//------------------------------// // Ch. 5: Best of the Best // Story: Ultimate Spiders and Magic: Episode I "New Beginnings" // by Maximus_Reborn //------------------------------// Chapter Five “Best of the Best” Night had taken hold, evident by the stars glowing across the darkened sky. Spider-Man sat on the edge of a rooftop in a knelt stance, watching as many of the citizens of the city retreated for the evening. While some stayed out, it was considerably smaller in scale when compared to New York, but it was not a fair comparison, seeing that his former home town was one of the largest in the country. At his altitude, the citizens resembled ants, but Spider-Man stood upright, nodding upon knowing at least the people would be out of danger. “I just hope this works. For all intents and purposes, Spitfire’s got no obligation to meet me here. She could go and attack Oscorp while I sit here. All I’ve got is her word,” Peter whispered inwardly, folding his arms. He lowered his gaze before letting out a sigh. “I’ve given her the benefit of the doubt so far, and she’s done the same with me. It’s the only reason why the FBI hasn’t stormed my house yet. I just hope this doesn’t bite me in the butt later on.” Suddenly, a being soared into view and landed mere inches away from the young man. Small tremors coursed through the ground, but Vulture straightened her posture, lowering her arms and feathers to the side. Spider-Man watched the woman with a furrowed gaze, waiting on the senses within his cranium to react. However, no such thing happened while Vulture pecked away at buttons on the keyboard hidden underneath a compartment on her armored wrist. “I’m surprised you actually showed up. And here I thought chivalry was dead,” Vulture stated, her voice still distorted. Inhaling deeply before exhaling, the woman continued to type at her pad. “So... we’re fighting?” Spider-Man shook his head before raising a hand. “Hold on. I want to know something first. What are you planning to do to Oscorp? It obviously has something to do with whatever you’ve been stealing.” Slow to respond, Vulture quietly stared at the young man for what seemed like an eternity. “Simple. I’m going to blow them sky high,” she coldly declared, ceasing her typing before retrieving a small metallic ball from one of the pouches on her belt. “Explosives. This little ball packs enough punch to level a small building. With the chemicals I’ve stolen, their output velocity increased tenfold. Placed in the right areas, a handful of these bombs can even cause a big building like Oscorp to come tumbling down like a ton of bricks.” “You can’t be serious,” Peter murmured, his voice shakened. Vulture placed the bomb back in her pouch, sharply pointing at the masked individual. “It’s just the start! I’ll take Oscorp down in this town and do the same to the rest across the country! Even if I never take them down completely, I’ll be the biggest gnat to ever gnaw away at their wallet.” Spider-Man walked up to the woman, shaking his head furiously as he reached out to place a hand over the woman’s shoulder. “You can’t be serious! There are so many other options than that! I mean, ways that don’t involve you using explosives like a terrorist!” Releasing a harsh scoff, Vulture slapped Spider-Man’s hand away. “I’m done talking! If you’re going to try and stop me, bring it on! I should have known you were too soft to understand.” The mechanisms in her suit whirred to life as she took a defensive stance. “If you get killed this time, it’s your own fault!” Just as Vulture leapt forward with her talons raised, Spider-Man held his hands out in a pleading manner. “Hold on! One last thing!” he exclaimed, forcing the woman to stop in her tracks. Vulture let out a frustrated groan, holding her extended talon mere inches away from Spider-Man’s face. Peter could only let out a relieved sigh once his sixth sense quelled. “Can you cut that any closer? I really don’t want to hurt you.” “Stop stalling already and talk!” Vulture roared, her voice echoing throughout the night sky. Once the tremors under his feet ceased, Spider-Man cleared his throat. “You know, you’re probably the only person who wants me to keep talking. It’s a little weird.” Seeing Vulture’s talon tighten into a fist prompted Peter to clear his throat. “Anyway. Yeah. I’m taking you down, but not in a fight. I wanna challenge you to an aerial showdown! A race! With style!” Taken aback, Vulture stammered