//------------------------------// // Coming Clean // Story: Spider-Pip: Origins // by ZombieBrony22 //------------------------------// A few days had passed since the Rainbooms were arrested... Celestia was to be brought out of the hospital today, and no-one seemed to cheerful about it. The doctors said that she’d never walk again, and that she’d need to quit her job... if that were a week ago, I would’ve jumped for joy, but now... Pip and I went up to get her from her hospital room, Luna waiting outside in her car. As we walked through the hospital, I overheard a conversation that seemingly got to Pip. “...I’m sorry, Ma’am... but he’s just too far gone. We’ve ruled brain death three hours ago...” As the woman sobbed, I turned to Pip who instantly turned away. “She’s just down here...” He said, his voice cracking. We reached the room and entered to see Celestia laying on her bed, unattached from all of the wires and tubing. “Hey, Aunt Celestia...” Pip said, me holding the wheelchair. She turned and sighed, looking at me. “We’re going to have to talk once we get home... about a lot of things.” She said to me, so monotone she must’ve rehearsed it all night long. I nodded and Pip and I helped her into the chair, careful not to hurt her. Once she was in place, Pip took over for me, wheeling her to the elevator. As we went through the hallway, I turned to see a room with someone very familiar inside... “Sombra?” Sure enough, the Kingpin himself was held in the hospital room, cuffed to the bed and seemingly beaten to a pulp. I turned to the cop guarding the door who nodded, allowing me to enter. “Take her to the car, tell Luna I’ll be right out.” I told Pip, entering the room. Sombra turned to me and gasped, recognizing me. “H-how the hell... I... I shot you.” He weakly said. I chuckled and sat in the chair. “Turns out you should check who your friends are...” I said, leaning into the crime lord. Sombra growled and turned away, seemingly miserable. “Sunset betrayed me... set her lackeys on me! The minute I get outta here, I won’t stop until--” “Sunset Shimmer didn’t do this. It was Fluttershy, she wanted to get the crown from the Battle of the Bands... I think I know why.” Sunset used to rant about that crown’s power... almost like it would give her the power of a god. I knew that she must never get her hands on it, no matter what it took. Of course, I didn’t tell Sombra that, who looked at me, expecting an answer. “So, what happened to you?” I asked him. Sombra chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, this? Turns out Spidey isn’t the only hero in town, anymore...” He said, holding out a card with two D’s written on it in red... I glanced at it and hummed, never seeing anything like it before. “So, what’s this about? You come here to say goodbye?” He asked, pocketing the calling card. “...Yeah, actually.” I laughed. Sombra seemed confused and he glanced up at me. “Huh? Where’re you goin’?” He asked, almost like a young child... I leaned in and sighed, finally making my decision “I’m leaving Canterlot... some time tomorrow.” I told him. Sombra softly gasped as he glanced at the clock. “You... you can’t leave, man... this city needs a guy like you in it--” “No, it doesn’t. The Rainbooms need to burn out, Sombra... and I’m just a reminder of what they’ve done...” I said, looking down at the floor. Sombra then croaked, leaning back and sighing. “Kid... I know what happened that night got to you—but I did what I had to do, like always...” I then growled, feeling Venom influence my response. “You turned me into a murderer, Sombra! I won’t forgive you for that... and I won’t forgive myself for it.” I sighed, going to leave... Only to bump into Luna. “Flash, go wait in the car, please...” She told me, monotone and her eyes a tint of red. I, worried about her state, nodded and headed out, hearing an exchange of words as I did. “Hey, Sombra...” “...Hey, Lunie.” We had arrived at Luna’s house, Pip and I helping Celestia out of the car. “I suppose this is unnecessary— one of you being Spider-Man, the other... what’s your hero name?” Celestia awkwardly turned to me. “Venom.” I said, setting Celestia on the ground. “Venom... hope it wasn’t your choice.” Celestia chuckled. How dare she! Venom is a name that strikes fear into our enemies! Is it, though? Go back to swirling around, or something—let me handle this one. Venom didn’t respond, which I took as him listening, as the three of us headed inside, where Luna was taking a shot... “Sister, I told you to drop that habit...” Celestia said. Luna didn’t say a word—she just looked up at her sister with a fiery rage... “Pip, Flash—go to another room, please... Celestia and I need a minute.” She said, growling as she did... We went upstairs where we still heard Luna’s booming voice. “I warned you! I warned you right from the start, and did you listen?! No! You wanted to believe in them!” Celestia said a few words that we couldn’t hear, and Luna quickly answered her. “One of them is a goddamn serial killer, another is an underground cage fighter, another is an abnormally strong farmer, and one of them is a dominatrix who used my own son!” Pip almost jumped when he realized that she knew... What is a... dom-in-a-trix? The less you know, the better... “And you think that Flash is any better? Especially with what he’s into--” “How the hell do you know what one of our students is into?!” Luna cut her sister off with a great fury. “How do you?!” “Rarity is a whole other ball-game, and you know it! And you’re right—Flash Sentry did make mistakes... I checked his background alongside Shining Armor when he cleared them after he confessed... but unlike the Rainbooms, he’s trying to fix them! And what did you give him for it, other than a punch to the face?!” Celestia went silent as I ran my hand around the black eye Celestia gave me as an overreaction... “Okay-- I will admit that I went too far--” “Too