//------------------------------//
// The night of the Griffon Mercenary Part II 
// Story: Spiders and Magic: The Harmony Avengers 
// by andrew7 
//------------------------------//

Apheliotes shot over again more arrows from his crossbow right on Spider-Mane and Twilight, the dynamic duo though charged forward, with Spidey performing a series of flips, round-offs and saltos, evasively outmaneuvering all the arrows in his way, as Spidey took an offense, charged in a full speed before he leaped and swung his right hoof in an attempt to punch the griffon, yet Apheliotes casually blocked the masked stallions strike with the stock of his crossbow and offensively swatted him aside with his weapon, yet by swiftly regaining his composure, the masked stallion nimbly landed on his hooves.

Then there was Twilights turn as young princes flew from other side towards Apheliotes, having her horn loaded  with lots of her magic energy for an incoming so called magically enhanced ram tackle, yet seeing her coming, Apheliotes casually threw his crossbow high into the air as he narrowly dodged Twilights charge before nonchalantly catching his weapon swiftly quick drawing it like a wild west gunslinger before once again returning fire shooting one arrow after another.

However, by being so much focused and eager to assassinate both Spider-Mane and Twilight and paying not much attention to anything else, Apheliotes right then a little bit too late realized an enormous shadow appearing right behind him, so big that it that it overshadowed most of the rooftop with griffin looking like more like an ant compared.

“What the…?!” Apheliotes blurted out in awe as he turned around, only much for his utter combined awe and dismay as well as both Twilight and Peter looked like more than surprised to see Spike in his adult giant dragon form, releasing one mighty groundshaking roar that echoed throughout the entire block, before flipping his giant wings and sharply thrusting himself and headbutting Apheliotes hard with the force potent of battering ram and literally sending the griffon mercenary flying backwards with a speed of a missile, hitting the solid ground hard bouncing before he smashed right into the billboard standing on top of another building that instantly crumbled down in the process.

“Well that’s some way how to put an advertisement. A rather bad advertisement.” Peter dully muttered quipping underneath his mask in a very humorous or rather awkward way if not even a little hint of fear being present within his muffled voice, inwardly not daring to get on Spikes bad side. 

“Oh yeah! I have just hit jackpot!” Spike cheered out with his artificially deepened mature voice, being obviously more than content about his effort by ramming Apheliotes like that yet the dragon shared an affirmative look with both Spider-Mane and Twilight standing aside. “Just take a break, guys. I got this!” Spike huffed confidently as he flipped his giant wings rising himself into the air yet also causing a gust that lifted the dirt around in the process, heading right towards the billboard rubble.

“Spike! Wait…..” Twilight tried to hold Spike in his tracks although failing to do so, yet inwardly the mare grew concerned about Spikes newly found confident attitude, although rather a way more confident, which was what concerned Twilight.

Grunting and cringing, Apheliotes managed to dug himself out of the rubble what was left from the billboard, although hardly the griffon mercenary attempted to stand up despite the strain coursing through his cranium kneeling and feeling himself like just being hit by a train, only for Spike dropped right by, landing on the rooftop, the ground shake underneath his gigantic weight in the buildings centre as his shadow once again overshadowed Apheliotes, as griffon though hardly rose his head up to stare at giant dragon in front of him, somewhat feeling more like an appetizer as griffon mercenary bore a dismayed if not even rather a bit terrified glare.

“So, I am lizard, I am I not? The bigger I am, the smaller you are.” Spike huffed releasing a steam of smoke though his nostrils in an outrage as Apheliotes compared young dragon to lizards, exposing his razor-sharp teeth, as Spike rose his large right arm up and swung it to smash Apheliotes.

“Oh on….” Apheliotes muttered dismayed yet reacting just in time, the griffon mercenary leaped out of the way in the last moment before Spike smashed the billboards rubble with enough force to create a shockwave that though staggered Apheliotes out of balance yet with a nimble rollout, the griffon regained his composure. Apheliotes frantically looked around scanning the rooftop yet his amber birds of prey eyes widened with a grin forming over his beak by seeing his crossbow lying around over a yard away.

The griffon flipped his wings thrusting himself forward and with a nimble rollout he once again took a hold on his weapon, aiming right over Spike, pressing the trigger and shooting several of his arrows at dragon. Although Spike slightly braced himself, yet the arrows merely deflected themselves over his scales that by the way were ten times more durable and stronger than steel, not leaving a single scratch over his hide, much for Apheliotes utter dismay.

“Oh! That tickles!” Spike chuckled in quite an amused or rather complacent like manner as Apheliotes arrows didn’t even faze him, a strong self-confidence as well as a slight hint of complacency being present in his voice, the dragon turned around as he rose his long powerful tail up and swung it down in horizontal motion only for Apheliotes rising up to the sky and dodging Spikes tail whip as it hit and nearly crushing the great deal of the rooftop platform by the impact. Turning his giant head around to not lose a sight of Apheliotes, Spike opened his huge mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth up in attempt to chomp the griffon, yet Apheliotes managed to narrowly escape dragons jaws reach so Spike merely crunched the air.

