but the creature lifted its arm, roaring while the bullets failed to penetrate his furry exoskeleton. The gun’s ammunition had been emptied, evident by the hopeless clicking throughout the alley, and the officer fled the scene, rushing into his vehicle before slamming and locking the door.

“This is Officer-45106. Request immediate backup at Baker’s Drive! Spider-Man has gone rogue! Repeat! Spider-Man has–!” he exclaimed, staggering as the creature stomped towards the vehicle before one of its six arms slammed into the door.

The force of the blow sent the car careening high into the air, until its trajectory ceased upon crashing into the nearest wall. Murmuring, the officer slipped into unconsciousness as he slumped into his seat within the mangled piece of steel. The creature sharply shifted its gaze about, as if making sure nothing else would come to antagonize it. Stomping forth, it paused upon glancing to the side.

It eyed its reflection within the clear surface of a mirror behind the nearest store. A dejected whine escaped from its fanged mouth, all while it shielded its face with an arm shamefully. Suddenly, the being leaped high into the air and landed within the alley. It faded into the darkness, blending into the shadows, and its footsteps grew silent with each motion, until all that was left was silence.

The couple soon emerged from the safety of an array of bushes, with the man holding out a phone before eyeing its screen. Unfortunately, the image was blurred and erratic, only capturing a brief silhouette of the creature, along with a hint of its torn clothing. However, its high-pitched screech and territorial roar could be heard vividly through the device’s speaker. As the girl went to check on the unconscious officer, the male pecked away at his phone.

“It looks like that Jameson guy was right, after all. Spider-Man is a freak and a monster,” she coldly stated, raising a finger once her partner reached her side. “Make sure you send him that picture and get the word out after the police get here. Spider-Man has snapped!”

Slow to respond, the male furrowed her brow. “No way. That thing wasn’t Spider-Man.” His eyes widened, as beads of sweat trickled from his forehead. “That was a Man-Spider!”

“Well, folks. I do not like to toot my own horn, but what else can I say but I told you so,” Jameson coldly declared, staring deeply into the camera. A picture of a dark image appeared on the screen, showing only a silhouette of what appeared to be a six-armed creature with large fangs. “Eye witnesses have spotted what appears to be a giant man-shaped spider roaming throughout the city of Canterlot. While there are no casualties as of yet, one law enforcement officer was injured late last night.”

Huffing, Jameson straightened his posture before removing the thick cigar from the corner of his mouth. “Now, it doesn’t take a genius to realize this, but what creepy crawly has eight legs?”

“An octopus!” a voice eagerly declared from off panel.

His brow twitching, Jameson sat quietly as a bemused expression formed on his face. “Shut up, Jared! The last thing we need is a wacko based on that theme!” After an awkward silence, the older man cleared his throat. “As I was saying, we all know what and who this is. It’s none other than Spider-Man, but he has shown his true colors as the Man-Spider! I warned you that he was a freak, and now that he has removed his mask, we can see him for what he truly is: a freak of nature that needs to be put down, before he hurts someone!”

Suddenly, the screen shifted before transitioning to Diamond Tiara, as she pecked away at her phone intently. “This is just too good to be true! She’s going to be so disappointed!” she giggled mischievously as a dark tint flickered across her eye. Glancing up momentarily, the girl ceased the activity and forced a stoic expression onto her face, after clearing her throat forcefully. “Er, um, we’re all disappointed that it took something like this for you to understand, but it’s okay! Uncle Jay is already eager to enlighten you all until you learn! So, pay attention!”

Waving a finger, Jameson nodded. “It’s quite alright, Diamond. Right now, we need the good people of Canterlot City to heed my warning. Should you see or come into contact with the Man-Spider, do not engage. Stay out of sight and inform the authorities.” An array of text scrolled across the screen as the older man huffed. “There is a manhunt issued for Spider-Man’s arrest and/or capture. They will shoot him on sight, and we do not need any innocents caught in the crosshairs. Stay tuned for more Just the Facts!”

“Hey! You see what I see?” Rainbow Dash questioned, smugly lifting her gaze before holding out her phone towards the rest of her friends.

Rarity narrowed her gaze into the dark image on the screen, grimacing upon glancing at the multiple arms the silhouette bore. “Something profoundly grotesque!”

Pausing, Sunset closed the gap before blinking at the text beneath the image. “Wait. That’s supposed to be Spider-Man?”

Pinkie Pie rose from behind Sunset, shaking her head while pointing a finger at the phone. “It’s Man-Spider, silly. How could you get the two mixed up? He’s way scarier than the other guy!”

Applejack crossed her arms and arched a brow. “He’s been all over the news this morning. I wonder what happened to him? They’re saying he went off the rails and attacked a police officer. Ain’t no one been able to pin him down.”

Rolling her eyes, Rainbow let out a sigh. “I told you we shouldn’t trust that guy.”

Sunset rubbed her bandaged hand along the underside of her chin, humming. “How do we even know it’s him? For all we know, it’s an imposter. You don’t just suddenly grow extra arms.”

Rarity pursed her lips, shuddering. “But he’s wearing the same gaudy outfit. Only one so creepy would bear such a thing.” The girl’s complexion paled. “And those eyes. Ugh!”

Pinkie tilted her head to the side. “Are you okay, Rarity? You’re all blue in the face.”

“It could be magic. Remember, he was there at the Friendship Games, when everything was going down. Maybe he got affected or something came through one of them portals,” Applejack interjected, shrugging.

Snapping her phone shut, Rainbow clenched her hand into a fist before raising it in a determined manner. “Who cares? All I know is that we need to stop him! With our pony-up powers, we can take that thing down easily! Let’s go get Twilight! She can make a doodad that can help us track him! ”

A blank stare surfaced in Applejack’s features as she huffed. “You sound almost too eager about this.”

“I agree!” Rarity exclaimed, her voice cracking as she paced in place, “Why on earth would we want to go anywhere near that monster?!”

Slow to respond, Sunset placed a hand over her chest and nodded. “Rainbow may be right. In any case, whether it’s Spider-Man–”

“Man-Spider!” Pinkie sharply stated, holding a firm glare.

Frowning, Sunset stared at her friend before exhaling. “--or Man-Spider, we have to step in. If it’s magic, the police just may not be prepared for what it can do. We better do something before anyone gets hurt. I say we get together tonight and search the city. Maybe it’ll show itself, if we turn over enough rocks.”

Sobering, Applejack frowned. “I know Twilight wants us to trust him, but we may be forced into a fight if he has truly lost it. Hopefully, this is just a big misunderstanding.”

Rainbow Dash slammed a hand into her fist, cracking the knuckles while smirking. “I personally can’t wait. I was hoping to knock the guy down a peg anyway. Now let’s go find Twilight so we can track bug-boy!” waved a hand dismissively. “Plus, if that doesn’t work, we just need to follow the lead of our animal whisperer, Fluttershy, and we’ll find it in no time!” As if a realization came to mind, the girl blinked dumbly before alternating her gaze about. “Wait a second. Where the heck is Fluttershy?”

“Where in the blazes is Parker?!” Trixie exclaimed, gripping the papers in her grasp until they crumbled. “If Trixie fails this assignment because he doesn’t want to return her calls, Trixie swears that she will hunt him down and gut him like a fish!”

Snips looked to the side, sharing a glance with his shorter compatriot. “She’s angrier than usual.”

Snails placed his hands over his hips, stammering. “It’s because Parker’s been blowing her off all week. You know how she hates being ignored.”

Gritting her teeth, the girl reared over until she towered over the pair. “Why are you two still here?!” She pointed behind them, her complexion darkening. “Find him!”

Aria watched as Snips and Snails stumbled about, bumping into each other before eventually racing off. Standing from her seat, Aria walked past Trixie while pulling her hood over her head. “I’ll be back. Got something to do.”

“If you see Parker, tell him that Trixie intends to kill him!” Trixie growled, inhaling deeply before sighing. “...and that Trixie misses his stupid face.”

The latter of Trixie’s statement was whispered beneath the hint of a whisper. Blinking as a sensation slivered into the siren, Aria could only shiver involuntarily before smirking knowingly. Shrugging dismissively, Aria soon dismissed the notion and simply walked through the courtyard with a firm expression. The girl kept her head lowered, ensuring that her hood concealed the majority of her face as she walked aggressively towards her destination. After what seemed like an eternity, she soon reached a building, and the girl knocked at its door, not ceasing until it opened. A man peeked his head out, staring at his guest behind a large pair of shades.

Straightening his eyewear, the man mumbled under his breath groggily. “Can I help you, young lady? I’m very busy and can’t be interrupted.”

“Well, make time! My friend’s in trouble, and I know he’s been seeing you a lot lately!” Aria exclaimed, slamming her hand against the side of the door. “You’re Doctor Octavious, right?”

Peering his gaze over the spectacles, the man blinked while holding his gaze steadily on the girl. “Purple hair. Abrasive. Ah, you are Miss Aria. Mr. Parker has told me a lot about you. Girls of violet tones seem to be quite aggressive with him.” His eyes widened once a realization came into mind. “Wait. You said your friend was in trouble. Did you mean Parker?”

Sobering, Aria glanced to the side and scanned her surroundings. “Look, I know that you know about his… secret. He’s told me that you help him a lot.” Once certain they were truly alone, Aria edged closer to Octavious. “I heard something last night, and it didn’t sound… human. Peter’s disappeared, and I’m worried. I don’t know if you’ve seen the news, but…”

Octavious inhaled sharply, grabbing Aria by the shoulder. “Inside. Now.”

Once the pair retreated inside the building, a young girl emerged from the shadows before raising the watch on her wrist near her mouth. “Special Agent Sweetie Drops reporting to SHIELD.” A small holographic image of Spider-Man materialized into existence, projecting from the girl’s device. “Still no sign of Unit-616-1962. We believe his mutation has evolved based on speculation and will attempt to contain the situation with minimum collateral… Assemble the Strike Team. We will take him down once he emerges again.”

To be continued…

Ch. 3: "Primalism and Territorialism"

Chapter Three “Primalism and Territorialism”

Amidst the school grounds, Flash Thompson sat with a somber gaze as he eyed the phone in his grasp. A dark silhouette of Spider-Man sat at its center, alongside a sketch of an intangible being with six arms, and underneath was a headline labeled, More Spider Than Man: Canterlot Entangled in its Web. Suddenly, a pair of slim arms snaked around Flash’s neck from behind his position, freeing the young man from his self-induced trance. He looked to the side, sharing a glance with a pair of violet irises and bright yet fair skin.

“Hi, Flash! Are you ignoring my calls? I’m hurt,” the girl stated in a mocking tone, brushing a hand through her poofy, orange hair.

As if on instinct, Flash slid his thumb over the screen until it dissipated to a black tone. “Sorry, Adagio. It wasn’t on purpose,” he murmured, clearing his throat. He glanced to the side, frowning, “There’s just a lot going on right now.”

“You poor thing. You’re bothered by this news about Spider-Man. It’s practically written all over your face,” Adagio whispered, caressing Flash’s shoulder. A small trace of clear and sparkling energy emitted from Flash’s body, prompting Adagio to motion her hand, and the essence snaked its way into the siren’s arm, earning a small smirk in return. Afterwards, she waved a hand dismissively. “I still don’t understand your fascination with Spider-Man. Shouldn’t this just prove that he’s a menace?”

Shaking his head, Flash narrowed his gaze. “There’s no way it’s him! I’m telling you. Spider-Man’s one of the good guys. That dumb podcast is always looking to blame him for something.” Standing from his seat, Flash straightened his jacket and turned to depart. “I’ll catch you later.”

Once the young man had stepped out of hearing range, Adagio’s expression darkened as her mouth fell into a frown. “I still don’t know what you see in him, Eugene, but I hope he drowns in negativity.”

Meanwhile, as Flash continued to traverse towards his class, he momentarily paused upon reaching the end of the hallway. Huffing, the young man could only gaze somberly at the ground. However, he snapped free from his self-induced trance once something lightly tugged at his jacket sleeve. Yet, his demeanor softened, evident by his lowered shoulders, once he recognized the hint of pink hair and large blue eyes of the meek individual.

“Oh. Hey, Fluttershy!” he cheered, gesturing a wave, “What’s up?”

The girl smiled in response, nodding as she gripped the straps of her backpack. “I’m fine, Eugene. Thanks for asking,” Alternating her gaze, Fluttershy’s eyes softened, “Have you heard the news about Spider-Man?”

“Hey. We both know it isn’t actually Spider-Man. This is just another of Jameson’s lies,” Flash reaffirmed, causing Fluttershy to blink in response. After an awkward amount of silence, the young man cleared his throat. “Sorry. It’s just that everyone’s too quick to believe Jameson, and I just know that Spider-Man would never willingly turn into a bad guy.”

The corner of Fluttershy’s lips curled into a smile before she patted Flash’s forearm reassuringly. “You’re right, Flash. I know Spider-Man is a nice person. Thank you for still believing in him.”

Stammering, Flash forcefully cleared his throat and waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t sweat it, but we’re going to have an emergency S.A.M.S Club meeting tomorrow. We’ve gotta make sure nobody’s buying the garbage rumors.”

As if a realization came to mind, Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “Oh, Eugene. I almost forgot. I wanted to ask if you’ve seen Peter today? I was really hoping I could talk with him about something important.”

“Peter? Oh. Puny Parker! Nah. I haven’t seen that dweeb in a couple of days,” Flash declared, blinking before chuckling at a thought, “I’ll have to get acquainted with him soon.”

Frowning, Fluttershy shook her head. “Eugene, that’s not nice. Why would you want to be mean to him?”

Sobering, Flash crossed his arms and huffed. “I’ve known him since we were in kindergarten. The guy’s a total flake. He acts all high and mighty.” As if catching himself, the young man inhaled deeply before letting out a low sigh. Just as he turned to leave, his gaze narrowed, “Trust me. He’ll just let you down. You give Parker anything, and you won’t get anything back for it.”

Fluttershy placed a hand over her chest, watching quietly as Flash departed from the area. Her gaze fell to the ground, as if she considered his words. However, a hand fell over her shoulder, causing the girl to let out a squeak and send her thoughts into a frenzy. Fortunately, her mind (and rapidly beating heart) settled once her gaze met a familiar tint of rose.

Oblivious, Rainbow Dash gently spun the girl around. “Where have you been, Fluttershy?” Shrugging before a response could even be muttered, Dash furrowed her brow and raised a finger, “Anyway, Twilight’s on her way to meet us. We’ve got something big planned for tonight!”

“Um, like what?” Fluttershy asked, tilting her head to the side.

The corner of Dash’s mouth curled into a coy smirk. “We’re going to catch Spider-Man before he causes any more trouble!” Just as Fluttershy meekly opened her mouth to potentially protest the idea, Rainbow Dash grabbed the girl by her forearm and led her away hastily. “Let’s go!”

Aria furrowed her brow as she followed Doctor Octavious’s movements as he paced throughout the laboratory. Documents were spread and piled throughout the entire room, some pages scattered across the floor. The older man inhaled deeply before sighing, reaching for the coffee machine as fumes escaped from its opening. Aria blinked, spotting the bags underneath the man’s eyes as he steadily ingested the brewed material.

“Miss Aria, correct?” Octavious whispered, shifting his attention to a pair of vials. All lightness left his voice before he straightened the shades over his eyes. “What happened?”

