Shattered! Avengers Disassembled!

Chapter One “Shattered! Avengers Disassembled!”

A decade and a half had passed since that day. She was once a respected leader before being humiliated within her own village. Years of research, excavating, and training led her to this moment. Her thoughts ran, attempting to settle the butterflies churning in her gut. Narrowing her blue gaze on the stone tablet sitting on her table, the violet-maned mare scrolled through the pages of a book.

“Starswirl the Bearded’s time travel spell,” she whispered as particles of energy from the atmosphere channeled into her horn before the tablet levitated slightly. The clear blue skies outside darkened as many clouds spread about. The surrounding gusts intensified, generating multiple whirlwinds. “Combined with the power of the Tablet of Order and Chaos, my power should be astronomical.” A coy smirk graced her features. “I believe now is as good a time as any for a field test.”

Emerald energies spiraled across the airwaves outside. Bolts of lightning quickly raced through the sky and struck multiple areas along the outskirts of the village. Tremors coursed through the earth, causing even the surrounding mountains to shake violently. Suddenly, the space within the area distorted, tearing asunder as the very fabric of reality came undone.

However, the mare’s eyes shot open before the energy emitting from her horn dissipated. The magic enveloping the tablet vanished instantly, prompting the object to fall back onto the table. The effects spreading across the land also ceased as a result, with the skies clearing and the cracks in space sealed back together. Once the after effects of her spell fully stopped, the mare laughed confidently before easing back into her seat.

“Just as I suspected! I can shape all of reality with a mere thought!” she mused, smirking.

The mare inhaled deeply before sighing, stealing a glance across the room. An array of photos were spread along a wall, each depicting the stallion formerly known as Spider-Mane. Now, he was declared the Spirit of Order and Harmony, leading a band of exceptionally powerful individuals. His so-called ‘Avengers’ were not to be trifled with, and with such accumulated power at their disposal, nopony could hope to stop them single-hoofedly.

The mare frowned at his image with disdain. “It’s because of you that I was ostracized. It took time, but I managed to draw some backup to my cause. Even your son is proving to be invaluable as a student, but I know you’ll just rise up to stop me again. You have a vast history of doing such things, Peter Parker. So, to ensure my success, I’ll erase you from the plains of existence by wiping out your very history.” She returned her attention to the tablet and opened book on the table. “I just need a little more time to perfect the spell. Soon, everypony will know of Starlight Glimmer and her benevolent views.”

Meanwhile, back within the castle along the outskirts of Ponyville, Mayday held a hoof over her mouth and furrowed her brow at the computer screen before her. “This doesn’t make any sense. One moment, the rifts were spreading seemingly out of control, and the next, poof. Gone without a trace.” The mare straightened her glasses before turning to the side, sharing a glance with her father as he stared intently at the screen. “So, what’s the call, Daddy?”

Peter shook his head. “There’s clearly something going on. We’d better check it out before things turn south. In my life, it usually does.

Eris nodded, holding an unreadable expression while pursing her lips. “I concur. The energies in the air are still sporadic. I suggest that we make haste if we’re to find the cause.”

“So, what are we waiting for, exactly?” Trixie questioned, folding her hooves.

Peter frowned. “The whole team. Everypony’s here except for one, and we have to play this smart.” The stallion returned his gaze towards his daughter. “You did page Laura, right?”

Mayday nodded before tapping the button on the watch over her hoof. “I have a few times, but she keeps cutting me off. I don’t know if it’s Laura doing that or a radio disturbance.” Suddenly, the static erupting from the device cleared, prompting Mayday’s ears to perk. “Laura! Come in! Where are you?”

The voice on the other side growled under her breath. “Stupid energy wave must’ve shorted the watch. What do you want?”

Peter leaned forward, frowning. “We need you to come to Ponyville. Something’s come up. The computer says something big is brewing in Our Town. We’re sending in the whole team to investigate.”

“Don’t bother. I’m already outside of the village,” Laura bluntly declared, furrowing her brow on the town in the near distance. “I smelled something odd in the air and followed it here. Next thing I know, a storm picks up. It cleared after a couple of minutes, but I can see the source at the center of town. It all came from the house in the middle. I’m about to check it out.”

Ember’s eyes widened before she stepped forward alongside Peter. “Wait! Don’t go in yet. We need to form a plan of attack before we engage the enemy.”

Laura huffed, unsheathing a pair of claws from her hoof with a snikt. “I’ve already got a plan: attack.”

Suddenly, the radio shorted out, prompting the dragon to shake her head in a bemused manner. “There always has to be a renegade in the chain of command.”

Umbra blinked, glancing to the side. “Such insubordination. Perhaps I should have killed her.”

Deep within the confines of Peter’s mind, Dream folded her arms and sighed. “You can’t be surprised. It’s pretty clear that she can barely tolerate you, let alone listen.”

Peter shrugged. “She’s cloned from Wolverine. He made it a hobby to act like that. If anything, it just confirms that Laura is her father’s daughter. Clone. Sister. Whatever. She’s basically Logan 2.0.” Pausing, he shook his head and leaned closer to the entity. “That reminds me. You know that thing that we’ve been talking about?”

Pausing, Dream blankly stared at her host. "You’re bringing that up again now? Why?”

Peter wrapped an arm around Dream’s shoulder and held out an open hand. “I need a superhero name, and I can’t use Spider-Mane anymore. I mean, I love Pinkie and get the pun, but that name was always kind of stupid.”

“...yet that never prompted you to change your name sooner? Stupid is what stupid does,” Dream coldly interjected with a blank gaze.

“We’re updating and upgrading! Now, we just need something that’s cool and rolls off the tongue!” Ignoring the woman’s exasperated glare, Peter obliviously hummed. “Order-Spider? Spider-Sentinel?”

“I’m not doing this. It’s stupid,” Dream groaned, glancing to the side with a bemused glare.

Poking his lip out in a pout, Peter walked away from the woman. “Fine! I’m sure my other teammates will be happy to help!”

Dream paused, laughing haughtily as a coy smirk surfaced on her face. “Now, that’s something I would like to see.”

Back within the real world, Ember sighed before sharing a glance with the stallion. “So, what now?”

Exhaling, Peter placed a hoof over Ember’s shoulder. “We hurry and get to the village before Laura does something rash. We don’t even know if Starlight’s really the cause.”

Eris vanished from sight, materializing into existence behind the stallion. “I’m coming with you all. The air is thick with chaos and… something else. It feels faintly familiar, but wrong.”

Just before Peter could hope to respond, Mayday reached out and placed her hoof over his own. “I’m coming, too. The energy readings are off the charts. I’m still trying to figure out the cause and how to fix it. I’d stay here, but the energy near the town keeps causing radio disturbances. If I find something important, I’d like to be able to tell you.”

Slow to respond, Peter’s expression softened as his brow furrowed. “I don’t like it. It’s much safer if you stay behind… but you do have a point. If anypony can figure out what’s going on, it’s you. Plus, you’re an adult, and you’ve made your decision.” Once Mayday nodded her appreciation, Peter turned to face the dark mare standing nearby. “Umbra. No matter what happens, stay close to Mayday.”

Umbra simply nodded. “Understood.”

Everypony gathered around the draconequus as she raised a glowing paw. “We’ve no time to waste. Hopefully, Laura hasn’t reached the source yet,” Eris whispered before the entire group, including herself, vanished from sight in a burst of light.

-u-

Starlight continued to read through the pages of the book, never averting her gaze from the walls of text. A soft set of knocks tapped against the door, causing the mare to glance back sharply. Furrowing her brow, Starlight levitated both the tablet and book via telekinesis. Suddenly, the door flew off its hinges and crashed into the nearest wall. A lone mare walked into the room in an upright stance, garbed in a yellow and black costume. She simply scoffed upon sharing a glance with the pony inside.

“You look like you have something to hide,” Laura muttered, unsheathing her claws. “Give me a reason not to take a limb to find out what it is.”

Slow to respond, Starlight managed a chuckle. “Ah, I’ve heard of you. The brute with the claws. I suppose my lightshow gave me away. Oh, well. I’ll just have to move my plan ahead of schedule.” Starlight huffed afterward, frowning. “Are you lost, little dog? Don’t have your friends or master holding your leash?”

Laura’s brow lowered into a glare before a snarl escaped from her mouth. “I’ve got your leash right here!”

Suddenly, Laura unsheathed the remainder of her claws from her hooves and leaped across the room toward the mare. However, Starlight’s horn glowed momentarily before a wave of energy raced out. The magical energies collided into Laura’s airborne form, launching her through the nearest wall. Shards of stone, glass, and debris scattered from the blast as Wolverine spiraled from the second floor of Starlight’s home before she eventually crashed to the ground. A cloud of dust rose from the point of impact, and tremors coursed through the ground as a crater spread.

The citizens of Our Town rushed out at the commotion, eyeing the damaged landscape. Once Starlight’s glowing form levitated from the air and landed several yards away from the crater, the entirety of the village retreated upon seeing the mare wave a hoof to the side. Slowly, but surely, Laura pulled herself from the hole, growling under her breath. Wide gashes across her forehead and cheek sewed themselves shut, healing before the mare stood back upright.

Starlight’s eyes widened momentarily before she scoffed dismissively. “Resilient. I’m almost impressed, but it doesn’t matter. Your abilities still pale when compared to mine.”

The surrounding clouds darkened while whirlwinds generated around the vicinity. Suddenly, a trail of electricity spiraled around Starlight’s body like a whip before it sped toward Laura. However, a dark figure dashed in front of Wolverine, deflecting the lightning bolt with a firm swing of a sword. Starlight’s brow furrowed once she settled her gaze on Umbra, who sheathed her blade. Sonata, Ember, and Eris immediately soared into the vicinity, landing behind Umbra and Laura. Peter swung across the air on a strand of webbing with his daughter’s hooves wrapped behind his neck, and once everypony landed alongside each other, a cloud of smoke rose from the ground, revealing Mysterio.

Ember rolled her eyes upon sharing a glance with Laura. “This is why we have team protocol. Learn to listen to those around you.”

“I can take care of myself,” Laura spat, stretching her neck until a crack was heard. She lowered into a defensive stance, snarling. “Just stay out of my way.”

Umbra frowned, glaring at the mare from the corner of her eye. “Try anything clever, and I will kill you.”

The two mares held venomous glares at each other, snarling without falter. Sonata obliviously stood between them and nervously grinned. “Are we a little tense? How about a song to lighten the mood?” Clearing her throat, the siren closed her eyes before humming in an off-key tone, “I know a song that gets on everypony’s nerves~!”