Persistent and rather growing reckless in his pursuit of a griffon, Spike took a deep breath with smoke coming out through and releasing a stream of his emerald flames right to Apheliotes, yet the griffon mercenary once again performed a swift evasive maneuver and dodged the dragons superhot fire breath, as the flames unfortunately seared and set the rooftop of another near building in fire.

“Wait….Stop!!!” Spike bellowed in utter combined shock and horror alike, staring at the building he had just though unwillingly and not on purpose set to fire, yet right then, Spike inwardly realized and being aware of his reckless actions and the mistake he had just done by doing so. “Uh oh!” Spike murmured to himself being dismayed as the flames were blazing over the building. “Oh man. I gonna get busted for this….”

“Twilight!” Spider-Mane howled upon Twilight. “We got to put out that fire!”

“Got it!” Twilight called out affirmatively, thinking how to put the flames out when young alicorn saw a large water tank on the same rooftop they were standing as an idea sparkled in mares head. “Quick! The water tank!”

“Honey, you are a genius!” Peter brightly acknowledged his wifes quick thinking as Twilight used her telekinesis via her horn engulfing the water tank with her magic aura, young princess was pulling out with all her might as she eventually managed to dislocate the tank from its standing post levitating it into the air, although with a great deal of effort and concentration.

“Spike!” Twilight called out upon Spike, as by seeing the water tank, the dragon instantly got what Twilight and Peter were up to, nodding affirmatively the dragon rose up into air by flipping his wings and flying towards Twilights and Spider-Manes position and grabbed the water tank from Twilights telekinetic grasp with his powerful arms taking it over, with Spider-Mane taking his own part on the plan leaped on top of his abilities right on the tank and latching himself on it.

Spike flew, carrying the water tank without any much effort or strain, with Spider-Mane latched on it as a passenger, more likely resembling and being like sort of a bomber plane carrying a bomb being about to throw it, as when the dragon approached and being above the blazing building, Spider-Mane right then grabbed the water tanks cover and started pushing it in order to open it.

“Bombs away!” Spidey exclaimed aloud as by using great amount of his spider strength and all his might, the web-slinger eventually managed to rip the cover out opening it, therefore releasing all the and great quantum of water from the tank right on the flames beneath, as the water splashed with a great force over the buildings rooftop like one giant water balloon pouring from the buildings edges like waterfall, therefore instantly extinguishing all the flames in the process.

“Now that’s what I call put out the fire.” Spider-Mane cheered out as he along with Spike landed on the buildings rooftop, that although yet luckily was just slightly scorched, not causing any much serious damage to the building with traces of smoke rising up, as well as nopony was hurt in the process, as Spike carefully put and empty water tank down.

“That was a close one.” Spike sighed in a relief, yet the dragon felt a rather unpleasant rumbling feeling within his belly as inwardly, Spike was obviously ashamed of himself and for his rather reckless actions by although unwillingly setting the building on fire while being fully concentrated pursuing Apheliotes and paying not much attention to anything else. Yet, Spike just could be glad that the danger was averted and nopony got hurt.

Yet out of the sudden, some force slammed right on to Spikes head, making dragon to stagger and somewhat getting latched on him. Yet actually, the source of the disturbance was nothing else than Apheliotes himself, as the griffon mercenary obviously got stealthy meanwhile as Spider-Mane along with Twilight and Spike got to put out the fire, waiting for an opportunity to arose as right then he used it, being latched on Spikes head and holding himself on the dragon like a cowboy riding a bull on the rodeo as Spike roared disturbed and started fiercely thrashing and bucking around in an attempt to shake Apheliotes off his head, yet the griffon held himself the dragon like a thick.

“Chew on this!” Apheliotes huffed as he reached into his utility belt and pulled out some sort of primitive self-made bomb, removing the pull ring with his thumb therefore triggering the detonator before and quite surprisingly throwing the bomb right into Spikes opened mouth and therefore releasing his grip and flying off, just before the bomb inside Spikes mouth eventually detonated, triggering a chain reaction that though released a large quantum of some kind of smoke of lime colour by the detonation, as its smoke escaped through Spikes mouth and nostrils, yet also causing the dragon to start cough aloud like he would be choking, as he inhaled the gas, the tears escaped from his eyes, although the dragon started feeling somewhat drowsy, shuddering with his vision blurring, as apparently the bomb appeared to be actually a stun grenade containing a strong neutralizing gas, before Spike couldn’t take it anymore with all world around him going blank, losing consciousness subduing to the gas effect falling to the rooftop ground unconscious.

“Spike!!!” Both Peter and Twilight bellowed in horror with their voices strained with concern and fear as they both rushed to Spikes side, as the dragon started morphing out by himself, before steadily yet eventually reverting back into his normal young self.

“Spike! Speak to me!” Twilight shrieked, holding Spike in her hooves shaking him frantically in an attempt to wake him up though failing and without success by doing so, a fear and concern being vocally present in mares voice for her little best scaly friends wellbeing as Peter stood by Twilights side with a concerned and worried expression underneath his mask.   

