//------------------------------// // Chapter Three: Hot Stuff // Story: SPIDER-MAN: Shattered Equinox // by Kapwnage //------------------------------// "You can only do your best." -Kevin Friel "The shipping chapter you've all wanted...... Just kidding... lol" Peter woke up the next morning to the peaceful stinging sensation in his eyelids. The morning sun gleamed through the window of the bedroom and onto his face. To him, everything in Ponyville got much smaller than he last saw it. Nonetheless, hes grown taller since his last visit. He thought of the two years its' been since hes been gone and how things have not changed at all in Ponyville, but of course; it's been only a year. The ponies we're all the same bubbly nut-jobs, the buildings we're old and ratty, and the air was so very clean. He enjoyed it all most too much. Getting up, he put his mask in his pocket and went downstairs and into the kitchen. He spotted Twilight reading a newspaper and Spike preparing breakfast. The relaxing moment turned Peter's mood from worried to comfortable. Twilight looked up and stared at Peter, a bit surprised yet still happy that he was there. Things seemed different without him. "Peter!" She set down her paper and took off her reading glasses. "Spike is just making breakfest." "Good timing." Spike rolled his eyes. "It's nice to see you too buddy." Peter sat down at the table. "So how's things been 'round here, Twilight?" He asked. "Just fine, actually. Poor Fluttershy had a bit of a mix up with another forest creature though, that concerns me. Could it be what you we're looking for?" "I dunno, what did it look like?" "She said it had abnormally large teeth, and looked nothing like something we'd usually see in the Everfree forest. White eyes, big and black. It nearly hurt her and k-" She pause to shuddered at her word choice, "killed one of her chickens." "Venom." Peter growled. "Hey, like the new suit, dude!" Spike sat down with a plate of diamonds and served eggs and flowers to Twilight and Peter. "I know this is what you had last time, but you seemed to enjoy it." He grinned. "Yeah, Peter, you didn't have that on yesterday." Twilight tipped her head in confusion. "New suit?" He looked at himself in shock. Jumping up, he freaked out. Twilight recoiled and also jumped out of her chair in sudden fright. "Ahh! No, no, no!" Peter grimaced. "The symbiote! It's on me! Get it off! Get it off!" He ripped at the suit, trying to pull it off. It wouldn't tear despite his spider strength. 'Shit!" He yelled. "What's wrong?!" Twilight questioned, yelling at a medium tone between shock and confusion. "What do you mean, what's wrong? I'm purple! Strange, I don't remember it being purple." "What's wrong with being purple?" She frowned. "Not like that, Twilight! I mean.. Ur, you wouldn't understand! This is not a suit! It's a living organism!" "What? I don't understand." "Look." Peter grabbed a hunk of the symbiote on the suit and ripped it off. It tore off like thick paper and the tear in the suit quickly shut. "See? It's living!" "Oh, wow! This is interesting! Have you encountered these before? You seemed a bit shocked." "Shocked?! I'm far from shocked!" "Why are you scared of it?" "It makes you do things you wouldn't do. It changes you! It feeds off of envy and anger!" Peter stretched his arms to his back and tore off the top half of the suit, revealing his plain, bare chest. The large chunk of symbiote that had been torn from its body quickly ran up Peter's arm and formed back over his face and body. "That's so cool!" Spike glared. "No! It's not cool! What is really weird, is that I got rid of this thing and worked up a resistance. How is it still on me? And how is it purple?! How the heck did it come back?!" Peter freaked. "Peter, lets just calm down." Twilight cooed. "Calm down?!" He noticed his rage building up and breathed in and out to relieve stress. "Right- Calm down. I just gotta calm down." He slid to the floor in frustration and grasped his head. "Now, is there any way to get it off?" Twilight sat next to Peter, whom sat on the floor with his hands on his forehead. She rapped her legs around his shoulder, quickly pulling back. "Whoa! Your hot!" "Excuse me?" Peter recoiled from Twilight. He became slightly flustered at her sudden change of mood. "Oh, wait that came out wrong." She blushed. "I mean, your burning! I can't even touch you!" "What?" Peter ripped the false symbiotic mask off his face and touched his glove to his skin. It scorched his cheek. "Ok, this day couldn't get any weirder." ***************************** Venom returned to camp the next morning with the rest of the group. He was starving and wanted a good steak dinner right just there and then. Slobber leaked from between his lips and moistened the dry need for water. After searching around a bit, he settled on some packed goods. Doctor only packed food that made his stomach burn but that had to do. "Vulture you moron!" Shocker scolded, "How could you just give away us like that?!" "Listen you mattress head, I was attacked and forced." Vulture recoiled. "I had no choice." "What's going on over here?" Octavious joined the conversation. "Feather-brain over here dun' went and told Spider-Man what's headin' for him!" Shocker snitched. "I didn't go freely, I was forced." "Great, just great." Octavious slapped his forehead in frustration. "We're gonna need backup." "Who's that?" "An old friend." He pointed to the mountains, at a large castle structure build right on the side of it. Doctor Octavious took Venom to the base of the mountain, where they would began climbing. The golden morning sun baked the