Laura cringed at the wailing, raising her claws mere inches from the siren’s face before her singing could commence. “Open your mouth again, and I will rip out your voice box and eat it in front of you.”

“Karaoke! I should’ve known! We’ll try that instead!” Sonata chimed, earning blank gazes from the majority of her teammates.

“Oh, this teamup is off to a wonderful start,” Trixie dryly groaned under her breath, straightening out her mask. “We’re certainly the gold standard for group morale.”

Mayday lowered herself from her father’s shoulders, standing in front of the group. “Guys! We need to be a little less counterproductive!” She paused, pointing a hoof at the mare levitating overhead. “Focus on the bad guy!”

While Ember, Umbra, and Laura huffed under their breath respectively, Dream folded her arms and huffed in the back of Peter’s mind. “The fight hasn’t even started, and we’re already breaking at the seams.”

Starlight blinked, narrowing her gaze on the lone pegasus of the group. “Ah, Mayday Parker Sparkle. You’ve grown.”

Mayday’s ears perked upon hearing her name. She turned and lifted her gaze, furrowing her brow at the airborne mare. “So, it is you, Starlight Glimmer.”

Peter huffed, folding his hooves. “Okay. You’ve been putting on quite a light show. We normally wouldn’t mind a good rave party with some good beats and techno, but you’re putting out some serious volatile energies. What’s going on here?”

Eris blinked, her eyes widening as she narrowed her gaze on the tablet in Starlight’s possession. “I thought I recognized those energies. That’s the Tablet of Order and Chaos!” The draconequus pointed a talon at the mare. “You shouldn’t have such a powerful artifact in your possession!”

Slow to respond, Peter blinked at a realization. “Did you say the Tablet of Order and Chaos? That thing caused me enough grief the last time I saw it!” He shifted his widened gaze to the airborne mare. “How did you get your hooves on that? I thought Madame Web hid it away somewhere on Earth.”

“Why, yes. It certainly wasn’t easy to locate. Your friend seemed to have hidden this relic in a pocket dimension,” Starlight mused, chuckling under her breath. “Fortunately, I am a patient mare, and my magic eventually allowed me passage. I’ve spent years studying its power along with Starswirl the Bearded’s time travel spells. Now, I am above anything you could hope to become.”

Eris furrowed her brow and shook her head. “You are gravely mistaken. The power of the tablet is not meant to be abused, and time travel should not be trifled with. You’re threatening to disrupt the balance of the cosmos, not just this world.”

Peter held his hooves out defensively. “Starlight, just what exactly are you trying to do?”

Starlight huffed. “All I wanted to do was help restore balance to the social chain of Equestria, but you cast me out without a second thought. I’ve watched your means of justice, and it only leads to destruction.” The mare’s horn glowed momentarily, causing a fissure to spread through the earth between the Avengers. “I was going to quietly erase you from history, Peter Parker, but you’re forcing me to improvise.” A wicked grin formed on the mare’s face. “I’ll destroy the lot of you here and now first!”

Several bolts of lightning struck the ground around the group, narrowly missing their bodies. Peter lifted Mayday into his hooves bridal style. “Take her down, girls! We can’t let her get away with the Tablet!” Once the others jumped into the fray, Peter leapt behind a building before placing his daughter down. “See if you can find a weak point in her magical output. We’ll do what we can.”

“R-right. Be careful, Daddy,” Mayday lightly whispered, hesitantly nodding while watching her father swing toward Starlight. She held out a hoof before pulling back her sleeve, revealing a mounted device. She pecked away at its screen, furrowing her brow once the readings spiked haphazardly. Mayday bit down on her lip, shrieking as a bolt of lightning struck the ground mere hoof-lengths away and staggered her. “I’m already beginning to regret my career choice! I could’ve been a librarian, or a doctor, but nooo! I just had to be with Daddy because I hate dealing with other ponies, and I love him more than anypony in the world, despite him having the most dangerous job in the world! Gah! What am I even saying!? I’m starting to talk to myself like he does!”

Ember soared toward Starlight from the side. However, thunder rumbled through the skies before a bolt of lightning crackled from the heavens. The dragon raised her scepter, blocking the attack, but its trajectory pushed her into the side of a building, shattering the stone. Suddenly, Wolverine’s image split into two identical copies, both lunging at Starlight simultaneously.

Starlight huffed as her horn glowed, unleashing a wave of energy at both ponies. The area around them slowed to a halt while one of the images distorted, shattering into particles of energy. Starlight turned to the Wolverine that remained before catching a glance at Mysterio in the distance, concealed behind the fountain. She fired two bolts of magic, one directly into Laura’s chest and the other at the ground beneath Trixie’s hooves.

The force of the blow sent Wolverine careening into the earth, rupturing the stone upon impact. A chain reaction triggered underneath Mysterio before a small explosion knocked the mare to the side. Eris pointed the tip of her talon, shooting a beam at Starlight, but the mare raised her tablet, deflecting the projectile effortlessly as it ricocheted. The draconequus inhaled sharply, unable to react in time as her own beam struck her, and her body faded in a burst of light, materializing into existence within a glass sphere.

Sonata sped through the village in a blur, closing the gap between herself and the unicorn. However, Starlight’s horn glowed momentarily once more, stopping time around her and the motionless siren. A stone levitated into position directly in front of Sonata’s hoof. The unicorn’s horn sparked, causing time to resume instantly, and the siren immediately tumbled over the stone, her momentum carrying her form into a violent roll until she crashed into the side of a stone wall with a crack.

Umbra materialized directly over Starlight’s body with her sword drawn, ready to plunge it through the mare. However, a portal opened between the pair, and the swordsmare plummeted through, landing on top of a building several yards away. A second portal opened next to Starlight, prompting the unicorn to fire a magical beam directly into it. Before Umbra could hope to react, a portal opened behind her position, and a bolt slammed directly into her back, causing the mare to plummet a few stories until she crashed into the ground with enough force to generate a dust cloud.

Starlight grinned at the destruction she spread, nodding feverishly. “This is almost too easy. None of you stand a chance against me.”

Mayday’s eyes widened once her hoof device emitted a high-pitched beeping sound. “So that’s it.” She stared at Starlight intently before lowering back behind her cover, placing a hoof over her ear. “Daddy! The tablet! The energy in the space around us spikes like crazy whenever she uses it. Really bad things are going to happen if we don’t get it away from her soon!”

Suddenly, Peter materialized into existence mere inches from the mare in a burst of light. He swiftly threw a punch, prompting the mare to raise the tablet out of instinct. However, the stallion’s blow shattered the stone, and the tablet broke into ten fragments, scattering. Wild energies spread from the point of impact. The surrounding storm intensified before an explosion of energy detonated between Peter and Starlight. Time slowed briefly as a pair of fragments floated between them, and the stallion and mare retrieved one respectively before a shockwave erupted.

Peter crashed to the earth while several portals opened across the vicinity, one for each fragment spread. Ember pulled herself from the wreckage, unable to react as she was pulled into a portal. The same transpired for Sonata, whose dazed form soared into the nearest energy gateway. A portal spread open underneath Laura’s body, causing the mare to plummet into an energy whirlwind. Mayday’s eyes widened at the sight as each Avenger was pulled into a separate portal, but before she could react, a gateway ripped open behind her position, pulling her within.

The area distorted before the energies eventually settled. Peter pulled himself back to a standing position, staring bleakly at the surrounding area. He stood over a lone platform hovering over an empty space. Several portals were spread around him, but his teammates were gone, lost to the void. Peter glanced to the side as Starlight stood as well. The mare simply grinned, eyeing the fragment in her grasp before vanishing in a burst of light.

Blinking, Peter stammered about. “Uh, okay? First day with my new team, and it’s already gone bad.” The stallion walked over the edge of the platform, shaking his head upon seeing the bottomless pit before him. “Hey, Dream. What do you think of this?”

No response was given, causing the stallion to glance to the side. “Dream. Are you there?” Again, nothing was received, sending an unsettling and empty air through the stallion. Peter furrowed his brow. “Okay. This is definitely not good. What else can go wrong?”

“Spider-Man!” a woman’s voice called out from behind, causing the stallion to stammer about wildly. He quickly turned, catching sight of a redhead woman garbed in a long, crimson jacket with a black shirt underneath. She wore a pair of matching shades. Yet an air of familiarity filled the air, evident by her warm smile. “It’s been quite some time.”

Peter’s eyes widened as he matched her smile with one of his own. “Madame Web? Geez. It’s good to see you, too, but you always show up when things go south. My day is weird enough as it is.” His eyes widened at a realization. “Oh, and I’m not Spider-Man anymore. Now, I’m Spectrum-Spider! Or maybe Cosmic-Spider? I haven’t been able to figure a good name yet. How does Spider-Prime sound?”

“Stay focused!” Julia exclaimed, prompting Peter to cease his brief ramble. She shifted her head to the side. “As you know, the Tablet of Order and Chaos is an artifact of great power, able to bend time and reality…” she trailed off, straightening her glasses with a finger dismissively. “And you just shattered it. Again.”

Peter shrugged. “Yeah. They don’t make ancient tablets of doom like they used to. Someone should really put a warranty on that thing.” The stallion paused, tilting his head to the side. “Anyway, how did Starlight find the tablet? I thought the old M-Dubs hid it. Did you know where the tablet was?”

Julia shook her head. “Cassandra did hide it, but as Starlight said, it was hidden within a pocket dimension. She found it. Simple as that.” The woman waved a hand to the side. “You must not fret on the past, for the present requires your attention. You’re familiar with the situation, but the circumstances have changed considerably. The tablet shattered into ten fragments. You and Starlight Glimmer are in possession of one each. The remaining eight scattered to various dimensions near this one through separate portals. Within the blast, your allies were lost in each portal alongside a piece of the tablet.” Julia tapped a finger against the side of her head. “That would include your other half.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the statement. “So, that’s why I can’t get in touch with Dream. And here I thought she was just ignoring me again.” Furrowing his brow, the stallion eyed the fragment in his possession while stealing glances at the surrounding portals. “Why wasn’t I affected? Everyone else was pulled into a portal, but Starlight and I were okay.”

“You two were at ground zero. By capturing pieces of the tablet, you secured your positions. That’s how you came to be within this pocket dimension,” Julia coolly interjected, pointing a finger at the fragment. “The surrounding energies spread from the tablet’s shattering resulted in this… distortion of time and space. However, that’s not the only reason. The tablet couldn’t affect you, seeing as you’re the Spirit of Order. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Dream. She was shot from your body and hurled into another dimension like the others.”