“Don’t worry.” Apheliotes though huffed in a somewhat if rather faint reassuring manner standing on a nearby chimney, attracting both Twilights and Peters attention. “The stun gas had just merely subdued your little scaly friend. He will live.” Apheliotes explained by indicating the gas that was contained within the bomb, yet however the griffon mercenary instantly pulled out his crossbow and aiming it right towards the pair, clicking its hammer, grimacing snidely. “Yet, I cant say that about you two.” By pressing the trigger, Apheliotes once again shot an array of arrows towards the pair, yet Peter hastily grabbed Spikes motionless frame leaping away as Twilight spread her wing out flying away out of griffons deadly arrows reach.

“You will pay for what you have done!” Twilight bellowed infuriated as anger associated with her voice, her amethyst eyes gleamed momentarily, Princess of Friendship loaded her horn with lots of her magic aura along with accumulated frustration and fury and just like Apheliotes shot some more arrows to Twilight, young princess horn got overload as her magic aura engulfed the arrows that literally got vaporized out of existence, as right then Twilight shot one powerful magic beam, as her blast hit Apheliotes crossbow, knocking the griffin mercenaries weapon off his hands therefore disarming him, yet the radius of the blast also sent griffon mercenary flying backwards and hitting solid ground on the rooftop hard.

Although staggered and flinching a bit by standing up, Apheliotess instantly managed to give himself together, snarling though his beak as he reached out into the holder on his left waist and pulling out a small crossbow although having its limbs folded yet instantly spreading out with its sable springing. Apheliotes then reached out to the bell over his torso pulling out one of the cartridges and loaded it right inside the weapons internal groove and stretching its string via small lever making it ready.

Twilight meanwhile extended her front right hoof and channelled lots of her magic through it into a magically enhanced strike, as young princes flew forward towards Apheliotes, yet the griffon aimed his crossbow pressed the trigger and firing the loaded cartridge, that though broke out on two pieces and as amazingly, a bola flew out of it, a pair of  balls fixed on a long flexible rope started swirling right towards Twilight, as young alicorn princess eyes shot open as a pair of saucers, yet unfortunately by being left that much caught off guard and dumbfounded she couldn’t brace herself just in time as bolas kept swirling before swiftly wrapping themselves around Twilights body like a phyton its prey, binding her hooves as well as wings at place, instantly immobilizing her as the mare fell down like a fly and colliding with the solid ground to the rooftop hard.

“Twilight!” Peter bellowed as he supported unconscious Spike over the buildings rooftop railing as he instantly rushed to his wifes side kneeling to Twilight being tied by bolas and gently tilting her head only for Twilight groaning in response, being in a half-dazzled state evident by the shock from the nasty fall, needing a time to recuperate herself.

“And now it is just you and me, Spider-Mane.” Apheliotes scoffed in a very complacent like manner, apparently not feeling much empathy for both Twilights and Spikes wellbeins as well as not feeling responsible that much for his actions as the griffon mercenary was just having his eyes only for Spider-Mane, being really up to web-slinger, not letting anything and anyone standing in his way.

“Alright. Time to get serious.” Spider-Mane proceed, his voice was lacking any humour and on the other hoof he was sounding very serious, turning into his a way more assertive side, apparently just having it with that griffon guy threatening his family, slamming his hooves together with an electrical spark ignited via Twilight Arms pulsing in the  process and maintaining his signature crouching fighting like stance as Peter was about to take on Apheliotes.

Apheliotes sheathed his crossbow back into its pocket before releasing a menacing scream as he flipped his wings and bursting himself forward flying towards Spider-Mane having his eagle razor-sharp claws extended. Yet reacting to his Spider-Sense, Peter offensively jumped up making a graceful backflip in the air but unfortunately he just couldn’t brace himself in time as Apheliotes grabbed the masked stallion for his costume over his chest with his arm and flying with masked stallion away.



Spider-Mane drove his right hoof across Apheliotes face though this time with a great amount of force, although flinching by the hit, Apheliotes shrug the blow keeping himself in the air flying not releasing his grip over masked stallion, hissing savagely the griffon mercenary opened up his beak as he attempted to clamp, yet Spidey narrowly evaded an incoming attack blocking Apheliotes head with both his hooves as griffons beak snapped with the sound resembling an axe cutting into wooden pole, only to clamp merely an air.

Spidey punched Apheliotes again this time with his left hoof staggering the griffon in the process out of his flight path throughout the building, yet without losing much of his composure, Apheliotes extended his free arm exposing his claws yet just before he could swipe, the web head while still in griffons grasp swiftly contorted and swung his lower body along, therefore managing to throw the griffon off balance, narrowly evading Apheliotes claws.

Holding the hero with his other arm and wrestling with each other while kept flying throughout the buildings, Apheliotes once again extended his claws, only for Spider-Mane breaking free from griffons grasp and letting himself go once again dodging razor-sharp claws yet not to fall, the masked stallion fired a webbing from his hoof right into centre of Apheliotes chest, swiftly pulling himself back up and delivering yet another punch into griffons face.