Shaking her head, Aria could only shrug. “I don’t know. I remember hearing him stumbling last night. I’ve noticed it’s kind of his thing, so I just went back to sleep like usual.” She paused, clutching at the burning sensation. “But something happened. There was a really loud crash in the middle of the night. I even heard a roar. Like, a really loud one. When we checked Peter’s room, there was nothing but a massive hole in the wall. I figured something either dragged him off, or–”

Octavious slammed his hands into the table, cursing under his breath as the girl jumped involuntarily from his response. “Damn it! His mutation has progressed far faster than I expected. I estimated that I still had a couple of extra days, but his metamorphosis has triggered.” He glanced to the side, eyeing the young girl from the corner of his eye. “So, the reports are true. This Man-Spider is indeed Peter and not pure speculation.”

Aria frowned. “Peter’s been coming to you a lot lately, so you know what’s going on. Explain. Did YOU cause this to happen?”

“Straight to the point. I can respect that,” Octavious retorted, turning back the dial before sorting through an array of tools within the desk, “Long story short, no. Peter’s mutation comes from the spider that bit him, long before we even met. While he survived the initial metamorphosis, I fear he has entered the second stage of transfiguration, and his DNA is being rewritten further. He is losing the human side of his genetic makeup, and the spider is beginning to take over completely. At this rate, we have maybe a few hours before Peter’s mind completely deteriorates, and he loses his humanity to the animalistic portion of his brain.”

Stepping forth, Aria threw her hands to the side. “A few– A few hours?! Is there anything you can do?!”

Nodding, Octavious managed a small smile. “Well, the good news is that I worked tirelessly and managed to formulate a cure. The suggestive agent will dial back the mutation and give the human portion of his DNA priority over the spider genes while allowing him to keep the enhancements without the physical… anomalies.”

Blinking, Aria’s expression grew blank. “Okay. I know too good to be true when I see it, but Peter trusts you. Guess I have to, also. So, what’s the bad news?”

Letting out a low sigh, a dark glint flickered across the man’s shades as he retrieved a fully loaded syringe from the desk. “Unfortunately, the dosage has to be administered through a direct injection. And considering the damage our friend is already causing, I’m not sure how to go about attempting such a feat.”

“Are you *&%^ing kidding me?!” Aria blurted out, clutching the item. Her anger soon shifted to exasperation, evident by her bemused expression. “Then, just make a bigger dosage!”

Otto shook his head, pausing to rub at his sore eyes. “Trust me, Miss, I’ve tried, with what little time I’ve been given. I’ve missed out on two days’ worth of sleep, and Peter’s acceleration has forced me to increase my efforts. That dosage was all I could conjure with the circumstances.”

Rolling her eyes, Aria exhaled. “Ugh! Of course. Things are never easy. Fine.” Grumbling under her breath, Aria reached out and placed her hand over the syringe. “There’s an annoying group of girls that have… special abilities. I can ask them to help me give Spider-Man the cure.”

“Ah, yes. Young Twilight and her friends. Please. Practice caution and keep Peter’s secret in mind. They are not partially fond of him or his alter-ego,” Octavious whispered, gently placing his free hand over Aria’s. “This has to be fully administered. Any less, and the spider’s genetics will overpower the sedative. You have only one chance at this, and time is not on your side.”

As if considering the man’s words, Aria bit down on her lip and nodded. Her stoic demeanor softened, evident by her warm gaze. “Thank you. We’ll make sure to get Peter the help he needs.” Sealing the syringe away in a small pouch, Aria placed the item in her jacket pocket before turning to take her leave. “I just hope whoever May called can actually help.”

Octavious watched as the girl left the room, letting out a somber sigh as he slumped back into his seat. “I know your mind is still intact, Peter. It’s the only reason you haven’t hurt anyone directly yet.” His demeanor stiffened, evident by his straightened shoulders, and the older man removed his shades, staring intently at the ceiling, “I can only pray that you aren’t antagonized before the cure is administered.”

Wind steadily blew across the vicinity, rustling through the leaves of the park trees. While the sun steadily set, Man-Spider sat deep in thought, keeping his eyes fixated on its image within the reflection of the pond’s surface. A defeated whine escaped from its mouth as it rubbed a hand over its face. However, it twitched to the side, weaving out of the flight path of a blue laser as it sliced through the nearest tree.

Man-Spider unleashed a roar in response, leaping high into the sky while more lasers shot into the place where it previously stood. Several SHIELD agents rushed into the vicinity and eyed the creature, keeping their weapons drawn, but once the creature vanished into the wilderness, they eased into position. Soon, Sweetie Drops walked past the men, with her gaze locked on the device over her wrist. Meanwhile, nearly a dozen heavily armored agents flanked the young girl, all holding their silence, as if waiting for the next order.

“B-Team, it's heading for your position! Remember to shoot on sight!” Sweetie Drops exclaimed while pressing a small button on her headpiece. She motioned her hand forward, prompting the surrounding agents to march ahead. “We’re following the target’s path and will flank it while you engage.”

“Copy that, Ma’am! We are engaging the target. Attempting to neutralize– Ah!” a voice cried out, screaming at the top of their lungs as laser-fire echoed throughout the forest. Sweetie Drops and her squadron ceased all movement, lifting their gazes. The screams of the compatriots echoed throughout their headsets, reaching the skies. Amidst the chaos, a high-pitched screech could be heard above it all. For several seconds, the sound of laser fire lessened, as each individual scream grew silent. Erratic panting was all that was left within their headsets, followed only by thunderous footsteps. “Nooooooo—!”

Feedback and static buzzed throughout everyone’s ears before falling deathly silent. Sweetie Drops bit down on her lip, shaking her head. A bead of sweat trailed down the side of her forehead, and the surrounding agents alternated their gazes with each other, all while stammering.

One agent approached the girl, clutching at his firearm tightly. “Ma’am? Perhaps we should wait for Commander Fury’s lead? We’re walking in blind, and Unit 616-1962 just wiped out the Bravo team.”

The girl’s eyes widened at the comment before her expression sharply shifted from concern to anger, evident by the glare she bore. “Are you questioning my authority?” she growled, walking up to the taller male until they were inches apart. In spite of their evident differences in height, the agent avoided eye contact with Sweetie Drops as she glared at him. “Commander Fury left me in charge during his absence, and I will not report back to him a failure because we failed to apprehend some out-of-control, hotshot rookie! Is that understood?!”

“Yes, Ma’am!” the agent exclaimed, straightening his posture.

Nodding, Sweetie Drops frowned. “Set your lasers from ‘stun’ to ‘kill’! That thing does not leave this forest standing!” She pointed in the direction the other squadron took before taking a firearm into her possession, “Now, move out!”

Just as everyone readied to follow the girl’s order, a pair of squadmates were swiftly pulled into the shadows and vanished into the nearest shrubbery. Just as everyone took aim, the same instance occurred across from their position with a pair of guards. Sweetie Drops could only inhale sharply as a blur rushed past her in a flash, snatching away another agent while leaving only a brief gust of wind in its wake. Suddenly, another guard was jettisoned into the air before a ball of webbing struck him, enveloping his entire body in a cocoon once he struck the nearest branch of a tree. All within the span of a few seconds, half of the squadron had been apprehended.

“Oh, my God…” Sweetie Drops whispered, her eyes wide and mouth agape.

The world slowed to a halt once a massive being plummeted from the sky, landing mere inches away from Sweetie Drops. Tremors rushed throughout the ground, causing the surrounding soldiers to lose their footing. As they stumbled, Man-Spider stood upright with all six of its arms stretched out before unleashing a deep roar that generated a shockwave. The surrounding agents clutched at their ears, dropping further into kneeling stances as the creature’s roar grew in pitch. Afterwards, leaves from the trees fell, while some of the agents readied their weapons.

Sweetie Drops slowly fell to her knees, falling into a blank trance once the creature vanished from sight, leaving a light image. Nearly in an instant, Man-Spider appeared behind a pair of the squad members before throwing a wild swipe. The blow sent them careening across the vicinity, until they crashed into the earth with a crack. Everyone else screamed, firing their laser weapons, but leaves whipped by where Man-Spider previously stood, leaving the projectiles to strike only the grass.

“Where did it go–Ack?!” one cried out, nearly choking on his own words as a massive claw wrapped around his neck.

Man-Spider hissed, heaving the agent into a pair of his compatriots. Sweetie Drops trembled fiercely as the last of her comrades screamed at the top of their lungs, dropping their weapon before turning to retreat. However, the creature twitched one of its arms before unleashing a strand of webbing, latching it onto the agent’s back. The force of the gossamer struck the man with enough force to send his body violently into a tree, causing it to quake upon impact.

Man-Spider shifted its head about, analyzing its surroundings. Once certain all threats had been dealt with, it turned to face the lone girl in the vicinity. Sweetie Drop’s breathing grew erratic as the creature stomped towards her. A low growl bellowed from its fanged features, while all six of its eyes seemingly furrowed. A low silence filled the air, leaving Sweetie to hear only the thumping of her heart. Unfortunately, Man-Spider’s claw swiftly reached out and covered the entirety of her face. The girl could only let out a deafening scream potent enough for a city to hear, ultimately to no avail, while her world faded to black.

Aria stopped in her tracks just as she reached the door to her home, inhaling sharply as a cold sensation rushed through the center of her chest. An overwhelming sense of trepidation took hold, evident by the siren’s widened gaze and sweat dripping from her forehead. Biting down onto her lip, Aria shook her head furiously in a desperate attempt to free her mind. She soon opened the door, letting out a relieved sigh upon meeting a welcoming gaze from May.

“Good news, May. I’ve got something that can help,” Aria declared, retrieving the pouch from her pocket. Yet, she paused upon noticing a figure kneeling in front of the hole in Peter’s bedroom. Blinking, Aria furrowed her brow. “Who is that?”

The individual soon turned to the side, glancing from the corner of his eye. “Hey, kid.”

Aria stared intently at the man, sighing upon recognizing his muscular stature and grizzled facade. “Oh, it’s you. Uh, Honey Badger or whatever.”

Logan blinked, his brow twitching at the name. “It’s Wolverine, but stick with Logan.” He paused, raising a finger. “Did the runt tell you that was my name?” Once the girl weakly nodded, the older man grumbled under his breath. “Little troll… I’m going to kill him.”

Shifting her gaze, Aria pursed her lips once making eye contact with May. “You actually got his number?” A realization struck her mind like lightning to a rod as the corner of her lips curled into a knowing smirk. “That explains the late night calls.”

Flustered, May frowned while a faint blush filled her cheeks. “Shush, child.” Sobering, the woman dismissed the thought and placed a hand over her chest. “You said you had something that could help Peter?”

“Yeah. It turns out that Octavious guy that Peter works with knew this was coming and created a serum that can return him to normal,” Aria stated, holding out the pouch. Before she could respond further, Logan took the item from her possession and stole a glance at the syringe within. Simply nodding, as if willingly surrendering the object, Aria crossed her arms. “That’s the only dosage we’ve got, and you have maybe a couple of hours left to give it to him, so please don’t waste it. I trust you more with this than those magical girls.”

Logan nodded, sliding the pouch into his jacket pocket. “I’ll handle it. Thanks, kid. Just wait here while I…”

The man ceased all motion, glancing to the side. Aria and May watched him with narrowed gazes, tilting their heads respectively once he sniffed the air. A loud snikt echoed throughout the home as Wolverine unsheathed his claws, causing both women to yelp involuntarily. Logan’s eyes widened before he sharply turned with his claws raised, narrowly deflecting a spear mere inches away from his face. The weapon ricocheted from the adamantium, spinning until it embedded into the wall. In the distance, a silhouette of a man stood in the shadows.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Wolverine snarled, lowering his body into a defensive stance.

A burst of laughter escaped from the shadows as a bearded man stepped forth, bearing a tribal necklace with teeth and pearls. He also wore an open vest with a lion’s face etched onto it with a mane-like material draped over his shoulders, all while revealing his muscular physique. Wielding both a machete and spear, the man garbed in what appeared to be hunter’s attire smiled widely.

“Same as you, Wolverine!” he boasted, clutching at his weapons tightly, “I am here to indulge… in the hunt!”

To be continued

Ch. 4: "Fight or Flight"

Chapter Four “Fight or Flight”

The air within the vicinity grew thin, making the simple act of breathing difficult, but both men stood their ground, never averting their gazes from each other. Wolverine snarled, keeping his claws raised as he clenched his fists tightly. Meanwhile, the other man simply smirked before placing his hands over his hips. Aria and May could only alternate their bewildered gazes between both men, as if waiting for one to make the first move.

“It has been some time, Wolverine,” the man chuckled, brushing a hand over his chin. “I believe our last encounter was in the mountains of the Savage Land?”

Aria blinked, furrowing her brow. “Who is this guy?”

The man leapt from his perched position, landing perfectly upright mere feet away from the women. “Pardon my manners, little one. My name is Sergei Kravenoff,” he stated, pausing once Logan stepped between him and Aria with his claws raised. Huffing, the individual held his smirk. “The world knows me as Kraven, the World’s Greatest Hunter!”

“Greatest or not, he’s a scumbag who hunts for sport,” Logan snorted, catching sight of May from the corner of his eye as she feverishly shook her head. Wolverine exhaled while his claws slowly and reluctantly retracted back into his knuckles before he shifted his sharpened gaze towards the burly man. “What are you doing here, Kraven?”

Kraven scoffed, narrowing his gaze as he pulled a hanging thread from the surrounding debris. “Same as you, I suppose. I am hunting the Spider.”

Logan frowned, arching a brow. “Why? This ain’t your turf. You on another one of your escapades or is this for a client? We know your services don’t come cheap.”

“While my services are well worth the price, I have my own reasons for being here,” Kraven declared, lifting his gaze momentarily. He clutched his blade, picking at its tip. “Spiders are near-perfect apex predators, and I wish to prove myself superior against such a magnificent foe.”

Scoffing, Logan shook his head. “You’re as weird as ever, but I don’t care what you do in your spare time. Spider-Man ain’t himself. He’s going to take over the whole city if I don’t give him the cure.”

Sobering, Kraven huffed. “Mutation? That explains the shift in behavior from my intel, but why would I want to cure him? As he is, it might prove to be the greatest hunt!” Slow to respond, the man stared intently at Wolverine with a glare. “I’m more curious as to why a lone wolf such as yourself is involved? Is this one of your fellow X-Men, or is this a personal endeavor?”

“Doesn’t really matter,” Aria interjected, staggering in place as clear energy emitted from Logan and spiraled into her body. The girl shook her head before leaning against the nearest wall for support. “You both clearly know what you’re doing. How about you both track him and settle your beef after you return him to normal? Besides…” she trailed off, shifting her attention to Kraven. “What would you rather hunt? A wild animal or something that can really think?”

His eyes widening at the comment, Kraven soon nodded. “You make sense, little one. There is a greater challenge in one that can match your wit than one that relies solely on instinct.” Slow to respond further, the man returned his machete to its scabbard. “If he is not himself, then we must return him to normal. Do we have a time table?”

“A couple of hours at best, but what’s in it for you?” Logan questioned, closing the gap. Once mere inches apart, Wolverine peered up at the man, in spite of their height differences, with a snarl. “You’re the type that plays the long game, and I know how deep you’ll take it. I’m not going to stand around and let you play your game with Spider-Man.”

A light chuckle escaped from Kraven as he clutched his spear. “You flatter me, Logan, but I assure you this. I will help you return Spider-Man to normal, but I will have my hunt in the near future. I promise you that.”

Aria pointed a thumb behind the men, scoffing. “Geez. Just kiss already. If not, stop flirting and get going! You don’t have much time, and the sooner you catch that thing, the sooner I can go back to sleep.”

