//------------------------------// // I Was a Teenage Parker, Part III // Story: What If? - Equestrian Avengers: Shattered Dimensions // by Maximus_Reborn //------------------------------// Chapter Six “I Was a Teenage Parker, Part III" Running through the hallways, Twilight led Peter and Trixie with Ember in tow to the other side of the school. “Principal Cinch shouldn’t even be here, but she’s been hanging around the auditorium. That’s probably where she is right now.” Suddenly, tremors coursed through the building’s walls and floors, prompting the trio to stop in their tracks. Twilight staggered back, nearly losing her balance, but she fell back into Peter’s waiting arms, nodding appreciatively. The girl straightened her glasses, arching a brow at the closed doors across the halls. “What was that?” Peter blinked, wincing at the alarm blaring in his cranium. “Nothing good. Come on.” They pushed the door open upon reaching it, slowly walking into the auditorium. The room itself was large, resembling a miniature stage and theater with dozens of students present. Upon the stage, Cinch walked to the center as bright, chaotic energies spiraled around her being. Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna furrowed their brows at the woman while the rest of the students watched on in bewilderment, amazement, and horror. Cinch held out her hands to the side. “For far too long, Canterlot High has disgraced the very school system of this county. You thrive on petty popularity and childish games, but the students of Crystal Prep are moved only by results and being the absolute best! Today, we make history! Crystal Prep will become the number one recommended school, not just in this county, but in the entire world!” Just behind her, five girls materialized into existence out of bursts of light while Cinch pointed a finger at the crowd. “And it starts with the destruction of Canterlot High!” The entire student crowd murmured in distress, chattering among themselves. Trixie gripped the straps of her backpack. “Is she serious? This is a high school, not an imperial kingdom.” Twilight held a hand over her mouth. “What has gotten into Principal Cinch?! She was always ambitious, but she would never resort to outright destruction!” Peter shook his head. “It’s not entirely her fault. It’s the fragment. Its chaotic energies are twisting her thoughts, making her more violent than usual.” He shared a glance with the girl, nodding. “All the more reason why we need to get that fragment away from her.” Cinch folded her arms, smirking. “Now, I suggest you all evacuate the building in a hasty manner, but if you are in need of motivation, Sunny Flare has a perfect remedy.” One of the girls stepped forward, her skin a bright shade of blue, and she smiled widely, holding her hands out as they glowed with energy. “We won’t ask you twice,” Sunny exclaimed, her short, violet-and-pink hair floating gracefully. The energies she wielded burned brightly. “Now leave!” Sunny hurled two balls of bright magic at the ceiling, and both exploded on contact, sending tremors coursing through the whole building. Shards of stone erupted from the blast, causing some to land by nearby students. Suddenly, in a panic, everyone in the auditorium rushed from their seats. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna did their best to calmly lead as many students out possible, but a majority were clamoring about wildly in a desperate push for the exit. Faster than Peter, Twilight, or Trixie could react, they were swarmed by a sea of humanity and were pushed in different directions. Twilight was hurled to the side, hitting the side of her head on a seat. Fortunately, the row she fell in was empty, and the girl laid under a seat in a daze. Peter somewhat managed to maneuver his way through the crowd, holding his ground as they pushed past him. He looked around feverishly for his friends, calling out to the them to no avail. Trixie was practically swept away, unable to halt her unwanted momentum while the students pushed for the outside. Once a majority of the students had evacuated, Cinch glanced to the side and nodded. This prompted Sunny Flare to hold her hands together, causing particles of magical energy from the atmosphere to channel into an orb hovering over her palms. Suddenly, she unleashed the ball, the energy whistling as it traveled, and it collided with the ceiling, detonating on impact. Cinch and the Shadowbolts quietly exited from the auditorium through the back door of the stage. The beams holding the ceiling in place creaked ominouslyly, as if the foundation was struggling to stay in place. Twilight’s eyes fluttered open as she slowly pulled herself to a standing position. She held a hand over her head, groaning as her