with her head falling into a tilt. “What? Are you serious?” Peter pointed to the side. “Your documentaries always talked about how you were unmatched. You hold several records in this region in track and gymnastics. Even in the air, you couldn’t be touched. By your admission, that’s what you set out to do. You wanted to prove you were the best!” Chuckling, Peter pointed a thumb at his chest confidently. “I want to challenge that! If you can beat me, I’ll leave you alone; you’re free to do whatever you want with Oscorp. But if I win, I want you to give up this ridiculous crusade.” Scoffing, Vulture chuckled under her breath. She paced in place, placing both hands over her hips. “That’s pretty ballsy, dude. What makes you think you can keep up with me or this suit? I knocked you out while holding back. It increases my strength twenty-fold, and with my reflexes, I’m as swift as a bird. Unrestrained, you don’t stand a chance.” Spider-Man folded his arms and huffed. “So you say. I personally think you are using that thing as a crutch. I don’t know if you’ve still got it.” A low distorted growl escaped from Vulture as she glanced to the side. She paused to stare at her glove deeply. “A crutch…” she whispered, her voice seething with anger. With a visceral snarl, Spitfire threw a fist into her open palm, causing a loud clang to echo through the vicinity. “You just dug your own grave. You’re on!” Peter could only let out a relieved sigh. “Okay. So, how are we doing this?” Vulture walked to the edge of the building, pausing before pointing at a water tower several streets away. “We start at the water tower and will work our way through town until we reach the central clock tower. After that, stick to Main Street until we reach the edge of the forest.” She sharply pointed at Spider-Man. “You’ve proven you can take a punch. It’s a no-holds barred race to the finish. We can use whatever gadgets necessary. So, if you lose, that’s it. Deal?” Nodding, Spider-Man gave a thumbs up. “Deal.” He leapt high into the air, landing on the nearest rooftop before running towards the water tower. “Glad she took the bait. Glad she’s as prideful as I thought. Now, I just have to make sure I win,” he whispered, leaping mid-jog before landing perfectly at the top of the water tower. He lowered into a squat as the Vulture soared next to his position, hovering in midair. Spider-Man leaned forward and pressed both hands against the container. “Ready?” “Set!” Vulture stated, raising her arms and wings. “Go!” Spider-Man leapt forward, shooting out a strand of webbing onto the side of the nearest building before descending into a deep swing. Vulture pulled her arms back, speeding into a free fall, and she spread her wings, allowing the wind to aid in her ascent. Her thruster roared before erupting, increasing the woman’s speed as she raced past her opponent. Spider-Man extended both hands and fired a pair of strands of webbing out, latching them onto the edge of a rooftop in the distance. With a firm yank, Peter flipped forward, and once he reached the building, he held his hands out, managing to hurl his momentum skyward in a diving motion. Spider-Man flipped high over Vulture’s body, tapping the top of her head before taking the lead. Spitfire’s eyes widened at the sight under her visor as Peter pulled his knees to his chest, resembling a ball while performing several rolls in midair. Just as he neared the ground, Spider-Man unleashed a strand of webbing and rode its momentum in a deep swing. “He’s making me look stupid! Time to play rough then,” Spitfire growled, speeding forward with her talon raised. She slashed the webbing Spider-Man held onto, sending him into a spiral. Just as he readied to land on the roof of a nearby, Vulture sped forward and slammed her shoulder into his chest. A loud crack echoed throughout the vicinity before the force of the blow launched Spider-Man, sending him crashing into the nearest stone wall. Shards of brick scattered from the impact as Peter was embedded into the building. Vulture continued onward, racing towards the water tower. “That was rude,” Spider-Man groaned, shaking the cobwebs from his cranium. He pried himself free, unleashing a strand of webbing before resuming his swinging. Vulture reached the water tower, touching its top. However, as she readied to resume her flight, a ball of webbing struck her chest and expanded upon impact. She strained, struggling to free her limbs from her