Smirking still, Kraven nodded before facing Logan. “You heard the little one, Wolverine. Let us track the Spider.” Turning to the side, the man spun the weapon in hand before aiming its pointed tip to the distance. Before anyone could respond, Kraven leapt from his position and vanished into the shadows. “I shall scout ahead. Try not to fall behind.”

Once certain he had exited the vicinity entirely, Wolverine inhaled deeply before grumbling under his breath. “I really hate that guy.”

May approached with a furrowed brow, holding a hand over her chest. “Do you know each other? Is he really as good as he says he is?”

“More or less. We’ve had a few run-ins over the years,” Logan calmly replied, frowning while crossing his arms, “Kraven talks a big game, but he backs it up. I hate to say it, but if anyone can help me catch the kid, it’s him.”

Humming, Aria edged closer to Logan before collapsing onto the nearest sofa. “You said he hunts for sport. Is that why you don’t like him? Didn’t think you were the nature-loving type,” Snorting involuntarily, the girl closed her eyes as she slipped into unconsciousness, “I don’t know what you’ve been through, but you should see a… therapist.”

Just as Logan readied to respond, Aria’s head drooped and soft snores escaped from her opened mouth. The man blinked at this spectacle, facing the older woman, “What’s the kid's deal again?”

“She’s an empath that feeds on negative emotions. It’s… complicated,” May whispered, pursing her lips.

Huffing, Logan waved a hand dismissively. “Feeding on me? Kid’s going to bite off more than she can chew. No one should feel what I’ve gone through,” Pausing, the man scratched the back of his head, “I can’t even remember half the %^&* I’ve been through anyway.”

Raising a finger, May’s eyes filled with concern. “What aren’t you telling me? Do I have to worry about you, too?”

Shaking his head, Logan forced a smile. “No way, doll. I’ll manage. I’m used to it. You sure the girl will be okay?”

Pushing her thoughts to the side, May nodded. “Aria will be fine. I’m more worried about the idea that this crazed man’s planning to hunt Peter after all of this. Why would he want to do that? What would he gain? Can you trust him?”

Logan could only shrug, sighing. “On all counts, I don’t know, but I do know Kraven does have a sense of honor, even if he has a few screws loose. He’ll keep his word and help the kid. Today. That’s all we need to focus on for now. We’ll worry about the rest later.”

Her gaze lowered briefly before she nodded. “Okay. Be careful. Bring my boy back.”

Managing a smile, Logan nodded before jumping from the building and landing onto the street. The man sniffed the air, taking in the scents of the city, until one in particular triggered a sense of familiarity. Turning, Wolverine ensured the pouch was secured in his jacket pocket while lowering into a feral stance. Once certain, he sped off into a sprint and followed the wild scent.

“Sorry, May. I’ll do what I can,” Logan muttered, quickening the pace, “but I might have to put the kid down if this doesn’t work out.”

A chilling breeze coursed through the vicinity, ruffling through the trees of the park. The sun had long set, allowing the full moon to shine brightly amidst the star-patterned sky. Most of the Rainbooms stood at the entrance, conversing while Fluttershy knelt before a trio of squirrels. The girl nodded as they squeaked feverishly, alternating their gazes between her and towards the park. Suddenly, Twilight jogged into the area with Spike by her side, gesturing a wave before pausing to recollect her breath.

Rainbow smirked, placing a hand over her hip smugly. “You sure took your sweet time. Everything okay?”

Twilight weakly nodded in between bated breaths, raising a finger. “Y-Yes. I’m fine. It just took a bit of time to make some adjustments.” She trailed off, finally managing to straighten her posture while reaching into her purse. Slowly but surely, the girl took hold of a small circular device that emitted a neon light and bore a star-shaped insignia. “We can use this to track Spider-Man, and…”

Before she could continue, Sunset’s eyes widened upon recognizing the device. “Twilight! Don’t tell me you fixed the spectrometer?!” she exclaimed, prompting the others to step back instinctively. Yet, Sunset closed the gap between herself and Twilight with a narrowed gaze before pursing her lips. “Don’t you remember what happened the last time at the Friendship Games?”

Her eyes softening at Sunset’s firm yet defensive tone, Twilight clutched the item while shaking her head. “I know! Just please let me explain. I never told you all why I created the spectrometer in the first place.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, she tapped a finger against its metallic surface. “I invented it to track Spider-Man before I met all of you.”

Applejack tilted her head to the side. “Really? Why’s that?”

“I thought he was responsible for the city’s sudden spike in energy lately. After seeing the way he uses his gift so carelessly, I wanted to put a stop to it… or at least study him and see how his abilities work,” Twilight muttered, frowning as she used her free hand to rub at her chin aggressively. Once all of her friends held bewildered gazes in her direction, Twilight cleared her throat. “Anyway, I was following his signature before I stumbled upon your portal. You all know the rest.”

“How on earth did you get the two mixed up?” Rarity questioned, tapping a finger against her forearm.

Blinking, Twilight hummed while eyeing the device in her grasp. “I can’t explain it, but Spider-Man gives off an electromagnetic signal, very similar to the, um… magical energy you all release when you pony up.” A dark glint flickered across her violet gaze as it deepened into a glare. “I can’t tell if it’s magic or something else, but that’s part of the reason why I was so determined to learn the truth during the games.”

Fluttershy quietly glanced at everyone from the corner of her eye after easing the squirrels away. “Um…”

Meanwhile, Sunset crossed her arms and huffed. “So, what’s different this time?”

Twilight managed a smile, pointing at the top of the device as it blinked. “I simply removed some components. Now, the spectrometer is simply meant to track anomalies, not absorb them. Plus, I’ve managed to isolate Spider-Man’s signature, because of how much stronger it is than usual.” She nodded, fidgeting in place. “So, you all can transform without any danger. The last thing I want is to hurt you all again.”

Taken aback, Sunset’s demeanor softened before she placed a hand over her friend’s shoulder. “I know. I’m sorry that I was so hard on you. I’m just a little on edge.” A low growl escaped from Spike as he glared intently towards the park, causing Sunset to glance in his direction with an arched brow. “Looks like I’m not the only one.”

Exhaling, Twilight alternated her line of sight between the dog and redhead. “I know. Spike’s been like this for the past couple of days. He won’t even talk to me about it.”

“I don’t blame him one bit!” Rarity interjected, waving a hand by her burning forehead. She paced in place, shrieking briefly at the sounds of leaves ruffling from the wind. Releasing a dejected sigh, Rarity whined under her breath while her already pale complexion grew even colder, as evident by her blue cheeks.”Must we do this? I simply detest spiders, and we’re looking for a giant one? I can think of twenty million things I’d rather be doing than this!”

Applejack stepped forth, huffing. “Come on now, Rarity. We all agreed that this had to be done. There’s no telling what kind of damage that Spider fella might cause if we don’t put a stop to it.”

Smirking, Rainbow Dash stretched her arms high overhead. “I can’t be the only one who wants to bring him down a peg?” The girl jogged and jumped in place, warming her muscles up as she continued to stretch her limbs. “Other Twilight says he’s not a bad guy, but he sure isn’t doing much to prove her right. Besides, we’re way better heroes, and we’ll prove it tonight!”

“How do we go about doing that exactly?” Sunset lightly asked as her expression fell to bemusement.

Lifting a finger before waving it, Rainbow snorted. “Simple. We pony up, kick Spider-Man’s butt, drag him back to Canterlot, and we go back to school as heroes.”

“Just like that?” Applejack groaned, shaking her head.

Oblivious, Rainbow Dash’s smirk grew even wider. “Just like that!”

Crossing her arms, Applejack grumbled under her breath as she rolled her eyes. “...and I didn’t think your ego could get any bigger.”

“Um, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Fluttershy stated, slowly pushing herself to a standing position. Holding her hands together, the girl managed to hold her gaze upward. “Most spiders prefer solitude, and I’m afraid we’re just going to upset him if we’re aggressive, especially if he’s a wolf spider.”

Pinkie seemingly emerged from nowhere, appearing behind Fluttershy with a widened gaze. “What do you mean?”

Sharing a glance while undeterred, Fluttershy pointed at the milky orb amidst the star-patterned sky. “Wolf spiders are nocturnal and like to roam alone on the ground, but they’ll climb trees to stay safe if they have to.” Sobering, the girl fixed her attention to the locale by their position. “I think that’s why he chose the park. It’s the safest and quietest place in the city. We should just leave him alone.”

“So, we just let him have the park all to himself? No way!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, shaking her head defiantly. Blinking, the girl edged closer to her meek comrade with an arched brow. “What’s with you? I’d expect you to be more eager to save a wild animal.”

“He’s not a wild animal!” Fluttershy firmly stated, narrowing her gaze. Taken aback by her uncharacteristic outburst, everyone stared in her direction, and Fluttershy brushed at her forearm, glancing to the side. “Spiders are misunderstood creatures.You don’t need to hurt him.”

Sunset calmly raised her hand, stepping between both girls. “I understand where you’re coming from, Fluttershy, but we can’t just abandon the park. If this is magical, we’re the only ones who can return him to normal.” Just as the pink-haired girl hesitantly nodded, glancing to the side afterward, Sunset approached the entrance to the park while gripping the straps of her backpack. “Okay, Twilight. Lead the way.”

Twilight eagerly nodded, pausing to straighten her glasses before holding out the spectrometer. Its center glowed while its outer edges pointed in a direction, prompting the purple-haired girl to head in that way. Everyone soon followed, staying close together. However, Fluttershy stood still momentarily as her gaze softened. She could only let out a low sigh before hesitantly following her compatriots. Just as the girl entered the park, a small thread of silk fell from the gate as a dark silhouette watched from a distance.

Slowly but surely, the girls managed to transverse near the center of the park, after what felt like an eternity. Sunset and Applejack held out their flashlights, aiming the beams towards the upper sanctums of the trees. Rarity shifted her gaze about wildly, all while attempting to pace her quickening breaths, and Pinkie hummed, never averting her line of sight from nothing in particular. Soon, Twilight slowed to halt as the spectrometer began to flash repeatedly.

“Is it close?” Rainbow questioned, narrowing her gaze.

Frowning, Twilight’s brow lowered. “I’m not sure. Its signal suddenly just spiked.”

“I might have an idea,” Applejack whispered, stepping to the side. Suddenly, the blonde held her flashlight, holding its beam onto several thick strands of gossamer stuck near the top of a nearby tree. All of the lines led to a pack of bushes, prompting Sunset to open the shrubbery, but she staggered back upon spotting several webbed cocoons gathered about, each harboring an individual. All groaned, remaining unconscious. Applejack winced. “Looks like our boy’s been busy. Question is, are these snacks for later, or is this instinct taking over?”

Rainbow stepped closer, gripping the silk around one of the cocoons before pulling at it. “Who cares?! Come on! We have to free them!” The girl strained with all of her might to no avail, the webbing proving steadfast. After several seconds, Rainbow exhaled before relinquishing her hold. “Man. What’s this stuff made of?”

Fluttershy’s eyes softened as she shook her head. “Um, spider silk is very strong. Any spider’s webbing is five times stronger than steel, but if this is a Darwin bark spider, then its silk will be twice as strong.”

Pausing, Twilight’s eyes widened at the comment. “Are you truly suggesting that this silk is ten times stronger than steel in spite of how soft the material appears?” Twilight mumbled, retrieving a journal and pen from her back pocket before frantically etching notes onto a page. “ Fascinating. I imagine if the silk is thicker and larger in scale, then its strength and density would increase further.”

Shivering involuntarily, Rarity openly gagged. “I’m glad you two are taking the opportunity to make this detestable experience educational.”

Rainbow paused, staring at some of the threads as they were stuck fast to her hands. “Ugh! Gross! This stuff is sticky.” She frantically shook her hands, unable to free the material initially, but her body soon glowed, prompting a tail, ears, and wings to materialize into existence over her frame. Rainbow took flight, stretching the threads until they snapped, and the girl smiled, nodding triumphantly. “Guess I’m stronger than steel, baby!”

“Now hold on there, Hercules. That was just a few strings. I doubt you’re breaking free if you were tangled in the stuff,” Applejack quietly stated, pausing as magical energy enveloped her body as well. Soon, her blonde hair increased in length while a tail took shape. Soon, she knelt before a cocoon and gripped the webbing near its head, ripping it free. However, Applejack inhaled sharply at the hint of lavender and pink, eyeing the unconscious female’s features underneath. “Hold on! This is Bon-Bon.”

Blinking, Rarity sped forth with a furrowed brow. “Bon-Bon from school? What’s she doing here?”

Oblivious, Pinkie raised a finger. “Maybe she was– Eep!”

Rainbow Dash simply huffed, shaking her head as she landed back on the ground. “Maybe she was what? I can’t wait to hear this.” Everyone waited for a response, but it never came, prompting Rainbow to turn in an attempt to locate her sporadic ally. “Pinkie?” she questioned, shifting her gaze wildly, “Pinkie!”

Soon, a dark silhouette sped through the bushes in a blur. Powerful gusts of wind caused the leaves to shuffle loudly from the trees as its movements grew increasingly frantic. Each of the girls searched about, alternating their gazes in failed attempts to track the shadow’s movements. Soon, they began to regroup and press their backs together with the exception of one. Rarity unknowingly had backpedaled from her friends, breathing erratically as her line of sight never left the upper regions of the trees.

Suddenly, her momentum had halted as her back met with a wall. Rarity turned her head, pausing as she peered up at a being towering over her tiny frame, and all of the blood in her body grew cold upon spotting six crimson pupils staring intently at her, narrowing. All form of words fell into her throat before her blue irises rolled into the back of her head, causing the girl to collapse on the spot. Just as Rarity collapsed, one of the creature’s arms reached out and grabbed her body, hoisting her away while crawling into the shadows in a blink of motion.

“Rarity!” Rainbow cried out, ready to speed forth, but Applejack grabbed the girl’s jacket, pulling her back toward the group. “What are you doing?! We can’t let him get away with one of our friends!”

Applejack gritted her teeth. “Did you not see what just happened, Rainbow? If we separate, we’re done. As far as I can tell, it’s clear that he’s not killing anyone. At least not yet. Rarity and Pinkie will be fine!” The blonde turned to the side. “Twilight! Can you track it?”

Stammering, Twilight managed to grab hold of her device. “Y-Yes! Just give me a second! I can–!” she trailed off, watching as the spectrometer’s compass spun rapidly. Its meter snapped between varied directions, never settling. Twilight lifted her gaze, shifting her head. “It’s saying he’s all around us, but he’d have to be moving several hundred miles per hour!”

Fluttershy edged closer. “Um, that’s normal. Huntsman spiders can cover forty-times their body length in a second.”

“In English!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, managing to hover just over her compatriots.

Twilight’s hand trembled as a loud boom echoed throughout the vicinity. “He’s moving at the speed of sound.” Suddenly, the spectrometer’s light ceased while blinking south of their position. Twilight snapped her head back as her heart paused. “Behind us!”

Just before anyone could respond further, a blur sped through the vicinity and barrolled through the group. The unseen force sent everyone flying in separate directions. Applejack and Sunset landed roughly to the side while Twilight remained skyward, spiraling in midair. Fluttershy stood still with her eyes slammed shut, unharmed on the ground still. Gravity soon yielded, causing Twilight to fall back towards the earth, but Rainbow flew after the girl with her arms fully extended, ready to catch her friend.

