//------------------------------//
// Homecoming Horrors 
// Story: The Amazing Spider-Mare: A Long Way From Home 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

The Chameleon was right, there was indeed a subway tunnel behind a fake wall. And that subway provided the perfect transportation for our weary heroes. After it stopped and let off passengers, it was a simple hike to the police office to set everything into motion.

Soon, newspapers all over the city were printing up new headlines as fast as their presses would let them! Even the Daily Bugle was forced to print a retraction of its previous headlines, the new one that (reluctantly) hit the streets was plain for all to see: "Spider Mare Declared Innocent: Chameleon Confesses to Attempts to Frame Wall Crawler".

When the royal guard received the news, they quickly realized that they had no reason to go after Spider Mare anymore. The warrant was ripped up on the spot, and the guards returned to Canterlot without further fanfare.

However, not everyone in Manehattan took the news of Spider Mare's innocence well. One pony in particular was quite upset when the headlines inevitably graced his desk. He clutched a copy of the paper delivered to him in one hoof, growling and gritting his teeth not unlike a wild animal. "Hmm," The stallion muttered to himself. "Clearly, this Spider Mare is tougher than I figured. But... no matter," He paused and seemed to take a moment to compose himself. "This is but a minor setback. I will have this city eating out of the palm of my hoof before long. And anything that cannot be controlled," He crumbled up the newspaper in rather ominous fashion. "I crush!"

Just like that, the gears in the stallion's brain began to turn. And he began to scheme. If he pulled a few strings in just the right places, he should be able to get an audience with the Chameleon. Despite the shape-shifter's failure, that changeling might still be of some use.

Now, Spider Mare had no way of knowing that this was going on. If she had, she might not have been as relaxed as she was the next day, when she and Black Cat headed back to Ponyville. Rather than use up their webbing, they opted to ride atop the train when it departed from Manehattan Central Station. The wind rushing past was a nice sensation that made them feel truly alive.

Black Cat couldn't help but take notice of his wife's improved mood and overall stance. "You seem to be feeling a lot better now than you were before we left for Manehattan." He told her.

Spider Mare stretched and let out a sigh as she sat down beside her husband. "What else can I say? I can rest a little easier knowing that the confusion's cleared up and my name isn't being smeared anymore," But then she put a hoof to her chin. "Still, there's one thing that bothers me. Who is this 'Big Man' that Chameleon was referring to? Who could be so powerful and yet so mysterious? It's not like anypony to be plotting something big and not make a big deal about it."

Black Cat reached a hoof over to reassure the wall crawler. "Just take it easy, dear. With any luck, after he's heard about what happened to Chameleon and the entire symbiote operation, he'll think twice before he tries anything ever again. Besides, I think it's clear by now that there isn't a threat in the wide world of Equestria or beyond that we can't stop together. Plus, we've got friends in high places."

"Oh yeah, Commander Tempest and S.M.I.L.E.!" Pinkie nodded and exclaimed. "I'm sure we could always ask them if they know anything about this 'Big Man'. Assuming we ever cross paths with them again."

Cheese giggled. "I have a feeling that we will someday. But for now, let's just focus on matters closer to home."

Pinkie Pie smiled as she fondly sighed. "It's always nice to come home after a long trip away. Hopefully, now that the Jade Syndicate is out of business, things will be nice and quiet."





Unbeknownst to either hero, trouble had already reared its ugly head far away in Ponyville. In fact, it had done so late last night when the rest of the citizens of the town had already gone to bed.

One pony had stayed up, unable to sleep and hard at work on a cutting edge research project that, she hoped, would change the world.

This unicorn mare was none other than Starlight Glimmer, the very same Starlight who had lost her front left hoof during a rather unfortunate encounter with The Rhino. True believers will recall how that accident changed the unicorn forever, forcing her to live and work with a prosthetic hoof. But all it did was harden Starlight's resolve to find a solution, a way to ensure that ponies like her wouldn't have to suffer with such crippling disabilities.

Starlight's research had thus led her down the road she now found herself on, testing out her own serum due to an inability to find a willing test subject. Nervously, she used her magic to hold up the vial containing the ominous, green colored liquid. "Nerves are a bit unsteady," She noted to herself. "Otherwise, everything is proceeding as expected," She tilted her head back and moved the vial close to her lips. "Here goes nothing!" Quick as a flash, she downed the serum!

For a few seconds, nothing seemed to happen at all. Starlight just stood there, blinking her modest persian blue eyes as she felt herself all over. "Doesn't seem to be working," The mare said to herself even as she stood there. "Either there is a delay, or the serum is a dud."

Just after she'd finished speaking those words, however, the unicorn mare with a grayish-purple coat suddenly felt her body temperature spike! A cold sweat broke out across her face as it felt like her whole body was on fire! "Aaahhhhhhh!" She screamed and began to pant furiously!

Slowly but surely, however, the pain subsided as Starlight felt something suddenly poke out from a familiar place. Curiously, she looked at herself and lit up her horn. She saw that, whereas before there had been a prosthetic on her front left hoof, now there was a genuine one. She tried to move it, and it responded instantly. If she tried to curl it up, it curled up. She stomped it down and even kicked it against the wooden leg of her research table, feeling a small jolt of pain. All of which she noted on a pad.