torso. Suddenly, Spider-Man dove with his legs fully extended and drove a fierce kick into the woman. A distorted grunt escaped from Vulture as she was sent flying, shattering a wall of glass behind her position. Spider-Man turned around and jumped onto the top of the water tower, speeding into a free fall afterward. Vulture snapped back to a standing position, releasing a loud distorted roar as she ripped her arms free of the webbing. Slamming her fist into the ground with enough force to crack the stone, Spitfire snarled. “That’s enough!” The thrusters on Vulture’s frame roared, igniting with potent velocity. An explosive bang echoed loudly as the woman sped through the skies like a bullet. Spider-Man’s masked eyes widened as his sixth sense blared. He turned his head at the sight of Vulture racing towards him, unable to react as she tackled him from midair. The pair struggled while Vulture’s talons clawed away at Spider-Man’s head before they crashed through a billboard, sending shards of metal flying about. Never losing momentum, Vulture reared her second talon back, but as she swung, Spider-Man shot a ball of webbing onto the woman’s visor. She instinctively clutched at the gossamer in an attempt to free her vision. Peter climbed onto Vulture’s shoulders, gripping her wings before pulling them back. The pair soon began to ascend, flying above most of the buildings in the city. Spider-Man inhaled sharply upon seeing a forest in the distance. They were fast approaching the finish line. Vulture managed to rip the webbing free from her visor before snatching a hold of Spider-Man’s wrist. Shaking his head defiantly, Peter used his free hand to punch the back of Spitfire’s armor repeatedly. With each blow, the metal gave away and dent under the pressure. Soon, Vulture began to spiral into a rapid descent for the ground, yet she never relinquished her hold, pulling Peter into a stranglehold. Spider-Man glanced at the fast approaching ground from the side of his eye. Gripping both of Vulture’s wrist gauntlets, Peter squeezed his hands until the armor groaned in protest. With a snap, the steel shattered, and Spider-Man lifted his knee, driving into the armored chin of Spitfire’s helmet. Her head snapped back, causing the woman to lose her hold. Spider-Man raised a hand, firing a strand of webbing onto a street light, and he pulled himself free, swinging until he reached the outskirts of the forest. He landed gracefully on both feet, nodding inwardly upon claiming victory. Mere meters behind him, Vulture lifted her hands helplessly before crashing into the earth, generating a shockwave on impact. A cloud of dust and dirt spread from the crater and into the sky. Once everything settled, Spider-Man ran towards the crater and slid to the bottom. Spitfire let out a pained groan before struggling to turn onto her back, collapsing entirely. She managed to free her helmet from her head before tossing it to the side. Labored breaths escaped from the woman as she glanced at Spider-Man. “That was pretty good. You… really have what it takes,” she weakly declared, biting down on her lip. A saddened gaze filled her eyes as she choked back a sob, staring longingly at the star-patterned sky above. “What the hell am I doing? How could I let it get this bad?” Spider-Man lowered next to the woman, taking a knee. “When you lose everything, you lose sight. I know what that’s like.” Spitfire paused as Peter removed his mask, revealing a softened gaze. “I lost my uncle recently because of a bad choice. Now, I just want to make amends and do what’s right. He always said ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ It’s not too late for you.” Slow to respond, Spitfire could only stare at the young man before frowning. “How do you bounce back from something like this? I can’t even stand… let alone walk.” “You still have your mind,” Peter stated without a hint of hesitation. Spitfire’s eyes widened at the comment before the boy held a finger against the side of his head. “You have a gift for intelligence. You found a way to become stronger and faster than your physical prime because of what you were able to create with your mind.” Peter nodded inwardly. “I was able to bounce back from my Uncle Ben’s passing thanks to my Aunt May and some friends. With the right support cast, you can do the same.” Spitfire’s eyes continued to water and her lower lip quivered. “Friends, huh? I shut myself out from everyone after the accident. Everyone