However, a crimson blur snatched the hint of lavender away in a flash, disappearing into the surrounding bushes once again as the spectrometer fell helplessly to the ground. While it skidded to a halt just a few feet from the lake, Man-Spider paused momentarily to stare at its reflection within the water’s surface. Sunset blinked amidst the chaos, eyeing the device with a frantic gaze. She crawled towards it with her hand extended, but a being soared through the sky, landing mere inches from the girl. Tremors coursed through the earth, causing the quakes to carry Sunset’s body away for several meters until her momentum eventually ceased.

A primal screech escaped from the Man-Spider, causing several of the surrounding trees’ bark to split before cracking free. Everyone clutched at their ears, wincing until the sounds dissipated. Rainbow Dash vanished in a blur and spiraled around the creature, until a vortex was generated around him. The winds increased in velocity, similar to that of a miniature tornado, but Man-Spider’s claws clamped into the earth, evident by the cracks under its feet.

It stood in place, swatting wildly at the girl as she flew between his range. Applejack managed to press forth, thrusting her shoulder into the creature’s torso. Man-Spider staggered back, nearly losing its balance along the edge of the lake before it soon fell into the body of water with a splash. The girls watched as its silhouette sank into the depths, with only the sound of sloshing water left in its wake.

Exhaling, Rainbow Dash landed back to the earth before slumping with her hands pressed against her knees. “See? No problem,” she panted between bated breaths.

“Um…” Fluttershy murmured, ready to interject.

“Don’t you dare! I mean, spiders can’t swim!” Rainbow yelled, raising a finger. However, a bead of sweat fell from her forehead as uncertainty took hold, evident by her faltering gaze. “...right?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “If it’s a Fulvolineata, it can stay underwater for almost forty hours.”

Exasperated, Rainbow threw her hands to the side. “Oh, come on! What can’t this thing do?!”

“Um, fly and…” Shy matter-of-factly stated, holding a finger against her chin. “Well, they can technically glide, but…”

Rainbow gritted her teeth and howled, “That was rhetorical!”

Blinking, Applejack furrowed her brow. “Rainbow’s actually got a point, Shy. You mentioned several different types of spiders. I’m no expert, but it’s starting to sound like Spider-Man’s more than one. Are you saying he’s a…?”

“Hybrid?” Sunset whispered, yelping as tremors coursed through the earth once more.

Faster than anyone could anticipate, something erupted from the earth, just mere inches from Sunset. Shards of stone and dirt flew about as Man-Spider rose from the ground before he reached out with two of its arms, grabbing Sunset’s leg and arm. The girl could only shriek helplessly as she was dragged into the hole in spite of her hapless flailing. Her voice echoed through the darkness while her image faded from sight. Rainbow and Applejack raced to the edge of the opening, pausing upon realizing it was too late to save their friend.

Throwing her fist to the side, Rainbow yelled. “Are you kidding me?! ! It can dig, too?!” Fluttershy raised her hand, ready to respond, but she relented, glancing away once Rainbow shot a glare in her direction. The girl screamed, standing upright before growling. “That’s it! I’m taking him down!”

That same moment, Man-Spider leapt from the safety of the bushes and landed in the open. It stared intently at the remaining girls with its mouth agape, lumbering forth as each step sent tremors rushing through the earth. Applejack hesitantly glanced to the side, as if considering her options, before she rushed at the creature with a clenched fist raised. She threw a careless punch at its jaw, but one of its arms casually caught her forearm, halting the blonde’s progress. Applejack gritted her teeth, thrusting her forehead with all of her might into the center of Man-Spider’s snout.

A loud crack echoed throughout the forest, yet the creature stood unphased, staring down at the blonde. Meanwhile, Applejack staggered in place as her vision blurred, evident by the milky tone her jade irises took. Man-Spider simply reared back before thrusting its head forth, slamming its exoskeleton against the top of the blonde’s crown. As if a gunshot had been fired, a shockwave generated from the point of impact. A snap echoed across the region and reached the edge of the city. A gong echoed profusely through the blonde’s senses while her arms dropped to the sides. The trees swayed back from the force, settling as Applejack lifelessly fell to the ground in a heap.

Man-Spider wrapped her frame in a ball of webbing with the exception of her head before stomping towards Rainbow while growling. The two stood in silence for what seemed like ages, as a brief gust brushed through the leaves. All confidence seemingly melted as Rainbow’s eyes dilated, the only sound heard being that of her thumping heart. However, she pushed every invasive thought to the back of her mind, while tears poured from her eyes. The outside world slowed to an absolute halt as Rainbow sped into flight, managing to fly behind the creature. However, just as she neared its back in what felt like slow-motion, all six of Man-Spider’s crimson eyes steadily tracked the girl’s movement.

Once inches apart, the creature swung two of its arms and forced Rainbow to duck underneath. All of her momentum carried her downward, sending her trajectory into the ground. Tumbling into a roll, Rainbow eventually managed to flip back to a kneeling stance. However, just as she lifted her gaze, Man-Spider lowered unto all eight of its limbs before crawling at full-speed towards the girl, and Rainbow could only let out a shriek as the creature lunged over her, sending her into a world of darkness.

Standing upright, Man-Spider gazed upon the moon before pounding its chest in a triumphant manner. It released a deep roar, sending a chilling wave across the vicinity. However, it snapped its head to the side, spotting the lone remaining member of the group. Fluttershy sat still with a widened gaze, never averting its gaze from the massive creature. Yet, Man-Spider’s entire demeanor shifted as it lowered its shoulders. A low whine escaped from its fanged mouth, while its eyes seemingly softened. It soon turned, as if ready to retreat back into the shadows.

Fluttershy slowly reached out. “Wait! Spider-Man!” she soon paused, glancing to the side. Once certain no one was within the vicinity, the girl hesitated as her gaze fell to the ground. “P-Peter?”

The creature’s eyes widened at the name. Slowly, but surely, it stood in place, as if considering the girl’s words. However, a gunshot echoed throughout the vicinity, and Man-Spider swayed to the side, pushing the girl to the side. It narrowly avoided a bullet while it sped past their position, piercing through the nearest tree. The creature roared in response before it turned, leaping into the bushes and vanishing into the night. After a few seconds, a man sprinted into the area and skidded to a halt, just inches past Fluttershy, with a rifle in hand.

“You can run, Spider, but you cannot hide,” Kraven grinned, reloading his weapon before following the direction Man-Spider ventured. “Now we begin… the hunt!”

Once the man had completely left the vicinity, Fluttershy steadily forced herself to a standing position. “So, you are still in there somewhere,” she whispered, pausing as Spike emerged from the nearest bush. The girl lifted the dog, easing him into the confines of her backpack before she nodded. Placing a hand over her chest, the girl held a determined glare as she rushed after Kraven. “Come on, Spike. Let’s save our friends!”

To be continued…

Ch. 5: "Self-Defense and Preservation"

Chapter Five “Self-Defense and Preservation”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Fluttershy alternated her gaze across her vicinity. The forest had grown silent, with only the sound of tree leaves ruffling with the surrounding wind. Only a few minutes had passed since the Man-Spider had dispatched and taken away her friends, but it felt like an eternity for the girl, as her thoughts spiraled into a vortex of jumbled realizations. Spike walked ahead of her, sniffing the ground profusely, and he stopped in his tracks once Fluttershy paused, glancing to the side.

“I still can’t believe it,” she whispered, her eyes softening.

Spike dropped his hindquarters to the ground, using his back leg to scratch behind his ear. “Oh. You mean about Peter and Spider-Man being the same? It’s not that surprising. They both smell alike.”

Blinking, Fluttershy knelt down next to the dog with a widened gaze. “You knew? For how long?”

“Since the end of the Friendship Games, when Twilight and I moved into the lab,” Spike calmly retorted, taking a moment to bite at the fur along his hip, “His smell was all over the lab.”

Slow to respond, Fluttershy held a finger against her chin while her brow lowered in thought. “If you knew this the whole time, why doesn’t Twilight? She’s been obsessed with trying to study him.”

Spike’s ears dropped to the side as he looked away shamefully. “Um, well… I saw how much trouble Twilight got in the last time she obsessed over something, and Doctor Octavious made me promise to not tell her.”

The girl tilted her head to the side. “He knows, too? Does Peter know that you know?”

The dog hesitantly nodded, slamming his eyes shut. “Yeah. In fact, he was the first one to bring it up before I could. He’s really smart. I’m sorry!”

However, Fluttershy gently petted the top of the furry animal’s head and managed a smile. “You’re not in trouble, Spike. I’m actually glad you haven’t told her.”

A sense of relief came over Spike, evident by his perked ears and wagging tail. “Yeah! Doc and Pete are great! I mean, I don’t get why Twilight doesn’t like him. He’s already been really nice to me even before I could talk. Plus, they promised to give me extra treats if I kept quiet.” An awkward silence filled the air after the dog’s outburst, and he could only nervously chuckle afterward, bearing a toothy grin. “I know Twilight will be very mad about it, but I think it’ll be okay… for now.”

Giggling under her breath, Fluttershy nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll give you extra treats, too, if you promise not to tell anybody.” The pair shared a smile as the girl extended her hand, prompting the dog to place his paw on her palm. Eventually, Fluttershy stood before brushing a hand through her silky pink hair. “We need to find him and the others. Do you know which way they went?”

Spike lowered his muzzle along the grass, taking in the fresh scent before he glanced to the side. “Peter is definitely that way. Same for that other guy. Who was that, by the way? He didn’t seem nice.”

“I don’t know. All the more reason we need to find them,” Fluttershy gently reaffirmed, placing a hand over her chest. “What about Twilight and the others?”

Spike narrowed his gaze, sniffing. “Same direction. It’s like they’re all piled together, and…” Suddenly, the dog stiffened before shifting his line of sight behind the girl. His ears raised as he stepped forth. “There’s someone else coming towards us. Fast!”

Fluttershy scooped up Spike into her arms, never averting her gaze from the direction the dog referred to. The sound of footsteps grew louder, as the surrounding shrubbery rustled in protest. Suddenly, a being sped through the leaves in a hunched stance, racing past the pair. Yet, as if it just noticed their presence, glanced to the side. He lowered a hand, digging a trio of claws into the earth, and his momentum skidded to a halt, while shards of dirt and grass stood ruptured in his wake.

The gruff man soon straightened his posture, opening his mouth as he took in bated breaths. His eyes soon widened before the claws slid back within his knuckles. In spite of his muscular physique, the man barely stood taller than the girl. Shaking his head, he pointed a thumb behind his position while glaring intently at the pair.

“What the hell are you doing here, kid? It’s dangerous,” he firmly stated, raising a finger before pointing behind her position. “Get out of here, if you know what’s good for you.”

Tightening her hold on the dog, Fluttershy stammered under the man’s rough exterior. “Wow. Um… you’re the Wolverine,” Shaking her head, the girl narrowed her gaze. “I can’t. I have to help Spider-Man.”

Spike wiggled free from the girl’s grasp, sniffling the man’s foot upon landing on the ground. “Our friends were just captured, too! We have to save them!” His tail wagged as he panted happily, “You’re a nice man.”

An awkward silence filled the vicinity as Logan blinked, holding a bewildered yet bemused expression at the canine. “You talk?” Rolling his eyes, the man exhaled while rubbing his fingers over his temples. “Of course you talk. It’s not the strangest thing I’ve seen in my life.” Sobering, Logan sniffed the pair for what seemed like an eternity before edging closer to them. “I can smell Spider-Man on both of you. Why didn’t he take you away? Unless… you’re a friend of his?”

“We didn’t attack him, and I’m sure he recognized me,” Fluttershy quietly declared, pursing her lips.

Logan furrowed his brow, as if taking the girl’s words in consideration, and simply nodded before rubbing at his hand with an open palm. “He didn’t see you as a threat, unlike your friends and those SHIELD agents. That means that the kid is still in there, deep down.” The man hummed under his breath, letting out a low sigh of relief. “Good. He can still be brought back.”

“Brought back? You can return him to normal?” Fluttershy whispered as she leaned forward, holding her hands together, “Let us help you. Maybe I can talk to him.”

“No way, kid. Even if he’s still in there, it’s way too dangerous,” Wolverine huffed, crossing his arms.

Spike paced in place, alternating his gaze between Logan and the area behind him. “There was another guy chasing him! Had a lot of fur on his shoulders and gave a really bad feeling.”

His eyes widening at the comment, Logan growled before cursing under his breath. “Damn it. Kraven’s already on top of him. I need to hurry.”

Reaching out, Fluttershy took hold of Wolverine’s forearm before he could hope to make any progress. “Please. Just like an actual spider, he’s just trying to be alone. So far, he’s only been attacking out of self-defense.”

“I know that feeling. A cornered animal is the most dangerous type, and we’re already losing time. The last thing we need is for Kraven to push him over the edge,” Wolverine declared, shifting his gaze skyward momentarily. He caught sight of Fluttershy from the corner of his eye, wincing upon spotting a large pleadful stare. After a few seconds, the gruff man could only let out a defeated sigh before shaking his head. “Why am I a sucker for the marshmallows? Ugh! Okay. I can tell you’re going to follow me regardless. You can come, but you and the mutt have to listen to me and stay out of sight!”

The girl’s expression brightened as she nodded. “Y-Yes! Thank you!”

“I really hope I don’t regret this,” Wolverine mumbled, sheepishly brushing a hand through his unkempt hair. Spike hopped from the ground, prompting Logan to instinctively catch the canine. The man grumbled incoherently before simply easing the dog onto his shoulder. A bemused expression surfaced on Logan’s face as they marched into the forest. “When did I get so soft?”

Treading through the reaches of the park, Man-Spider slowed to a halt as it approached the edge of the lake’s bank. It somberly gazed upon its reflection on the water’s surface, holding one of its claws along the side of its face. Suddenly, all of its eyes narrowed into a glare before it angrily swiped one of its claws into the lake, wiping away its image. Afterward, it slammed its closed claws into the ground repeatedly, sending multiple tremors rushing through the earth, until shards of stone and dirt flew about. It eventually ceased, letting out a dejected whine, while lowering its head shamefully.

Suddenly, the world slowed to a halt once its cranium buzzed uncontrollably. Its eyes widened as a shot echoed throughout the forest. Man-Spider lowered its body until all of its limbs reached the ground, allowing him to hastily crawl backward out of sight, while a bullet struck the ground where it previously stood. A second shot was fired in the direction the creature was heading, but it twitched, practically disappearing in a blur before the projectile could connect.

Meanwhile, Kraven sat at the roof of a pavilion several hundred yards away. “You are fast, but I am patient. You will make a mistake soon enough,” he held his sight through the scope of his rifle, keeping it aimed in the distance. As Kraven tightened his grip on the holster, he let out a small breath. “Now, where did you run off to–?” he questioned, inhaling sharply as a flow of crimson suddenly filled his scope. The man peeked up as Man-Spider stood over him, mere inches away, with his claw reared back. “What?!”

Kraven rolled to the side and narrowly managed to avoid the blow as Man-Spider crashed through the pavilion, sending pieces of wood and concrete scattering throughout the wind. A cloud of dust erupted from the impact, spreading the smog. Amidst the chaos, Kraven landed on his feet, before unsheathing his machete from its scabbard. A dark silhouette materialized inches behind him, six eyes glowing through the cover. Kraven spun around with the blade extended, aiming from the shadow’s head, but he simply cut through the surrounding dust, causing the image to fade from sight.

Just before he could react further, a large ball of webbing sped across the area and collided into his blade. Its momentum crashed into the nearest tree, embedding the weapon steadfast to the bark. In a flash, Man-Spider once again emerged before Kraven, scooping the man into its grasp with four of its arms. The man strained as he attempted to break free, feeling his muscles steadily give under the pressure of the creature’s tightening hold. Slowly, Man-Spider began to rear Kraven’s head towards its open mouth.

