Spiders and Magic: Edge of Time

by MetalJrock

The Clone Saga, Part IV

Author's Note:

A smaller chapter for right now. To make up for it, I'll upload Part V later on tonight.

"This was a mistake." huffed Kaine, walking along the dirt path. "What does this have to do with finding your cutie mark, or whatever it's called?" he questioned. The group had decided to go hiking for whatever reason, much to the First Spider's chagrin.

Peter shrugged, "I dunno. It'll be a fun break from the mayhem that we've endured." he said. He held Mayday on his back, the filly peeking over his head.

"It has everything to do with it, Kaine!" Scootaloo answered, the orange pegasus, nudging him gently, "We can get out cutie marks as adventurers!"

"We did that three times already. Before Peter came here." Applebloom corrected. "Hasn't worked then, and I doubt it'll be the case now."

Ben looked down and saw Sweetie Belle, giving him a half-lidded stare and a smile, "Uh... You alright, kid?" he asked with some concern in his tone.

"Oh, uh, yeah!" studdered the young unicorn, pink forming on her cheeks. Ben heard Peter chuckle, as if he knew why she was giving Ben that strange look.

'I guess some things never change. Especially her crush.' thought Peter. 'Man, we really should think about giving those two different looks once all this is done. It will definitely save us a headache.' he grabbed a tree branch and tossed it aside. "Careful up there, Mayday. We're gonna climb a log."

May nodded, "Okay, daddy!" she said. The two hopped over a small log, the others following him.

"So, Parker. Where the shock are we going?" Miguel asked his predecessor.

Peter shrugged again, "As far as we can, O'Hara. Think of this as a field trip for the kids. I told you it won't take very long."

"Uncle Miguel? What does shock mean?" Mayday asked.

Miguel's eyes went wide before he cleared his throat. "It's uh... Something I say out of habit. Don't repeat it. That's all you need to know, kid." he assured. Peter held in a few giggles at his poor excuse of an explanation, knowing full well of his swears.

Kaine crossed his forehooves, leaning on the log. "Heh. Quick thinking there, O'Hara. Better learn to watch your language."

Ben frowned, "Says the one that said every swear known to man on the way to pick up the girls. Poor Peter had to cover his daughters ears while you went on." he teased, earning a glare from his clone brother.

"Ya two are definitely brothers..." Applebloom chuckled at the clones' bickering.

"Yeah!" agreed Scootaloo. "Think of the children, Kaine!"

Kaine rolled his eyes at the pegasus's comment, "I regret everything."

"Don't be like that." Sweetie Belle pleaded, "You can have fun too!" she cheered.

Ben smiled, "See, bro? The three of them even want you to lighten up for a bit."

"You agreed to it, Kaine. Heck, I even gave you a choice." Peter teased, Mayday still on his back.

Miguel kicked away a stone with his hoof, watching it bounce off a tree into a lake at the other side of the field they were in, where it bounced perfectly across the water, "Woah! That was so cool! How'd you do that?" asked Scootaloo, impressed by O'Hara's strength.

"I... Kicked a rock, Scootaloo. There wasn't much else to it." explained O'Hara awkwardly.

"He's right, Scoots. Mah sister knocks an entire tree's worth of apples with one good buck." Applebloom added.

Scootaloo scoffed, "I know, but it's still pretty cool to see. I kind of wish I brought my scooter with me so I can show you my tricks."

"Does everypony here have a destined name or something?" Kaine asked aloud, hearing about Scootaloo's scooter.

Ben laughed, "It seems that way. Granted, your secret identity is the First Spider. Fitting. And in a way, we're all Spider-Men, quite an original name if I say so myself." he added to the conversation.

"What's your superhero name, Ben?" wondered Sweetie Belle.

Peter decided to speak up, "I gave Kaine the title of the First Spider. I was also thinking of the Scarlet Spider, because of the experiment that made you." he revealed.

"Scarlet Spider, huh?" Ben nodded to himself, "I like it. Sounds catchy."

"So, now it's Spider-Mane, Spider-Mane 2099, the First Spider, and the Scarlet Spider? There's plenty of Spider-Men in Equestria right now." Scootaloo realized.

Peter smiled, "Yeah. And these are just the Spider-Men from my world. It'll be even crazier if the Spiders from other dimensions showed up here. Like 1930's me, younger me, or Spider-Ham. Heh, leaves me to wonder if there's a female Spider out there with how crazy the multiverse seems to be."