dulled senses steadied. The very foundation of the ceiling came apart, with the supporting beams snapping under the unevenly distributed weight, and a large piece of the building came crashing down. She peeked up, only to spot the incoming disaster speeding toward her. She raised her arms defensively and fell back, slamming her eyes shut. The entire ceiling itself crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom, sending out a massive dust cloud. However, no such thing finished the girl. Twilight slowly opened an eye, inhaling sharply upon spotting an amazing sight. Peter stood over her with the entire concrete ceiling weighing down on his shoulders. The entire world around them slowed as the young man strained, groaning as his legs beneath him shook. However, he lifted his gaze until it met Twilight’s, and Peter managed a smile, chuckling weakly. “Hi.” Slow to respond, Twilight’s widened gaze and slack-jawed expression remained intact, but she soon forced the lump in her throat down with a swallow. “H-hey.” “Wish I could talk, but this is… really heavy,” Peter strained as his body buckled, but he straightened his posture momentarily, managing to lift the ceiling a touch higher from the ground. Trixie soon reentered the vicinity, gasping at the sight at the center of the auditorium. “Egad!” Just as she readied to crawl underneath the wreckage to reach him, Peter shook his head. “No, Trixie! Stay back! I want you to take Twilight and get out of the school! It’s too dangerous!” Twilight’s eyes widened at the statement. “You can’t expect me to leave you like this!” “I am, because you don’t have a choice!” Peter coughed, lowering to a squatting position. Beads of sweat poured from the young man’s face, but he laughed under his strained breath, sharing a glance with the girl. “Trust me. I finally got you. There’s no way I’m dying now, but I need you to trust me. Go with Trixie and get outside the school.” Placing a hand over her chest, Twilight’s eyes softened. “But…” Peter wheezed, lowering his head to the ground. “If I survive this, we’re going to be an item. That means study sessions at the library, movie nights, and dinner dates at my Aunt May’s. She’ll want to meet you. No questions asked. Oh, and kisses everyday. I really like those.” All traces of doubt left his voice, and only unwavering determination could be heard. “I’ve loved you since you walked through the doors of Canterlot High. That’s the truth. I finally start talking with you and this happens! No way is this slowing me down!” He lifted his gaze and nodded with a smile. “Now, go with Trixie and wait for me outside. I’ll lift the ceiling as high as I can. When I do, run and don’t look back.” Trixie gripped the straps of her backpack tightly. “Twilight! We don’t have time for this, come on!” Twilight alternated her gaze between Trixie and Peter, inhaling deeply before letting out a defeated sigh once the ceiling rumbled. “All right. If you survive, I promise to kiss you everyday, but you have to show me your formula on quantum physics and your scientific presentation on balancing chemical equations first. We’re going to study every day and night together. That’s a promise!” “Kisses everyday from the prettiest girl in the school? I’d kill to be me during that time,” Peter whispered through a groan, all the while relishing a smirk. He then inhaled deeply as he stood upright and fully extended his arms, lifting the ceiling as high as his muscles would allow. The pair shared a final glance before Twilight rushed off. She maneuvered her way through the surrounding wreckage, having to crawl underneath a slab of concrete at the end of her path. Once within range, Trixie reached down and helped pull Twilight through the door. Both girls ventured off, running for the exit doors. Peter nodded contentedly while chuckling under his breath. “I’m falling in love with my wife all over again.” Relinquishing his hold, Peter’s body dropped, and gravity quickly prevailed, allowing the ceiling to finally crash to the ground. A thunderous tremor coursed through the entire building. Twilight stopped in her tracks, glancing back at the door leading to the auditorium as a dust cloud rushed out from within. Trixie stopped soon afterward, frowning upon spotting the distraught expression on Twilight’s face. “We shouldn’t have left him,” Twilight whispered, shaking her head before holding a hand over her eyes. “I wish I didn’t leave my amulet at home. I could’ve lifted the ceiling off of him.” Trixie simply placed a hand over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. You couldn’t have known this was going to happen. Anyway, he’s just fine. It may come as a surprise, but that plucky goof is much tougher than he looks. You saw that firsthand.” Twilight’s