//------------------------------//
// Ch. 4: Too Rich For My Blood 
// Story: Ultimate Spiders and Magic: Episode II "Rainbow Rocks" 
// by Maximus_Reborn 
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Chapter Four “Too Rich for My Blood”

Aria bluntly declared, pressing a finger against his chest. “Let me break it down for you. That girl was in a bad spot, and you bailed her out. What girl wouldn’t be grateful for that? She couldn’t stop smiling around you. Anyway, she didn’t leave because she wanted to. If anything, she wanted to stay and chat. Heck, she’s dawdling as we speak!” Scoffing, Aria pointed to the side where Ditzy was walking, catching the girl staring in Peter’s direction before resuming her journey. Aria threw her hands overhead, releasing an exasperated groan. “And when she bumped into you? Ugh. She was like a love struck puppy when you called her cute. It went so far overhead that it could have been an airplane! No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend.”

“What about the missing number?” Peter weakly questioned, holding out the paper.

Exhaling, Aria rolled her eyes. “Her name is Ditzy, you dipstick. The girl is such a klutz. You clearly caught her off guard, and she just got excited. Anyone can see she’s not used to that kind of attention, let alone from a guy.” The girl paused, crossing her eyes. “Besides, you’re forgetting the obvious.” 

Peter paused, slamming his hand over his forehead. “Oh, right. Poor depth perception.”

“She clearly wants to hang out with you, so just wait. The klutz will get with you tomorrow,” Aria scoffed,folding her arms. “Jeez, you’re as dense as a rock!”

Slack-jawed, Peter stared at the girl for what seemed like ages before he cleared his throat. “I thought I was having a bad day. You, uh, okay? Granted, you’re not wrong, but still…”

Aria’s eyes widened as she dumbly blinked. “Sorry. That was so painful to watch, that I couldn’t help myself.” Folding her arms, the girl’s stoic expression softened. “I’m Aria.”

“Peter. Don’t sweat it,” he replied, scratching the back of his head. “I mean, you’re right. I have a bad habit of assuming the worst-case scenario.”

Huffing inwardly, Aria glanced to the side. “Now that you mention it, I’m told that I tend to do that myself.” Shrugging, the girl walked to the nearest bench before taking a seat. “Well, I can tell you’ve had a bad day, and I’ve got time to burn, or whatever.”

Peter hummed, hesitant to take a seat before accepting the gesture. “I mean, yeah, but what’s in it for you? I’ve never met you before.”

Shrugging, Aria chuckled under her breath. “I’m curious, I guess. I mean, who wouldn’t be, after what happened to you yesterday at lunch.”

“Oh. That,” Peter flatly groaned, glancing to the side sheepishly, “I had almost forgotten about that.” Rolling his eyes, the young man let out an exasperated moan. “It explains why a girl wants to talk to me. It’s either to boss me around or make fun of me.”

Aria, unphased, stared at the young man with a bemused glare. “You monologue to yourself all the time? You know I can hear you out, right? That’s kind of rude, you dweeb.”

Peter raised his finger and opened his mouth, ready to respond, but he paused, glancing to the side before exhaling. “I keep putting my foot in my mouth. Maybe Trixie was right. Maybe I am rude.” Peter winced, retching involuntarily. “Trixie was right? Ugh. Her dropping me in the trap door was probably warranted then.”

Exasperated, Aria snapped her fingers repeatedly mere inches away from Peter’s face. “Hey! Earth to doofus. Stop that. You’re doing it again.”

Clearing his throat, Peter lowered his head shamefully. “Wow. I was so busy thinking everyone was a jerk that I didn’t realize I was actually being the jerk. I really need to pay more attention to what’s going on.” Sobering, Peter nodded before finally taking a seat next to the girl. “I’m sorry.”

Aria huffed, inhaling sharply as small energies rushed into her. Pausing to recollect herself, the girl shook her head. “Whatever. It’s fine. I’m just irritated. You remind me of… myself. Not just a little, but a lot.” She trailed off, her eyes softening as a pervasive thought crept into her mind. “Am I really like this? I get so stuck in my head that I blow everyone off without realizing it. God, I’m such a bi–” Aria paused, catching sight of Peter’s dumbfound gaze. With a blank stare, the girl threw up her hands in a defeated manner. “Ugh! You are just the worst! Stop making me self-reflect!”