far?! Celestia, you struck one of my students, I could have you arrested for that—! But I wanted you to hear about everything your precious students really did...” Pip and I were now laying on the floor, eager to hear more... “Rainbow Dash—vandal and shoplifter... Fluttershy—underground cage fighter, goes by ‘The Scorpion’... Applejack-- freakishly strong brute and part of the Apple Mob Family... Rarity, clothing designer and intense dominatrix... Pinkamena Diane Pie—killed her entire family in cold blood and killed one student every year ever since her freshman year... and Sunset Shimmer—yandere telepath from an alien planet. Do they sound like excellent students to you, sister?!” Celestia didn’t say a word as Pip and I turned to each other. “She knew all of that?” Pip whispered. “I mean... apparently.” I replied. We heard the wheelchair squeak as Celestia seemingly moved around. “How’s Octavia?” She asked. Pip instantly shook her head, knowing how big of a mistake she made. Sure enough, we didn’t need to lean in to hear Luna’s response. “How’s Octavia... HOW’S OCTAVIA?!” We jumped back as Luna’s voice only became louder, causing a dog to bark from outside... “OCTAVIA IS IN A HOSPITAL, BEING FED THROUGH A STRAW, PRACTICALLY DEAD! AND GUESS WHO PUT HER IN THAT COMA, CELESTIA!” Celestia didn’t need long to guess... “S-Sunset Shimmer...? She... she did this?” Luna seemed to calm down slightly as the yelling stopped. “Yes... Sunset Shimmer put my daughter in that coma, and I had to put up with her for the last three years... her mocking my daughter’s condition and using every one of my staff and students like puppets while I was forced to do nothing but watch! But no more... NO! MORE!” With that, we heard a door slam as we guessed that Luna left the house... Venom slithered out form my back and turned to me, his eyes wide with shock. “Damn... Remind me to never get on Luna’s bad side.” Pip sighed as he wiped a tear away. “I remember Octavia—she was a senior, top of her class... Until she disappeared last year...” I started. It hit me—Pip's reaction to the man in the hospital made so much more sense... “Oh, my God... Sunset put your sister in coma?” All Pip did was nod. “She was the last straw... First Twi, then her... I wasn’t gonna sit by any longer—not with these powers. I had to get involved, and I have no qualms about that. It’s like I said to Rarity—I had the power, giving me the responsibility.” Pip sighed. There must be a better way to phrase that. Seriously, V? That can wait for later... Later? But I thought we were leaving... I stopped, realizing that I had to break the news to Pip... “Yeah, uh, Pip...” I started. “Yeah, what’s up?” He asked, turning to me. I glanced at him and it all hit me... would running away really make things better? It certainly won’t bring Flim back... No, all I’d do was make things worse, with Pip fighting this war of his alone, Sunset left untethered... and worst of all, Sombra’s secrets being locked up for good... “...Nothing. Never mind.” I said, suddenly remembering that Celestia wanted to talk to me. Do you think now is a good time? She just got grilled by her own sister, now the innocent student she discarded for so long? Now’s the time, V—trust me. I went downstairs to see Celestia leaned against her chair, clenching her hair with her hands... “I... I never knew...” She started. I sighed and sat on the couch, catching her attention. “...Good, you’re here—let's have that talk while we still can...” Celestia moved her chair towards me. I sighed and glanced at her, clueless of what to say. Celestia did though, as she stopped and leaned inward. “All this time, and I never had a clue... so many students expelled, teachers fired... you all knew it all along, didn’t you?” She asked me. I nodded, and Celestia leaned back. “Not all of us knew—Pip and I knew because of our relationship with them... and that’s how Luna knows, and others just made the assumption... the only other ones who really know are the ones who suffered from them...” I told her. That only caused Celestia to curse under her breath. “I had no clue... all of this time and I never had a damn clue... I just wanted to do good, but all I did was empty our school for them.” She realized, resting her head on the back of her chair. I sighed and adjusted my seat. “You were just doing your job, none of us blame you for that...” I told her. “Not you, but people will—I have a feeling I’ll have a date with the judge real soon...” She sighed. I simply nodded, knowing that someone will have to sue sooner or later. “Well, when that happens, we’ll figure it out— all of us.” I told her She hummed and turned to me. “Really? After everything I did to you?” She asked. “Sticks and stones...” I said. Well, she DID punch you in the face... Venom... “Can I talk to him? Venom?” Celestia asked. I glanced up at her as Venom began emerging, making the decision for me. “Hello, Celestia.” Celestia softly gasped before wheeling closer to Venom, me leaning out of the way to make things less awkward. “This is... incredible.” She whispered, running a hand through Venom. “Careful-- that tickles!” Venom started squirming slightly. I heard the door reopen and Luna enter, rubbing her temples. “Celly, I’m sorry, I know that you had no idea--” She stopped when she saw Celestia running her hands though Venom... And stifled a laugh. "Cute.” She chuckled. That broke Celestia into laughter which prompted me to do the same. I looked over to see Pip trying to hold it back, but I knew exactly how to break it... I winked at him. That small gesture caused the remaining two to break into embarrassed laughter, Celestia still laughing, but oblivious to my cruel joke... It was at that moment that I realized that was my home... the only one that I had, and I probably wasn’t going to get one that was better. It was our job to protect it—Pip and I... and I’ll be damned if I didn’t do just that.