land in hot light, causing a single stream of sweat made it's way down Doc's neck. He tore off his cloak and threw it on the ground. Starting first, he jabbed his sharp limb into the side of the mountain. Venom jumped and stuck to the wall without a problem. They scaled the mountain in less than ten minutes and arrived at the jail cell windows. Octavious searched around quickly for the pegasus guards that most likely would be circling the area. "What are you looking for?" Venom questioned in his deep, grumbled voice. He slowly dangled on a thick, blue webbing. "You'll see- Ah! Here she is." "She?" Swack! Doc smashed his front left tentacle into the thick, stone walls of the dungeon. The bared window shattered and the stone crumbled to the foggy abyss below. Climbing into the jail cell, Venom looked around and saw the same type of horse he saw yesterday. This one was different, though. It was a little bit bigger and was brown. This, horse thing, looked normal besides the large titanium limbs that shot out it's back. "This, is my backup." "I can see the resemblance." Venom chuckled. "Wha-" The pony woke up and stared at Venom. She threw her limbs forward and bashed Venom on the side of the head. He actually started to bleed. "Nothing's ever done THAT before!" He gasped. She looked around and saw Octavious. "O-Octavious? Is that really you?" She got up and looked at his tentacles. "Oh yeah, it is you!" She ran up to hug him. "Yes, my friend. It is me! I have returned." "For me? You shouldn't have." She blushed. "Your right, I shouldn't have. But I need your help." His words wiped her blush clean off and the blunt response gave her a dull frown. "With?" "He's back and in my way again." "Ugh, not again. I promised Celestia that I wouldn't attack anyone. She promised to let me out next winter!" "Celestia?" "Oh right, your human. Well you see----" ***************************** Peter laied on his bed and tried to think. "If I haven't gone crazy or hurt anyone yet, then it's clear I've worked a resistance for the symbiote. I don't feel angry or like raging out; actually, this suit feels good for some reason. I don't want to admit it because for one, this is what happened when I first got it. For two, I won't notice myself getting angry. And for three, it's a symbiote! What am I thinking?! I can't keep it. But then again, I can't take it off. I mean, it would totally boost my fighting skills and hurt more when I punch!" He felt his hand touch his cheek again, and it burnt. "Why does it not burn me from the inside?" "Peter?" A slight knock on the door indicated that it was Twilight. "What?" He asked bluntly with a tone of annoyance in his voice. He wanted Twilight to butt out. "Uh," She didn't expect the mean tone from him, "C-can I come in?" "No." She frowned. "Uh- oh. Ok." She slowly walked back downstairs and sat down with her hooves to her temples. There was something about that suit that's making him real angry. "What's wrong with him?" Spike frowned. He was a bit frightened. "What's not wrong with him, that's the real question." She also grimaced at the tough morning they all were having. "I think he just wants to go home." "He said that he missed you guys though!" "Yeah, I think that's changed now." Peter put on his burning, purple mask and jumped out the window. He swung towards the center of the town in search for something to do, he needed to pass time. With his suit, he could swing much lower to the ground. As he did so, this proved so much faster than zipping. "Hey! There goes that alien!" A colt said to his father. They both smiled at Spider-Man as he passed. "He saved this town, you know!" "He did?" "Yeah! He brought down a terrible pony who was planning to hurt us all!" "Wow! He's so cool!" Spider-Man swung past Rainbow Dash, who noticed him in the corner of her eye. She, very excited he was running about, flew up to him mid-swing. "Hey, Spidey!" She smiled so happily. "Go away Rainbow Dash." He scolded. "Wha- what?!" "You keep getting in my way." "But- but-" She began to cry slightly. Peter continued to swing, ignoring Dash, until he hit more of an industrial side of Ponyville. Shops were spread all throughout the streets and intersected the roads. Applejack had her apple cart set up right in the middle of it all, and seemed to be having problems. "Hey! Ah suggest ya' pay for those apples." She threatened. "Or what? Your gonna tell your granny?" The stallion joked sarcastically. Peter landed behind the stallion and grimaced at his lack of wits. Applejack noticed Peter and winked at him. "Nah, I'm gonna tell Spider-Man!" She laughed. "He's just a stupid myth." Peter poked the stallions back with his burning finger. The pony jumped in pain from the little burn. He quickly turned around and looked up to Spider-Man, whom stood much taller. The purple suit made him terrifying. "S-s-s-sorry, I'll just p-pay for this." He backed up a bit. "Yeah, you're right. You will." Spider-Man growled. Turning around, he slowly lifted his hoof towards his bags to get money, but instead yanked them up and bolted off. Spider-Man, pissed off, webbed his legs within easy range. The stallion tripped and scraped up his lower jaw, yelping in pain. Applejack chuckled, but looked a bit shocked at the stallion whom stood up with a bloody jaw. She tipped her hat to Spider-Man in appreciation. "Mighteh' thanks, sir." She smiled happily, but it soon faded. "Ya' didn't have ta hurt him li' that though." Peter was not satisfied with her thank you, and opened his mouth to scold her but his spider sense buzzed in his brain and he thrusted his fist to the right of his head. It make