Peter titled his head to the side. “It couldn’t affect me? Why? Anyone who touches it is affected usually. Unless…” he trailed off, recollecting bits from his memory. Suddenly, the stallion’s eyes widened at a realization. “Order and Chaos. So, that’s why Eris’s attack was reflected. That tablet is order and chaos combined into one.”

Julia nodded. “Precisely. It’s quite peculiar how fate works. You’ve interacted with the tablet before, not knowing it was a precursor to your inevitable fate. Ironic, really.”

"Okay. So, my teammates are all lost in parallel dimensions, and I have to find them while also attempting to locate pieces of the tablet, right?” Peter mused, arching a brow at the woman. Once Julia nodded, the stallion exhaled. “Good grief. This is starting to sound like a bad comic book plot.”

Julia extended a hand to the stallion. “Wait. I’ll help you.” Peter walked toward the woman, only for her to rest a finger against his forehead. His sixth sense blared momentarily, causing Peter to stagger backwards. Julia soon inhaled deeply before sighing. “Your path will be treacherous and filled with many possibilities. Much like Cassandra did for you, I augmented your Spider Sense so that you can sense the fragments, but it will be up to you to locate your companions. Only the restoration of the tablet can restore balance to this reality, but should you restore it without finding your friends, they will be stranded in their respective dimensions.”

Peter stretched his hooves high over head. “Don’t worry. I’m a team player. I’ll find them. I can only do one dimension at a time, though, but I wish I knew where Mayday was. She’s the one I’m most worried about. It sounds biased, and yeah, it totally is, but that’s my kid. Anyway. Speaking of which...” The stallion offered the woman his fragment, nodding. “You’d better hang onto that.”

“Very wise. I’ll hold this for you until your mission is complete. Sadly, your friends will not be able to leave their dimensions due to the magical barriers surrounding us. Retrieve a fragment and leave it in their possession. Only then, once the others are gathered, can they return here,” Julia replied, nodding. “Be careful, Peter Parker. Starlight Glimmer is lurking about, and she’ll attempt to find the fragments before you do. Even with the one fragment in her possession, she’s dangerous. Enlist the help of the inhabitants of the worlds you visit as well as your teammates. Some dimensions you will recognize, but others hold alternate fates to the reality you know.” She nodded, holding a stern expression. “I’ll keep in touch with you via telepathy. Good luck.”

Peter simply shrugged a response. “Oh, good. I lose one woman’s voice in my head and get another. I’m literally becoming a genuine schizophrenic psycho.” Upon receiving a blank expression from the woman, the stallion cleared his throat. “Anyway, sounds like another day at the office, if you ask me.” The stallion alternated his hazel gaze between each portal before settling on the closest one. With a firm nod, he dove inside. “Geronimo…!”

Madame Web watched the stallion’s image fade behind the spiraling energies of the portal, nodding as Peter Parker’s next adventure began.

To be continued...

Reunion! First Stop in Fragment Hunting!

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Chapter Two “Reunion! First Stop in Fragment Hunting!"

Chaotic energies spiraled through the air as traces of electricity snaked across the ground at random. Suddenly, a portal flared up into existence within a deep forest, seemingly out of thin air. A stallion raced from within, skidding to a rather shaky halt upon making contact with the solid forest floor. Peter blinked once he glanced about his surroundings, furrowing a brow as strands of blue energy rose across the portal’s wall like a net.

“What’s that about?” Peter questioned, tilting his head to the side.

Julia cleared her throat, as her voice echoed within Peter’s cranium. “I’m using my powers to ensure no one enters or leaves the world. Once you retrieve the fragment, I’ll drop the barrier.”

Peter simply nodded. “Oh. Good to know that. There’s only room for one dimension hopper in this series. I like being somewhat original.” The stallion stood upright on his hind legs, tapping a hoof against his chin. “Okay. So, I have the upgraded Spider Sense to help find the fragment, and I’m sure if I make enough noise, I’ll find one of my friends. So much is happening at once that I haven’t had much time to ask any questions.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter held his gaze skyward. “I guess a good starting question would be: where am I?”

Slow to respond, Madame Web huffed. “It is a world you are familiar with, the opposite side of a coin. You are in the dimension of an old friend: Patricia Parker.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the comment. “Oh, sweet! The hot me. I wonder how she’s been? I bet she’s enjoying the retired life. I just-- hold on. In my rush, I forgot the most important thing!” The stallion trailed off, his eyes widening at a realization. He shook his head wildly. “Twilight! Oh, she’s gonna kill me! I jumped into another dimension without telling her!”

“Surely this is something that warrants an understanding from your wife,” Julia coolly interjected, pausing once Peter started pacing in place. Eventually, the woman exhaled. “If it will help console you, I can link you two telepathically for a few moments. You can elaborate on the situation and focus on saving reality.”

A sense of relief washed over him, and the stallion let out a low sigh before nodding. “Yeah. That’d be great. Thanks. Twilight oversees all Avenger activity, and this is a pretty big deal. I’ll need her on standby, just in case things don’t go well.”

A harsh scoff escaped from Madame Web’s mouth. “That’s not what your thoughts say. You’re more worried about her being upset with you.”

Peter trailed off, scratching the back of his head. “Well, if you’re going to pry… then, yes.” The stallion pointed a hoof skyward, grimacing. “My wife can literally exile me to the moon if I rub her the wrong way. Have you ever been to the moon? It’s freezing up there, and worse, there’s no cable or internet!”

“You speak as if that’s from experience,” Julia speculated, her voice wavering between disbelief and apathy.

Peter glanced to the side, frowning. “Once, and I’ll never pluck one of her feathers again.” The stallion cleared his throat. “Then again, she could literally drop the sun on my face, too. She is a sun goddess now. I could always use a tan, but I’d rather not be extra crispy. Kentucky fried pony doesn’t sound as appetizing.”

“You… are rambling on more than usual,” Julia interjected, her tone a touch exasperated.

Peter paused momentarily, scratching the back of his head with a hoof. “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I guess I got used to having Dream in my mind. She always humored my conversations.”

“I certainly don’t envy her. At any rate, I’m connecting you now. Just please hurry. The sooner you reunite with Dream, the sooner you’ll be out of my head,” Julia murmured before an image materialized into existence mere inches away from Peter. Within the castle walls, Twilight sat in front of a desk with her gaze centered on the array of documents with a royal cape over her shoulders. A tiny alicorn sat next to her seat, playing with a doll. Julia chuckled under her breath. “Oh. I saw your daughter’s placement in the Web of Life. Congratulations. I can see Gwen Reilly’s a bundle of kindness.”

Chuckling, Peter nodded. “Yeah. That kid’s going to give me diabetes before she turns six.” Suddenly, within the image, Twilight’s brow furrowed as a faint gust of wind echoed within the confines of her mind. Peter’s expression mirrored that of his wife’s. “Hello? Is this thing on? Mic check. One, two. One, two.”

Twilight blinked. “Peter? Is that you? How are you talking to me telepathically?”

“Science fiction!” Peter declared in an overly dramatic voice, earning a blank stare from the alicorn. “Well, that, and Madame Web’s helping.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Julia?” The alicorn paused before her expression fell flat. “Okay. What did my husband do this time?”

Feigning mock hurt, Peter folded his hooves. “Just because the watcher of everything is here to visit doesn’t mean I did something wrong, Twilight! I’m hurt! I’m sensing some distrust between us! We may need couple’s counseling.”

“Did you do something wrong to bring Julia here or not?” Twilight firmly questioned, arching a knowing brow.

Glancing about aimlessly for a few seconds, Peter simply shrugged. “Purely coincidence.”

“Meaning, yes. That is very much the case,” Julia sternly replied. “Your husband merely shattered the Tablet of Order and Chaos for a second time.”

Strangely, Twilight’s expression hadn’t changed. She merely glanced to the side with a blank stare. “How did you manage that, Peter?”

Peter waved his hooves defensively. “You girls make it sound like I break ancient, reality bending artifacts for a living.” Clearing his throat, the stallion groaned. “Long story short, Starlight Glimmer found the Tablet somehow, and while we were fighting, I hit it by accident. Now everypony in the Avengers is lost in separate dimensions with fragments of the tablet, including Mayday—”

“Did you just say Mayday?!” Twilight interrupted, a look of concern filling her eyes.

Peter hesitantly nodded, folding his hooves. “Yeah. Her equipment was malfunctioning, and she wanted to go along on the front lines with us.”

“That stubborn girl,” Twilight whispered, shaking her head. Inhaling deeply before sighing, the alicorn simply nodded. “Okay. Continue.”

With a simple yet stern expression, the stallion raised a hoof objectively. “I have to go into each reality and get them back one-by-one, along with a fragment. Plus, Starlight’s still lingering about with a fragment of her own.”

Sobering, Twilight placed a hoof over her mouth before eventually nodding. “I see. I understand. This situation is serious and beyond my control. However, you’re already on task to fixing the problem. If it was just you, I’d be worried, but I can relax a little knowing Julia is keeping an eye on you.” With a reassuring smile, the alicorn sighed. “Go save the world as you always do, Peter. Rescue our daughter and come back in one piece. I love you.”

Peter grinned. “Thanks. I love you, too. I’m always with you in spirit.” As if a thought came to mind, the stallion chuckled. “Speaking of which…”

A sense of dread came over the alicorn, evident by her dismayed frown. “Please don’t.”

“Gwen~!” Peter hummed, causing the filly’s ears to perk. “Grab Mommy’s scepter!”

The tiny alicorn’s eyes beamed at the comment. Before Twilight could react, Gwen retrieved a golden scepter from behind her mother’s chair. Obliviously gleeful, the filly offered the item to Twilight, who forced a gritted smile before accepting the gesture. The scepter itself was simple in design, coated with a golden layer, but its head bore the alicorn’s image, smiling feverishly. However, the item grinned, bearing Peter’s voice.

Twilight blankly stared at nothing in particular. “This has to be the worst thing you’ve ever given me.” She glanced at the scepter as it seemingly stared back, never losing its permanent smile. “I already didn’t like this scepter, but modifying it to have that smile and your voice? This is a cruel joke, even for you.”

“Oh, come on! I made the scepter so that I can always be with you in spirit!” Peter playfully exclaimed.

A blank expression surfaced on Twilight’s face. “Oh, sure. This thing is constantly talking, and it never stops mocking me.” She paused after a duration, blinking. “Never mind. It’s actually more like you than I realized.”