Then, overcome with joy, Starlight Glimmer happily exclaimed! "It... works! It actually works! I've made a breakthrough! This serum could be the answer to pony kind's problems!" But she had to stop herself and cough into a hoof. "O-obviously, further testing and study will be needed, to determine if there are any side effects. I'll also need to see if the restoration process can be shortened. Oh, but I've got such a good feeling about this, I just know it'll..."

But at that very moment, the unicorn's excitement came to an abrupt halt! She collapsed to the ground as a force and pressure unlike anything she'd ever known before hit her all of a sudden! "GAH!" Frantically, she doubled back even as she tried to stand! It felt like something was going on in her mind, like her body was taking on a mind of its own somehow! "Something... is..." She struggled to get her words out. "I... can't....H-HELP! HELP!" And it was the last thing she said before she underwent a horrifying transformation!

In the blink of an eye, a terrifying creature took Starlight's place and let out a deep, guttural roar!





As soon as Spider Mare and Black Cat were back in Ponyville, they departed the train station and took to the rooftops. All seemed quiet and peaceful so far, just the way it should be.

"So, what should we do first?" Black Cat asked his wife after he gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

Spider Mare quickly got an idea in mind. "After what happened in Manehattan, I think it's clear that I can't afford to be without the Spidey Armor if I can help it. So I'll stop by Twilight's castle and see if she's finished with the repairs. If she is, I'll have the armor re-installed on my suit and ready to go. I'll also get her to take a look at my web shooters, to see if we can't fine tune them a little."

Black Cat blinked in concern. "Why would you do that, dear? I thought your shooters were working just fine."

The wall crawler replied in an ominous tone of voice. "I thought so too, hon. But after what happened with the Chameleon, I'm not taking any chances. I can't risk my shooters jamming up on me again unexpectedly. They weren't damaged, there's no reason why they should've stopped working just because I switched from one type of webbing to the other. So I gotta do everything I can to prevent that from happening ever again! Next time, I might not be so lucky as to have a chance to fix them mid-fight." Then, she shot out a stream of webbing, and headed off in the direction of Twilight's castle.

Black Cat quickly took out his baton and followed close behind. Truth be told, he'd been worried about the jammed web shooters too. Especially since it had occurred within the same day as that sudden and unexplained slip up Spider Mare had experienced while chasing the Chameleon (albeit, before she knew it was him or who he was). Add to that his wife and partner's state of exhaustion and... well, he couldn't help but wonder if something else was ahoof. Something Pinkie wasn't telling him. But what?

Cheese reluctantly pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as he and Pinkie reached their destination. But as they did so, they were shocked and horrified at the sight that greeted their eyes!

Twilight's castle looked like it had been ransacked! A huge, strange looking shape could be seen through the doors. Crystal shards lay scattered on the front yard. Strange markings covered the ground leading away from the castle. And through the battered, broken doors it was possible to see that the lush, red carpeting had been all but ripped up. Small wonder the castle itself was blocked off by yellow police tape.

And sure enough, Officer Copper Top was already on the scene, as were several other Ponyville police officers.

Spider Mare immediately rushed over to the top cop to speak to her! "What happened here?!" She asked with concern! "This almost like a bomb went off."

"Well, we can safely say it wasn't a bomb," Officer Copper Top replied as she looked across to Spider Mare. "And it's good to have you back. Wish I had better news to give you than this."

"When did this happen?" Black Cat nervously inquired as he looked around.

Officer Copper Top tipped her hat as she somberly explained. "We're not sure yet, but we believe it was last night. Pretty late, in fact. All I know is, someponies in the surrounding vicinity were woken up. Said they heard a strange crashing sound coming from nearby. Then they thought they heard a roar, and saw some kind of shadowy figure running away. But we've got no hard evidence. No leads. We're still gathering evidence and testimony as we speak."

Spider Mare then inquired. "And what about Princess Twilight, Spike and Starlight? Are they okay?"

"Princess Twilight and Spike are fine, doesn't look like the monster got to them," Officer Copper Top explained. "They were just as surprised as you were to find out this had happened," But then she lowered her hat before reluctantly and glumly adding. "Alas, I'm afraid Starlight Glimmer is currently unaccounted for. We checked her last known point of occupancy, and she wasn't there. We found no evidence of a struggle, no ransom note. It was as if she just... vanished!"

"That can't be!" Spider Mare exclaimed as her eyes widened and she doubled back in surprise!

The top cop could only reply. "I'm afraid that's what it seems like for now," She then encouraged. "You're welcome to have a look around and even talk with the princess. She and Spike have already told us everything they know," She was quick to warn. "But don't get any ideas about interfering with the investigation! Your name may be cleared, but I can't risk you tampering with a crime scene before my ponies have had a good look at it."

Black Cat gave a salute and promise. "Don't worry, officer. We'll keep our noses out of your business. Take your time."

"Just don't take too long," Spider Mare thought to herself. "Something bad happened here, to one of my friends! I won't rest until I make it right!"