"A Spider-Mare? That sounds... Odd." Applebloom commented. "But also nice."

"Spider-Mare?" Miguel repeated, "And I thought Spider-Mane was a corny name."

Peter glared at his successor playfully, "Corny? You're from a timeline where shock, glitch and jam are swears and not just normal everyday words."

"Jam it you're right!"

"Language!" scolded Ben and Peter.

O'Hara scowled at the second clone, "Who the shock let you in on the conversation?" he asked Ben.

"I dunno. Call it a clone's intuition." Ben smirked.

"Alright, Spider-Mane. I guess it's a draw." Kaine huffed with a smirk.

"He's got you there, Peter." admitted Applebloom. "At least we know you'll never get your or our cutie marks in making witty comebacks."

Peter frowned, "Well I'm glad that's the case." he said, turning his head to see Mayday hop off his body. "Stay close to me and the others, Mayday." he ordered his daughter, who nodded. They stood at a cliff, seeing the beautiful forest at the area below them.

"Pretty nice place here." admitted Ben. "It's so... Calm."

Kaine agreed, "Yeah. It's a shame we were stuck in Alchemax and Warren's lab for most of our time."

"That's why I wanted you two to come along. To see what the world has to offer you two." Peter explained, "This is Whitetail Woods. I usually come here whenever I or Twilight need some time alone."

Scootaloo and Applebloom gagged, "Please don't get into specifics, Peter." pleaded the yellow filly.

"I think it sounds nice." Sweetie Belle admitted.

"Of course you would." teased Scootaloo.

Mayday nudged her father, "Daddy, can we go down there?" she asked him.

"Not today, May. Maybe some other time. I just wanted to take you all on a brief trip. That, and I'm kind of hungry." Peter answered with a sheepish smile.

"Of shocking course. You forgot to pack the jam snacks didn't you." Miguel muttered under his breath.

"Well, that's because you and Kaine kept rushing me!" Peter replied. "If you hadn't, I probably would have remembered to bring the hay fries and the juice! And I didn't have jam to pack thanks for wondering!" he added with a small chuckle.

Kaine smiled, "Let's just get back. I'm enjoying the view, but I wanna see if the girls found that last rift." his stomach began to rumble as well after saying that.

"Well, seems somepony else is hungry." Sweetie Belle said.

"I think we could all use a meal." Ben told them. "How about we head to the nearest cafe back in Ponyville to grab a bite?" he offered, he moved next to Peter. "Hey, dude. It's your treat, I don't have any money on me now."

Peter sighed, "Something tells me that you and Kaine are going to be the freeloading type of brothers." he mumbled, "Fine. I'll pay just this once. After we stop Sloan, I'll see if I can get you three some type of temporary job while you're still here."

Comments

[Mr-Astounding]

"So, Parker. Where the shock are we going?" Miguel asked his predecessor.
Peter shrugged again, "As far as we can, O'Hara. Think of this as a field trip for the kids. I told you it won't take very long."
"Uncle Miguel? What does shock mean?" Mayday asked.
Miguel's eyes went wide before he cleared his throat. "It's uh... Something I say out of habit. Don't repeat it. That's all you need to know, kid." he assured. Peter held in a few giggles at his poor excuse of an explanation, knowing full well of his swears.

I'm...honestly surprised this hasn't come up earlier...

Kaine crossed his forehooves, leaning on the log. "Heh. Quick thinking there, O'Hara. Better learn to watch your language."
Ben frowned, "Says the one that said every swear known to man on the way to pick up the girls. Poor Peter had to cover his daughters ears while you went on." he teased, earning a glare from his clone brother.
"Ya two are definitely brothers..." Applebloom chuckled at the clones' bickering.

being a brother myself, I can thoroughly agree with this statement...

"So, now it's Spider-Mane, Spider-Mane 2099, the First Spider, and the Scarlet Spider? There's plenty of Spider-Men in Equestria right now." Scootaloo realized.
Peter smiled, "Yeah. And these are just the Spider-Men from my world. It'll be even crazier if the Spiders from other dimensions showed up here. Like 1930's me, younger me, or Spider-Ham. Heh, leaves me to wonder if there's a female Spider out there with how crazy the multiverse seems to be."

oh, you have NO idea...
tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.R3gOSCfBFxc62f8Zpmmx8QDHEs&pid=15.1
cscdn.marvelheroes.com/costume/en/SpiderGwen_9_new.png
3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2oM_7DxgiA/UnktE-FcguI/AAAAAAAAk2c/FB3pkNdJytI/s1600/Spider+Woman.jpg
...and that's not even including rule 63 dimensions, "what if?" scenarios, and just plain CRAZY alternate universes...