The scepter cackled in a far too cocky and over dramatic tone, matching Peter’s voice. “You dare challenge a god?"

Twilight simply exhaled, holding her exasperated glare forward while ignoring her scepter’s playful gaze. “Shut up.”

Peter smiled, grinning as his wife’s image steadily faded from existence. “Hold the fort, hun. I’ll be back soon. Give Gwen a hug for me.”

Twilight sighed, nodding. “Come back soon.”

The image dissipated from sight, prompting the stallion to lift his gaze. “Okay. There’s that. I guess the best place to start is with the fragment. This world isn’t a bad one, and if I know any of my teammates, they’ll be looking for the fragments, too. Plus, we don’t know what kind of damage is being done with that thing being out and about.” Peter’s sixth sense hummed, highlighting the environment around him. “All right. Let’s get started.”

The stallion jumped high into the air before shooting a strand of webbing onto the top of the nearest tree, pulling himself to its position. He hopped from one tree to the next, never losing momentum. The path traveled was clean, lasting several minutes before the back of Peter’s cranium chimed. The stallion’s eyes widened as he lowered to a branch, remaining perched in a kneeling stance.

“What do you know? I swing around long enough, and my upgraded Spider Sense is already pointing me toward a fragment,” Peter lightly declared, hopping onto the side of the next tree. “I’m definitely sensing something within--” The stallion’s words fell into his throat as he eyed a desolate horizon. The ground was reduced to ashes as flames were spread about, widening. “The, uh, pits of Tartarus?”

“No. Not Tartarus, although I understand the misconception. This was done by something else entirely,” a female’s voice declared from behind. Once Peter jumped from the tree and landed to the ground, a black mist surged from the earth before it took form. Suddenly, Umbra rose from the substance, brushing a hoof through her jet-black mane. “Hello, Peter Parker. You certainly took your time.”

Peter managed a smile, sharing a hoof-bump with the mare. “Umbra! I’m glad you’re still in one piece.” The stallion paused before walking onto the charred earth, kneeling next to a small ember. “Okay. You say this isn’t Tartarus, but it bears a striking resemblance to it.”

Umbra huffed, furrowing her brow in the distance. “This used to be the Whitetail Woods before that monster came through here.” The mare inhaled deeply before sighing. “It was Infurnus of the South.”

“The fire yeti? Patricia told me about him. It’s basically this world’s Glacius, except with fire,” Peter murmured, arching a brow. He frowned, tapping a hoof impatiently against the ground. “That’s not good. Infurnus must have picked up the fragment from the Tablet of Order and Chaos without knowing it."

Umbra blinked before nodding. “A fragment? Yes, that makes sense. I don’t remember much from the explosion, but it explains how I came to be in my former homeworld.” The mare paced in place before settling her crimson gaze on the horizon. “This isn’t good. It’s summertime, and Infurnus is out of hibernation. On its own, its power is great, but with something like what Starlight possessed, I fear stopping Infurnus will be challenging.”

Peter folded his hooves and nodded. “No question. I’ve dealt with this before. A piece of the Tablet can augment anyone’s capabilities beyond measure, but its power is usually unstable. We’d better find Infurnus fast, before it reaches civilization.”

The mare pursed her lips as her eyes widened at a realization. “We’re going to need help finding Infurnus. We’ll waste time chasing him blindly.” Grimacing, Umbra hesitantly nodded. “I suppose we could ask Artemis and Solaris for intel?”

“No need,” Peter declared, tapping a hoof against the side of his head. “My Spider Sense has been upgraded to locate the fragments. If we hurry, we can catch up to the fire yeti before it reaches civilization.”

“Hold on! Not without me you’re not!” a female’s voice called out from behind. Both ponies glanced in the direction of the source before a mare stumbled onto the scene. She bore a striking resemblance to that of Peter, with the only difference being the lengths of their manes. Plus, she wore a crimson and blue set of tights, something Peter hadn’t worn in over a decade. Eventually, the mare lowered to the ground and panted, managing a smile. “Hey. M-Dubs told me what was going on. If I knew you guys were coming, I would’ve baked you a cake.”

Umbra groaned under her breath. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Patricia!” Peter cheered, rushing forward to embrace the mare as she returned the gesture in full. The pair eventually parted, with the stallion resting a hoof over her shoulder. “It’s been years. How’ve you been? Enjoying the retired life?”

Patricia waved a hoof dismissively. “It’s fun. Those kids of mine keep me busy. Mayweather’s off to college, and Benny can’t keep her hooves to herself. Luckily, Dusk keeps them both in check.” The mare smirked, alternating her gaze between Peter and Umbra. “How about you? Sounds like you’re having fun with your team of Avengers.”

Peter leaned over towards Umbra, placing a hoof over her shoulder for support. “Oh, sure. First day as a team, and we’re already breaking and repairing reality.”

“Technically, you broke the tablet,” Umbra dryly muttered, glancing to the side.

Letting out a low sigh, Peter blankly stared at Umbra. “You’re a real goth punk, you know that?”

Patricia edged closer to Umbra with a coy smirk. “It’s still hard to believe that you’re a good guy now. You should smile more. You have the pearly whites for it. Are you sponsoring for Mentos?”

“Be quiet,” Umbra growled, raising a hoof sharply. “I will tolerate Peter because of our pact, but don’t think I have forgotten about you, Patricia Parker. I fully intend to get my revenge on you someday.”

Waving her hooves defensively, Patricia shook her head. “Oh, come on! That’s ancient history! You were trying to take over the Crystal Empire!” Umbra’s venomous glare sharpened, prompting Patricia to step back as her complexion paled. “Geez, you break a girl’s horn once, and you’re marked for the rest of your life.” Hesitantly, Patricia shared a glance with her male counterpart. “I know she’s part of your team, but can we trust her? She’s just as prickly as I remember her.”

Peter chuckled under his breath, stepping between both mares while placing a hoof over Umbra’s shoulder. “No worries. Umbra’s one of my most trustworthy partners, which is really saying something. She wants to protect the world as badly as we do. Just give her a chance.”

Patricia huffed, shrugging helplessly. “We may practically be the same person, but we couldn’t be more different. You’re way more trusting than I am.” However, she smiled, tapping a hoof playfully against the stallion’s chest. “But I guess that’s what I dig about you.”

Peter’s smile widened. “Anyway. Make sure you stay nice to your kids, Patricia. They’ll be choosing your nursery home. Let’s get you through this in one piece, so you can keep living happily ever after.”

A blank stare surfaced on Patricia’s face. “Very funny. I’m retired, not old.”

“So you say. Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter,” Peter whispered, earning an exasperated glare from the mare.

Umbra softly chuckled before walking past the pair. “I hear mid-forty is the new twenty in some realm of reality.”

Once Peter and Umbra marched forward, Patricia’s brow lowered into an exasperated glare. “I think this is my super villain origin.”

After a brief journey, the trio reached the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. Patricia climbed onto the top of the highest tree, peering across the horizon. Meanwhile, Umbra stood with an icy glare while holding her sword. Peter shifted his gaze about, pausing once his sense chimed.

“I can sense a fragment closing in on us,” Peter muttered, turning around. The surrounding heat around him increased dramatically, causing beads of sweat to pour from the stallion’s forehead. He wiped a hoof across his face. “Sheesh. Who turned on the sauna? It’s so hot that I might see a fire hydrant chasing a pack of dogs.”

Patricia leapt down from her position, landing gracefully next to her male counterpart. “No doubt this is Infurnus, but it’s way hotter than usual.” She paused as small traces of embers began to rise from the ground. “I feel like I’m in that Denzel Washington movie, Man on Fire.”

“Yeah, it’s so hot, cows would be giving evaporated milk,” Peter interjected, waving a hoof by his face.

Arching a brow, Patricia panted. “Every time I think about ice, water pours out of my eyes.”

Peter raised a hoof, chuckling. “It’s a good thing I’m not a bee. Otherwise, I’ll have to take off my yellowjacket”

“I have a burning question for you, handsome!” Patricia grinned as she edged closer to the stallion while swaying her hips playfully and seductively. “Is it hot out here? Nah. That’s just me.”

Smiling, Peter wrapped a hoof around the mare’s shoulder. “We’re having such a Tinder moment.”

Umbra howled, gritting her teeth as her eye twitched involuntarily. “Silence! Should one more heat pun escape from your mouths, I’ll stab the two of you in the eyes with your own horns!” Once both ponies took her warning to heart, Umbra exhaled and furrowed her brow. “It’s the fragment. It’s intensifying the heat around Infurnus. If we don’t stop it now, it’ll reduce all of Equestria to a burning wasteland.”

Peter shared a glance with his female counterpart. “Okay, Patricia. It’s your yeti. How do we stop him? Any advice?”

Patricia hummed, furrowing her brow. “It’s a big yeti with rage issues. It’s hot to the touch and punches like a freight train. As a matter of fact, just imagine if Firelord and the Thing had a baby. That’d be Infurnus.”

Peter paused. “That’s a lovely mental image, worsened by the idea that your Thing is a chick.”

Suddenly, Umbra’s expression stiffened. “Cease your prattle. It’s already here!”

A trail of flames raced across the ground, causing Peter and Patricia to lift their gazes. Tremors coursed through the earth, growing in volume as something stomped in their direction. Slowly but surely, a bipedal form rose from the horizon, accompanied by a wall of flames. Once several yards away, the yeti paused with a furrowed gaze, eyeing the trio that stood their ground against it. Umbra raised her sword, snarling while Peter lowered into a defensive stance.

Meanwhile, Patricia tilted her head to the side as the creature towered over them. “Oh, it’s a little bigger than usual.” The yeti growled upon gazing at the crimson-clad mare before howling at the top of its lungs. A burning wave raced out, pushing those close by back several hoof-lengths. Patricia blinked, patting away at her already singed mane. “Ah! I hate fighting Infurnus! My mane always smells burnt for a week!”

Peter pursed his lips. “Okay. I’ve been here before. Knock it out, and the fragment will free itself. Let’s keep the fight focused on us and away from the forest. I’d rather have Smokey the Bear not sue our pants off.”

Infurnus roared, raising its fists high above the ground before slamming them to the ground. A massive flame wave raced out, prompting Umbra’s horn to glow momentarily. A dark barrier rose, materializing around her and the Spiders, narrowly managing to block the flames. Just as they dissipated, Patricia hopped out and fired several strands of webbing at the yeti. However, each thread of gossamer was reduced to ashes before any could hope to connect.