“Huh?” Peter blurted out, taken aback. He raised his hands defensively. “What did I even do? It was your idea for me to vent. Sounds like you need to vent just as much as I do.”

Aria’s eyes softened. “You’re probably right. I could really use–” Like lightning to a rod, the girl caught herself before shaking her head. “Maybe later. Don’t change the subject. Like I mentioned, you clearly have a lot on your mind, after you were humiliated by that Flash guy, but I still see you finding time to help a stranger.” Her stoic demeanor resurfaced as she threw a hand over her face. “I’ve got an eye for this type of thing. It’s easy to see that you’re frustrated, and frankly, it’s frustrating to watch. Need any more explanation? Or, should I move on with my life?”

Scratching the back of his head, Peter looked around aimlessly. “It’s a little sudden, but I guess it can’t hurt. With everyone acting weird, maybe I can use this.” The young man inhaled deeply before releasing a deep sigh. “I’ve only been at this school for a week, and I already feel like I’m screwing up. I didn’t have that many friends to begin with, but it’s saying something when one of the only people that’s friendly to me is the gym teacher. To make matters worse, my old school bully is here, and he’s just rolling out the red carpet for me.”

“Flash, right?” Aria questioned, leaning back into her seat. Small energies seeped into her frame before she nodded, “How long have you known each other?”

“Since nursery school. He’s always been the best athlete in our class, super confident, and…” Peter nonchalantly stated, placing his hands together. 

Aria arched her brow. “...always had it out for you?”

He paused, pursing his lips. “Actually? No. We used to get along, but something changed, once we reached middle school. I don’t know what though.”

Aria huffed, glancing at her nails. “I’ve seen it before. You’re not the only one he picks on, but you’re his biggest target. There’s a reason for that, whether it’s petty or personal. How you find that out is up to you. I don’t care.” The girl shifted her gaze forward while leaning back into her seat. “You have a job? You look and sound like a guy that has way too much on his mind. The fact that you monologue out loud is a bit of a red flag.”

Peter let out an empty laugh. “You could say that. I have a side job. I work in prosthetics with Doctor Octavious. My other job is a little more stressful. I see all kinds of people, and I’m always trying my best to help. Yet, everyone seems to hate me for it.”

“That sounds annoying,” Aria huffed, pausing once more energy drew into her frame. Her complexion paled as she gagged involuntarily. “Ugh. I hate sweets.”

Peter furrowed his brow. “You okay? You look a bit queasy.”

Slow to respond, Aria cleared her throat before straightening her posture. “Yeah, I just feel bloated. I always get like this when I have junk food. It’s nothing.” She shook her head, waving a hand dismissively. “Anyway. Why don’t you just quit? Sounds like you put yourself on the line, and no one appreciates you for it. I understand exactly how that feels. It sucks.”

Shrugging, Peter managed a smile. “Yeah, I could, but I won’t. Someone has to look out for the little guy, and knowing I can make a difference is enough.” The young man paused, lifting his gaze as the sun continued to fall behind the horizon. “I’m frustrated, sure, but the positives are still there. I just have to remind myself to keep an eye out for the good as much as the bad. I was given a second chance. My aunt has a job she really likes, and I’m slowly making some friends.”

Aria’s eyes softened as she watched Peter, her lips steadily curling into a smile. “You’ve had it pretty bad, but you’re still an optimist. That’s honestly a bit… refreshing. ” She stood from her seat, pausing to stretch her arms overhead. “Looks like that talk helped. You’re not the sad sack you were a few minutes ago.”

