//------------------------------// // The Spider-Man // Story: A Superior Hero // by MetalJrock //------------------------------// Twilight tried to light up her horn in a panic, but nothing happened. She tried again, focusing all her energy on her magic. "Huh? Why isn't my magic working?" she asked worriedly. Spider-Man sighed, "It appears that this dragon somehow found a way to nullify your magic sources." "But dragons aren't capable of doing that. At least, I never found a way to do that." Spike said while crossing his arms. Otto looked out the window again, "Hmph. I see. Then that means there is an outside source interfering and possibly brought the dragon here instead." "But why would a dragon come here? They usually mind their own business!" Twilight shouted. "Bring me Spider-Man!" Otto groaned, "I do believe that answers your question. Rainbow Dash will no doubt want to fight this creature so I will see if she is willing to help. Since your magic is gone for the time, you should ensure the safety of Ponyville." "O-Okay, Otto. But first chance we get we're coming to your side." Twilight insisted. Spider-Man hopped out of the window, 'That's the last thing I need. I prefer to operate on my own.' he thought, swinging outside to chase the dragon. He hopped onto the roof of a building, where he faced the giant creature's back. Deciding to get its attention, Spider-Man kicked it, not harming it but only proving to be an inconvenience at worst. Otto backflipped back onto the roof with ease. "So, you wanted me. And it looks like I'm right here. Do your worst, creature." he ordered, slamming his hooves on the ground in determination. 'I am fighting a freaking dragon... Parker owes me for all of this. Of course I probably inherited his infernal Parker Luck as he called it' The dragon smirked, "Spider-Man... My master wished to end you personally. But you are a lot weaker than I took you for. Heh, this will be easy." "If it were so easy, you would shut up and face me." Otto declared, hopping into the air. Doing as instructed, the dragon lowered his claw, attempting to slash Spider-Man. The wall-crawler ducked underneath the swipe and shot a web-line onto one of the spikes protruding off the back. He swung off, using his momentum to kick the dragon once again, making it take a small step forward. "I'll admit. That hurt." Spider-Man reared a hoof to punch, but the dragon shook him off, making him fall through a wall. Shaking the cobwebs out of his head, he jumped again. "You sound surprised." he bragged, "Now explain your presence, dragon." The one thing Octavius noticed about the dragon were its eyes. They were pitch black, a seemingly powerful dark aura pulsing through him. "Ah, you seek an explanation. Typical of heroes like you. My master seeks your destruction, Spider-Man." he revealed, clenching his clawed hand into a fist. "My name is Kragonn. And it will be the last name you ever hear." Spider-man scoffed, "Very well, Kragonn. Your master made a grave mistake bringing you here. If you may oust his name that would be wonderful." Kragonn laughed, flapping his wings to knock Spider-Man back. "I cannot reveal who he is. That would ruin the surprise... Especially for..." he began, using his fire breath behind a building, bringing a cyan pegasus out of hiding. "The wielders of the Elements of Harmony." he boasted out loud. Rainbow growled, "Ya better leave if you know what's good for you." she warned. Spider-Man backflip-kicked Kragonn in the jaw, making his head rear backwards. "You will not hurt anyone as long as I'm still standing you annoying dragon!" "I shall change that then." Kragonn chuckled darkly. He inhaled, releasing fire breath across the city. Otto's eyes went wide, activating his lenses sensors. 'Nopony here in the general area. Good, that gives me the chance to go all out.' Spider-Man thought, turning his head to the dragon. Rainbow Dash sped across the dragon's head, punching him at every opportunity. She uppercutted Kragonn's chest before driving her forehooves into his stomach. Determined, Rainbow performed a kick that moved the dragon backwards slightly. "See? This is why monsters shouldn't come to Ponyville. They gotta deal with me." she bragged, crossing her hooves in midair. As fast as he could, Spider-Man pulled Rainbow back with a line of webbing, saving her from the fire that neared her. Otto scowled at the pegasus. "You're welcome. I shall handle the dragon on my own terms from here." "Hold on, dude." Rainbow ordered, "You got to take down the yeti on your own last time. I wanna help ya this time. And you won't change my mind about it." she decided. Otto groaned, "For crying out loud... Fine. But do not get in my way." he warned. "And do not get yourself killed out there. Remember what I said yesterday. The last thing I need is to see your friends grieve because you got too confident." Rainbow saluted, "Alright, Spidey!" 