eyes widened at the comment before she managed to meet Trixie’s firm yet gentle expression. “Trust me. Peter has fawned over you since the start. Now that he has your attention, he’s not gonna let something as small as a ceiling falling on him get in his way. Plus, he has a threshold of secrets that he’s going to share with you. Let’s wait for him outside, and I bet he’ll talk you to death when he gets back.” Twilight inhaled deeply before sighing, holding a hand over the center of her chest. “He’d better.” The pair eventually made it outside, and a pair of officers escorted them past the barricade. Once a safe distance away, magical energies rose from the ground, surrounding the entire school behind a dome barrier. Everyone watched the spectacle with bewilderment, each clamoring wildly. Twilight blinked at the sight before stealing a glance at Trixie, furrowing her brow at the backpack around her shoulder. “Where’s your dog?” Trixie’s eyes widened at the question. “What? She should be right here.” She removed her backpack, gently placing it down before sliding the zipper open. Strangely enough, the backpack was empty. Trixie and Twilight shared a glance before shifting their gazes to the school. The silver-blue haired girl grimly frowned. “Oh, no.” Meanwhile, within the broken auditorium, a large chunk of stone rummaged before it rolled to the side. Peter rose from underneath, tapping the back of a hand against his shoulder. “Why do the largest things constantly fall on my shoulders? A building. That air-walkway Cap dropped on me. Twilight when she was pregnant with Gwen. Oh, and now a school rooftop. I oughta have a talk with gravity and ask her to lighten up one of these days.” He glanced to the side, letting out a relieved sigh. “I’m just grateful everyone got out, and there was enough room for me to crawl around under the wreckage. I guess my luck doesn’t always suck.” Lifting his gaze, Peter jumped onto the side of the nearest wall and climbed up to what was left of the auditorium’s rooftop. He removed his casual attire, folding everything before tossing them into a makeshift bag made of webbing. The young man took his mask and pulled it down over his face, taking back his old mantle of Spider-Man once again. He glanced down, his sixth sense chiming as it tracked Cinch’s whereabouts. Shrugging, Spider-Man shot out a strand of webbing onto the nearest wall before swinging in their direction. “Okay. Time for recess, Principal Cinch!” -u- Near the corner of the school, Cinch narrowed her gaze on a hallway of empty classrooms. Each Shadowbolt alternated their gazes about, awaiting her command. However, just as she readied herself to lift her hand, a being landed behind her position and lowered to a squatting position. She turned, blinking at the sight of a masked man clad in crimson and blue with bug-like lenses and a spider insignia over his chest. Spider-Man pulled himself to a standing position, raising a finger objectively. “Yo. I know you think you’re doing a lot of kids a big favor. I mean, destroying a school means summer break’s going to last a whole lot longer, but that’s a nightmare for most parents. Not to mention the school administration.” He trailed off, lowering his gaze. “Oh, right, and destroying a school is technically illegal. How about we stop this before it gets out of hand?” Cinch’s face scrunched up with disgust as she released a harsh scoff. “You are just a stupid child making light of a serious situation. I suggest you be a good little boy and leave this building while you still can.” Shrugging, Spider-Man shook his head. “I may be stupid, but I’m smart enough to know that the fragment you’re using is causing you to act differently.” He extended a hand, keeping his distance. “You have to let it go, before this gets any worse. It’ll consume you if you keep using it.” Sobering, Cinch’s dismissive gaze morphed into a glare. “So, you know about the fragment. It seems Twilight has betrayed me yet again. If you came here on your own, you’re nothing but trouble.” She huffed, sharply pointing a finger at the young man. “I won’t let you stop me from achieving my goals. Girls… destroy him!" All five girls’ eyes illuminated with a bright light simultaneously before they rushed forward, surrounding Spider-Man from every angle once they were mere feet apart. All wore a matching uniform varied in style, with a burgundy jacket or vest, violet bow-tie, white button-up shirt underneath, and a multicolored skirt with streaks of blue, purple, and darker shades of both. The one who destroyed the auditorium stood on the left. “I’m Sunny Flare.” The girl next to her had bright yet fair skin, a light violet gaze with matching freckles on her cheeks. Her hot pink hair was pulled back in