Roaring once more, Infurnus sped toward the mare with its fist drawn back. Patricia jumped out of the way, causing the yeti to sunder the earth where she previously stood. The stone disintegrated into molten lava before a fissure spread, allowing flames to rupture from the opening. A shockwave generated from the point of impact, sending Patricia careening until she landed onto the side of a tree upright. However, Infurnus held out one of its hands as a fireball spiraled into existence over its palm.

The yeti tossed the orb at the mare, but a patch of darkness engulfed the flame, swallowing it entirely before it could reach Spider-Mare. Infurnus glanced to the side at the source, spotting Umbra as her horn sparked. Suddenly, the mare unsheathed her blade and charged forward, leaping high overhead. However, just as she lowered the sword, ready to cleave through the creature’s skull, Infurnus reached out and caught the blade with a single paw. Faster than Umbra could react, the yeti swatted her frame away with a swipe of its free paw. The force of the blow sent Umbra spiraling through the air until she crashed onto her back several yards away.

Peter lowered into a defensive stance and paused to cover his hooves in layers of webbing, as if forming makeshift boxing gloves. The stallion whistled before leaping high into the air. Just as Infurnus spun around, Peter dove forward with a straight punch and managed to stagger the yeti. However, the glove disintegrated instantly, bursting into flames on contact. Horrified, Peter screamed as he ripped the webbing from his hooves before it could burn him. He looked to his hooves and affirmed their lack of damage. “That seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Unfortunately, just as he turned around, Infurnus towered over the stallion, snarling under its breath. Peter sheepishly chuckled, raising a hoof objectively. “Oh, hey! Are you a friend of Glacius? Maybe a family member? You two kind of share a family resemblance. Are you brothers? Sisters? Distant cousins?” Infurnus lowered and roared at the top of its lungs, sending out a potent force of wind that blew the stallion’s mane back wildly. Peter managed to hold his ground, albeit with a widened and uncertain gaze. “...and I am so scared that I can’t even finish my stupid joke.”

With a flick of its paw, Infurnus launched Peter with enough force to send him skyward. Patricia jumped high into the air, managing to catch her male counterpart. Both ponies soon landed gracefully before Umbra made her way to their position. The yeti slammed its fists into the ground repeatedly, sending multiple tremors coursing through the earth. The surrounding flames intensified, rising skyward at a frightening rate until their heights matched that of the surrounding trees. The fires slowly spread, forcing the trio to slowly back away to avoid their scorching heat.

Patricia grumbled. “This isn’t working. We can’t even touch him, let alone do any sort of damage.” She exhaled, wiping away at the beads of sweat dripping from her face. “I usually just throw Infurnus in a magic barrier until it burns itself out, but it’s so hot that I can’t concentrate.”

Peter frowned. “That’s smart. Fire requires oxygen, and you’d cut out the air supply doing that.” He furrowed his brow after a thought after a nearby stone was reduced to molten debris. “Sadly, I don’t think normal magic would work in this case. I wish I had Dream right now.. I’d be able to do some worthwhile magic with her, but without her, I’d have to stick to basics. Sadly, my magic is elementary level at best without Dream.”

Umbra was slow to respond, glancing at the ground before lifting her gaze. “Magic alone may not do anything to fire this powerful, but dark magic can.” The mare sheathed her blade, inhaling deeply before sighing. “The dark elements can swallow everything, much like darkness does the light. I can use my entire threshold to quell the flames, but I’ll need you to strike him down in one blow. That’s all I can afford you.” A coy smirk formed on the mare’s face. “Surely, with your brute strength, you can both manage that.”

Patricia blinked. “Did… did you just hold a grudge?”

Tremors coursed through the earth as traces of dark magical energy enveloped Umbra’s form. The mare levitated several hoof-lengths from the ground while her crimson irises faded behind a blinding light. Suddenly, her silver armor shattered apart, breaking into several directions while her red cape vanished from sight. Umbra began chanting in an ancient tongue, her voice distorting and echoing across the vicinity.

Infurnus blinked at the sight, furrowing its gaze as several black tendrils sprouted from the mare’s back. The yeti unleashed a massive flame at the mare, but she simply deflected the attack with a mere swipe of a tendril. Growling before releasing a potent roar, Infurnus slammed its fist into the ground repeatedly. Patricia and Peter jumped back just as a pillar of flames engulfed everything within the immediate vicinity.

Those very fires tore away at Umbra’s flesh, yet she remained firm, never losing her posture. Suddenly, her horn emitted a bright light before each of her tendrils whipped out and latched onto the yeti’s neck, arms, waist, and legs. Faster than it could react, the tendrils expanded, morphing into a black orb that practically imprisoned the creature’s massive form. Infurnus’ image faded behind the darkness, but its roars could still be heard vividly as it repeatedly struck the barrier with enough force to send tremors tearing the surrounding earth asunder.

Slowly but surely, the flames across the vicinity steadily dissipated while the yeti’s vigorous struggling gradually weakened. Umbra held out a hoof before her horn sparked, causing the barrier to shrink to a compact size instantaneously. The darkness eventually subsided, allowing Infurnus to be seen, and the yeti collapsed to the ground in an unconscious heap. The color in Umbra’s eyes returned before she mirrored Infurnus’ actions, limply falling onto the ground with a quiet grunt.

Peter rushed to the mare’s side, furrowing his brow as her multiple wounds steadily closed and healed. The stallion soon chuckled under his breath as he lifted her frame gently. “Huh. The healing factor almost makes me miss dark magic. Almost. You can give Wolverine a run for her money.” Once Umbra stirred to life, she managed to stand under her own power. Peter managed a smile as she stole a glance at the unharmed forest next to them. “Great work, Umbra. You not only stopped Infurnus, but you saved the forest. I’d say this was a good day.”

Umbra took in winded breaths as beads of sweat dripped from her face. “I certainly hope so.” She sobered, holding a softened gaze towards the stallion. “Peter. Thank you for placing your trust in me.”

Peter chuckled. “Hey. You’ve earned it.” He arched a brow at the yeti. “So what did you do to Infurnus?”

Umbra huffed, chuckling lowly. “I simply took Spider-Mare’s advice and entrapped Infurnus in an orb. Fire requires oxygen to burn. Infurnus simply burned its supply out.” The mare smirked. “She may be a fool, but even fools have decent ideas on occasion.”

“I guess that’s as close to a compliment as I’ll get from you. I’ll take it, I guess,” Patricia cheered, standing over the yeti’s unconscious form. “Anyway, you basically just single-handedly saved our Equestria. I’ll vouch for you with Solaris and Artemis. This could be what you need to start over!” The mare hummed. “You’re not Umbra the Tyrant anymore. You’re Umbra the Hero! How about it? Want to move back here? I’m sure everypony would welcome you back with open hooves once they hear how you just saved this part of the land.”

Umbra shared a glance with Peter, who merely nodded his approval. However, the dark mare simply shook her head while holding a warm smile. “That is a tempting offer, but my home is with Peter now. I have a duty to uphold, and I want to see the new world he’s working to build. We have a pact, and I intend to see it through, for better or worse.”

“See? I told you Umbra’s trustworthy,” Peter grinned, patting the dark mare’s shoulder.

Patricia readied to respond, but a fragment suddenly freed itself from Infurnus, levitating in midair. “Well, lookie here,” she cheered, retrieving the item before handing it to the stallion. “Sounds like you’re just getting started on this whole fragment hunting business.”

Peter nodded. “Yeah. One down, seven to go, then we can go after Starlight Glimmer’s piece of the tablet.” The stallion offered the fragment to Umbra. “Hang onto this. It’s the only way you’re getting out of this dimension. Once I find the others, Julia will bring you back to our dimension.”

Umbra simply nodded, accepting the fragment before lowering to a sitting position. “Understood. This will give me ample time to recover.” Both ponies bumped hooves, sharing a smile. “Good luck in your endeavors.”

“Hey! Random fact!” Patricia cried out, earning the collective gazes of her cohorts. The mare tilted her head to the side as she stared at Infurnus for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually, Patricia raised a hoof. “I never knew this, but Infurnus is a female!”

Peter blinked, tapping a hoof against his chin. “Huh. Now that you mention, Glacius is a dude, so it makes sense.” The stallion paused, arching a brow as he glanced to the side. “It also explains the moodswings of this yeti.” Upon receiving blank glares from both Umbra and Patricia, the stallion chuckled sheepishly. “Okay! That’s my cue to go! I’ll see you ladies again soon!” Just as he turned to leave, the stallion’s eyes widened at a realization. “Hey, Patricia! I’m still trying to come up with a new hero name to match the Spirit of Order. Give Umbra some of your suggestions!”

Umbra’s complexion paled. “Oh, please, no.”

Faster than the dark mare could react, Patricia wrapped a hoof around her shoulder. “A name, huh? I’ve got a few in mind! How about the Amazing Arachnid? The Bug Wonder! The Web Warrior?”

As Patricia continued to throw out names, much to Umbra’s dismay, Peter slowly made his way back to the portal. “Are they all going to be this easy?”

“No,” Julia dryly whispered within the stallion’s cranium.

Peter rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath. “Son of a…”

“A job well done, Peter Parker,” Julia’s voice softly declared, pausing momentarily. “However, you must not relax. The rest of the fragments will not be as easy to obtain. Umbra was in a world she was familiar with, and we were fortunate that Patricia Parker was present. We cannot count on the same luck for the other worlds you will soon visit.”

“Don’t be such a Debbie Downer. We’re off to a great start, and it’s onto the next fragment!” Peter exclaimed, leaping into the portal. “I’m sure I’ll be prepared for whatever’s thrown at me next!”

To be continued...

Topsy Turvy! A Game of Wits!

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Chapter Three “Topsy Turvy! A Game of Wits!”

The portal spiraled frantically as bolts of lightning crackled wildly across its surface. Peter was thrusted out, landing onto a floating platform. However, the stallion’s brow furrowed at the distorted space surrounding him. Several platforms floated around an enclosed space, connected by wooden bridges. One of the platforms was even upside down, holding two trees. The realm itself was black, resembling that of space, but the air was breathable, as Peter quickly learned.

One of the platform’s trees bore bright yellow leaves, yet it was patterned with blue polka dots. One platform acted as a literal fountain and poured into the stream of another, shifting from a bright red color to a green shade. A bridge drifted aimlessly in the distance, connecting to nothing in particular. One tree’s bark was blue, riddled with bright spots, and its platform’s grass held a star-patterned design on the exterior while its interior look was labeled with its share of dots.