'I still have to get used to getting called that. Let's see if I heed to my own advice.' Spider-Man leaped, driving his hindlegs into Kragonn, who smacked him away with his giant hand. Otto crashed back first onto the side of a house. While Otto tried to get back to the battlefield, Rainbow Dash flew around the dragon, distracting him for the time being while he tried to swat the mare. Suddenly, a webline appeared on his talon. Kragonn didn't expect Spider-Man swinging directly to his chin, bringing his hooves and painfully punching his head. Cracking sounds were heard as the two collided, making Rainbow cringe at the sound. "You alright, Spider-Man?" she asked with some concern. Otto landed, holding his hoof. He moved it, hearing a small crack. "Yes. Do not worry about me. My powers allow me a faster healing rate then most people." he assured, recovering quite fine. "It is Kragonn you should check on." "You got lucky, bug." Kragonn hissed, holding his sore chin. Hopping up again, Spider-Man slammed his hooves directly into Kragonn's chest, making him fall onto an empty building. Otto stood like a bug on a giant. "Spiders are arachnids, simpleton. Get your terminology right if you think you stand a chance against me." he corrected, scowling under his mask. "What happened to no arrogance, Spidey?" Rainbow asked. "I wish to make a correction for this fool." Otto explained, looking directly at Kragonn. Otto sighed inwardly, 'I couldn't help myself. It seems like Parker and his constant need to throw out terrible jokes, my coping mechanism when stressed in times of battle is to be as boastful and arrogant as possible. Some things never change it seems. Perhaps, it's for the better and I don't spew nonsense like my predecessor.' "Heh. You think you have me beat." Kragonn inhaled. Spider-Man's Sider-Sense tingled and he leaped as high as he could, shooting a line of webbing at Kragonn's face. While he was blinded, Rainbow flew downward, bringing her hooves directly into his stomach once again, making him gag. Kragonn growled, getting back up. "You can't stop me, Spider-Man and Rainbow Dash... My master has given me power beyond anything you've seen and with the magic in this town nullified, it is a hopeless battle for you." "Compared to other beings I've faced. You are nothing in terms of power and threat level." Otto declared, shooting more webbing into the dragon's eye, distracting him again. "So far, I'm disappointed. Why would your master send a lackey like you instead of facing me. He is a true coward." Instead of reaching for the gossamer, Kragonn released his fire blindly, aiming it wherever. Otto's eyes went wide at the sight of a bunch of ponies running away, unable to escape in time. Without thinking, Spider-Man and Rainbow lowered themselves, tackling the family and moving upwards to safety as the fire neared them. The fire barely missed Octavius as he used swing the child upwards while Rainbow grabbed the parent to safety. "Rainbow Dash?" Derpy asked. "No time to explain, Derpy. Get Dinky to safety! The two of us will stop the dragon!" Rainbow ordered. The grey pegasus nodded and gestured for her child to follow. Dinky was released from Otto's grasp, waved him goodbye and sprinted off behind her mother. "Alright, Spidey! Let's get back to work!" Rainbow shouted. But Otto was noticably more silent than usual, his head hanging in anger. She could see him shake. "Otto?" she asked with some concern, unable to see his real emotions. 'A child... He nearly burnt a child and her parent alive. If Rainbow and I were not there to watch, they would have perished due to my recklessness. He will suffer for his insolence.' Otto thought, rage overtaking every other emotion. Rainbow put a hoof on his shoulder to get his attention, but he swiped it away in anger. "Aw, what's wrong, Spider-Man? Did I upset you finally? Why aren't you boasting like you did to the yeti my master sent? Honestly, this should have ended long ago." Kragonn boasted, insulted Spider-Man, unaware of what he's thinking. Kragonn crossed his arms, "I should end you right now--" "Shut the hell up you poor excuse of a living being!" Spider-Man yelled, jumping after Kragonn. He punched the dragon faster than he could react, surprising Rainbow with his speed. The giant creature staggered backwards in pain, nearly falling onto another house as a result of Otto's attack. While he was in midair, Spider-Man drove all four of his hooves downward directly into Kragonn's skull, cracking it slightly. The wall-crawler flipped off and kicked the dragon in the back