"A Spider-Mare? That sounds... Odd." Applebloom commented. "But also nice."
"Spider-Mare?" Miguel repeated, "And I thought Spider-Mane was a corny name."
Peter glared at his successor playfully, "Corny? You're from a timeline where shock, glitch and jam are swears and not just normal everyday words."
"Jam it you're right!"
"Language!" scolded Ben and Peter.

O'Hara scowled at the second clone, "Who the shock let you in on the conversation?" he asked Ben.
"I dunno. Call it a clone's intuition." Ben smirked.
"Alright, Spider-Mane. I guess it's a draw." Kaine huffed with a smirk.

wait: sense when were we having a competition? and what were they competing IN, now that I think about it?

Mayday nudged her father, "Daddy, can we go down there?" she asked him.
"Not today, May. Maybe some other time. I just wanted to take you all on a brief trip. That, and I'm kind of hungry." Peter answered with a sheepish smile.
"Of shocking course. You forgot to pack the jam snacks didn't you." Miguel muttered under his breath.
"Well, that's because you and Kaine kept rushing me!" Peter replied. "If you hadn't, I probably would have remembered to bring the hay fries and the juice! And I didn't have jam to pack thanks for wondering!" he added with a small chuckle.

I can't make a joke: this is gold on it's own...

Kaine smiled, "Let's just get back. I'm enjoying the view, but I wanna see if the girls found that last rift." his stomach began to rumble as well after saying that.
"Well, seems somepony else is hungry." Sweetie Belle said.
"I think we could all use a meal." Ben told them. "How about we head to the nearest cafe back in Ponyville to grab a bite?" he offered, he moved next to Peter. "Hey, dude. It's your treat, I don't have any money on me now."
Peter sighed, "Something tells me that you and Kaine are going to be the freeloading type of brothers." he mumbled, "Fine. I'll pay just this once. After we stop Sloan, I'll see if I can get you three some type of temporary job while you're still here."

hey: cut them some slack, Peter: Sloan doesn't seem the type to give out allowances...
wait: that didn't come out right...

[edCOM02]

'Shock' chapter counter - 3
Total 'Shock' counter - 76 + 3 = 79

'Jam' chapter counter - 2
Total 'Jam' counter - 15 + 2 = 17

(Just counting Miguel's swears here since the others who said any 2099 slang words wouldn't count since those slang words are normal words in their time period).

Peter glared at his successor playfully, "Corny? You're from a timeline where shock, glitch and jam are swears and not just normal everyday words."

"Jam it you're right!"

"Language!" scolded Ben and Peter.

Cap would approve!
media.giphy.com/media/gw3Mie6ZPA4J0S9G/giphy.gif

[MetalJrock]

7469311 The gag involving the Spider-Verse was mainly a small callforward to Rise of Spider-Mare and Spider-Gwen in Part IV, and perhaps something else...

And now I imagine Warren and Sloan giving Kaine and Ben a bag of change for every mission they've done like they just finished their chores.

Sloan: You did well bringing Anti-Venom here, Kaine. Here's a dollar in coins.

Ben: Woo!

Kaine: Ugh... I need a new hobby.

7469324 Kaine: Are we just gonna ignore the fact that Ben and Parker just said language?

[Mr-Astounding]

7469661

The gag involving the Spider-Verse was mainly a small callforward to Rise of Spider-Mare and Spider-Gwen in Part IV, and perhaps something else...

eh, fair enough

And now I imagine Warren and Sloan giving Kaine and Ben a bag of change for every mission they've done like they just finished their chores.

heh: sorry...

Kaine: Are we just gonna ignore the fact that Ben and Parker just said language?

um...maybe?

[SuperMarioHero8881]

7469661 Like I said, I could just imagine Josh Keaton, Freddy Rodriguez and Scott Porter, and.......Neil Patrick Harris as Ben Reilly
As well as Michelle Creber, Claire Corlett and Maddy Peters all in a recording studio, HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES

[MetalJrock]

7474434 Same here. That would be an amazing recording session. And Neil Patrick Harris is a good call for Ben Reilly.