Shrugging yet another of Spider-Manes blow, Apheliotes then flew in a full speed heading towards the nearest buildings edge so he could slam Spider-Mane over it, yet seeing that coming by glancing behind as well as via his trusty Spider Sense blurring within his head, the wall-crawler broke himself free from Apheliotes grip by swiftly flipping over right onto Apheliotes back as dismayed griffon couldn’t cease his momentum and crashing hard right into the wall head first instead.

Using the opportunity for a rather strategic retreat, Spidey leaped out of Apheliotes back away firing a web strand and forcing himself into a web strand throughout the buildings edges, yet unfortunately, Apheliotes recuperated from the collision and once again persistently flew after Spider-Mane, flying like a bird of prey not losing a sight of his prey, extending his lion hinder legs and he snatched masked stallion just after releasing himself from his strand and before he could fire another as Apheliotes flew up high, making a swift maneuver turn in the mid-air before flying in a full speed.

“Not this time, Tweety!” Spidey huffed as he got an idea what Apheliotes might be up and not intenting to fall for the same trick twice, the hero contorted his lower body before swinging himself upside, slamming both his hinder hooves right into Apheliotes face in so called double mule kick with a great force, making a griffon mercenary to flinch and stagger in his flight. Spider-Mane backflipped over and leaped out of Apheliotes back, yet though the web-slinger landed gracefully on the nearest rooftop over a medium alley, Spidey fired a webbing strand from his hoof latching itself right over one of Apheliotes lion leg.

“End of the line!” Spider-Mane exclaimed aloud as he tightened his hinder hooves over the rooftops railing and sharply pulled his webbing with all his might and accumulated spider strength, therefore tightening the strand and also pulling Apheilotes down in the process.

“What the…?! Yikes!!!” Apheliotes blurted out in an utter shock, losing all his composure and balance while flying as Spider-Mane pulled the griffon mercenary down on the fullest, therefore Apheliotes slammed right into the wall of nearest building hard yet the griffon limply felt down and slamming over the edge of another building, kept falling before griffon collided with the solid ground of the rooftop below, grunting and groaning in anguish, feeling every part of his body throbbing in pain in a near dazzled state.

Spider-Mane leaped from his post of the buildings edge, nimbly bouncing himself off the wall of the opposite building and landing on top of the railing below yet quite for his awe seeing Apheliotes moving, the griffon mercenary shake his head in an attempt to recollect his thought and hardly attempting to stand up with every part in his body aching, eventually making in to his knees and spreading his large eagle wings to fly up some more.

“Sorry, this is not a flying zone!” Spider-Mane huffed as he shot from both his hooves and webbing both of Apheliotes wings, sticking and pasting them together. Looking in a shock at this wing just being glue with the sticky webbing substance and not matter how much the griffon tried, he just couldn’t spread his wing up, being all wrapped up and therefore grounded from flying.

Spider-Mane gracefully flipped and landing on the ground just several meters away from Apheliotes, facing the griffon face to face. Although being seemingly and somewhat astounded, yet hissing menacingly, Apheliotes swiftly reached into his pocket and quick-drew his small crossbow, but just before he could shot, Spider-Mane though by reacting much faster shot a swift web shot from his hoof like an old west gunslinger, shooting crossbow out of Apehliotes arm disarming the griffon as the web shot also splatted over the nearby stair entrance, webbing the crossbow at place.

“Astounding…..” Apheliotes murmured still a bit taken away, yet though his gruff voice sounding and bearing a hunt of respect and admiration, although sounding a rather begrudging more like. “No one had ever managed to take me down the way like that, nor drawing faster than I do….”  

“As much as I am really charmed by all the flattery from a villain by the way….” Spidey muttered confused, at time like that not quite knowing if to be charmed or ready to brace himself again at whatever Apehliotes was up to. “Feeling like to talk now, what is this all about?” 

By finally making it up to vertical position standing on his hinder feline legs, folding his webbed wrapped wings on his back and shifting his neck as well as rolling his left shoulder with crackles echoing out of it, Apheliotes than reached out behind his back and he drew a large sword of a scimitar sabre like design of a curved blade with its guard resembling a birds of prey claws and the hook like pommel, as its blade shone brightly. “First, I prefer to cut you down to pieces.” Apheliotes proceed coldly with a way more menacing manner and performing several graceful swirls of his weapon like he would have been growing up with it.

“That is a pretty fancy sword you got, feathers. Trying to compensate for a manicure?” Spidey mockingly mocked, although the heroes muffled voice bore an undercurrent of uncertainty if even a slight aghast by the looks of blade Apheliotes held.

“Let us face each other in the open. Men to men.” Apheliotes spoke off, although his tone tuned itself down into a somewhat dull yet also more assertive one. “From what I have heard, Spider-Mane, you consider yourself a great warrior as well as being a Knight of Equestria, don’t you? The knight doesn’t hide behind mask. So, I dare you to take it off, as there is nothing you can hide.”     