was always proud of what I did physically. No one ever complimented me for what I did mentally.” She stared at the young man, sniffling. “Until now.” “Sometimes, it takes us to lose something precious in order for us to realize the gifts we still have,” Peter gently reassured, placing his hand over Spitfire’s. “Your intellect can be used to help yourself and those around you. I think you just need to reapply yourself. I can help you. Besides...” he trailed off, managing a smile, “...despite it all, I still think you’re still a pretty rad gym coach.” Snorting, Spitfire chuckled before wincing in pain. A stream of tears rolled down her cheek, but she held a smile in spite of her struggle. “You’re such a dork.” She weakly reached at her belt, pulling its pouch free. The woman extended it to Peter, prompting the young man to accept the item. Before long, Spitfire let out a groggy exhale as her eyes fluttered shut. Yielding to unconsciousness, her hand fell to the side. Peter slowly pulled himself back to an upright stance, standing over the woman. However, his eyes softened upon sighting that Spitfire’s smile remained intact even as she lay devoid of consciousness. Peter shook his head, letting out a low sigh before pulling his mask back on. “Sorry.” “Good work, Spider-Man,” a firm voice declared from behind, causing Peter to glance in its direction. Nick Fury stepped from the shadows with his hands in his coat’s pockets. An entourage of armed men and women followed behind the man, only moving forward once he nodded. “SHIELD will take things from here.” Spider-Man watched as the guards tended to Spitfire before returning his line of sight to Fury. “You were keeping an eye on her the entire time?” “Of course. She was on our radar once she stole from us. I just wanted to see how you’d handle it,” Fury stated, ever stoic. He shook his head, scoffing. “There were a lot of choices you made that were questionable, but I can’t argue with the results. Just be warned that you can’t always appeal to everyone’s humanity.” Peter offered the pouch to Fury. “It’s not all her fault. She was dealt a bad hand. Oscorp really messed her up, you know?” Fury took hold of the pouch, eyeing down the contents within. “Sure, but it doesn’t excuse her breaking the law. If you didn’t step in, she would have caused a lot of collateral damage or worse.” “I’m not excusing what she did or planned to do. I just…” Spider-Man whispered, trailing off once the SHIELD agents had extracted Spitfire from her armor and placed her onto a stretcher. He returned his gaze to Fury as they escorted her away. “Please go easy on her. Spitfire’s not a bad person. She just needs help.” Rolling his eye, Fury scowled. “You’re a naive kid.” The older man stared at the boy for what seemed like an eternity, both failing to waver. Exasperated, Fury brought his fingers between his eyes and grumbled. “No promises. Now, go home, kid.” As if satisfied with the answer, Spider-Man nodded before venturing off. As he swung off on a strand of webbing, Fury watched with a blank stare, but once Peter was out of view, his grim facade faded in the form of a small smile. “Not bad, kid.” Deep within the walls of Oscorp, a man sat behind the desk with a knowing smile. “Well, it seems Spider-Man took care of our Vulture problem.” He straightened his tie before brushing a hand through his light red and brown hair. “Where is she now?” An older man brushed his hands together before nodding. “She is in SHIELD custody, Mr. Osborn. Safe to say, we don’t have to worry about her anymore.” He glanced to the side, grumbling. “It’s a shame the suit was damaged.” “Consider it a lost cause. Knowing SHIELD, they’ll just keep it for themselves,” Osborn declared, folding his arms before grinning. “It doesn't matter. We have the schematics. I trust it is enough for you to make improvements, Toomes?” Nodding, the older man smiled widely. “It is more than enough. That girl only scratched the surface of the flight suit’s potential. With time and funding, I can truly upgrade the flight suit with my electromagnetic harness.” Osborn waved off the older man. “Then, do what you have to, Adrian. Don’t let me down.” Both men shared a nod before Toomes left the room. Osborn turned his attention to the surrounding monitors, each screen holding an image of Spider-Man. Walls of text scrolled down each screen, and the man only smirked in response. “Spider-Man. How interesting…” To Be Concluded...