impact on a suspecting stallion whom decided to retaliate. He jerked back in more pain, now with a cracked jaw that was bleeding profusely. "Naw that's just wrong, Spidah-Man." Applejack frowned at the sight of the bloody, beaten stallion. "Get over it." He swung away. Applejack thought to herself, "I dun remember him being this mean befoah." ***************************** "So those are our goddesses and that's what they do." Octavia was out of breath from a long story. "Mare and the moon, huh? Interesting." Octavious rubbed his chin, trying to get it all down in his brain. "We've been sitting in this cell for hours, lets go!" Venom pushed. He jumped off the ledge of the broken cell and swung off the overhang it created. "He's right, we might get caught." Octavious insisted. "We'd better go, Octavia." "I told you, I gotta stay! Good behavior and all that." "Your not being serious are you?" "No, hahaha!" She jumped off the ledge and caught the side of the mountain. "That's what I thought." The three villains made it back to the base right around nightfall. The small building was set up like a shed, and had barely enough room for six people and a pony. The group of working humans lifted the rest of the heavy machines and set it up inside. "I hate how you got us workin' why you go off and do your shit." Goblin evoked. "My 'shit' will lead us to success." Octavious growled in his face. "Back off, Gobby." Venom joked. "What are you gonna do fatty? Sit on me? I'm soooo scared!" Goblin laughed sarcastically. "Shut it! Both of you, shut up!" Beck yelled. "Can't a guy just sit in peace?!" He sat in a hammock made from leaves and vines. "Mysterio, you fishbowl, get off your ass!" Venom screeched. "What the hell is that?" Goblin poked at Octavia. She used her extendable limb to push his arm away. "I, sir, am a pony. And you my sir, are an incompetent fool." "A talking horse? How absurd! A bit of a bitch if I might say." Mysterio insulted. "What kind of trickery is this?" "Beyond you, Beck." Octavious entered the building and let the pony handle her fame. "I prefer to be called a pony, thank you very much." Octavia scolded. "A pony? Your odd for a pony. Since when did ponies get tattoos? Or talk for that matter." Shocker questioned, looking at her flank. "It's called a cutie mark thank you very much!" She said sarcastically. "Since when did humans get so ugly?" "Listen you little talking horse-" "Shut up Shock, let 'er talk." Venom hushed. "Don't get any ideas." She smiled. Spider-Man creeped in the foliage to get a good view of the gang. He could see Shocker, Venom, Goblin, and Octavia. Doctor Octopus wasn't anywhere to be found, which frustrated Peter. The leaves burned around him as they smoked against his burning suit. The smell of smoldering leaves and smoke slowly clouded the clean, forest air. Moving to a new spot, he climbed up a tree and hung on a branch upside down where nobody could see him because of the shade. "Spider-Man won't stand a chance against all of us." Venom chuckled grimly. "Why so confident?" Goblin played. "He'll be dead before we even find him!" Venom's words scared Peter almost enough to scare the symbiote that burned on him. "The Symbiote I planted on him should sooner or later take effect and the neurotoxins will finish off whats left of him. A dead bug." He grinned again, his big stained teeth glared. "You smell like horse shit." Goblin held his armored nose closed. "Hey! I take offence from that." Octavia laughed. The tree Spider-Man was on began to smoke as well. He jumped off, and bumped a branch. Leaves stirred and fell to the ground. A slight sudden rustle of the bushes made Shocker freak out and blast a cannon into a tree. He could have sword he'd just seen Spider-Man. "You smell that?" Venom sniffed the air. "Somethings burning and-" He paused to chuckle, "I know exactly what it is." Peter bolted off to Ponyville, where he would come up with a plan to get rid of them. ***************************** When Peter got back, the sun started to set and a loud storm cloud brewed in the sky. It began to downpour in a matter of seconds due to Pegasus weather ponies. He stopped right out of town, where he could began the ultimate plan. "Rip off the suit, and go plead to Twilight that I'm sorry. It has to work. But wait, what do I do with his thing." He grabbed a hunk and ripped it off; just for it to slide back onto his chest. "Wait, got another plan. This one even smarter." He grabbed two hunks and tore them off, throwing them to the ground. He repeated this process faster than it could regenerate and it quickly depleted from his skin. Peter yelled in pain as the symbiote burnt his raw, bare skin. It slithered up and down his legs and rapped around his thigh and neck. He threw up from the toxins in his system and continued to puke. A glimmer of hope sprung from under the symbiote. His actual Spider-Man outfit was still nestled tightly onto his skin, absorbing some of the burns though already scorched and torn. Peter took this advantage to take of his boot, slip on his mask, and shove as much of the goop in it as possible. All of it was stuffed haphazardly in his left shoe and he clenched the base so it could not slither out, even though it tried; Peter prevailed. He fell to his knees and gasped in pain. A mixture of sweat, rain, tears, and blood ran down his cheeks and neck. Slowly, he went unconscious and splashed into the cold, dirty mud. *Hope you enjoyed the long chapter and the awesome pictures! I made the first one :D I need more prereaders, please if you can, add me on steam or skype. MSG me for details.* Please comment and rate!