//------------------------------// // Divide and Conquer, Part V // Story: Spiders and Magic: Dimensional Crisis // by MetalJrock //------------------------------// Marvel Earth, Avengers Tower... Clint and Natasha overlooked the large monitor, accounting for the heroes left to fight. Barton slammed his fist on the keyboard, "Damn it, why did we have to take charge? How does Stark and Steve handle this?" he wondered. "We have to do this, Clint." Natasha reminder him, "With so many other allies under Loki's control or in Equestria, someone needs to keep the world in check. Unfortunately, that leaves us two and Doctor Strange for now." Hawkeye sighed, "I know, it's just frustrating." Natasha smirked, "Well, luckily we were trained for events like this. We should get in contact with Fury soon." she told him. Clint nodded and was ready to contact the director on the computer, but an explosion got their attention. Grabbing his bow, Hawkeye readied himself for battle. He and Black Widow slowly walked to the source of the explosion. "Stay quiet." Clint said. He pulled the string of his bow, an arrow already placed on it and his fingers gently wrapped around them. Leaning on the wall, Romanoff peaked at the corner, she groaned silently at what she saw. Standing near the hole in the wall was Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk and Thor, their eyes glowing blood red, and scowls seen on their faces. "Oh crap..." she muttered, sneaking away. She got Clint's attention, Hawkeye turned his head for a moment. "It's the rest of the Avengers." she revealed. Clint put down his bow, "Really? Now of all times?" he mumbled. Then, he moved his head back right in time to dodge a repulsor blast shot by Iron Man. "No quip, Stark?" Barton joked. The other three Avengers were behind Stark, each of them seemingly unrelenting. "They won't hold back." Natasha commented, "This... May be it for avoiding Loki." "That's the end for us." Clint gulped. Seeing Hulk raise his fists in the air, Iron Man and Cap hit them, stunning them as Hulk smashed, then everything went black for them. Ponyville, Equestria... Back at the Golden Oaks Library, Cutie Mark Crusaders groaned with Mayday wondering why they were so annoyed, Scootaloo slammed her head on the table, "Why couldn't we go with the others?" the pegasus asked, her face still planted on the table. "I'm so bored!" "Because we wouldn't be able to do much?" Applebloom suggested. Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, "Thanks for the support, Applebloom." she said sarcastically. "Ya know it's true though. They'd just be worryin' about us instead of fightin'." replied the earth pony. "We're better off here where it's safe, I say." "Yep!" Mayday chimed in, "At least until we're old enough to fight!" she declared. "I wanna save people like my Mommy and Daddy too, you know." The three looked at Mayday, smilling at her adorable comment, "I'm sure you do, Mayday. Did you know Scootaloo tried to absorb your dad's powers when we found out he was Spider-Mane?" Sweetie Belle teased, the orange pegasus's face turned red in response. Mayday giggled upon hearing that. "I thought that's how it worked! I wanted spider powers through osmosis!" Scootaloo reminded her, embarassed by the recollection of the memory from their youth. "How did you even know what osmosis was?" Applebloom commented. "Well, when you hang out with a living dictionary..." Scootaloo muttered, her eyes gazing at Sweetie Belle, who gasped. The unicorn poked the pegasus, "I'm not a dictionary!" she remarked. "Yeah you are!" Scootaloo responded. "Girls, simmer down. I don't Mayday even has a clue to what we're talkin' about." Applebloom eased her friends, the two sitting down in their spots, "So, you wanna be a hero too, May?" The youngest of the group nodded, "Maybe I have spider powers too! I'll use them to fight evil!" The CMC chuckled at that, "Maybe you do, May. I'm sure you'll be a great hero!" said Sweetie Belle, ruffling the child's mane. Meanwhile the door opened, and Zecora stepped into the living room, where Twilight, Trixie and Sunset awaited her arrival. The zebra had decided to stop over to check on the three to see if they're fully head, with Twilight knowing she was gonna stop by yesterday. "I see you three are up and about. But why is the house devoid of any loud sound?" she wondered. Trixie raised a hoof, "Parker and his friends had to go help Luna at Canterlot to stop some attack." she explained. "Knowing them, things may be hectic over there." "When is it not with Peter?" Sunset joked. Twilight smiled, "He has a whole group of allies, he should be back soon." she added, taking Trixie's words to