a long ponytail. “I’m Sour Sweet.” Another stood at the center, her skin a light shade of violet along with a dark purple gaze. Her long silver-blue hair was pulled back into two pigtails, and their length reached her lower back still. “I’m Sugarcoat.” Next, a girl narrowed her yellow gaze into a glare, pausing to straighten her pink headphones within her long, green hair before refolding her arms. “The name’s Lemon Zest.” Lastly, the girl on the far right had a short hairstyle consisting of two shade of blue-green with a pair of bright goggles hanging over her forehead. “Indigo Zap.” They all folded their arms, glaring intently at the one male between them. “We’re the Shadowbolts, and you’re in our way!” Slow to respond, Spider-Man snorted involuntarily before chuckling slightly at the sights around him, each girl shorter than him in stature considerably. “Seriously? What are you? A bunch of girls cosplaying as the Sailor Scouts? Don’t tell me you’re going to do the transformations now, too? The last thing I need is for this to morph into a magical girl anime! I’m practically already living in an ecchi-harem anime as is, with the super hot wife, a circle of super hot friends, and I'm the only guy in the bunch!” He glanced to the side. “Then again… I’ve seen enough hentai to know where that would—” Faster than he could react, Indigo Zap closed the distance and delivered a stiff punch to the jaw, staggering Spider-Man. Dazed, Peter couldn’t react as Sugarcoat followed up with a jab of her own, sending the young man further off balance. Sunny Flare extended her glowing hand, unleashing a small orb of energy, and the magic detonated upon impact, launching Spider-Man from his feet. Leaping high, Indigo Zap grabbed his ankle before slamming his frame back to the ground with a thud. Lemon Zest motioned her hands and fingers, as if playing an air guitar, and she slammed a foot into the ground, generating a thunderous shockwave that echoed with a musical blast. Spider-Man spiraled across the hallway, flipping several times before finally landing on his feet. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Ow. Geez, those teenage girls pack a punch. Sorry for my misogynistic comment. Trust me. All of my teammates are girls. I can testify how awesome-- and scary-- girls are.” He paused, gazing at the one named Indigo Zap. 'That one might be trouble. She triggered my spider sense, but she was so fast that I couldn’t react. I hope that doesn’t become a running trend.’ His masked eyes furrowed as dark energies exuded from their beings. Indigo Zap punched the palm of her hand, smirking. Lemon Zest bounced in place to a rhythm of sorts, and she held out her hands as energies from the atmosphere channeled into her palms. Soon, the magical energies took the shape of a glowing guitar. Sunny Flare smirked as energies emitted from her hands, crackling. Sugarcoat raced in place, fading in blur as she ran circles around her friends before skidding to a halt. Finally, Sour Sweet retrieved a bow from nearby, holding an arrow in place. However, her very image split into two identical copies, one smiling endlessly while the other’s demeanor seemed gloomy. Spider-Man’s masked eyes furrowed at the sight before he groaned under his breath. “Oh, well, that’s just perfect. A warrior, a bard, a mage, a thief, and an archer? Now you’re cosplaying as every Final Fantasy team ever!” He glanced back at Cinch in the distance, who seemed to lack the same energy output in spite of her being in possession of the fragment. A realization soon struck his mind like lightning would to a rod. “Ah, crumbs. Cinch has the fragment, but she split its power between all five of her students. It explains their powers. Looks like I’ll have to take them down one-by-one and focus on Cinch last. I’ll have to use the whole school for an advantage.” Exhaling once more, Peter lowered into a defensive stance. “It’s never easy, is it?” Sunny Flare unleashed a pair of magical spheres at Spider-Man, prompting him to leap away from the wall as they neared. The orbs detonated upon impact, reducing the surrounding stone to rubble. Sugarcoat watched as Spider-Man dove into the nearest classroom for support, and the girl sped through the debris in a blur, leaving behind her friends as they slowly followed. Spider-Man rolled to his feet, pausing to glance at his surroundings, but his Spider-Sense blared suddenly, prompting the young man to turn back. Faster than he could react, a blow knocked him to the ground, and his momentum carried him into a skid until he crashed against a desk. “No-offense-but-you-should-just-stay-down-before-you-get-hurt,” Sugarcoat hastily stated, her words practically blending together. She zipped across the room, delivering a kick to