“Okay….” Taking in and listening Apheliotes words, that although sounded rather offhanded and blunt, yet also somewhat and surprisingly bore quite a degree of sense, as Spider-Mane also seemed to be quite affected by those words, yet by trying to humour the griffon mercenary, the knight reached out to his mask and took it off, shaking his head to swirl his chocolate brown mane over his face. “Take your best shot, toughguy.” Peter proceed challengingly by maintain his fighting stance, crouching near to the ground and ready for Apheliotes to make his move.

Apheliotes, having his scary amber eagle eyes centred right on Spider-Manes exposed unmasked face studying his features yet also somewhat being taken aback by stallion rather young appearance, the griffon mercenary scoffed in some sort of twisted imitation of amusement before releasing a fierce battle cry out of his throat and lunged himself forward running on his feline hinder legs with his sword extended to swipe.

Seeing that coming with his Spider Sense within his head blurring, Peter made a swift backflip, dodging as Apheliotes swung his sword diagonally from the right, narrowly missing young stallions face, yet the griffons threw a volley after volley of attacks on his adversary only for Peter, by performing a series of backflips avoided every single assault Apheliotes threw on him with his sword.

Apheliotes then swung his sword horizontally, yet Peter swiftly leaped into air just before the swords blade cut itself into the ground, flipping over Apheliotes before landing right behind him, yet young stallion offensively threw his hinder hoof in a mule kick, yet reacting quickly, Apheliotes made a swift turn and blocked his opponents kick with the fuller of his sword.

Not giving an inch, Apheliotes this time swung his sword in downwards motion in an attempt to cut his opponents head off, yet Peter quickly and nimbly ducked beneath the blade, following with griffon grabbing the hilt of his sword with both is claws once again swiping his sword diagonally from right, with Peter once again evading by swiftly backflipping aside out of the blades reach.

Bracing himself for another incoming swipe, Peter blocked Apheliotes arm with his left hoof before the blow could land and delivering a sharp backfist punch with his free hoof into Apheliotes beak, making his opponent groan and flinch a bit. Peter then jabbed his hoof to punch Apehliotes once again only for griffon mercenary this time swiftly blocked stallions strike with his arm calved in spiked gauntlets for a change and delivering a front kick of his feline leg right into Peters midsection with a enough force to send stallion stumble back, hitting the dirt yet recovering his composure, the hero contorted his lower body to his midsection and instantly backflipping back to his hooves.

“Oh swell. I am finding himself fighting an Equestrian version of Chow Yun-Fat, moreover in an anthropomorphic bird like form.” Peter muttered under his breath sarcastically while Apheliotes charged over him again with his sword extended this time lunging his weapon for an impale, yet by seeing an antenna by his side, Peter swiftly flipped side, dodging Apheliotes blade, yet grabbing himself on the antenna, Peter swiftly swirled himself around it, contorting his lower body before slamming both his hinder hooves right into Apheliotes chest, as nearly all breath escaped out of griffons lungs and staggering backwards by the impact.

Peter fired a webbing from his right hoof, his webbing strand was zipping through the air like a bullet, yet reacting quickly and seeing that incoming, Apheliotes managed to catch sticky webbing strand, much for Peters awe about his opponents great reflexes and reaction time also evident by griffons naturally sharp eyesight. Apheliotes though tightened Peters strand before sharply springing his opponent right forward to himself, yet the knight made a flip in the air and extended his hinder hoof for an axe kick, however Apheliotes defensively rose up and blocked Peters attack with his sword, as hero backflipped and instantly landing on the ground.

Peter tried again by this time throwing his hoof in a right hook strike, yet Apheliotes blocked his opponents trike with his spiked gauntlet of his left arm before swiping his sword from right, yet Peter nimbly sidestepped out of the swords way. Making a swift turn, Apehliotes shifted the grip of his sword in reverse for a lunge from the side, yet Peter blocked his opponents forearm and stroke the griffon right into his midsection with his right elbow, making Apheliotes to flinch. Using an opportunity, Peter jumped up and swung his hinder hoof in a spinning hook kick, only for Apheliotes quickly ducking underneath his opponent kick, yet swiftly shifting his sword into his right hand, the griffon swung it in a diagonal reverse motion yet Peter narrowly evaded the swipe. Yet this time, young stallion grabbed both of griffons hand with his hooves as both opponents snapped into and started wrestling with each other.

While Apheliotes proved himself to be indeed a tough and strong opponent to go toe to toe with Spider-Mane and nearly matching the knight in brute physical might, yet though Peter proved himself a way stronger due to his radioactive spider bite enhanced physiology and attributes and by using quite some amount of his spider strength, he eventually overpowered and slammed Apheliotes over the nearest wall edge of the building having a firm grip on his opponent with both his hooves. Yet, Apheliotes swiftly pulled his left arm out, wrapping it over Peters right hoof and twisting it into a lock, causing Peter both awe as well as quite a pain alike. Using the momentum, Apheliotes managed to subdue Peter over his knee, twisting young stallion hoof so he couldn’t move it, being about to cut his opponents throat with his extended sword, yet Peter managed though hardly blocked Apheliotes sword just mere inches away from his throat with his free hoof.