Peter nodded, his smile widening. “Yeah. It did. It feels like a weight’s been lifted from my shoulders. This is honestly the first time I’ve had a chance to vent since I moved here.” He walked forward, extending his hand to the girl. “Aria, right? Thanks for hearing me out. You’re surprisingly easy to talk to. At first glance, you looked a bit… prickly. But I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Taken aback, Aria’s mouth fell agape as she stared at Peter’s hand. She steadily reached out, ready to accept the gesture, but the girl shook her head, brushing a hand through her hair. “Knock it off. Seeing you all bummed out was annoying. That’s all. But… you’re welcome. I can tell you’re not a bad guy. Your head’s just in the clouds,” she whispered, her harsh tone breaking to a sweet nothing. Exhaling, the girl folded her arms and walked off in a huff. “I-I have to go. If I’m late to the stupid Battle of the Bands, Adagio won’t shut up about it.”

“You’re participating? You sing? I have a… ‘friend’ who is competing as well. Maybe I’ll stick around and watch you?” Peter happily asked, sliding his backpack’s straps over her shoulders.

Aria’s eyes widened before she reached out, placing a hand over Peter’s forearm. “No!” Blinking, the girl cleared her throat and glanced to the side. “I mean, it’s just a waste of time. You really shouldn’t go.” Relinquishing her hold, Aria took a step back and proceeded to leave. “I’ll see you later.”

Peter watched the girl leave, arching a brow once she was out of sight. “That was weird. Everyone’s been acting wonky with this Battle of the Bands stuff.” He paused as his cranium purred. “There’s that tingle again.” Peter stepped away from the school before stopping in his tracks, turning to face the direction of the concert. “Away from the school is safe, but my Spider-Sense is going nuts… where the Battle of the Bands is!” Peter frowned, rushing towards the concert. “Something’s fishy about this, and it ain’t the harbor. Spider-Man is on the case.”







Adagio sat with her arms crossed, tapping a finger impatiently against her forearm. Sonata inhaled deeply before letting out a low sigh. The pair stood on stage behind the curtain, while students continued to fill the stands to near capacity. Eventually, Aria slipped into the backstage, causing both girls to shift their gazes in her direction.

“You certainly took your time. The show’s about to start,” Adagio huffed, frowning as she stood from her seat. 

Aria rolled her eyes, glancing to the side. “You said an hour, and I took it. We still have time to spare.”

Growling, Adagio stomped toward Aria with a narrowed glare. “We are on the cusp of our greatest achievement, and here you are, acting as lackadaisical as ever.” Once inches apart, Adagio sharply raised a finger and held it near Aria’s nose. “If we’re to succeed, I need you at your best!”

Blinking, Aria slapped away Adagio’s hand and scowled. “Excuse me? I don’t know where your attitude is coming from, but you can keep it.” The girl frowned, placing her hands over her hips. “You’re the one with the plans, and they always blow up in your face. How about you make sure we don’t fail for once?!”

Sonata stepped between the pair, raising her hands defensively. “Hey! Stop! This is not helping! We already lost everything! We need to start working together!”

“Lost everything?” Aria questioned, arching a brow.

As if a realization struck her mind, Sonata threw her hands over her mouth and shook her head. “Uh, I mean–!” she paused, shifting her gaze wildly. 

Aria turned to Adagio, her eyes narrowing into a glare. “What’s she talking about?”

Adagio shook her head dismissively. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Why?” Aria spat, never averting her line of sight.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Adagio growled through gritted teeth, returning Aria’s glare with an icy one of her own.

Snarling, Aria pointed at Adagio. “You know what? No! I’m sick of you straddling me along!” Her usual melancholic and apathetic faded, erupting into a pit of frustration and rage. Aria’s stoic demeanor dissolved, evident by her narrowed glare and snarling mouth. “I’ve always followed you because I care about you, in spite of the countless failures! You always take us for granted! Maybe we wouldn’t fail all of the time if we talked as a group, instead of just following along like your little soldiers. For someone who always thinks they’re right, you sure are wrong most of the time!”

Inhaling sharply, Sonata raised her hands defensively. “Whoa, Aria!”

However, Adagio’s complexion burned as her brow twitched. “Shut up! You think you’re so right? I’m what holds us together!” She edged forth, ready to stomp through Aria, but Sonata intervened, placing herself between both sirens. Adagio clenched her fists tightly. “You say you want me to listen, but look in a mirror ! Almost our entire lives, you’ve always questioned me! You always nitpicked every little thing I did. No matter how hard I tried, it was never good enough for you! You say you care, but you never act like it! Get over yourself!”