Spider-Man’s side. She lowered, grabbing him by the collar before racing around the room and dragging his body across the floor. Sugarcoat relinquished her hold, sending Peter careening into another desk. As Spider-Man groaned under his breath, as if gathering his bearings, Sugarcoat bounced in place. “Oh-well-don’t-blame-me-it’s-your-funeral.” Spider-Man shook his head, glancing at the girl. “Man. It’s like fighting Sonata if she were in the middle of a sugar-rush! Fortunately, all speedsters have one critical weakness.” He pulled himself back upright, holding his ground as Sugarcoat sped away in a rather indistinct blur. His Spider Sense chimed, rumbling before suddenly crescendoing into a sharp and insistent buzzing. Spider-Man stepped to the side in response to his sixth sense, extending an arm, and Sugarcoat’s face took a direct hit from his outstretched limb, causing her forward momentum to carry her into a violent roll. Her momentum ceased only after she skidded to a halt by smashing into the wall, out cold. Peter chuckled under his breath once the magical energies emitting from Sugarcoat faded. “Spider-Man used Clothesline! It’s super-effective!” Suddenly, Spider-Man’s senses blared, prompting him to duck underneath a magical blast. Sunny Flare rushed into the room, unleashing many explosive orbs at once. The nearest wall crumbled to rubble and flame, allowing Spider-Man to jump into the next area. Back within the gym, Peter avoided each orb as it neared, managing to land perfectly on a beam near the ceiling. His eyes widened at his blaring senses, and he ducked his head, narrowly dodging another orb. However, he shot webbing onto the speeding projectile, enveloping it within gossamer without relinquishing his thread. “Hey, buddy! I think you lost this!” he exclaimed, sling-shotting the encased magical orb back to its user. Sunny Flare lifted her gaze at the last second, only for the orb to slam into her chest. A chain reaction triggered at the point of impact, with a small explosion of magic and webbing detonating. The blast sent Sunny sailing into the nearest wall, cracking the back of her head sharply against the stone. The magical energies illuminating from her body subsided, earning a firm nod from the young man. “Two down, three to go! This is going better than I tho—" Before he could even finish his sentence, Indigo Zap jumped to his position, delivering a stiff knee to the side of his head. Spider-Man fell from the rafter, crashing on the back of his shoulders while the girl gracefully landed on her feet mere inches away. Indigo smirked as Peter pulled himself back upright, lifting her arms in a kickboxing stance while bouncing in place. Spider-Man chuckled under his breath, throwing a swift punch, but the girl bobbed underneath the attempt, countering with an elbow to the midsection. Peter winced, clutching at the area before shrugging it off. He immediately threw a wide kick, yet Indigo swiftly spun to the other side of his body, sweeping Spider-Man’s leg with an arm. Spider-Man’s body spun just as it crashed to the ground with another thud. “Okay, I take that back. You’re not a warrior. You’re a monk,” Peter said with a groan. “That all you got?” Indigo chuckled, holding her stance. Spider-Man hopped back up, forcing a laugh. “Where I’m from, it’s considered very bad form, and unknightly behavior, for a guy to hit a girl.” In a flash, Indigo closed the gap and swung the point of her knee with daring accuracy. All of the air rushed out of Peter’s mouth as his nether region was nearly crushed, accompanied by a high-pitched grunt of pain. Spider-Man lowered to kneeling position, clutching at his aching groin. “Cut me some slack. I’m a little jet-lagged. Been traveling around a lot lately.” Throwing another punch, Indigo swayed out of its reach before countering with a stiff chop to the neck. Peter groaned, staggering back as he clutched at his neck. “Hey! Stop that! I kind of need my head! How else am I going to wear hats?” “I can do this all day,” Indigo boasted, smirking. Spider-Man simply nodded. “I bet you can. I can sense you coming, but you’re moving in too fast for me to react. That’s why I have to ask. Do you have super strength, or are your reflexes just cranked to eleven?” Indigo cracked her knuckles. “The latter. Lucky for you. Not like I need super strength to beat you.” “Oh, well in that case...” Spider-Man trailed off, quickly firing strands of webbing onto Indigo. “That won’t work!” she exclaimed, raising an arm. The girl instinctively readied herself to deflect the attack, but the gossamer spread upon impact with her limb, prompting the young man to unleash more of the sticky substance onto the girl. Indigo stared wildly at the webbing on her bound arm with an expression