Peter could only stare at his environment with a furrowed brow. “Okay? Of all the possibilities, this was the second-to-last thing that I was expecting. I sooner expected to land on an island made of cheesecake filled with lonely supermodels. I mean, come on, I’m constantly surrounded by hot girls. That’s normal compared to… this.” He trailed off, eyeing a school of fish that flew by over his head while several birds swam in the nearest stream. Peter’s befuddlement only grew, evident by his blinking gaze. “Where the heck am I? It feels like if Bizarro World cranked it up to eleven or something out of a Doctor Seuss nightmare.”

“That’s actually a fair comparison,” a female’s voice coolly declared from behind. Peter turned just as a draconequus inexplicably flickered into existence mere inches away, quickly becoming solid. With a flick of snow-white hair and a coy grin, she tightly embraced the stallion and lifted his frame from the ground slightly. “Oh, my handsome hero! You’ve come to save me!”

Straining to breathe in the female’s iron embrace, the stallion weakly chuckled. “Sure, Eris. Anything for a friend.” Eventually, the draconequus relinquished her hold, easing Peter to the ground. Scratching the back of his head, he glanced at his surroundings once more. “So, what’s the deal with Wonderland here? This seems like something you’d come up with in your sleep.”

Eris simply folded her paw and talon, sitting in midair on nothing in particular. “In my younger days, this surely would be considered paradise, but I fear this is the work of my male counterpart, Discord.” The draconequus pointed a talon in the direction of the surrounding platforms. “For you see, this is actually the astral plain.”

“Say what?” Peter blurted out, tilting his head to the side.

Slow to respond, Eris straightened her posture. “I’m fully aware of the capabilities of the Tablet of Order and Chaos. You weren’t affected when the tablet was shattered because you are the embodiment of Order, and Order must always mend Chaos.”

Peter walked up to the draconequus. “So, how were you affected? If the tablet is tied to both of us, shouldn’t you have been untouched, too?”

“Perhaps in theory,” Eris mused, holding out a paw before an hourglass materialized into existence in her grasp. Turning the item upside down, the grains of sand began to fall toward the bottom. “Sadly, remove chaos, and it shifts, never truly ending. In such a case, I was merely moved.” The draconequus turned the hourglass onto its side, impeding the progress of the grains of sand. “However, only order can truly halt chaos.”

Frowning, Peter simply shrugged. “Okay. Point proven. So, how are we in Discord’s happy place?”

Eris inhaled deeply before sighing. “He’s in possession of the fragment.” The air around the pair grew thick, making the simple act of breathing difficult. Eris chided herself, evident by her frustrated gaze. “I’m sorry. I was dazed from the explosion and lost track of the fragment. When I came to, I found myself here, and I could feel Discord’s presence. The chaotic energies he's releasing are extravagant, far more than I could dream.”

Peter’s complexion paled as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead. “That’s not good. Discord was already powerful on his own. With a fragment from the Tablet of Order and Chaos, he’s practically unstoppable.” Tapping a hoof against his chin, the stallion glanced at his surroundings with an arched brow. “That still doesn’t explain this reality. How did it get like this? I know this is Discord’s getaway, but how are we here?”

“As crazy as it sounds, I suggest that we speak with Discord,” Eris calmly suggested, glancing to the side at a lone platform. A simple brick house with a yellow rooftop and stone chimney stood perched over it. Even a white fence surrounded it, as if resembling some form of practicality. “He’ll have some answers for us. Plus, if this reality’s Discord is anything like ours, he’ll remain civilized and will humor our presence.”

Grumbling under his breath, Peter wiped the sweat from his brow. “You’re right. This does sound crazy, but I live in a crazy work environment. I really should ask for worker’s compensation… or any pay, really.”

Suddenly, a row of wooden planks sped through the air and assembled, by themselves, into a sturdy makeshift bridge between their platform and that of Discord’s. Eris and Peter shared a glance, hesitantly accepting the gesture and starting across. As the draconequus merely hovered through the air, the stallion was forced to take the bridge. Each step was carefully planted as Peter continued to travel across the pathway. However, both individuals reached the platform with no difficulties, and the beams of wood scattered soon after, fading from existence in bursts of light.

Peter blinked at the sight before chuckling nervously. “Huh. I guess Discord wants us to come visit.” Shrugging, the stallion walked up to the door and raised his hoof as if to knock, but the object opened on its own, creaking slightly. “No housewarming gifts needed? I’m not sure how to feel about this.”

The pair walked inside, only for the door to close itself behind them. The interior’s lights shut off before coming back on, illuminating over a draconequus sitting comfortably in a large, red and plush chair. Pulling at the hairs of his goatee with a talon, he stared at both individuals for what seemed like eons. However, his disposition lightened considerably, evident by his wide, fanged smile, and he clapped feverishly while grinning uncontrollably.

“Welcome at last, friends! I’ve been expecting you!” Discord cheered, holding out his paw as a cup of hot tea materialized into his waiting grasp. “Eris, my beautiful counterpart from a parallel dimension, and Peter Parker, the Spirit of Order from another reality!” The draconequus paused, ready to drink his beverage, but he ate the entire ceramic cup, arching a brow afterward before simply shrugging. Discord refaced his guest with a smile. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Peter scratched the back of his head. “Wish it was fun business, but we have a bit of a problem. We were hoping you could answer a few questions for us.”

Discord nodded, chuckling before vanishing from sight. “Straight to the point. I see why you were chosen to be the Spirit of Order,” he declared upon materializing back into existence upside down near the ceiling while remaining sitting in his chair. “Ask away.”

Eris stepped forward, furrowing her brow. “I’ll start with the obvious question. How have we come to be in the astral plain? This is a world reserved only for us chaotic spirits.”

Discord’s eyes widened at the question. Slow to respond, the draconequus faded from sight once more before he reappeared next to the window behind the pair. “Oh, I see. That was rude of me to assume that you knew what was happening. You, Eris, had just woken up, and Peter had only just arrived. By all counts, your bewilderment is understandable.” Clapping his paw and talon together, the walls of the house fell to the ground, as if they were barely connected to begin with. Discord held his gaze skyward at the distorted atmosphere. “This is not the astral plain. This beautiful land is Equestria made in my image. It’s very reminiscent of my personal realm.”

“What?!” Eris blurted out, her mouth falling agape. “How?! Has nopony tried to stop you?”

Shrugging, Discord fell down and phased through the ground before descending from air. Once the draconequus landed perfectly in his seat, the house reformed, and its walls slid back into position. “Several times, but the results have repeatedly been in my favor, instead of Equestria's. Celestia and Luna constantly try, but they simply are not powerful enough to even dream of being able to stop me, unlike the ones from your reality, Peter Parker.”

Peter blinked at the comment as he stared intently at Discord. “So that’s it. In this reality, you were never sealed away by the Elements of Harmony.”

Discord nodded, twirling the tip of his talon about. “Indeed. Those two bored me with their rules and regulations. So, I simply put my own spin on the world.” A flock of pigs soared by outside, causing the draconequus to chuckle under his breath. “It’s quite an improvement, wouldn’t you say?”

Eris frowned. “You know that they say too much of a good thing can be bad? I’ve learned that from experience.”

“I’m almost inclined to agree. My many victories against Equestria have led to an excessive level of boredom,” Discord muttered, waving a glowing paw to the side. A pair of crystal balls materialized into existence by his sides, both revealing images of Peter and Eris. “This is why I’ve made a habit of watching how life progresses in my neighbors’ dimensions. That’s how I know about you two. You’ve led quite the exciting life, it seems. I’m especially drawn to your Avengers idea. Such a… chaotic prospect, and used to ensure order no less.”

Peter's sixth sense chimed after a duration. His eyes widened at a realization before his brow furrowed. “To make matters worse, you have a fragment of the Tablet of Order and Chaos.” The stallion pursed his lips. “That saves us time. We really need that fragment back.”

The corner of Discord’s mouth curled into a fanged grin as he held out a talon, allowing a fragment to flash over his grasp. “Oh, this little thing? Why on earth would I want to give this back?” He paused, eyeing the fragment with an arched brow. “I saw how the whole tablet itself granted Starlight Glimmer incredible might, and just a tiny fragment made Infurnus a true juggernaut. Could you imagine what this could do for me?”

Eris exhaled, brushing a talon through her snow white hair. “That’s exactly what we’re afraid of. You know that we’re strictly forbidden from using the powers of the Tablet of Order and Chaos. Plus, it’s distorting all of reality, and we have to reassemble the pieces before the damage is irreversible.”

“That’s chaos in its purest form. Why would I want to stop that?” Discord objectively questioned, closing his eyes before letting out a low sigh.

Peter huffed. “Because it's too easy.” Discord’s eyes shot open at the statement before he turned his widened gaze towards the stallion. Peter folded his hooves. “It’s just who you are. You’re a big game kind of guy, and you like to make things challenging, for those around you and yourself. I mean, look at this reality.” Peter faced the window, eyeing the distorted environment outside of the abode. “You did this with your own power. You beat everyone, reshaping the world in your image. If I didn’t know better, I'd say you did that in your sleep.”

Discord narrowed his gaze on the stallion before glancing to the side. “More or less.”

“Exactly. That’s why Eris and our Discord follow the rules. You guys break the rules, and the game suddenly becomes too easy to win. And as you’ve found out, there’s no fun in that,” Peter whispered, nodding. “With the fragment, it just becomes cheap, and where’s the fun in that if no one can give you a proper challenge?” The stallion turned back around, facing Discord. “If you’re bored now, imagine how slow things will be with the power of the fragment in your possession.”

Discord’s brow lowered in thought, as if contemplating the stallion’s words carefully. After a brief duration, the draconequus huffed and smiled. “You bring up a fair point. I suppose there can be fun in the game with proper precautions.” Just as Eris readied to step forward to retrieve the fragment, Discord pulled it away and shook his head. “Not so fast. I want to test you first, Peter Parker. Prove to me that you can actually follow your own merits and are worthy of your title as Spirit of Order.” He shared a glance with his female counterpart. “Could you please sit this out, Eris?”

Hesitantly, Eris could only shrug. “I don’t really have much of a choice.”

Befuddled, Peter stammered about. “Um, okay? Are we going to fight? Because I wouldn’t like my chances against the immortal, reality-bending being. I’m still a street-level crimefighter at heart, especially without my magical and cosmic-leveled partner.”

Snorting involuntarily, Discord waved a talon dismissively. “Of course not. I’m hardly the violent-type. I’d prefer a game of wits over a test of brawn.”