heart. "So, what do you think, Zecora? Are we better yet?" Zecora sighed, "It is almost time I can predict. Perhaps the way to use it again is a catalyst." Sunset raised a brow, "A catalyst? You mean like medicine or something?" she questioned. "Maybe that. I am talking about something to get your minds back on track." replied the zebra. Twilight put a hoof to her chin, "Strange. I just tried earlier, I almost got a spell out, but nothing happened." the alicorn looked at Zecora. "Do you mean being in a stressful situation could give us our magic sonner than expected?" with a nod to answer her question, Twilight looked at the others, "I wish we were in Canterlot if that were the case." Trixie snickered, "I want nothing to do with what's happening over there this time. Trixie has had enought battles for a lifetime." she admitted to the lavender alicorn. "We're not gonna get much done just sitting here. We need to do something at least. Training perhaps?" Sunset suggested. "That would be helpful." Twilight said, "What do you think, Zecora?" she asked. "It would be handy. But I cannot think of something to do quickly." the alchemist admitted. Then, a strange noise was heard, getting the attention of the four. "That's... Not good." Sunset said, raising a hoof. "We should probably see what that was." Groaning, Trixie said, "Just when I was getting comfortable." she got up from her spot, getting back to the floor. "Let's see what's wrong this time. Trixie is getting tired of this. I miss the days where our biggest threat was wondering where Ursa was going to the bathroom." "GIRLS!" Twilight called out, "Keep an eye on Mayday! We'll be right back! Don't come out!" "Let us go see. Perhaps this will be what you all seeked." Zecora said, holding her staff to point it at the door. "W-What are you all?" Derpy asked, holding onto Dinky to make sure she was safe. She looked at the strange costumed figure, a smirk was seen on the blue stallion's face. His wings were unfurled while he held up his staff. "Why are you here?" she asked nervously, whispering for Dinky to stay calm. "I am the Trickster God." he declared, "You may call me Loki." he revealed. Behind him was a small army of strange alien looking creatures, ready to attack. Some of them wore armor and wielded guns in their hands. "This world... It seems so primitive." he admitted. Deathstroke sighed, "Yeah. It is. Now, why did you bring this Chitauri army? How did you even get them?" "An old ally of mine, the very same person who gave me this staff. I'm not sure he even knows I have his army." Loki explained. "Now, my army... Ravage this world! Let this town be an example and the first of our new world order!" "Spider-Mane and his friends will stop you!" Derpy shouted. "Will he, sweetheart?" Deathstroke taunted. At that moment, the First Spider swung by, perching himself on a roof. "Oh look, the so-called First Spider." he pretended to be scared. "See? Mommy told you somepony would save us!" Dinky yelled. The First Spider shot a string of webbing, landing next to Loki in silence. "Not quite. This Spider is under my control the others are busy elswhere." revealed the Trickster God to the pegasus and young unicorn. "Now, First Spider, go and destroy anything like you were created to!" Mindlessly, the clone nodded, shooting a strand of webbing, breaking apart a wall by removing a brick. The armed Chitauri began to shoot, destroying buildings one by one. Nearby Octavia and Vinyl Scratch ducked for cover underneath a laser. "None of the heroes can stop you. Not Spider-Mane, or the heroes, and the Elements of Harmony are separated and injured. They cannot hope to save you all this time!" Loki announced. "What hope do you all have?" "Exactly." Slade agreed, pulling out his sword, "I better be getting paid double for this." he mumbled and swiped down, readying his skills to fight for the third time since arriving. But something held his hoof up. He looked to see a familiar white unicorn using her magic, "Well, it seems we have a few visitors." she taunted, looking at Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.  "Ooh! Bad guys! We still get to do something!" Pinkie cheered. "Do we have to?" Fluttershy mumbled. As Loki was about to comment, a white tendril revealed itself, lashing out at a few aliens, who roared in pain. Anti-Venom stepped forward, his symbiote covering his body. "You should've stayed behind in hiding, this action will be your undoing." he announced. "Another Spider? The anti-symbiote?" Loki asked. "It will not help you all. It's my army against the few of you." "Is it?" Anti-Venom quipped. Deathstroke stepped forward, "I take it you're with him?" "A member of the Legion of Doom." Slade revealed. "It's better that I'm the only one here." he admitted. "Now, are there any other magical horses that I'm missing?" "Us!" The enemies looked to the side, seeing Twilight, Sunset and Trixie standing next to Zecora, who held up her own wooden staff, a determined look on her face. Loki laughed, "You're the ponies who cannot use their magic. What chance do you have?" "Um... Who in Equestria are you?" Trixie asked, "And who designed your costume? Rarity?" she quipped, hearing the fashionista huff at her comment. Loki raised his hooves, "I am Loki. This world's new ruler, allied with Lex Luthor." he said. Zecora hopped up as he spoke, kicking down two aliens at once, her staff thrown in the air. She landed, catching her weapon with precise ease. "Do not take us lightly. We will face all enemies." Zecora said in a determined tone. "First Spider. Take them down for us." Slade ordered. Kaine nodded, landing next to the assassin. "That's right, when your pal ran off, he ran into me, then this god did his magic mumbo jumbo." he revealed to the heroes. "You monsters!" Eddie hissed, "I'll end you myself!" "Do your best." Loki chuckled. In a darkened room, a stallion hopped to the floor, hearing the explosion. He wondered what was happening, but the tingling sensation in the back of his neck warned him of danger. He looked out the window, seeing some of his friends fighting against a strangely dressed man conflict with them. And an army of creatures behind him. The stallion looked his hoof, seeing that his senses were back and he could move again. The sound of three fillies got his attention, and he leaned on the door to listen. "We should go!" said a scratchy voice, Scootaloo. "No! Ya heard what Twilight said!" said someone with a southern accent, most likely Applebloom. "We have to stay!" "Well too bad I'm going!" Scootaloo said, the sound of a door slamming, scaring him. "Agh! Why is she like this?" a squeaky voice, Sweetie Belle said. "C'mon Mayday! We'll make sure you're safe while we find her!" "Okay! But what about what mommy said?" a young voice, Mayday questioned. "We can't leave Scootaloo there alone!" Applebloom said. Then the sound of the door opening and closing was heard again. Then, there was silence. This worried the lone stallion, the children running into a battlefield. 'Crap.' he thought. He looked around as fast as he could, finding a loose bag hanging on a knob he pulled out a familiar costume. A smirk was seen on his face. Putting it on, he leaped back on his bed, opening the window. 'Here we go. Let's see what I missed.' "Hey! Big blue and ugly!" Scootaloo shouted. Loki raised a brow at the sudden insult, but he remained calm. The rest of the Crusaders and Mayday were behind her. "Girls! I told you to stay behind!" Twilight scolded. "Sweetie Belle! We're going to have a talk once we're done here!" Rarity yelled. "Oh, so these are close loved ones, hm? And this filly, is this that daughter I've heard about?" Loki questioned. "I'll have fun with this. First Spider?" he called, before Anti-Venom and Zecora could react, two Chitauri shot at them, a small group of them getting in their way, preventing them from reaching the clone. "End them by your hand." he ordered. Deathstroke shook his head, "What?" he asked, considering that even he had limits on who to kill. He may hurt those he gets paid to kill, but he draws the line at innocent children. The First Spider walked closer, rearing his hoof back. Twilight ran forward with Sunset and Trixie, but Loki used his staff to hold them down. "No... May! Girls!" she screamed, struggling to escape Loki's magic grasp. Sunset and Trixie groaned, unable to move from their spots. The fillies trembled right as Kaine moved forward. "Uncle Kaine! Don't!" Mayday screamed. Suddenly, right before Kaine could harm them, a ball of gossamer shot his torso, knocking him on his back. "No no, bro. We've been through this. You're not a mindless monster." called out a familiar voice. The ponies looked up and saw someone clinging to a wall. They all gasped at who they saw to help. The stallion clad in a blue hoodie hopped down, kicking Loki in the face, releasing his grip on the magicless ponies. Twilight ran ahead to cover for the fillies, while Trixie and Sunset stood next to the pony in question, "It's good to see you again, Ben." greeted Sunset with a grin. Scarlet Spider nodded, "It's great to be back. I'll figure out what's happening later. For now, leave my brother to me. The rest of you can handle this strange alien army." he ordered. First Spider glared at him while Ben frowned. "This isn't what I was expecting..." he sighed with a whisper.