mixed with bewilderment and horror. “What the heck? Is this stuff coming out of you?!” “The first time is always the most awkward. That stuff gets everywhere, even in the hair. Peanut butter always gets it out, though,” Spider-Man dryly muttered before he spun Indigo around in place, never ceasing his web-assault. Soon enough, her entire frame and limbs were cocooned, allowing Peter to deliver a straight yet nonchalant backhand to her forehead. Spider-Man let out a relieved sigh once her magical energies escaped from her body, dusting his hands off. “That about wraps you up.” Upon receiving no response from the unconscious girl, Spider-Man shrugged helplessly. “I know. That pun was too easy, but it was all I had on short notice.” Lemon Zest huffed upon entering the gym, turning a tiny knob on the side of her headphones. Despite being several feet apart, Peter could hear the blaring rock music playing in the girl’s ears. She held out her hand, generating her invisible electrical guitar, and the instrument caused sparks of electricity to crackle across the wide open space. Fiddling her fingers, Lemon threw one hand high over her head before plucking the guitar’s magical strings roughly. A shockwave raced outward, sending Peter careening uncontrollably through the stone wall behind his position. Spider-Man skidded across the hallway, finally coming to rest next to a water fountain. Lemon Zest steadily approached the prone man, raising her arm as if ready to strike another note. However, Spider-Man spun to the side and kicked the metal fountain from the wall. Water gushed from the broken pipe, and Peter held his hand over its top, guiding the substance at the girl. The water poured over Lemon, causing the buildup of electricity to, rather predictably, short out. The girl was locked in place, her muscles shaking profusely as electricity traveled through them, and her long hair stood on end. Eventually, the magic energies rushed from her smoking frame, and Lemon exhaled, allowing a tiny cloud of smoke to escape from her mouth. She collapsed onto her back, yielding to unconsciousness like her friends. Spider-Man leaned against the wall, holding his shoulder in place. “Valhalla, eat your heart out.” Unfortunately, Sour Sweet emerged from around the corner with her bow and arrow primed and ready. Spider-Man caught sight of the girl, glancing to the side upon spotting her copy approaching as well. He exhaled, remaining stationary until they stood over him. Both Sour Sweets shared a glance, one with their arrow aimed at Peter’s shoulder while the other fixated on the other shoulder. “We shouldn’t hurt him too badly,” the smiling Sour Sweet declared, nodding. The disgruntled Sour Sweet shook her head, pulling back on her arrow. “After what he’s done to our friends? No dice. I say we put him out of his misery!” While the girls contemplated his fate, Spider-Man dumbly nodded at a realization. “Oh! A split-personality. I get it. You know? Because she literally split in two?” Both Sour Sweets ignored him, prompting the young man to groan inwardly. “Seriously. Nobody gets me but the socially-awkward librarian.” The kind Sour Sweet frowned at her angry double. “You are so mean! He was only defending himself!” “Don’t give me that garbage! If he just went along with Principal Cinch, we wouldn’t be in this situation!” the gloomy Sour Sweet hissed, fuming. Spider-Man watched as the doubles argued, whispering. “Wow. It’s like if Harvey Dent and Two-Face split up and went through a bad divorce.” He simply raised a hand slowly. “Excuse me, uh, Sour Sweet?” “What?!/Yes?” they said respectively, one angrily and the other politely. Slow to respond, Spider-Man pointed a finger between the girls. “So, which one is the real Sour Sweet?” Both Sour Sweets simply huffed, smiling confidently. “I am.” An awkward silence filled the air as both girls glared at each other. The gloomy Sour Sweet scowled. “You’re too soft to be the real me.” The polite Sour Sweet held a finger against her chin. “Honestly, I’d say you’re too rude to be the real me.” Soon enough, both Sour Sweets childishly squabbled, going back and forth repeatedly between each other. Spider-Man slyly slid behind them, placing his hands on their shoulders respectively. “I know who’s the real one,” he said objectively, earning the attention of both versions. However, he shifted his hands sharply, causing the back of both Sour Sweets’ skulls to crack together. “You both are.” Their eyes rolled into the backs of their heads before their bodies faded behind a bright light, fusing together to form one Sour Sweet. Soon afterward, the magic emitting from her body faded. Spider-Man took in winded breaths, exhaling. “And then, there was one." Following his Spider-Sense, Peter readied