Shuddering and finding himself in a difficult and yet once again situation where being nearly on the verge of death coming, Peter gritted his teeth to the core, feeling jolts of pain coursing through his hoof that Apheliotes was restraining and almost feeling griffons blade nearly touching his neck, yet Peter used all his strength, by running over the wall, young stallion flipped over Apheliotes, therefore breaking free from his submission yet just also Peter grabbed Apheliotes for his arm while still in the mid-air, twisting it in the process and just as landing on the ground, young stallion sharply threw griffon away, hitting dirt hard, yet by performing a roll drill, Apheliotes effortlessly flipped himself into a kneeling position.

“You are a worthy adversary, Spider-Mane. Your reputation as a hero and Knight of Equestria indeed proceeds you.” Apheliotes declared through a series of pants, although the tone of his voice once again and surprisingly changed into a way more respectful one, as griffon mercenary was actually expressing his respect and strangely even admiration to Peter, although sounding in a rather begrudging like manner. “Its too bad that I have to eliminate you.” Apheliotes huffed as he stood up to his feline legs, yet the tone of his voice shifted back into its cold and no-nonsense demeanour.

“You are not so bad yourself….For a villain though….I guess.” Peter muttered by trying to humour Apheliotes back alike in some sort of rather faint hint of respect on his own via the series of steady pants after an intense fight, although his voice was wavering with both awe and suspicion alike.

Apheliotes, although being apparently an enemy wasn’t like any other villains Peter faced back in the past while still back on Earth, like Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Mysterio, Kraven the Hunter or Scorpion for instance, as all villains on his rogue gallery list shared the same goal to come to blow with Spiderman, while Apheliotes on the other hoof actually and somewhat showed respect to Spider-Mane, the Knight of Equestria, although it was more like a grudging respect that way. Which was oddly quite a rare quality for a villain, as though so far with an exception, the only one who had ever expressed his respect to Spider-Mane was King Sombra himself.

Beside that and strangely while being a mercenary, Apheliotes also showed to have a sense of honour, evident by back then while bringing Mayday along, Apheliotes obviously showed no intentions to harm little filly, as well as not necessarily putting anypony around in danger and also while fighting Spike and Twilight back then, the griffon actually merely subdued both dragon and alicorn princess, not actually harming Peters friends and family at anyway, apparently focusing merely on Peter himself as his main target.

There was a way much more about and hiding within Apheliotes then just that, being apparently a rather complex individual, as Peter could feel it and strangely, young stallion was quite intent and somewhat eager to try find out more.  

“Tonight, lets call this fight even.” Apheliotes proceed, his gruff voice sounding a rather much colder and threatening for a change, rising and pointing his sword towards Peter. “Next time…..I wont be that merciful.” And as he said those rather threatening like words, Apheliotes stepped towards the buildings railing edge and leaping right over it down.

“Wait!” Peter exclaimed in a rather worrisome manner and quickly galloping his was towards the buildings railing edge as he quite frantically looked down, but much for his confusion and awe he didn’t see Apheliotes anywhere downward the street, judging that somewhat the griffon mercenary must have somehow vanished off screen instead of splatting over the pavement bellow. Apheliotes was gone, at least for then.

“Where are these guys still coming from….?” Peter muttered under his breath in a rather offhanded like way with his confusion even deepening by trying to comprehend where did Apheliotes go, however by recuperating himself and finally catching his breath after an intense fight Apheliotes gave him, a realization hit Peters mind like brick as he remembered Twilight, Spike along with Mayday and Rarity still being there somewhere in the city, as stallions more assertive side took over, yet grabbing his mask lying around, Peter shot a strand of his webbing and springing himself forward to swing to find and reunite with his family.



Twilight groaned as she finally managed to regain her senses from her fall yet also feeling her head aching with strain traversing throughout her cranium yet also recalling her fight with Apheliotes, Twilight tried to move but without any success as her body was still constricted by bolas, yet young alicorn loaded her horn with her magic aura as instantly the bolas rope that were wrapping her frame were engulfed in a violet magic aura any by using the pressure, Twilight managed to rip the ropes freeing herself.

Twilight forced herself to stand up although quite hardly only to hear a nearby groans and whimpres, as Twilight shifted her attention to Spike still lying supported over the buildings railing, young princess instantly made her way in a half-galloping like pace to Spike kneeling on his position. “Spike? Are you alright?” Twilight asked soothingly, the concern being vocally present in mares voice, rubbing her little scaly friend hair like spine on his head gently.

“I will tell you when my head stops ringing….” Spike murmured incoherently, his voice being though strained like a broken glass brushing over harsh surface, yet luckily baby dragon was slowly recuperating himself as apparently the effect of Apheliotes stun gas bombs were slowly yet steadily wearing off. 

Spike attempted struggling to stand up, although quite hardly and feeling a strain coursing through baby dragons cranium, yet Twilight supported her number one assistant letting Spike to lean over her side.

“Twilight, darling!” Twilight turned around by hearing a familiar feline voice as she much for her relief saw Rarity galloping he way towards Twilight and Spike, yet Twilight eyes shot open with a both happy and relieved expression taking a place over her face by also seeing Mayday by Raritys side as fashionista found little filly.