However, a being howled while lunging across the air like a missile before landing on the back of the spider’s shoulders. He punched at the thick hide repeatedly, even managing to stand before delivering a kick, but one of the creature’s free arms grabbed the man by the leg mid strike. Man-Spider soon relinquished its hold on Kraven, not too long before hurling Logan into his unprepared grasp. Both men rolled into a heap for several yards, eventually coming to a halt.

Lumbering forth with each step, sending a quake through the earth, Man-Spider approached its prey. Yet, Kraven retrieved a ball from his pouch and tossed it at the spider’s feet. Violet fumes spread out, engulfing the entire area in a smog. A high-pitched screech escaped from Man-Spider as it recoiled defensively, shivering while raising its arms. It quickly turned, leaping high into the trees before fading once more into the shadows.

Kraven shook his head, attempting to free the cobwebs. “The beast… is formidable.” He glanced to the side, sharing a brief glance with Logan while they both forced themselves back to a vertical base. “Wolverine. I suppose I should thank you.”

“Yeah, well, save it-Ack!” Logan declared, coughing before throwing a hand over his burning nose. “What the hell is that smell?”

Kraven huffed, grabbing Wolverine’s forearm before pulling him away from the smog. “Tetrodotoxin produced by blue-ringed octopods, enough to take down fifty men with a single breath.” He trailed off, furrowing his brow as Logan snatched his arm free. Kraven soon tossed a second ball into the middle of the fog, causing a blue mist to spray out until it had overtaken the poisonous cloud completely. “However, it seemed to only be a mild inconvenience for the spider. We must try a different approach.”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Logan’s senses cleared, and he glared at Kraven. “Look, part of me really wishes I let the spider do away with you, but if we’re going to save him, we have to work together. So, that means you’re going to follow my lead, got it?”

The corner of Kraven’s mouth curled into a smirk while he raised his hands in a mock-form of surrender. “Da. Of course.”

Both men stared at each other for what seemed like ages before Logan let out a deep huff. He soon turned and motioned his hand. “Okay. It’s clear. Come on out, kid.”

Kraven raised a brow at the statement as he followed the shorter man’s hand. Soon, a tiny girl with a dog in her arms clumsily staggered out of the bushes before walking towards their position. Once by their side, she placed the canine on the ground and paused to brush off some stray leaves free from her clothing. Folding his arms and frowning, Kraven tapped a finger impatiently against his bicep.

“A child, Logan? I am here to hunt, not babysit,” he grumbled, retrieving his spear from his back sleeve.

Logan shrugged, lowering to a knee while brushing a hand through the grass. “I don’t like it either, but the kid’s a friend of the spider. Maybe we can use that to keep him still long enough to give him his medicine.”

Fluttershy pursed her lips. “Um, I also have an idea of what kind of spider he actually might be. When he captured my friends, I saw he had traits of the Wolf spider, the Darwin bark spider, the Huntsman spider, and the Fulvolineata so far. I think he has more, but I’ll have to see.”

Slow to respond, Kraven nodded with each fact and snorted. “You named enoughto confirm my suspicion. It’s clear that he’s a cross-species spider. From my brief encounter, I could tell he has the strengths of multiple spiders and little-to-none of the weaknesses.” Pausing, Kraven’s eyes widened while his mouth curled into a smirk. “You are well versed, little one. I am impressed! You have the knowledge of a true hunter. I believe you would make a most excellent apprentice!”

Fluttershy’s mouth hung open as she readied to respond, but her large blue eyes drifted, settling on the lion’s mane Kraven wore over his shoulders. Slowly but surely, the girl’s gentle demeanor steadily diminished, evident as her gaze narrowed into a glare. Her hands trembled as she took a step away from Kraven, biting down onto her lip. Inhaling deeply, Fluttershy’s face’s light features boiled to a crimson red. Everyone paused, waiting for the imminent explosion that was set to occur, but the girl simply let out a low sigh as she turned.

“I don’t like you,” she whispered, walking past the tall man with a glare.

Kraven scratched the side of his jaw, befuddled. “Was it something I said?”

As if justified, Logan allowed a smile to grace his features briefly while he haplessly shrugged. “Don’t look at me, bub. I feel the same way.”

That same moment, Spike walked past Kraven and growled under his breath. “Jerk.”

Blinking, Kraven considered everyone’s words and merely huffed. “Strangely enough, the little one’s words sting greater than any spear.” However, like lightning to a rod, his eyes widened at a realization as he watched the canine strut away. “Wait. Did the dog just speak words?” he questioned, dismissing the thought with a shrug, “Not even the Savage Land is as unusual as this town.”

Several minutes passed, as the moon reached its zenith point in the sky. The group steadily traversed through the forest with Logan at the point, sniffing the air, while Kraven closely followed, clutching his spear tightly. Fluttershy rubbed her hands together, nervously alternating her gaze about, and Spike held his nose to the ground, following a particular scent. Logan immediately came to a halt before raising his hand, prompting everyone to stop in their tracks as well. They soon caught sight of several strands of webbing joined together at the center of an area, each thread stretching out for yards on end.

“The heck is this? Was he resting here? Why create a web in the middle of this area?” Logan questioned, slowly reaching out until his fingers were inches from a strand.

Fluttershy grabbed his arm before he could touch the material, shaking her head profusely. “Don’t touch it! Spiders sometimes will rely on vibrations from silk strands to locate prey and find deformities in the web.”

Brushing a hand against his chin, Logan hummed. “Why would he do that? Unless…?”

Kraven hummed, nodding. “Yes. He has begun hunting us now. Ingenious. It appears your friend is beginning to embrace the predator side of his psyche.” A loud screech echoed from a distance, causing everyone in the group to recoil. Clutching his spear, Kraven shared a glance with the others. “Time is short. He is coming. We must counterattack.”

Logan nodded, grabbing Fluttershy and Spike before easing them firmly into a bush. “You two stay out of sight. This is about to get ugly.”

“What are you going to do?” Fluttershy questioned as her eyes softened.

Glancing to the side, Logan’s brow furrowed. “We’re going to lure him out and give him the cure. We don’t have any more time to be subtle.”

Before the girl could hope to protest, the man rushed back before lowering behind a tree’s shadow. Kraven soon mirrored his action, pausing to run his hand through the dirt by his foot. Soon afterward, he climbed into a heightened position, amidst the concealment of leaves. Both men stood in silence, sharing a glance before Kraven eased the dirt from his grasp and revealed a pair of pebbles.

A breeze coursed through the vicinity, causing the leaves to ruffle in protest. Once everything settled to a pause, Kraven flicked the pebble with his thumb and allowed gravity to guide it into a gentle descent. The world slowed to a halt, as if it watched the rock fall. Yet, it snapped to reality once it reached its destination, bouncing off of one of the surrounding strands of webbing. The thread vibrated, causing the entire center to shake. Almost instantaneously, a being shuffled into the area in a flash, on all eight of its limbs where the web had been disturbed.

Man-Spider screeched as it twitched, sharply shifting its line of sight with each movement. However, it steadily focused its attention in Logan’s direction, growling before steadily stepping forth. Wolverine edged back, cursing under his breath, but he quickly inhaled, holding in his air. Slamming his eyes shut, he narrowed all thoughts inwardly. The beating of his heart steadily came to a halt, and Man-Spider ceased its movements, tilting its head to the side in bewilderment.

Fluttershy shuffled in place, causing the surrounding leaves around her to ruffle quietly. Man-Spider shrilled, stomping towards the sound. Kraven watched in response, hurling his last pebble just inches away from the creature, and the rock bounced off of a lone strand of webbing, sending a vibrational wave through its center. Man-Spider turned with its claw raised, slamming it down unto the area where its webbing was disturbed, and a cloud of dust erupted from the point of impact, all while shards of grass, dirt, and stone scattered about.

Wolverine burst through the cloud with the syringe in hand, soaring through the air with the speed of a bullet, but Man-Spider turned instantly with two of its claws extended, capturing the man by the neck and arm. With his progress halted, Wolverine strained before one of the creature’s free claws clenched into a fist and slammed into his face. A loud crack echoed throughout the park while a shockwave generated, causing many leaves to free themselves from the trees and bushes before dancing in the breeze.

Meanwhile, Logan’s body rocketed through the area, vanishing deep into the park. The syringe spun in place, twirling until it fell to the ground just a few feet away from Fluttershy’s position. Just as Man-Spider readied to move, its cranium buzzed, while a spear sped through the air, with its tip aimed at the center of its face. Yet, one of its claws captured the weapon effortlessly, before it could hope to reach its target. The creature snarled and glanced at Kraven in the distance, who simply smirked in response.

Suddenly, an array of orbs rolled underneath Man-Spider’s feet before they detonated, triggering several flashes of light to erupt. The creature staggered back, swatting wildly at the air, while its senses spun into disarray. Kraven leapt from his perch, landing just in front of the spider before swiftly retrieving his weapon. Spinning it in his grasp, he thrusted its tip forth at the creature’s opened jaw.

However, Man-Spider spat out a green substance onto the point, and it quickly ate away at the metal, doing the same for the wood in an instance. Kraven cursed under his breath, throwing what remained of his weapon before it could reach his hand. The object fell to the ground, reduced to a bubbling substance as it melted a hole into the ground. Lost in thought, albeit briefly, Kraven snapped back to reality but couldn’t react as Man-Spider delivered a backhand across his jaw. The force of the blow sent him spiraling until the back of his head cracked against a tree in his path, stopping all forms of momentum with a crack. He instinctively rolled to the side with a hand placed over his face, mumbling as his vision spun.

Stomping forth as venom dripped from its mouth, Man-Spider sharply inhaled, but Wolverine emerged between it and Kraven, unsheathing all his claws with a snikt. “Damn it, kid! Don’t make me do this!”

Man-Spider roared in response, towering over Logan until its shadow engulfed his entire frame, but Wolverine howled back, vanishing in a blur. Taken aback, the spider’s eyes widened as it held a baffled gaze. The world rolled to a halt as a piercing sound rang out, and Man-Spider glanced to the source, spotting Logan with his claws dug into the side of its torso. Yet, Wolverine strained while he attempted to push his claws through the exoskeleton, but no headway could be made, evident as the tip of metal only managed to pierce the surface of the hide.

The pupils of the creature dilated before its eyes sharpened into a glare, and a deep roar escaped from its mouth as it turned. Two of its arms grabbed Logan’s hands, lifting his body from the ground while stretching his limbs out. Wolverine watched as Man-Spider’s four other claws clenched into fists. They soon reared back, the first thrusting forth and connecting into the center of Logan’s chest.

All of the air rushed out of the man’s chest and through his opened mouth. That same moment, the second of the spider’s fists swung into Wolverine’s jaw. Blood shot out from the man’s mouth as the third sped from underneath, delivering an uppercut. Logan’s eyes glazed over as his line of sight swung skyward, taking in the moon's glowing form before the fourth fist slammed into the side of his torso.

While each blow was felt in what seemed like an eternity, only a literal second had passed, and the process repeated while Man-Spider delivered one blow after the other in rapid succession, his limbs vanishing in a blur. Logan’s body shook violently as it withstood the assault, each blow struck resembling the sound of a cannon. His muscles caved in as his skin turned purple, all bruising spreading. Man-Spider growled, snarling as the man’s clothing disintegrated, but it suddenly stopped, letting out a pained screech. Kraven shook the cobwebs free from his cranium before he lifted his gaze, inhaling sharply as Fluttershy stood behind Man-Spider with the tip of the syringe lodged deep into the gash Logan had left.

Man-Spider’s claws relinquished their hold onto Logan, dropping the man to the ground in a pool of his own blood. Wolverine groaned, as some of his open wounds slowly sealed shut. He glanced up, watching as Man-Spider staggered about, but it sharply turned, facing Fluttershy while roaring at the top of its lungs. Yet, the girl stood still with a softened gaze, as its cries pierced the airwaves. Logan pushed himself from the ground, nearly collapsing as his muscles gave way while attempting to repair themselves.

“Kid, no!” Logan cried out, reaching forth, but Kraven leapt in his path, stopping his progress. “What are you doing? He’s going to kill her!”

Kraven placed a hand over Logan’s shoulder, shaking his head before glancing at the spider. “Have patience. The spider is high on adrenaline, and the little one is keeping him calm, so he does not burn through the sedative.”

Man-Spider’s erratic breathing steadied as it towered over the girl. Fluttershy reached out, caressing the side of the creature’s face, and the spider’s expression softened while it whined under its breath. Its frame slowly began to shrink before two of its limbs shriveled back into its ribcage. Soon, the other pair of limbs did the same, all while the fur on its skin dissipated from sight.

“It’s okay. You can rest now. Everything’s going to be fine,” she whispered, stepping back before Man-Spider collapsed to the ground in a heap.

All traces of Man-Spider diminished before fair skin could be seen amidst what tattered remains were left of his costume. Fluttershy blinked, seeing the boy’s brown hair, but she instinctively turned away, refusing to take in the sight. Logan swiftly jumped over Spider-Man’s unconscious form, shielding his face from the outside world. However, Kraven removed his vest from his shoulders before tossing it to Wolverine. Without saying a word, Logan accepted the gesture and shielded Spider-Man’s entire upper body, before taking him into his arms bridal style.

“Kraven,” Logan whispered, his expression unreadable.

Yet, Kraven kept his back turned to the pair while waving a hand dismissively. “I have honored our agreement. We have returned your friend to normal. There is no honor in learning who he is like this.” Reaching into his pouch, the man retrieved an orb. “I will have my hunt. Another day. Today was quite… satisfactory. Until we meet again, Wolverine.”

Everyone watched as Kraven tossed the item onto the ground, causing a cloud of smoke to rise from under his feet. Once the smog enveloped his entire frame, a gust of wind breezed through the area. Kraven’s silhouette vanished from sight as the smoke cleared. Fluttershy and Spike watched with their mouths agape.

Wolverine simply shrugged before turning to take his leave. “Everyone’s got smoke nowadays.” He paused, sharing a glance with Fluttershy as she edged towards him. “Thanks, kid. You did good.”

“You’re welcome,” Fluttershy retorted, placing a hand over her chest. “Where are you going to take him?”

“Home. We’ve all been through enough tonight,” he declared, sharing a final glance with the girl before easing away. Logan traveled for several seconds, pausing once a familiar scent entered his nose. “If I were you, Fury, I’d worry more about your men than the kid.”

Fury soon emerged from behind the tree, crossing his arms. “Get him home, Logan. I’ll deal with him later.” He peeked back in Wolverine’s direction, letting out a low sigh upon noticing he had already exited the vicinity. Nick shook his head while several SHIELD agents rushed past him, proceeding to cut their compatriots free, and he simply stared somberly at the sky as the moon slowly began to set, exhaling. “$%^&, what a mess.”

To be concluded…

Epilogue: "Evolution and Adaptation"

Epilogue “Evolution and Adaptation”

“Ladies and gentleman, we have been informed that the threat of the Man-Spider has passed, but I ask you, has it really?” Jameson questioned, staring intently into the camera. “That masked menace is still out there, free to swing into our lives, whether we want him there or not. So, no, the threat has not passed. If anything, we need to be more vigilant than ever. Allow me to explain why.”