to pursue the fragment, but he glanced to the side, immediately spotting Cinch eyeing him sternly. The older woman scoffed at the sight of her unconscious students. “Failures. I’m surrounded by failures!” Spider-Man slowly walked towards the woman, holding a hand against his side. “It’s over, Cruella De Vil. Or is it Maleficent? Either way, hand over the fragment before this gets any worse.” He pointed a finger at Sour Sweet’s unconscious form behind his position, never averting his gaze from Cinch. “I don’t know about your methods, but I doubt you want to hurt your own students just to get what you want.” Cinch reached into her pocket and gripped the fragment closely against her chest. “Never! The fragment is mine! This item can help Crystal Prep finally regain its place at the top of the school system! I’ll never…” she trailed off, attempting to fight back a tingling sensation channeling through her nose. Eventually, it came to light in the form of a loud sneeze. Cinch sniffled before sneezing even louder than before, her allergies practically flaring. “Achoo!” “Bless you,” Spider-Man politely stated, folding his arms. Cinch nodded appreciatively. “Thank you. I—” Her eyes widened as a horrific realization came to mind. “That smell. It could only be a…” she whispered, inhaling sharply once a tiny blue dog entered the vicinity. Cinch attempted to wave off the animal, clumsily stepping back, but Ember lunged out, latching her tiny fangs into the woman’s ankle. All sense of logic and professionalism left the confines of Cinch’s mind as she instinctively screamed at the top of her lungs. Throwing her hands high over her head, she bounced in place in a wild attempt to shake the dog free, all while sneezing profusely and repeatedly. “Get off-- Achoo-- me! You filthy-- Achoo-- beast!” Spider-Man lamely stared at the sight, watching as a grown lady flailed helplessly against the nibbling assault of a toy-sized dog. He walked forward, retrieving the fragment of the Tablet of Order and Chaos. The magical barrier surrounding the school instantly dissolved from sight. Suddenly, the sounds of sirens echoed loudly along the outskirts of the school. Spider-Man glanced to the side, hearing the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from the hallway. He raced forward, scooping Ember into his arm before he jumped onto the wall and climbed through the hole in the ceiling. As the local authorities proceeded to tend to Cinch and the Shadowbolts, Spider-Man managed to land in an alley outside of the school. “Excellent work, Peter. You've retrieved the third fragment of the tablet,” Julia’s voice warmly declared. “Are you ready to return?” Peter shook his head after changing into his casual attire, glancing to the side. “Not yet. There’s something I need you to do for me first.” He eased Ember onto his shoulder before lifting his gaze. “A lot has happened here. If we return this reality’s Peter back, he won’t understand much of anything. Is there a way you can implant memories of what I experienced during my time here, taking out key details and whatnot? I thought I’d ask, seeing as you’re a telepath.” Julia hummed under her breath. “I see. That’s smart, actually. You want Peter to move and experience his life normally.” She paused, chuckling. “I’m also fully aware of what you’ve done with that world’s Twilight Sparkle.” Slow to respond, the woman let out a defeated sigh. “Very well. I’ll bend the rules just this once. As much as you’ve saved reality, this is the least I can do.” “Thanks, M-Dubs,” Peter softly stated, managing a smile. “Give me a few minutes. I wanna say goodbye.” Ember edged closer to Peter, grinning. “Let’s find Trixie and Twilight. I did kind of vanish without telling them. I’ll have to apologize.” Peter waved a hand dismissively. “You just saved the day, Ember. There’s nothing to apologize for. You just proved why you’re the most loyal member of the Avengers and my second-in-command. So thanks.” He paused, sliding the fragment into his backpack. “You’ll need to hang onto the fragment until I find the others. Until then, stay with Trixie.” -u- The trip back to the school was brief. Most of the students had already departed, heading back home once the officers cordoned off the sprawling campus. Twilight and Trixie were among the few that remained, keeping their gazes centered on the school. Ember leaped from Peter’s shoulder and rushed to Trixie, jumping onto her leg. The girl peeked down, inhaling sharply upon spotting the dog. Once Trixie picked up Ember, Twilight glanced to the side and spotted Peter approaching. His step was hobbled due to a limp, yet his smile remained firm, showing teeth. Twilight rushed forward with her arms extended, embracing Peter once they were inches apart. She