The draconequus clapped his paw and talon together. Suddenly, a chair materialized into existence mere hoof-lengths away from Discord’s while a second appeared on the other side of the room. Peter vanished in a burst of magic, landing instantly in the chair closest to the draconequus while Eris eased into the seat backwards. Bright energies illuminated around the pair, taking the shape of a square container. Eris simply stared at both individuals, narrowing her crimson gaze.

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter blinked. “All right. We’re practically locked in a box. I’m just glad I’m not claustrophobic. Anyway, what’s the game?”

“Just a little game of mine called Taboo,” Discord chimed, sitting upright while crossing his legs. He reached out to the side with a paw, pulling down on a string to reveal a chalkboard with the entire alphabet written out completely. “It starts as one letter, but as more time moves forward, we eliminate more. There are twenty-six letters in the alphabet, and we have forty-five minutes to play. Thus, every one-hundred and four seconds we play, we’ll lose another letter we can say, starting from the end at z and moving backwards.”

Eris hummed, pursing her lips. “That was a game mother used to play with me. By the end of the game, every letter will become taboo. If you say any word containing the taboo letter, you lose. A good example. Once the letter ‘x’ is gone, you’ll be disqualified for using the word… exactly or anything else containing ‘x’. Understood? The game progresses as you lose more letters of the alphabet, proceeding until simply talking will be considered… taboo.”

Peter chuckled nervously. “You draconequi sure have fascinating imaginations. I never would’ve thought of a game like this. The rules are simple yet… tricky. But why this particular game?"

Discord grinned. “Because you’re quite the conversationalist from what I’ve seen. Holding conversation with restrictions? That would be most challenging for one such as you.” Discord’s eyes faded behind a blinding light as two colorful orbs flashed into existence, one red and the other blue. The red sphere hovered into Discord’s chest while the blue did the same for Peter. The draconequus raised a talon daringly. “To add to the stakes, I implanted a reaction spell. Whoever utters a taboo, will morph into stone, petrified for an unforeseen amount of time. It could be days, months, or even eons. ” Discord smiled wickedly. “Considering that time is a valuable commodity for you, this could be drastic.”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter frowned. “You’re playing for keeps.”

“It’s the only way to enjoy the game,” Discord deeply whispered, eyeing the clock across the room as he placed the fragment down onto the table between their positions. “We have three minutes until four o’clock. We should start at an even time. Oh, and don’t try to get violent. One act of violence will end the same as uttering a taboo.”

Time slowly passed as the world crawled to a halt. Once the clock’s hands struck four, the draconequus and stallion shared a nod before a beam of light exuded from their chests respectively. Discord grinned. “I’ve bested this world’s Spirit of Order before he retired. Hopefully, you’ll provide something of a challenge, Peter Parker. Now we begin.”

The letter ‘z’ was highlighted on the board as a dry eraser hovered over it. Discord smirked. “We’ll lose ‘z’ in over a minute. Can you truly last without? Zebra. Zip. Zany. I’d say the letter z is simply amazing.” Peter simply furrowed his brow, holding his silence for the entire duration of the time limit withholding the letter ‘z’. The dry eraser wiped away the letter, allowing the y to be highlighted in its predecessor's place. Meanwhile, Discord’s smile never faltered. “Soon, we’ll lose ‘y’. Why, oh, why? Why must we lose the letter ‘y’?”

Eris stared blankly at her male counterpart. “Be careful, Discord. You’ll tire yourself out.”

Peter remained silent, sitting with his eyes closed and hooves crossed. Soon, the letter ‘y’ was lost to the grasps of taboo, and the game progressed. After a matter of minutes, ‘w’, ‘v’, and ‘u’ were crossed from the list, joining the other letters in the land of taboo. Eris continued to watch the males from her chair, narrowing her gaze.

Discord grinned. “The first section of letters are gone. It’s time for the real challenge to begin. Can you last without ‘t’, ‘s’, and ‘r’? Those are among the more common letters.”

As before, Peter sat in silence with an unreadable expression, never averting his gaze from the draconequus. Discord’s cheery smile seemed to fade as he stood suddenly. “I shall take a break.”

Eris lifted her gaze while Discord walked towards the room in the back. “Departing?”

Discord waved a talon dismissively. “Need a john break. The game will progress regardless. I suggest no lip during my absence.” The draconequus quietly exited the room, closing the door to the restroom behind him. The taboo box spread, soon engulfing the entire house. Once alone, Discord stared at his reflection in the mirror steadfastly, retreating to his thoughts. “Just what is going on in that head of his? Peter Parker has hardly spoken since the game began. His silence… is most disturbing. I’m not certain if he’s planning something or if he’s too perplexed to speak. Simply not knowing is troubling.”

Holding out his paw, a clock appeared in his grasp alongside a projection of the chalkboard. Minutes passed as everything after ‘r’ was considered taboo. Discord inhaled deeply before sighing inwardly, arching a brow. “The true test begins. Let’s see if this Spirit of Order is what he’s cracked up to be. I can’t help but feel that I might’ve overestimated him.”

Discord slowly opened the door, ready to venture back outside, but his eyes widened at an unusual sight. Large weeds had grown throughout his entire home, making the interior reminiscent to that of a forest. The plants continued to spread, with some vines and petals nearly reaching the restroom door, where Discord stood in awe. Nothing was damaged, and everything outside remained as it was. The changes were reserved only for the inside of his own home, where the game of taboo commenced.

“I was only gone for a few minutes! What kind of plan is he hatching?” Discord thought, furrowing his brow. “Violence is forbidden, and that rule applies to Eris, as well. They would try this to attack me, would they?” After a brief duration, the draconequus shook his head. “No. That can’t be the case. Perhaps they... snuck out with the fragment?! They wouldn’t be so dishonorable to try such a coup, would they?!” Blinking, Discord pushed forward, making his way through the surrounding leaves and bushes. Eventually, he reached the center of the room and found the fragment was where he left it, at the center of the table. Discord let out a relieved sigh. “I feared that I’d been had for a second, but...”

He trailed off, finding Peter’s seat empty. Discord’s complexion paled at the sight. He glanced to the side, finding Eris still in her seat, but the stallion was nowhere to be seen. He readied to question his female counterpart in his haste, but he paused, glancing at the board. A horrific realization came to mind, like lightning to a rod. In his panic, he’d lost track of the time, and only the letters ‘b’ and ‘a’ remained. Discord alternated his gaze about wildly, holding his paw and talon over his mouth.

Beads of sweat dripped from Discord’s face. “That devil! This was his plan! He wants to jump out, surprise me, and cause me to yell out any of the taboo letters!” he thought, shifting his gaze around the surrounding plants and leaves. “His plan backfired! There’s no way he can sneak up on me without rustling the bushes!” The letter ‘b’ was erased from the board, and the final seconds began to tick from the clock. Discord slammed his eyes shut defensively. “I’m so close! I’ll have beaten him! I’ll have attained victory over a second Spirit of Order!”

Meanwhile, Peter hung from a thread of webbing on the ceiling, high above Discord’s position. He slowly lowered, never relinquishing his hold. Soon, the stallion’s face was mere inches away from Discord’s, who hadn’t opened his eyes or even felt his presence for that matter. Slowly but surely, a fresh scent crept into his nose, prompting the draconequus to slowly pry an eye open.

Discord’s gaze fully opened upon spotting a peculiar sight, of a pony hanging upside in front of him with his mouth wide open. However, something was amiss. The feat was not strange, considering the oddities Discord had seen, but the stallion’s expression sent a wave channeling through the draconequus. A face was not meant to make such an expression. It shouldn’t have been possible or allowed, but Discord saw it at point blank range, judging it inwardly.

Strangely, the pair seemingly stared at each other for what seemed like ages, with neither faltering. Sadly, Discord’s face twisted as he attempted to stifle his unraveling urges. Like water bursting through a broken bridge, Discord snickered, only to burst into righteous guffaws. Multiple letters across the board were highlighted, when the draconequus uttered many of them in his laughter unwillingly.

Sadly, Discord’s eyes widened with horror once he realized his folly. “No….!” he screamed, his voice echoing across the entire realm.

The light in his chest erupted, engulfing his entire form, and in a flash, Discord’s body was morphed to stone, petrified. The box holding them had vanished from sight before the light in Peter’s chest retreated from sight. Suddenly, Eris raised a talon, prompting the many plants and vines within the house to spiral out of existence. Once everything was situated, she walked up to the fragment and retrieved it, grinning triumphantly.

“A wonderful plan! When you asked me to create a forest, I wasn’t sure what you were plotting,” Eris stated, gripping the fragment. “It seemed Discord was so taken aback by the change of scenery that he forgot to simply look up.”

Peter smiled, placing a hoof over Eris’s shoulder. “Yeah. Making Discord laugh was my plan from the start. I just had to buy some time, and I have you to thank for giving it to me. I couldn’t say much, but you caught my hint. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Eris winked. “Chaos and Order. Yin and Yang. I’ll call this a team effort.”

The pair readied to depart, but Peter paused, shrugging. “It’s ironic. Discord is the most powerful being in this reality, and the thing that does him in is his own laughter.”

“Chaos is unpredictable, Peter,” Eris declared, sharing a glance at her frozen male counterpart. She chuckled under her breath upon spotting Discord’s seemingly permanent smile. “But I can tell this was the most fun he’s had in awhile. There are no hard feelings in this loss.” Eris eyed her fragment, sharing a nod with the stallion. “I’ll hang on to this. You go find the next fragment. Don’t keep a lady waiting for too long.”

As the stallion rushed off, Eris glanced to the side at Discord’s stone form with a coy grin. “What did I tell you? I told you that this one was special.”

An image of Discord levitated over the stone, like a spirit. “He’s a touch raw and unrefined. He hardly resembles the Spirit of Order, but I can see his unmatched potential. You’ve chosen quite well, Eris.”

Eris smiled. “Will you be fine in the astral plain?”

“Yes. I lost fair and square. This’ll give me some time to reflect on my choices,” Discord calmly retorted, turning to take his leave. “I’ll keep watching this lot of yours. They seem to be quite fun.”

Once Discord’s astral image vanished, Eris nodded and giggled inwardly. “You have no idea.”

Meanwhile, with a renewed sense of vigor, Peter nodded, rushing out of the house as he made his way towards the portal. “That’s two fragments down without a hitch! I’m starting to think that this journey is going to be easy! Bring on the next fragment!”