Several images of Spider-Man and silhouettes of Man-Spider filled the screen, while Jameson stood from his seat, taking a puff of his cigar before raising a finger. “Man-Spider in his reign of terror attacked an innocent officer and showed us just how helpless we are, should he decide to really cut loose. Amongst the injured was a young student of Canterlot High named Applejack, who we hear is fine but still undergoing concussion protocol.”

The images on screen faded before one of the Rainbooms took place at the center. “We have this group of girls once again to thank for saving the day. We’re told that they took Man-Spider head-on and drove him back into whatever cave he crawled out of– What’s that?” Jameson stated, pausing upon hearing an intangible response from the side. He simply shrugged, tossing a rolled up magazine off-camera. “Magic? Don’t be ridiculous, Jared! They’re clearly mutants! Not that there’s anything wrong with that! We are advocates for all lives being treated equally!”

Blinking, Jameson stared off to the side before slamming a fist against the table. “Spider-Man doesn’t count, you idiot! He’s not a mutant!” He trailed off, humming as he tapped a finger against his forearm. “At least, I don’t think he is? I mean… No, I hate him because he’s a menace, not a mutant! The two can be distinguishable. SHUT UP, JARED!”

The man cleared his throat and straightened his posture, taking in several deep breaths as the pulsating vein over his forehead sank back under his skin. “Anyway, while I do not condone young upstarts to put their lives at risk and prefer the professionals to handle such a matter, I must admit that unlike Spider-Man, who hides behind a mask, that these brave girls were willing to take on such a task with their abilities in a modest sense.”

Jameson pointed at the camera as his brow furrowed. “Now, I want you all to take this as seriously as possible. Now that we have seen Spider-Man for what he truly is, I hope we can stop the glorification and start treating him appropriately: like a menace to society, who should be arrested for his crimes.”

The camera shifted to Diamond Tiara, who grinned as a pair of flowing charts filled the screen. “It seems many more of you are beginning to understand Uncle Jameson’s words. We’ve reached over twenty-five thousand followers on our main social media page, and as we speak, we have double that listening to our podcast! Thank you for your growing support!” she cheered, smirking as a dark glint flickered in her eyes, “Rumor has it that Spider-Man is supposed to be showing up at Canterlot High’s Prom tonight. I assure you that I will share all of the details on whatever happens. This is Just the Facts!”

Beams of the morning sun pierced through the curtains, filling the room with light and warmth. The young man groaned to life, stammering as his eyes fluttered open. However, a realization came to mind like lightning to a rod, and Peter suddenly rose, tossing the covers shielding his frame to the side. He alternated his gaze and held out his hand, staring at it intently.

“Oh, thank the Lord,” a sweet voice murmured, causing Peter to turn to the source.

Aunt May stood at the door to the bedroom with a hand over her chest. She smiled, wiping a hand over her wet eyes before she walked over. Once the woman sat along the edge of the bed, allowing her body to sink into the cushion, her arms wrapped around Peter’s neck. The young man blinked before his eyes softened, eventually allowing himself to sink into the embrace. The pair remained as such for several seconds, until May relinquished her hold, taking the moment to cup Peter’s face into her hands. With a furrowed brow, the woman analyzed every inch of his frame and traced her fingers through his messy hair.

“Look who’s finally awake,” another voice stated, earning the attention of both individuals. Aria stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the door. Her stoic demeanor faltered, evident by the small yet genuine smile that graced her features. She pulled up a chair, spinning it backwards before sitting onto it inches from the young man. “You sure gave us quite a scare.”

Aunt May nodded, resting her hands on her thighs. “That you did. We were so worried. You just up and disappeared.” Brushing a hand through her hair, she frowned. “Do you remember anything?”

Slow to respond, Peter shook his head as he clutched at his sides. “I only remember excruciating pain. Then, everything went black. It’s like I was in a dream.” The young man inhaled deeply before sighing while lowering his head. “Everything just feels hazy.”

Aria rested her chin on the top of the chair, pursing her lips. “As much as I’d like to lambast you for all the crap you put us through with your episode, I won’t, but only because I know you couldn’t help it.” She glanced to the side, dryly huffing. “I can’t say the same for everyone else.”

“What do you mean?” Peter questioned, lifting his gaze.

“I’ll explain all of that,” a stern and low voice declared. Everyone turned as Nick Fury entered the room with a cup of coffee in hand, fumes exuding from the hot liquid. He took a sip, sighing contently while the sense of warmth filled his chest. “That’s wonderful, May. Thank you.”

Nodding, May simply smiled. “You’re welcome. We can’t thank you enough for your help.”

Arching a brow, Peter readied to respond, but he peeked behind Fury, spotting a pair of men walking towards where his room was, with wood and bricks in hand. The young man stood before walking after them, pausing upon noticing a plethora of men repairing what appeared to be a hole in the wall. While most of the damage had been fixed, with fresh lumber and brick laid out in place, there was still evidence of a once shattered foundation.

Peter shared a glance with Aria, who only frowned in response. He waited for a verbal response or usual lashing from the siren, but it never came, sending his anxiety into upheaval. It all but confirmed the worst-case scenario for the young man: this situation was utterly dire. Peter’s expression faltered as his gaze fell, as if memories unraveled and became as clear as day.

Fury walked in, glancing at the boy from the corner of his eye with a knowing expression. After taking another sip of his coffee, the man huffed. “Let’s talk on the roof.”

Peter inhaled deeply before sighing, giving a weak nod. “Yeah.”

The older man turned, prompting the boy to follow his lead. They traveled past everyone while Fury exchanged pleasantries with his agents. Eventually, they walked through the living room, but Peter stopped in his tracks as the loud sound of snoring echoed throughout the entire abode. His eyes widened upon recognizing the burly and hairy physique of Logan slumped onto the couch, mouth agape as he slept soundly.

“What’s he doing here?” Peter questioned, blinking as Logan stirred briefly to scratch the side of his chin before his hand dropped by his side. He raised a finger, staring blankly at Fury. “And why’s he half-naked?”

Huffing, Fury resumed his walk. “Wolverine had a hell of a night. You were really rough on him and some others. Make sure you thank him. He’s a huge reason why you were brought back to normal.”

The trip to the roof was quiet as both individuals traveled. Intrusive thoughts entered the boy’s mind, filling him with a sense of uncertainty and dread. They eventually reached the roof, allowing the sun’s rays to fill them with a sense of warmth. Peter instinctively squinted, using a free hand to shield his sensitive eyes momentarily until they adjusted to the brightness. Lowering his arm, the boy’s eyes widened upon noticing small changes within his skin, but he rolled a sleeve down over his wrist, hiding the marking.

Peter hesitantly glanced at the older man with a furrowed brow. “How bad was it?”

“Pretty bad. You sent the entire city into a panic, but in terms of collateral damage, it could have been much worse.” Fury calmly declared, holding his gaze on the small town in the distance. Taking another sip of his coffee, the man straightened his posture. “How are you feeling?”

Groaning, Peter rubbed his fingers over his temples. “Like crap. I feel hungover, like the day after when I got bit by that spider and got my powers. My senses were already cranked up to eleven before. Now, it feels like everything’s been tripled.” Brushing those thoughts to the side, Peter frowned at a realization. “You said I was rough on Logan and mentioned some others. How many people did I hurt? Be honest.”

Sobering, Fury eased the cup in his grasp down onto the edge railing of the roof before crossing his arms. “Everyone is more shook up than anything else, but there were only three real injuries to note. When you first transformed, a cop had the unfortunate luck of running into you. He tried to get away, but you tossed his car, with him in it. While he suffered a few injuries, it could have been worse. He’s still admitted to the hospital down the street. His name’s Officer Marshall.”

Peter shook his head. “Who were the other two?”

“One of my agents, who you webbed to a tree, suffered a few broken bones from the impact, and the scary thing is, you went easy on him,” Fury stated, easing his hands into his pockets. “Last, there was one of the magical girls, the blonde one. Apparently, she thought it was a good idea to headbutt you during the skirmish. Let’s just say you gave her a receipt with interest. If she didn’t have some semblance of super strength, she would have suffered more than just a concussion.”

As if taking the man’s words into consideration, Peter turned and took a seat on the edge of the rooftop while facing Fury. “Is this the part where you take me away into SHIELD custody?”

“No,” Fury simply murmured, causing Peter’s eyes to widen at the response. He raised a hand defensively, his expression remaining stoic. “I still have to practice precautions, obviously, but I understand that what happened wasn’t your fault. If anything, in spite of what happened, you still showed incredible restraint.” The older man shrugged, waving a finger. “Plus, I technically can’t arrest you. Under my jurisdiction, you’re technically still a minor, and there’s enough evidence indicating that you weren’t in control of what happened. Now, if you pulled some mad scientist $%^ and deliberately put lives at stake, then that’d be a different story.”

Peter blinked. “You make it seem like that happens all the time.” An awkward silence filled the air as Fury stared intently at the boy, ever stoic. Shaking his head, Peter could only exhale. “Of course it does in your line of work. Stupid me.”

Glancing to the side, Fury grumbled under his breath. “Anyway. Now, I will talk with Agent Sweetie Drops about how she handled the situation. She attempted to use lethal force on you and only escalated the situation. It’s why I’ll cut you some slack, but if this happens again, I’ll see to it myself personally.”

Peter exhaled, simply easing himself back to a vertical base before walking past Fury. “Great.” Stopping in his tracks, he glanced at the older man from the corner of his eye. “How was I brought back?”

“You’ve got good people in your life, kid. Doctor Octavious crunched out an antidote while Logan, Kraven, and one of the magical girls administered it to you,” Fury bluntly declared, brushing a hand over his chin. He raised a hand before Peter could say a word. “Don’t ask. She asked to remain anonymous. You’re lucky you got that hint out of me.”

Peter tilted his head to the side. “Seriously? Fine, I’ll figure it out later. I bet it was Twilight. She’d stab me without prejudice.” Blinking as a realization dawned, Peter frowned. “Anyway, who is Kraven?”

Fury smirked. “You can’t expect me to tell you everything, kid. Trust me. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Exasperated, Peter’s brow twitched involuntarily as he glared at the man. “You suck, Fury. Thanks for being as ominous as ever.”

The older man watched as the boy entered back into the house in a huff, allowing his expression to falter and soften once certain he was alone. “Sorry, kid, but you just proved why I have to keep an eye on you in the first place.”

Under the clear skies, Peter walked to the entrance of the laboratory, knocking at its door upon reaching it. However, no one had answered the call, even as the young man continued to knock. With a furrowed brow, Peter pecked at the numeric pad along the side of the door before it slid open automatically. He soon entered the abode, his ears twitching at the sound of deep snores. Doctor Octavious sat at the center of the room, with his head resting in his arms, slumped over a desk.

Peter’s eyes softened at the sight before he walked over, placing a hand over one of his shoulders. Grumbling under his breath, the older man stirred to life while lazily raising his head, but upon glancing to the side, his eyes shot open upon spotting his apprentice. As if elation took hold, Otto stood from his seat with a smile on his face, yet before he could hope to utter a word, Peter wrapped his arms around his waist.

Octavious simply returned the gesture in full, hugging the boy as tightly as possible. “It’s good to have you back, my boy.” However, as if life snapped back into place, Otto tossed his shades over his eyes, retrieved a thermometer from his desk, and squeezed Peter’s mouth before sliding the tip of the device under his tongue. Ever-stoic, the older man hummed as he analyzed the boy’s physique, alternating stances. “I do believe I speak for everyone when I say how relieved I am that you have returned to normal.”

Bemused, Peter rolled his eyes. “Way to ruin the moment, Doc.”

“Fascinating,” Octavious murmured, eyeing the end of a syringe, as it failed to pierce into Peter’s forearm, “Your skin seems far denser than usual. Are you relaxed, my boy?”

Peter blinked, shrugging. “As relaxed as I can be.”

“Then, if my theory stands…” Otto strained as he continued to press until the syringe’s tip bent under the pressure, having failed to pierce the boy’s skin. Yet, this only seemed to intrigue Octavious further, evident by his widening smile. “Peter! Have you experienced any other sensations since your post-transformation?”

Taken aback, Peter scratched the back of his head haplessly. “Uh, I mean, yeah. Like, everything’s cranked up. I feel like my vision and hearing have improved three-fold, and…” he trailed off, narrowing his gaze on a pair of scar-tissue markings underneath his wrists. “What the heck?” Peter took his wrist in hand before squeezing at the marking, causing a light trace of webbing to escape from the wound, and he screamed at the sight, holding his mouth agape. “Woah! That is not cool!”

Octavious inhaled sharply, grabbing Peter’s arm while holding his gaze mere inches away from his wrist. “Organic webbing! Remarkable!” The man hummed, arching a brow while he continued to analyze the scarring closely. “It seems you may not be capable of producing your own webbing just yet, but with time, once you become of age, it will come naturally for you.”

Frowning, Peter crossed his arms. “Oh, great. I’m an adolescent spider. Glad you’re happy about all of this, Doc.”

Releasing his hold, Otto grinned uncontrollably before scribbling notes onto a pad. “My boy, do not be so downtrodden. What you do not understand is that my original hypothesis was correct! I just ponder what other capabilities you will develop, now that we’ve stabilized your genetic code.” Sobering, the man placed a hand over his mouth and cleared his throat. “The spider that bit you didn’t just give you its abilities proportionate to it, but enhanced so. More testing will need to be done to clarify, but I am certain that you have passed the mutation stage. Now, you are beginning the greatest phase: evolution.”

Peter stammered, alternating his line of sight between his hand and the professor. “Seriously? You’re telling me that I’m stronger now?”

“It goes far beyond that. Every power you possess is enhanced further. How much so, I’m not certain,” Doctor Octavious declared while retaking a seat at his desk, “I do know this. What you knew before was just the tip of the iceberg. Just compare it to the moment you were initially bitten by that spider. You’ll have to learn your limits all over again.”

Groaning under his breath, Peter threw up his hands in a frustrated manner. “I wasn’t even fully used to where I was before! Now, I have to start all over again, with new stuff on top of that?!” Slow to respond further, the young man inhaled deeply before sighing, and he placed a hand over his forehead, dismayed. “It’s just never enough. When does it stop?”

Lacing his fingers together, Octavious held a stern yet earnest expression. “Try not to look at this as a curse, my boy, but a learning experience. Your gift can be the next step to truly benefit all of mankind. Just give it time, and I believe you will understand. Deep down, I feel you already do.”

Peter opened his mouth, ready to respond, but the door to the lab swung open, causing both individuals to straighten their posture. Afterward, after what seemed like ages, a small dog happily entered the room. Both Peter and Otto let out relieved sighs respectively upon seeing Spike, the canine greeting them before the older man handed him a biscuit discreetly. Suddenly, the door to the lab slammed shut as Twilight stormed into her quarters. She snapped her head in everyone’s direction, revealing bloodshot eyes behind tilted glasses, messy hair, ruffled clothing, gritted teeth, and a pulsating vein at the center of her forehead.

“Geez. What happened to–?” Peter questioned, ducking underneath a wayward book as it flew by his head. He smirked afterward. “Long night at the office, dear?”

Twilight cursed profusely, rummaging through her documents in her room. “Shut up! You picked a fine night to not show up! You could have helped us deal with Spider-Man before he webbed us all up and dragged us to Lord knows where before we were finally freed by those SHIELD agents! I barely got any sleep because of it!”

Tilting his head to the side, Peter folded his arms and huffed. “Hey, I’m just a regular guy. Whose bright idea was it to take on the giant, freaky man-spider? That sounds dumb. Like, really dumb. Besides, I know it had to have been you who cured Spider-Man. You’re all too eager to stab him.”