buried her face into his chest, tightening her hold. In spite of his body’s aches, Peter reveled in the warmth brought by the girl. He grinned confidently. “I told you I’d make it back.” Twilight bit down on her lip and nodded. “You’re right… and I have a promise to keep.” The girl’s voice was low, causing Peter to lower his gaze. Just as he prepared to question what the girl said, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. Taken aback, Peter’s eyes shot open, but he quickly eased into the act of affection, returning the kiss in full. The heat around them intensified, matching the very power of the sun. Yet, they remained still, savoring each other’s taste. They were worlds apart, yet it seemed as if their souls had never parted. Eventually, they parted, yielding to their need for oxygen. Her mind fuzzy, Twilight’s mind slowly but surely leveled back to reality from the blissful heavens she soared among. Abashed, she held both hands over her burning cheeks and glanced to the side. “O-oh… my! I am so sorry! I-I don’t know what came over me! I just…” she whined, shaking her head madly. She returned her gaze to meet Peter, and it lowered to the ground, shamefully. “I just wanted to…” Peter quietly raised a finger, gently pressing it against the girl’s soft lips. “Don’t be sorry,” he whispered, kissing her once more. Unlike the first, this was controlled, yielded by a serene understanding. It wasn’t lust that they were feeling. Peter’s hand found Twilight’s amidst the kiss, and their fingers interlocked, perhaps out of instinct. They parted, resting their foreheads against each other, but they held eye contact, with violet irises taking in hazel orbs. Smiling widely, Peter’s face blushed. “That’s the first of many. I’m looking forward to the rest.” Twilight returned his smile, shaking her head. “Just don’t pull any more crazy stunts.” “People do crazy things when they’re in love,” Peter retorted, earning a playful punch to the shoulder from the girl. However, Twilight soon rested her head against his shoulder. They stood in a comfortable silence, watching nothing in particular, yet their hands remained entangled, bound by the blossoming feeling exuding from their hearts. They were in heaven, young teenagers ready to face the unknown. A part of him wanted to stay, but his venture wasn’t over. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter lifted his gaze and closed his eyes before retreating to the back of his mind. “Alright, Julia. I’m ready.” Trixie watched the young couple from the side, holding a content smile. However, her brow furrowed. The mature gaze Peter bore suddenly vanished, allowing a younger expression to take its place. The hazel irises were the same per se, but they had a familiarity to them, something Trixie recognized instantly. As if nothing had changed, Peter and Twilight resumed their conversation, with the young man being a touch more energetic suddenly. Inhaling sharply, Trixie bit her lip as she clutched at her chest. She knew then that her Peter had returned, picking up where the other had left off. Despite this, the inside of her chest tightened, and her eyes hurt. A guardian angel had come to their world to save it, not before helping a lost child find his purpose and symbol of happiness. Fresh tears streamed down the girl’s face, prompting her to clean her cheeks with a forearm. “Why are you crying, Trixie?” Peter obliviously questioned, tilting his head to the side. Trixie’s eyes widened as she glanced to the side, spotting Peter and Twilight staring at her questionably. The girl cleared her throat and huffed. “Don’t ask stupid questions, you idiot. There’s so much dust in the air. That’s all.” “If you say so,” Peter lightly stated, pointing a finger in the distance. “Let’s head home. Since the school is trashed, I bet we have the rest of the day off. Our parents are probably flipping out.” Gently squeezing Twilight’s hand, Peter grinned. “I’ll walk you home.” Twilight blushed. “T-thank you. I appreciate it.” Her eyes widened at a thought. “My mom should be home. She'd love to meet you.” As the pair walked forward, Trixie quietly followed before shrugging, ensuring Ember and the fragment were secured in her backpack. She stole one last glance at Peter before a warm smile graced her features. “Thank you, Peter… for everything. I’ll make sure my idiot doesn’t screw this up.” She walked up to the couple. “Now, Twilight, if this is going to work, we’re going to have to lay down some ground rules.” Peter blankly stared at the girl. “Seriously? Do you have to butt in now?” “Of course,” Trixie grinned, resting her hands behind her back. “You two would be lost without me, otherwise.” Her smile widened. “Just think of it as… sisterly advice.” To be continued...