with a powerful move, pushing him forward. "You waste of space! You nearly killed a child!" he snarled, uaing a web-line to flip back onto the dragon's head. "How did-" the dragon studdered, wondering how Otto was able to move so fast. Spider-Man grabbed one of the dragon's horns and used it as an anchor for a web-line. He swung off of it and slammed his hooves directly into Kragonn's cheek, making his head snap to the side. Getting his bearings, Kragonn attempted to grab Octavius, but Spider-Man used his Spider-Sense to swiftly dodge the attempt. "Do not dare tempt me anymore, Kragonn!" he practically screamed, bouncing off of the dragon's clawed hands. "You dare insult me?" Kragonn scoffed, landing a scratch on Octavius, who was launched onto the roof of another building, breaking it as he landed hard. In response, Rainbow finally decided to come back into the fight to attack the dragon. "Pathetic." he yawned, trying to grab Dash, who was too fast for him. Rainbow responded by bringing her hooves into his back while she flew as fast as she could, pushing him with a force powerful enough to move and make him fall facefirst onto the grass. From below, Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie watched the two batte the dragon. "Should we do something to help?" Rarity wondered, "If only we can tell how they're faring." "We're practically useless in the fight without our magic." Twilight reminded the white unicorn. Fluttershy spoke up, "Um... As much as I wish to help, that dragon looks too strong..." "Aw, c'mon Flutters! That dragon is no match for the Stare." Pinkie called out. "No. He might be. If it can nullify magic..." Twilight began to say before Applejack cut her off. "Then what are we supposed to do, Twi? I can't just sit here while Otto and Rainbow are riskin' their lives to fight off that darn thing!" she shouted. Back with the fight, Spider-Man got back up, crouching down as he readied another attack. Tears were seen on his costume and his lenses were cracked slightly, exposing an eye. At that point, Rainbow could see his anger. The hero leaped into the air again, pushing Kragonn with his front hooves, pushing him onto his back when he finally got back up. "I will make sure you cease to exist by the time I'm done with you!" he snarled, facing the dragon. Kragonn attempted to get up, but Otto decked him right in between the eyes. "No! I'm through toying with you! You will answer for what you did!" he yelled. He punched Kragonn again, making him bleed through his scales. Spider-Man continued to pummel Kragonn without mercy. "You dare show up here! You dare to harm me and my friends with the intent to kill and you nearly murder an innocent family! A creature like you shouldn't deserve to live after that!" "P-Please... Spare... Me." Kragonn pleaded. Punching him again, Otto scoffed, "Spare you?! You come in here to kill us and you expect mercy?!" he couldn't believe what he was hearing and he continued to punch the dragon, "A monster like you should perish in obscurity!" he raised a hoof, revealing one of the artificial talons. "Now you will see for youself why I am superior..." he began to say, seeing the dragon shiver in fear. "This is what happens..." he continued, rearing his limb back, intending to kill. "When you cross the Spider-Man!" "That's enough!" Spider-Man looked behind him, seeing the Elements of Harmony glaring at him. He panted as he lowered his hoof and narrowed his gaze at the six ponies. "What is it?" "Look at him, Spider-Man." Twilight pointed out. Doing as she said, Otto turned to Kragonn, seeing his beaten, bloody face. His hoof covered in blood as well. His eyes grew wide at the sight, "N-No... Not again..." he gasped. He held his head in shame, looking at thr ground. Hopping off the unconscious dragon's body, Otto recalled what happened early on in his career as Spider-Man. Or, the many things cruel things he's done. 'It's a repeat of what I did to the so-called Sinister Six and Boomerang... And Vulture. He got me upset and I vented it all on him, nearly killing him in glee.' "I-I'm sorry..." Otto whispered to the ponies. Even the bystanders gasped at what he done. "Like before... I failed. I told you, I'm not a hero. I believe myself to be something worse... A monster." and with that he swung away in despair, leaving the dragon to suddenly vanish, surprising the Elements. "Um... What did the dragon do?" Spike asked. "I-I'm not sure, Spike." Twilight answered. Rainbow said, "He mentioned a master. He probably took him away from here. But forget about that, we should check on Otto." she whispered the last part. "He looked very upset." Rarity realized. "We should. I can only hope we find him soon." Twilight decided, running after Otto.