Exhaling, Twilight found the nearest mirror and glared at her reflection, while struggling to straighten her hair. “I wish. I would have extracted enough DNA to clone him three times over.”

“That sounds like a terrible idea. Wouldn’t one clone be enough?” Peter mumbled, shivering involuntarily. “So, which one of you managed to cure him?”

Twilight slammed her hands against the desk, fuming. “Do I look like I know?! If I did, I’d be asking her how she managed it! Only thing I know is that it wasn’t Pinkie or Rarity. They were captured right before me.”

“Well, process of elimination,” Peter whispered, cupping his chin in the palm of his hand. “It couldn’t be the farm girl. If she suffered a concussion, then she wouldn’t be in the right frame to communicate with anyone. So, that leaves three: Skittles?” he questioned, snorting involuntarily while a brief hint of laughter escaped from his mouth. “Totally not her. She’d want the glory. Like, all of it. So that leaves Sunny and Fluttershy,” he trailed off, humming, “I mean, it sort of makes sense on both ends.”

Eventually, she let out a sigh while straightening her large glasses. “Daydreaming like usual? I guess it’s the one thing you’re consistent with. Doesn’t matter! I assure you that I’m going to catch him one of these days and figure out his genetic or magical makeup! I know Doctor Octavious will support me!”

“O-Of course,” Otto nervously chuckled, straightening his glasses while turning his seat around to avoid eye contact with the girl.

Peter shared a glance with Spike, who only smiled and winked in response before returning to Twilight’s side. Sobering, the young man huffed while pointing a finger in her direction. “Well, good luck. By the way, you and your friends really shouldn’t be spewing this stuff to the public. Do you really want that kind of publicity?”

Twilight snorted, glancing to the side dismissively. “Why would you care anyway? You’re never around. At least, we’re there trying.”

Wincing, Peter shook his head, but he simply sighed, walking across the room before exiting through the door. “Yeah. What would I know?”

Deep within a room, photos of Spider-Man were placed and scattered across a wall. Underneath each were walls of text from news sources and media links. All were notes of speculation, with some bits of text having lines of red circled around them. Suddenly, Kraven emerged from the shadows before placing a pair of fresh pictures at the center of the board, underneath a tack. One was a photo of Man-Spider, its visceral form roaring, and the other was of a silhouette of Spider-Man, swinging in the distance. The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk as he walked across the room with a knife in hand. A cellular device began to ring at the corner of the table, prompting the man to press the button at the center.

“Greetings, Mr. Osborn,” Kraven answered, twirling the blade in hand while never averting his gaze from the spider’s photos.

The sound of tapping could be heard in the background. “I read that the Man-Spider was loose in the city,” a low voice declared, huffing after what seemed like an eternity, “You assured me that you would capture him. What happened?”

Kraven chuckled. “You must not rush perfection, Norman. The spider was wild and uncontrollable. The hunt would not have been satisfactory if I brought you back a beast.”

Norman huffed. “While I appreciate the sentiment, remember that I am paying you handsomely to capture Spider-Man.”

“I am a man of my word, Mr. Osborn. I assure you that I will bring you back the spider. For now, I will practice reconnaissance and collect intel. I shall give you an update over time,” Kraven stated, pressing the disconnect button. Once the screen turned black, the man flipped the knife and gripped its tip before hurling it across the room. The blade pierced the photo of Spider-Man, splitting it in two. Kraven cackled wildly. “We will meet again for the greatest hunt, Spider-Man! Even if I have to mold you into the perfect specimen myself!”

Banners hung throughout the gymnasium, while multicolored lights flashed across the vicinity. Many of the students mingled, conversing as others danced together to the musical tunes playing throughout the speakers. Many were dressed eloquently, with the females garbed in dresses, while the males wore vests. At the corner of the gymnasium, Fluttershy sat alone at a table, with her arms crossed and brow furrowed.

Deep in thought, the girl’s blue gaze narrowed on the ground at nothing in particular. Her long flowing pink hair was curled to perfection, held in place via ponytail by a turquoise ribbon. She wore a matching dress with transparent sleeves, and light reflected off the pair of butterfly-shaped earrings draping daintily over her shoulders. Pursing her lips, the girl reflected inwardly with a light hum.

“I wonder how he is doing? I can only imagine how he feels after what happened,” Fluttershy whispered, glancing to the side. A sense of guilt seemed to have taken hold, evident by her softening gaze. “It was wrong of me to assume that he would come out. Even so, he probably wouldn’t have been interested.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, Fluttershy slowly eased herself to her feet and hoped to leave discreetly. “I should go.”

Unfortunately, before she could hope to make any progress, a group of students approached the girl with phones in hand. At the head of the pack was Diamond Tiara, who paused to giggle mischievously amongst the crowd. Fluttershy looked away, attempting to avoid eye contact with the camera, but she steadily shrank, feeling the pressure of the world upon her shoulders.

“Did you really believe Spider-Man was going to come here? You must be either really dense or stupid! Maybe both!” Diamond giggled, folding her arms while the surrounding students joined in her laughter. Her brow lowered into a glare as she pointed at Fluttershy. “Why would you want him here? What’s stopping that freak from growing six arms and going crazy again? He’s nothing but a menace! People like you need to stop looking at him as some sort of hero! He’ll just let you down!”

Flash watched from afar, frowning as the crowd steadily heckled the girl. Fluttershy opened her mouth, ready to respond, but she bit down on her lip, wincing as the surrounding laughter grew in volume. Tears formed at the corner of her swelling eyes. However, a silhouette’s shadow soon spread across the gymnasium, enveloping the crowd at the door entirely. Everyone peeked up, clamoring upon spotting a man perched at the open window high above their position in a kneeling stance. He leaned forward, revealing his crimson and blue attire along with the white spider insignia over his chest. All despair had dissolved, apparent as Fluttershy’s eyes widened and managed to match her smile.

“Sorry I’m late! My prom invitation got lost in the mail. I’ll have to file a complaint to the postal service,” Spider-Man declared, slowly crawling down along the wall. Many of the spectators stammered nervously, keeping their gazes fixated as the spider’s limbs shifted quickly during his descent. Once he reached ground level, Spider-Man's feet flipped overhead, and his body contorted, bending back into place once he stood upright. His masked eyes furrowed, watching as everyone stared at him intently with both caution and wariness. Spider-Man placed a hand over his mouth and forced a cough. “I know this is prom, so I wore my best. Sadly, I forgot my black-tie at home.”

Slack-jawed, Diamond Tiara pointed at Spider-Man in disbelief. “What are you doing here?! This was supposed to be a pra– Er, I mean, private party!”

“Easy, Jameson Jr. I asked the young lady to the prom, and it’d be downright silly if I didn’t show,” Spider-Man stated, staring at the girl as a vein formed over her cheek. “You know, you have your uncle’s eyes… and high blood pressure.”

Fuming, the girl’s face flushed to a hot shade of pink. “You’re not welcome here! Someone should call the police and have you hauled off!”

One of the students nodded, sliding their finger over the screen of their phone. Yet, just as he readied to dial a number, a shadow engulfed his being. Flash towered over the group of students, cracking his knuckles in his palm. Soon, he shifted his gaze towards the other students, shaking his head disapprovingly while retrieving an open container.

Diamond could only watch as everyone quietly heeded the young man’s warning, surrendering their cellular devices before returning to the party. After a brief minute, the container was full of phones. Flash nodded his approval, pausing once a thought came into mind, and he extended the plastic case towards Diamond, shuffling it suggestively mere inches from her. Holding a defeated glare, the girl whined under her breath before tossing the item away. As she walked away in a huff, Flash slid the case underneath the nearest table holding a bowl of punch.

Fluttershy smiled warmly, holding both hands over her chest. “Thank you, Eugene.”

“Don’t mention it,” Flash stated, chuckling as he centered his line of sight on the costumed individual. “You saved the day again. I don’t care what anyone says. You’re one of the good guys.”

Spider-Man scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Uh, thanks. I’m not the most popular guy in town right now, so it really helps hearing that.” Nodding, he pointed at Fluttershy with his thumb while grinning. “I believe I owe the beautiful gal here a dance. Do you mind?”

Without having to say a word further, Flash gestured a friendly wave before straightening his posture and snapping a stern gaze on a group of onlookers. Everyone winced in the process, scattering to the far ends of the room. Meanwhile, Diamond Tiara watched Spider-Man gently take Fluttershy’s hand and escorted her to the center of the room. She gritted her teeth to the core, pulling at her lavender hair from behind the bleachers. The pair stood in silence, but Fluttershy leaned forward, smiling as she patiently waited for his first word.

“I should have known it was you,” he whispered, causing the girl to giggle sheepishly.

Fluttershy bit down on her lip. “You shouldn’t have had to worry. I’m just happy that you are safe.”

“Thanks to you,” Spider-Man gently stated, his voice wavering. Even with his masked lenses, one could sense his line of sight failed to meet hers. “I don’t know what to say. Heck, what can I say? I was a monster last night. For all I know, you still think I’m one now. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

“I don’t,” Fluttershy simply declared, taking hold of Spider-Man’s hand with both of her own. “You weren’t trying to hurt anybody last night, and everyone’s okay now. I know who you really are. So, please, don’t worry, Pe–”

Spider-Man’s finger gently slid over the girl’s soft lips, ceasing her words. “Trust me. I heard you the first time.”

Fluttershy blinked at the statement as her mind attempted to piece together his meaning. Her face glowed once memories of last night resurfaced, of a girl calling out to a lost monster, and amidst the darkness, it clung to his name. On the other end, reality settled in, and the young man was left with the realization that yet another had discovered his secret. While he hadn’t confirmed or denied it, Spider-Man basked in a warm sensation that swelled deep within.

Cold apathy dissolved, allowing an alien feeling to take its place for the first time since he donned his alter-ego’s persona: relief. Unfortunately, like all good things in his life, time continued and life pressed on as the sounds of police sirens echoed in the distance from outside. Spider-Man’s masked eyes widened as he stared at the girl, but Fluttershy’s smile remained intact while she nodded, placing a hand over his shoulder. They knew, listening only to their hearts.

Just as Spider-Man turned, ready to depart, he gestured a thumbs up. “Do you have time for a photo?”

Slow to respond as her fuzzy brain cleared, Fluttershy feverishly nodded before rushing to where she previously sat. The girl fumbled about hastily, struggling to retrieve her phone from within her purse. Staggering while her feet scampered, she rushed to Flash and quickly explained her dilemma.

However, Eugene held a knowing smile before accepting the item, pecking at its screen while the pair awkwardly stood together. Once Flash found the proper settings, Spider-Man’s mask eyes squinted while resembling glee. He raised, bending his fingers as if ready to shoot his webbing, and Fluttershy giggled uncontrollably, mirroring his action. Flash soon took the photo, saving the image to the device before giving it back to the girl.

Content, Spider-Man sprinted across the gymnasium and burst through the double doors. Leaping with all of his might, he soared across the sky and practically glided for several meters before he fired a strand of webbing onto the side of the nearest building. Fluttershy watched his image fade into the distance, pausing to steal a glance at the new photo within her phone. An overwhelming sense of happiness filled her being, causing the girl’s face to burn a bright shade of pink. If anything, the horrors of last night had become all but a distant memory, evident by the joyous posture both her and Spider-Man shared in the moment.

“See you tomorrow,” she whispered, smiling while holding a hand over her thumping heart.

“Biology is the science. Evolution is the concept that makes biology unique.” -Jared Diamond

The End

Ch. 1: "Interconnection and Manifestation"

Chapter One “Interconnection and Manifestation”

Ditzy obliviously rocked in place, humming while Aria rolled her eyes. Trixie energetically nodded before stepping onto the top of the table. “You should have seen it! Parker came off like a man possessed. I’ve never seen him act so aggressively,” she exclaimed, pausing to shrug her shoulders. “Then he ran off. I haven’t seen him since.”

Aria crossed her arms, frowning as her gaze lowered. “Ever since the end of the Friendship Games, he’s really been on edge. It’s gotten so bad that he’s practically jumping at his own shadow.”

“Maybe he’s hungry?” Ditzy innocently questioned, reaching into her backpacket before retrieving a small blueberry muffin from within. The sweet fume exuded from the open pocket while the blonde tilted her head to the side. “I made him a fresh batch. Hopefully he doesn’t miss out on it.”

Snorting involuntarily, Aria shook her head while her face twisted. “That’s another thing. He’s eating way more than usual. I mean, even for him.” A sensation coursed through her chest, causing the siren to shudder involuntarily. Her stoic demeanor faltered, evident by her lowering shoulders. “I don’t like it.”

Trixie huffed, waving a hand dismissively. “Speak for yourself. I almost prefer him not to be a total doormat. The Great and Powerful Trixie could use a minion with some grit.” She glanced to the side at Snips and Snails, groaning as both boys raised their arms and attempted to flex their muscles. They strained to hold their respective poses before collapsing in place, rubbing at their sore and slim arms. Trixie could only exhale as her frown deepened. “Ugh! At least Parker does compensate for his lack of muscle with intelligence.” Like lightning to a rod, a realization struck Trixie’s mind with force as her eyes widened. “Ah! Trixie’s nearly forgotten her Physics assignment! Parker hasn’t been around to assist me with that!”

As Trixie reached for her phone and pecked at its screen aggressively, Ditzy lightly hummed. “Oh. Peter hasn’t been picking up his phone either.”

“What do I even pay you for, bumpkins?!” Trixie exhaled, clutching at her phone until she groaned in protest.

Stammering, Snips blinked dumbly. “Are we actually getting paid for this?”

Snails glanced to the side, scratching a finger through his messy hair. “Not that I’m aware of.”

Trixie’s brow twitched violently before she threw her hands high over head. “Stop gawking, you bumbling buffoons!” She pointed a finger past the pair, huffing sharply. “Go find Parker this instant!”

Snips and Snails hastily turned, slamming into each other before eventually departing the scene. Aria dismissed the scene with a shrug. “Well, I’ve noticed that Peter seems to answer his phone only for his job.” Her brow furrowed as she tapped a finger against her forearm. “I’ve even noticed that his mood completely sinks when he makes it home. There’s something going on there that’s causing him to stress out.” Pausing, Aria turned her attention to the blonde. “What do you think, Ditzy?”

No answer was given as Ditzy chewed upon the muffin she had originally made for Peter, humming obliviously. She soon felt Aria’s gaze fixated on her mid-chew, pausing to share a glance. “Huh?”

Exasperated, Aria slammed her hand over her forehead. “Never mind.”

Before anyone could respond further, Sunset steadily approached the group with a sharpened gaze. Ditzy waved to the redhead, blinking upon settling her line of sight on her heavily bandaged hand. Trixie seemingly remained oblivious as she continued to peck away at her phone. Once a few feet away, Sunset focused solely on Aria while her back faced the others. Yet, the siren seemed disinterested, apparent as she dismissively scratched a finger behind her earlobe.

“Can we talk alone?” Sunset questioned, rubbing at her sore hand.

Aria huffed, glancing at the redhead from the corner of her eyes. “Whatever you’ve got to say can be talked about in front of everyone else.” Huffing, the siren turned her head away. “I can barely tolerate you with everyone around. What makes you think I want to be alone with you while you’re in such a mood?” A bemused glare formed on her features as she shrugged. “I normally wouldn’t mind feeding on your negativity, but I like you so little that I’d rather starve than have any part of you in me.”

Trixie blinked, alternating her gaze between the girls as they glared at each other. “Did, um, Trixie miss something?”