Sonata strained, pushing against both girls with all her might but failing as they shoved her to the side. “Adagio! That’s too much!”

Aria threw up her hands and laughed sarcastically. “Oh, sure! Blame your problems on me! You’re so perfect that the idea of anyone complaining about you is outrageous!” She glanced to the side, snorting. “I told you it was a bad idea to revolt against the clan leader, but thanks to you, we were banished! I warned you that taking on Starswirl was a mistake, and look at what happened: exiled to another world! We’re stuck here because you suck at planning and listening!”

Shaking her head, Sonata’s eyes continued to widen. “Girls! Stop!”

Adagio scoffed, crossing her arms. “Maybe my plans always fail because you never fully commit to any of them! Is there anything you actually care about to give a damn?! Sad little outcast, always angry at the world! Thank the stars I’m always here! You didn’t fit in there, and you don’t fit here either!” 

Aria snapped back, shoving Adagio before sharply pointing a finger. “The shelter was fine to feed! The school is fine to feed! But it’s never enough! You always want more! Feeding on Spider-Man just doesn’t feel right!” Her posture softened. “He’s so young, yet there’s a lifetime of negativity pouring from him. It’s… toxic and unhealthy. We can’t feed on that!”

“I knew it! The one thing you actually care about, and it’s food! You always feel what you eat! How you were born a siren is beyond me! You’re so stupid!” Adagio huffed, breaking into apathetic laughter. She shook her head in disbelief, placing a hand over her forehead. “This is why the idea of you leading is laughable! You take pity on a stupid boy playing hero! Your sentimentality is grossly misplaced, as it always is! It’s actually a good thing we can’t go back to Equestria! If our kind saw you right now–!”

“That’s enough!” Sonata howled, releasing a frustrated cry. Vibrational waves rushed through the vicinity. The walls shook, trembling as dust fell. Aria and Adagio, slack-jawed, ceased their bickering and stared at the girl. Sonata inhaled deeply before letting out a sigh. “We’re sisters. Why are we arguing like this? You’re both right, but you’re wrong, too. How about you both try to listen to each other? Just this once?”

Adagio opened her mouth, ready to protest, but she shook her head, huffing. “In what world is it right when Sonata is the voice of reason? I will try to listen to you from now on.” She edged forth, placing her hands over Aria’s shoulders. “I just need you to believe in me, just this once. This plan will succeed, but I need you completely onboard!”

Sonata bit down on her lip, alternating her narrowed glare between her sisters. “Now. Are we doing this or what?”

Aria weakly nodded, glancing to the side before returning her line of sight towards Adagio. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll go along with it. We’ve got nothing left to lose.” 

Adagio nodded feverishly, managing a smile. “Good! We’ll win this for sure! You’ll see!” The audience began to erupt, cheering loudly as the light dimmed and fireworks began to shoot. Adagio waved a hand, motioning for Aria and Sonata to follow, while she walked forward. “Time to take center stage and claim what is rightfully ours!”







Meanwhile, stationed in the field on the outskirts of the field by the stage, Sunset turned to face her group. “Are you ready? The show’s about to start.”

Everyone sorted through their respective instruments, each pausing to glance at Twilight. The girl stopped, staring at her hand while small sparkling traces of magical energy materialized into existence. “Start playing, girls! The spell’s almost ready. As soon as they start singing, we’ll have to counteract them.” She lowered her gaze, stealing a glance at the star-patterned skies. “I just hope he shows up, to buy us some time.”

Sunset furrowed her brow. “He? Who are you talking about?”

Just as Twilight readied to respond, a being soared through the sky in the distance before latching onto the top end of the central flagpole. Spider-Man remained perched, analyzing the environment beneath before holding his blank gaze on the unaware citizens surrounding the stage. However, Twilight, seemingly the only one to notice his presence before he fired a strand of webbing and leapt into a swing, smiled in response.



“...a friend,” she whispered.

To Be Continued…