“Mommy!” Mayday squeaked cheerfully as she rushed her way to her mothers side, hugging her tightly.

“Sweetie! Thanks Celestia you are alright.” Twilight sighed in relief, returning Maydays hug on the fullest hugging her daughter affectionately that she way alright.

“Spikey! Are you okay?” Rarity though stammered in quite an aghast as she edged closer to Spike, a concern being vocally present in fashionistas voice.

“It is nothing biggy, Rarity….” Spike tried to cheer Rarity up, although still feeling a bit drowsy from the stun smoke grenade effect.

“Hey you guys!” A voice echoed from distance as Twilight along with Mayday, Rarity and Spike swiftly turned around as they much for their simultaneous relief and joy saw Peter swinging his way throughout the buildings toward them, young stallion swung himself on his webbing before ceasing his momentum, releasing the grip of his webbing making a flip in the air and gracefully landing on his hooves on the buildings rooftop where his friends stood.

“Peter/Daddy!” Both Twilight and Mayday exclaimed as they both rushed to Peters side as they all hugged each other affectionately, yet Twilight and Mayday were both relieved and inwardly grateful to stars that Peter was alright.

“Daddy…” Mayday though stammered in aghast, by realizing her fathers suit being tattered and three slashing marks that Apheliotes left over Peters chest like a little memento on their fight. “You are hurt…” Mayday stammered with her lips quivering in both concern and worry.

“It is just a scratch, sweetie, nothing to worry about.” Peter chuckled rather offhandedly to soother his daughters worries, patting little filly over her man yet though young stallion lightly clutched over his chest as his wounds still and nonetheless ached a bit.

“Darling….” Rarity murmured as she edged closer to her friends and gently placing her hoof against Peters shoulder, the Elements of Generosity voice was wavering with concern. “What about that Apheliotes griffon brute?”

“Is he gone?” Spike also added asking, wondering where did Apheliotes go.

“Yeah guys, he is gone. For now….” Peter relied although in a rather offhanded like tone with his voice bearing an undercurrent of uncertainty, as Apehliotes last threatening words echoed within young stallions head as he would see the griffon mercenary again, like he would have ever heard that line over again.



Within a throne room of the main castle of a nightmarish and dark empire Tambelon, Grogar, a demonic evil ram necromancer tyrant was sitting in his throne yet taking a look into his Magic Mirror of Seeing, that although and unfortunately got broken by the incident as the Avengers once invaded Tambelon as Grogar capture Princess Celestia and tried to drain all of Rulers of Equestria power to use it for his won evil goals as the heroes took down his Diamond Dogs henchmen, destroyed the laboratory along with nearly entire west wing of  the Tambelon castle. Yet Grogar apparently managed to repair the mirror with his own dark magic via his magic bell as well as with Catrinas aid, yet though the screen seemed to be rather somewhat blurring with its image not being that much clearer as it used to be much for Grogar further infuriation, as the mirror still needed some improvements, yet an enormous evil ram averted his gaze from mirrors screen as realizing he had a guest, as he saw Catrina, entered the room.

“Catrina?” Grogar spoke off, addressing and greeting Catrinas welcome, as apparently the Feline Witch was arguably the only person in entire Tambelon to which demonic ram held and treated some respect, aside from unlike those like Rover, Fido, Spot and other Diamond Dog goons around.

“Lord Grogar.” Catrina addressed the Ruler of the Tambelon with respect and humble by even bowing herself in a proper lady like manner before getting to the point. “I am simply to tell you, that I have been here on Tambelon for quite some time, over a month to be precise.”

“Well….” Grogar replied in a rather dull manner, like somewhat pretending not to know what was Catrinas deal about that.

“Today, I have come to make a confession….” Catrina went on yet her voice tuned itself down in a somewhat humbler and more respectful. “That that by that time I have been here in Tambelon as well as you have put it that way to just wait for an opportunity to arise…..I have refilled to work on a secret project of my own.”

“A secret project you say? What kind of project?” Grogar replied in quite a taken aback or more like with a concerned interest being vocally present in tyrants voice, although not sounding and having that much suspicions, as apparently, an evil ram necromancer had a faith in Catrina, therefore showing that he was actually and quite trusting his feline witch ally.

“So far, I am still working on it, my lord. With an aid of some of those Diamond Dogs mutts as my personal underlings, yet they proved themselves to be quite useful at something, at least. The project is yet near to be completed, as I still need some time to work on it, my lord. Yet I assure you to would be more then impressed about my plans as I have been doing this in your best interest.”

“Mmm. Curious….” Grogar by listening Catrinas words that sounded very promising with an arousing interest being present in an evil ram necromancers voice, by Grogar actually being about to prompt Catrina to tell him more. But just before Catrina could say more, loud knocks echoed from behind the main entrance door as the door steadily opened up creaking in the process as Rover, one of the Diamond Dogs Trio entered into the throne room. 

“Lord Grogar….” Rover declared humbly as he kneeled and bowed for his lord and master Grogar, expressing his utmost respect to a tyrannical ruler of Tambelon.