“Oh, these two are always like this. They just keep it to themselves whenever Peter is around,” Ditzy clamored matter-of-factly, raising a finger objectively.

Blinking, Trixie frowned before forcefully clearing her throat. “Of course. Trixie was aware of that. It’s just not my place to pry.”

Ditzy’s eyes softened as she edged closer to the redhead. “How’d you hurt your hand?”

Sunset lowered her hand behind her back, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing. I was just a little clumsy.” Sobering, Sunset’s brow lowered until her gaze matched that of a glare as she shifted her focus back onto the siren. “Fine. I’ll just ask you. Are you manipulating Peter?”

“Huh?” Ditzy clamored, tilting her head to the side.

Trixie soon mirrored the blonde’s reaction, arching a brow. “I beg your pardon?”

Aria scoffed as she stood from her seat, marching until she was mere inches from Sunset. “You’ve got some nerve. The guy has an attitude, and you automatically assume that I’m the cause of it?” Inhaling deeply, Aria released a harsh sigh from her mouth. “I still feed on negative emotions, but I can’t control a person anymore. You and your friends made sure of that.”

Taken aback, Trixie awkwardly glanced to the side. “Is this an A-B conversation because I can see myself out…”

Ditzy hummed, raising a finger. “I thought it was make like a tree and leave?”

“Matter of fact, Peter is comfortable talking with me about his issues, but he still keeps you out of the loop. I wonder why that is?” Aria harshly stated, growling under her breath.

“So you admit that you can take advantage of him whenever you want?” Sunset declared, causing Aria’s glare to deepen. Sunset held her stance.“You two are living together, and he hasn’t been the same since.”

Blinking, Aria pointed a finger at the redhead. “The same? Stop talking like you know him and projecting! Out of everyone here, you hang with us the least, and half of your friends don’t have a good thing to say about him!” Raising her hands defensively, Aria scoffed while easing back into her stoic demeanor. “Look. He’s been on edge lately, and I couldn’t tell you why. Even if I could, I wouldn’t tell you spit. Use your own head for once, or did you forget about your little epiphany during the Friendship Games?”

Sunset reached out, snatching Aria by her collar. “You watch your mouth,” she growled, causing both Trixie and Ditzy to wince in response. However, the siren’s expression had not shifted from its stoic form. After what seemed like an eternity, Sunset frowned while glancing to the side. As if realizing her error, the girl relinquished her hold and let out a low sigh. “What am I even doing? You’re right. I’m sorry, Aria. I’m not the best at showing it, but I am really worried about Peter.”

“At least you’re trying, so I’ll let it slide this time,” Aria muttered, turning before departing the vicinity. Her eyes softened as she gazed skyward. “And as for Peter? That makes two of us.”

Spitfire’s brow twitched as she eyed the golden medal in her lap. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Otto nodded, oblivious as he alternated his gaze between a pair of vials as the contents within boiled. “Why, yes. Principal Celestia insisted that I deliver it to you personally. She says it found its way back into her office three times.”

“I keep giving it back because I don’t want it!” Spitfire barked, shaking her head. Slamming the trinket down onto the nearest table, the woman’s face twisted with disgust as she held out her hands objectively. “I wasn’t a part of the games, and it’s condescending that they give me a medal of all people!” She smacked the arm of her wheelchair repeatedly, exasperated. “I’m handi-capable and all, but I don’t need anyone patronizing me!”

Smirking, Otto took hold of a pencil before etching notes onto the nearest pad. “You sound like Peter. He’s been beside himself ever since the students were given those medals.” The man pointed the end of his pencil to the side, aiming at a metallic object stuck to the side of a cabinet. “He even went so far as to turn his into a magnet out of spite. Needless to say that Twilight didn’t appreciate it when he bolted it to her locker. Now she can’t seem to remove it.” Stifling his own laughter with a cough, Otto’s lips trembled as they struggled to remain straight. “Nevertheless, I was quite surprised how colorful young Twilight’s vocabulary could be.”

Spitfire chuckled under her breath. “I’m actually glad to hear that I’m not the only one who felt this way. I mean, when I competed, we got creamed by Crystal Prep, and I still wouldn’t want a handout.”

“As a scientist, it is only natural that Parker is a man of pride and merit,” Otto declared, nodding slightly. Suddenly, the door to the room swung open before a being staggered into the vicinity. Otto shot up from his seat, furrowing his brow, but he inhaled sharply once the image cleared, revealing Peter collapsing to the floor. The man ran up to his pupil as he laid prone in a fetal position, clutching at his eyes. “My word! Peter!” he exclaimed, pausing upon catching sight of his student’s fangs and glowing crimson eyes. “Egad! It’s spreading faster than I thought.”

Spitfire rolled to their position, attempting to peek over Otto’s shoulder. “What’s going on? Are you okay, Pete?”

Otto raised an arm, attempting to shield Peter’s face from the woman’s viewpoint. “You must keep your distance, Miss Spitfire. Peter is not well.”

Peter shook his head, holding a hand over his eyes. “Spitfire already knows, Doc. She’s fine.” The statement seemed to have calmed Otto, evident by his lowered shoulders. Slow to respond, Otto blinked upon sharing a glance with Spitfire. However, Peter continued to hiss under his breath, freeing Octavious from his self-induced trance. Peter strained as he slurred. “ Everything’s… spinning. It’s the light. It’s so bright. I can barely see straight.”

“Photophobia?” Otto questioned, furrowing his brow before gently removing his thick shades from his own face. He offered the eye wear to the young man, prompting him to accept the gesture. Otto hummed, furrowing his brow as he rubbed at his chin with a hand. “No. I know for most spiders, light disorients their natural sense of direction. It’s just another side effect of your growing mutation.”

Spitfire shook her head and lifted Peter’s shades briefly, revealing his crimson irises before dropping them back into place. “Mutation?” she questioned, wincing upon catching sight of the young man’s fangs. “That explains why you were acting weirder than usual in P.E. Are you okay?”

Peter groaned, pulling himself to a chair before lowering into a slouched position. “Bad question, Spitfire.”

“Well, tell me a good one to ask. I’m a tech-geek, admittedly. Biology isn’t my forte,” the woman groaned with a furrowed brow. Glancing to the side, Spitfire turned her attention towards Dr. Octavious as he retook a seat at the table across the room. “What’s going on with him?”

Otto etched more notes onto the paper, trailing off as he chewed on its eraser. “I’m in the process of deciphering that. From what I gather, the spider that bit Peter was an experiment of Oscorp’s, and its DNA signature was laced with well over a dozen variants of arachnids and radiation.”

“Radioactive spider blood?” Spitfire questioned, crossing her arms. “Something like that should have affected him way sooner. Sure, it absolutely did, but why are the physical things happening now?” Stammering, Spitfire tapped a finger against her thigh. “Is his blood really radioactive? Why didn’t this just kill him from the get-go? I’m sure radiation would kill a normal person or leave them heavily deformed?”

Easing into his seat, Otto turned his chair around until he faced the woman and boy. “That is a great question. I asked myself the same thing. I’m certain Peter’s age has a lot to do with it as well as other stipulations.” He waved a finger objectively, nodding. “A normal teenager’s body is already undergoing such drastic changes, physically and psychologically. In Peter’s case, adding such changes is just par for the course. As far as his body can recognize, this is just normal development, and even then, he is extremely fortunate.”

Pursing her lips, Spitfire glanced to the side. “Hey, Pete. How did you feel the day you were bitten by that spider?”

Peter straightened the large shades over his face, humming briefly. “I mean, the bite did hurt like hell and left a golf ball sized knot on my hand. I ended up just going home after that. Outside of a fever, I was fine.” He held out a hand, waving it. “When I woke up, everything was fine. Well actually, I went to the doctor, and they said I was dying. My aunt and uncle thought I was having an allergic reaction. So we went back the next day, and everything had checked out. My hand had healed and everything else was… better.”

“What do you mean?” Spitfire asked, arching a brow.

“He adapted,” Otto reaffirmed, etching a line onto the pad. “His body accepted the change. My original hypothesis was correct. He very well could have died, but Peter prevailed in the genetic lottery.”

Slow to respond, Peter huffed. “Exactly. I was better. I didn’t need my glasses anymore, and I put on thirty pounds of muscle overnight. The only drawback was that my senses were cranked up to eleven in comparison. Those first couple of days were rough, but I managed to tune everything out until I could get a grip.”

“Just as I thought. Metamorphosis,” Otto whispered, turning the knobs underneath the vials until fumes steadily escaped from the boiling contents. “To further cement my point, if Peter were any younger or older when his body was not in mid or post development, I fear he would not have survived the process.” He trailed off, furrowing his brow. “Just like the day that the spider bit him, his DNA is evolving at a rapid pace. Now it is entering the second stage: manifestation. The spider’s genetics are beginning to overlap that of your human biology.”

Peter lifted his head while holding his hand out. “Is there anything that can be done, Doc?”

Clearing his throat, Otto nodded. “You are to go home and rest, my boy. Because you were generous with your blood samples, I was able to pinpoint your DNA signature before…” he hummed, trailing off as Spitfire’s eyes began to glaze over with a mixture of confusion and bewilderment. The man stammered about briefly before straightening his posture. “I will spare you the details for now. Just know that I am in the process of creating a serum that will stabilize your condition. It will prioritize your human genetics and amplify them with the spider-DNA instead of overwriting it.”

“How long until it’s ready?” Peter questioned, his posture lifting from its slump.

Otto reached into his pocket, retrieving a second pair of shades. “Just a little under forty-eight hours.” Using a cloth, the man wiped all dust from the eyewear before placing them over his face. “Until then, I suggest you go home and simply rest. Once the formula is ready, I will come to you and administer it personally. I would have you wait here, but with young Twilight Sparkle working, we wouldn’t be able to conceal your secret. I’d say return here tomorrow.” Pursing his lips, Otto haplessly shrugged. “I’ll get in touch with Twilight and have her stay at my home with my wife. We can say that the lab is under renovation and we get your situation under control.”

Before anyone could respond, Spike eased out of Twilight’s room and yawned, stretching his limbs. He soon paused upon glancing at the trio with a sleepy gaze. Suddenly, the dog’s eyes widened as a dangerous scent entered his nose, sending his mind into an upheaval. All friendliness left Spike’s demeanor as he snarled and barked madly at Peter. He charged forth, ready to pounce on the young man, but Otto casually reached out, capturing the animal in his arms before he could reach Peter.

“Case in point,” Otto nonchalantly declared, easing the dog back into Twilight’s office before shutting its door behind him.

Just as Peter stood, Spitfire reached up and gently placed a hand over his shoulder. “How about you head home in costume? Makes hiding what is happening to you a little easier. I can escort you home if you’d like?”

“No thanks. I’ll be okay,” Peter mumbled, walking into the nearest room behind everyone’s position. Near instantly, he sped out in his full heroic attire and skidded to a halt upon reaching the exit door. Peter straightened his mask and held a hand over his throbbing forehead, exhaling as his lenses squinted. “I originally made the suit to help dial back my senses, but it feels like it's not enough now. If my senses were cranked up to eleven, I can say they’re dialed up to thirty by now.”

Otto huffed, turning his attention back to the vials. “Which is why I stand by my previous statement. Go home, Peter. I promise that you will see the light again at the end of this dark tunnel.” Once Peter seemingly nodded and exited the building, Otto sobered while caressing his temples with his fingers. He scrolled through the notes written on the page over the table before nodding. “Just weather the storm as best you can, my boy.”

Fluttershy inhaled deeply before letting out a low sigh. As her teacher briefed the class on tomorrow’s assignment, the girl sat with her attention centered on her open diary. She steadily sketched a pair of images alongside each other. One was of Spider-Man standing upright, and the other was of the man that fought by his side at the Friendship Games, resembling Captain America to a degree. Images flashed throughout Fluttershy’s mind as she recollected that night, separating from her friends momentarily to catch a closer glimpse of the stranger as he dealt with the monster Twilight summoned.

Blinking, Fluttershy hummed inwardly as she added details to the man’s beard on her sketch. “I still can’t believe that Spider-Man wants to go to the dance with me. I have no idea who he is,and I hope he has enough time to spare. He does go to Canterlot High.” She paused, lifting her gaze briefly before resting her chin in the palm of her hand. “Twilight has said that she married Spider-Man in her world, and the one that came here wasn’t the same as hers. But could they still be the same person? What would he even look like?

She trailed off as a realization came into mind, evident by her lowered brow. “Wait.” The girl shifted her line of sight to the side, narrowing her gaze on the doodle of the older Spider-Man. With a furrowed brow, Fluttershy frowned. “Twilight did say that her Spider-Man didn’t have a beard. So I wonder… ” she whispered, taking her pencil in hand before lowering its eraser. The girl slid the plastic over the sketch repeatedly until a detail had been erased. Soon afterward, Fluttershy’s eyes widened at the image of the other Spider-Man without his beard. Nodding, she etched onto his short hair and increased its length ever so slightly. The girl inhaled sharply. “But that’s…!”

The image soon resembled a fellow classmate, specifically that of a friend of Sunset’s. “Peter Parker? Is that right?” Lifting her gaze, Fluttershy looked around to ensure nobody had accidentally heard her. Once in the clear, the girl pursed her lips while staring intently at her sketches. “Peter is about the right height. Could he…?”

The school bell chimed, freeing the girl from her self-induced trance. As the surrounding students stood from their seats, Fluttershy hastily closed her diary before tossing everything into her backpack. Once enough of the student body had departed from the classroom, the girl slowly exited as well with her hands clutching at her bag’s straps. Her thoughts ran rampant, recollecting the last conversation she shared with the masked vigilante. His poise was awkward yet modest, in spite of his heroic nature, and Peter’s demeanor was practically the same, revealed when he folded upon meeting Rainbow and the others.

Fluttershy shook her head, freeing the images from her train of thought. “I-I have to be sure.” Nodding inwardly, the girl shifted into a light jog as she traversed through the hallway. “I’ll talk with him and find out.”

The moon rose amidst the dark sky as everyone began to settle into their abodes. Peter crawled into the sanction of his bedroom through the window, collapsing to the floor afterward. He clutched at his sides, groaning as his hands rubbed feverishly over the knots protruding. Slowly but surely, Peter managed to drag himself across the floor before tossing himself onto his bed.

Sinking into the mattress, the young man removed his mask and tossed it to the side. His thoughts faded in a blur while his cranium buzzed uncontrollably. Try as he might, Peter’s bloodshot eyes fluttered shut before he steadily yielded to unconsciousness. However, like lightning to a rod, a bolt of pain shot through his midsection.

Peter rolled off the side with his arms clutching at his sides, tumbling to the floor. He groaned, shaking his head madly as his voice grew distorted. Suddenly, a pair of appendages ripped their way through Peter’s costume, revealing a pair of arms. Before the young man could respond, another set of limbs jettisoned into sight, and Peter stood, slack-jawed as his six arms flailed about madly while knocking over everything in their range.

His breathing grew erratic as he stumbled across the room. Sweat poured from his forehead as a tearing pain seared through his skull. Soon, an exoskeleton protruded from the upper and lower half of his cranium. Peter burst into the bathroom, knocking the door off its hinges, but he pressed on, reaching the sink. All six of his arms clutched at the washbowl, ripping the marble piece from its foundation before crushing it to shards in his grasp. Just as he lifted his gaze into the mirror, a horrible sight stood within the reflection. Dark hair grew over his skin as the bones in his body shifted.

“No!” Peter screamed as everything faded to black, his cries falling to pure anguish. “Noooo—!!!”

To be continued…