“Yes, what is it?” Grogar huffed in response by daring Rover to speak up, with rams voice though tuned itself into a somewhat indifferent and rather contemptuous by Diamond Dog presence and dropping in like that without expecting that, yet hoping the news would be worth it.

“The griffon mercenary has just returned, master.” Rover replied as instantly as he said that, Apheliotes, the griffon mercenary himself appeared in the doors as he entered the throne room, bearing a serious, stone-faced yet confident expression on his face, the griffon proceed walking throughout the throne room with Rover and other Diamond Dog guard present in the room stared at griffon warily or rather cautiously, before Apheliotes eventually stopped just a few meter away from the thrones stairs, kneeling and deeply bowing himself before Grogar.

“Apheliotes.” Grogar coolly addressed the griffon mercenary by his name by actually and somewhat expecting him arrive to Tambelon and coming right into the castles throne room. 

“Lord Grogar.” Apheliotes spoke off in a rather casual yet also a very humble and respectful tone, addressing Grogar with an utmost respect griffon could muster and bowing even deeper before the tyrant ruler. “I…..”

“Have returned without a trophy, I can see.” Grogar stated with a rather dull tone with a hint of a slight disappointment being vocally present, by cutting Apheliotes statement short before the griffon could explain by himself. “Yet….The part of our bargain was for you to take on Spider-Mane in combat, to prove yourself and your skills just before bringing your head to me. Yet you failed in your task…”

“I know, Lord Grogar…..” Apheliotes coolly replied for himself, remaining calm and professional without showing any sign of dismay or fear of Grogar at all. “Yet that Spider-Mane, the Knight of Equestria and Peter Pony Parker as his name is, despite being young though, the stallion has skills and credentials suited for a great warrior, proving himself to be a worthy opponent indeed, like anyone I had ever faced before.” Apheliotes explained by once again expressing his respect to Spider-Mane/Peter Pony Parker, although yet once again in a rather begrudging like manner.

The things right then started to make sense, with Grogar himself actually being the mysterious employer who apparently hired Apheliotes the griffon mercenary and bounty hunter to fight and hunt down Spider-Mane back there on Manehattan to bring his head for a price at the first place.

“Apheliotes…..” “You may have failed in your task tonight. Yet…..I have been seeing and observing you in action, the way how you fought Spider-Mane as well as managing to subdue Twilight Sparkle and that pet dragon of theirs, your skills and reputation of being both as a mercenary and bounty hunter indeed precedes you, by surpassing all of my expectations.” “I have decided to give you another chance to take care of Spider-Mane.”

“I am more than honoured to serve you, my liege.” Apheliotes replied, being charmed by Grogars flatters, although griffon warped his beak into a soft of a snide grin.  “But as a mercenary, I charge a double deal of price for such hard work.”

Grogar by taking in Apheliotes demand, a monstrous ram stared at griffon mercenary with quite an unreadable and rather very blank expression, considering Apheliotes offer before eventually deciding to comply snorting in response, Grogars magic belts started ringing in its very well familiar and rather infamous campanology like melody, as Grogars horns started glowing with its fiery red dark magic aura as instantly quite a full stuffed bag materialized out of a thin air as Grogar levitated and throwed it right in front of Apehliotes. “How about this much as an advanced payment?” Grogar asked by getting down to business.

Apheliotes stared at the stuffed bag, yet making it on standing position, the griffon mercenary instantly reached behind his back and drew his sword, therefore alerting all the Diamond Guard Dogs standing both at the throne and at door as well as Rover, as they snarled menacingly with their fur bristled, pointing their spears at the ready as well as Rover reached into his vest and pulling out a shocking rod growling, with Catrina hissed defensively like a cat having her claws exposed as they braced themselves whatever Apheliotes was up to although with only Grogar remained even and inert, yet the griffon mercenary swung his sword and swiping the bag instead, tearing it out with lots of precious sparkling gems that were stuffing the bag scattered around.

By seeing all the precious sparkling gems and jewels that were out of Grogars personal vault, Apheliotes once again wrapped his beak in a form of a smug and rather complacent grin, chuckling. “You have engaged my valuable services, my liege.” 

By hearing Apaheliotes agreement being his new enforcer, a devious grin formed over Grogars muzzle exposing his razor-sharp teeth by doing so as Diamond Dog Guard, Rover and Catrina relieved their cation as nothing unfortunate was going to happen.

“Now….” Apheliotes then spoke off touching his swords blade edge with his claw. “Shall I ask for your permission and when exactly will by the time for me to take on Spider-Mane again, master?”

“Patience, Apheliotes. I will determine myself when the time is right for you to take on Spider-Mane again.” Grogar spoke off through way more authoritative like manner by showing Apheliotes who was the boss, which Apheliotes humbly and apparently without any objections acknowledged, shrugging his shoulders. “Yet…..” Grogar proceed, speaking up a way more calmly as his voice also sounded somewhat promising, with a dark thought filled an evil ram necromancers mind. “I have a feeling that a long expecting opportunity we have been all waiting for, will eventually arise for us to take very soon. Very soon indeed….”

This just couldn’t possibly be good.


To be continued……