The stallion leaped into the portal with a confident grin. However, he quickly reached the other side, crashing onto the ground. Stunned, he glanced about aimlessly, eyeing the digits over his hooves. Upon realizing he had fingers once more, he simply nodded before glancing at his bipedal, clothed form. Simple deduction led him to acknowledge that he was a human once again. Unfortunately, he lifted his gaze to the side, noticing a backpack along the ground. Blinking, he noticed a pair of glasses over his face before spotting the brick layout saying ‘Canterlot High’ in the near distance. Horrified, he turned around, spotting the large building behind his position.

Peter pulled at the strands of his unkempt hair before screaming at the top of his lungs in terror. “No…!”

Of all his nightmares, the worst had come to light. Peter Parker… was back in high school.

To be continued...

I Was a Teenage Parker, Part I

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Chapter Four “I Was a Teenage Parker, Part I”

A few minutes had passed since Peter landed in yet another alternate reality, but his screams hadn’t ceased, lasting practically the entire time he’d spent there. Meanwhile, in her own hometown, Twilight stared blankly at nothing in particular as her husband’s screams echoed throughout her cranium. Julia had already informed the princess of their current progress, with Peter having retrieved two fragments thus far. However, there seemed to be a roadblock of sorts, with Peter having become inconsolable about his current predicament.

Twilight held her hooves out defensively. “Peter, honey, I’m sure it isn’t that bad.” Peter paused, inhaling deeply before resuming his screams. Twilight’s hoof fell over her face at the sight. “Okay, now you’re just being difficult. Come on now. It’s just high school. It shouldn’t be that bad.”

Gwen watched the image of her father’s turmoil, grinning with oblivious innocence. “Haha! Daddy’s funny.”

Eventually, Peter’s supply of oxygen ran at its zenith and forced the young man to relent his screams. Inhaling deeply before sighing, he glanced around aimlessly with a furrowed brow. “Huh. With all the screaming I just did, you’d think I would’ve caught someone’s attention.” Glancing to the side, Peter retreated within the nearest row of shrubbery, concealing himself behind the leaves. With a blank expression, he shifted his gaze skyward. “All right. I think I’m good.”

Twilight arched a brow. “I’m glad you got that out of your system. Are you really fretting going back to high school that badly?”

“Well, yeah,” Peter stated in a matter-of-fact tone, scratching the back of his head. “High school was only the worst time of my life! I was constantly stuffed in lockers, thrown head-first into toilets, and being the guy that even the local dorks thought was uncool. Yeah. I can’t say that I’m thrilled to be back here.” He paused, removing his thick glasses. Upon noticing his vision remained clear, the young man let out a relieved sigh. “At the very least, I still have my powers and vision, so there’s that.”

Slow to respond, Twilight’s eyes softened. “Oh, I see. I’d actually forgotten that most of your problems started back during your school days.” Her tone was genuine, filled with understanding and care. “Try not to worry about it too much. You’re only back in school temporarily. Once you find the fragment, you’ll be out of that reality. Besides, you’re not even aware of the situation yet. Julia will give you intel on what to expect. For all we know, you overreacted prematurely.”

Julia cleared her throat, stammering slightly. “Sadly, Peter’s suspicions aren’t far off. In this reality, Peter Parker is not the most popular student. He’s intellectually gifted, but usually mistreated by his peers. He has a very small circle of friends. He’s a good kid, and his destiny is tied to the Web of Life.” She paused, her voice growing light. “Magic does not exist in this world. However, when Sunset Shimmer entered this world from Equestria, she brought traces of magic with her. A spider was close to the gateway, and it bit Peter Parker, giving him powers very similar to your own in a considerably smaller capacity.”

“Well, that’s awfully convenient. Sure gotta love the multiverse theory and all of its quirks,” Peter lamely added, furrowing his brow. “So, I exist in this world? Won’t it be strange for people to see two versions of the same guy walking around together? I’m not keen on the idea of clones. It can be very convoluted and confusing.”

“Yes. That’s a good point. This is why I’ve locked this reality’s Peter away in suspended animation thanks to the rifts in time and space around us,” Julia declared, huffing. “He’ll sleep while you walk in his place. So try to act normal, don’t bring any unwanted attention to yourself, and get the fragment back. The sooner you do that, the sooner I can return this Peter to his rightful place.” Julia inhaled deeply before sighing. “Our Peter hasn’t revealed his powers to anyone. If anything, he’s still coming to grips with what he’s becoming. So, I implore you again to keep a low profile. Not for your sake, but for his. This world isn’t as used to the dangers and phenomena of your own.”

Nodding, Peter waved a hand dismissively. “Okay. I’ll make sure to keep a low profile.” Glancing around his surroundings, the young man furrowed his brow. “I can sense the fragment, but everything seems peaceful. If I’m lucky, this can be solved in a few seconds.”

Twilight placed a hoof over her chest. “Yes. We should avoid destruction, but don’t forget. You still have a friend to find in that reality.” The alicorn’s image began to fade, as the filly waved eagerly. “Be careful, Peter. The world may look peaceful at a glance, but you know how much a lone fragment from the Tablet of Order and Chaos can disrupt that delicate balance.”

“Heresy!” the scepter exclaimed, causing Twilight’s brow to twitch involuntarily. “Order in the court! No further questions! This whole court is out of order!”

Twilight growled in response, glaring at the scepter as it cackled wildly. “I will lock you away in a box!”

Gwen smiled widely, oblivious to her mother’s building rage. “Good luck, Daddy!”

Peter waved at the pair before their images faded from sight, and he let out a low sigh afterward. “Thanks, sweetie. I’m gonna need it.” Blinking, he gazed at his slim figure with a furrowed brow. “Technically, I’m a teenager again… and not a parent in this reality. It’s so weird. I’ll have to think and act like a kid again. Oh, responsibility and adulthood. I miss you already.” His eyes widened at a realization. “Madame Web. This is my body, right? How did I regress back to my younger days?”

“It is your power as the Spirit of Order,” Eris declared, her voice echoing in his cranium. “Your body instinctively regressed to fit the situation and create as little chaos as possible. It’s quite fascinating, really. You look exactly like this world’s Peter Parker, but you retain your own abilities. You’ll blend in just fine.”

Peter blinked. “When did this turn into a three-way--?”

“Oh, my…” Eris purred, earning a disgruntled groan from Madame Web. “Peter, you certainly have an open mind. Not that I mind.”

Peter exhaled, ignoring the heat growing in his cheeks. “Call! Three-way call!” The young man glanced off to the side. “Women are the fairer sex, my butt. They’re bigger perverts than guys when the mood suits them.”

Eris whined in mock hurt before her voice grinned. “Thanks to the fragment, I can talk with Julia, and she’s allowing me to give you an explanation.” She trailed off, humming to herself. “At any rate, you are the Spirit of Order. The change you underwent is natural. Once you leave that reality, you’ll return to your normal, handsome, girthy self.”

“Rectify the situation, Peter. You’re on your own for now,” Julia interjected before all extra voices in the young man’s skull exited completely. “You’ll have to obtain more information on your own. Best of luck.”

Exhaling, Peter finally stood upright stretching his limbs high overhead. “Good luck, huh? This shouldn’t be too bad.” The young man folded his glasses before placing them within a case and sliding it into his pocket. “Let’s see how life for this Peter Parker goes!” Sadly, the very second he walked within the halls of Canterlot High, a row of students were waiting. Faster than Peter could react, he was scooped up and carried outside before being hurled headfirst into the nearest dumpster. Once everyone carried on, heading back inside, Peter peeked his head out and sighed. “Now I remember why I hated school so much. Kids are so insensitive.”

“Wow. Three seconds into the door, and you’re already tossed into the trash,” a girl’s voice declared from below, earning the young man’s attention. Peter blinked as he caught sight of an oddly familiar sight. A girl with large violet irises and silver-blue hair stared at him with an arched brow, her skin a bright shade of blue. With a trademark gold and violet star pin in her hair, Peter instantly recognized the girl. Fortunately, Peter climbed out with little difficulty, brushing himself off. The girl brushed off the remnants of unwanted residue from his clothes before reaching out, placing her hands over his shoulders before smiling with an arched brow. “As the saying goes, one girl’s trash is another girl’s treasure.”

“Trixie?” Peter lightly questioned, shaking his head. “How long have you been here?”

Trixie waved her hand dismissively. “Since this morning. That’s an unusually silly question, even for you.” She paused, furrowing her brow as she eyed the boy closely. “Wait. Did you lose your glasses again?”

Slow to respond, Peter stared at the girl for what seemed like eons before clearing his throat. “Oh, right. Yeah. This morning. I must’ve hit my head on the way to the trash.” The young man scratched the back of his head. “This isn’t my Trixie but this reality’s Trixie. Who would’ve thought she’d have my back here, too? It’s funny. As big as the multiverse is, it’s surprisingly small.” Peter shook his head, noticing the girl’s narrowed gaze, and he stammered about, pointing a finger at his face. “I’m trying a new look! Got some contacts. What do you think?”

Playfully pushing the young man, Trixie huffed. “It won’t help your reputation, but I’d say it’s a definite improvement over those cumbersome bifocals you call glasses.” The girl inhaled deeply, pursing her lips. She stared intently at him, never averting her gaze. “You know. Something feels really off about you today. Are you okay?”

“I feel like I’m in a recurring nightmare, but that’s nothing new,” Peter blankly declared, exhaling as he gazed at the backpack in his grasp. As if his answer was satisfactory, Trixie simply shrugged and nodded. Pausing, Peter arched a brow. “I need an exposition dump. How long have we been friends?”

Trixie reached out, plucking the center of Peter’s forehead with two fingers with a surprisingly loud pop. “You’re quite insensitive today, too. We’ve been best friends since preschool. We’re neighbors and practically joined at the hip, or have you already forgotten that, too?” A group of students passed by the pair, with one girl tossing a crumpled piece of paper at Peter’s head while another did the same to Trixie. Once they were out of hearing range, Trixie exhaled. “And as always, we’re also at the bottom of the social totem pole. In spite of my greatness, I’m hardly recognized as such.”

“Girls have better memories than guys. It’s a fact. We just need reminders every now and then,” Peter loosely suggested, earning another content nod from the girl. His eyes softened. “She still has the same confidence as my Trixie. Narcissism can’t be that far off.” He turned around, glancing at his surrounding. “Besides, I know you’re great. That’s all that matters.”

Trixie’s eyes widened at the comment before she managed a smile. “As plucky as you are, you’re still sweet. I suppose that’s why I tolerate you.” She patted the back of her hand against the young man’s chest, but she recoiled, gripping at her hand. Trixie blinked at the sight. “You don’t feel as wimpy as usual. You’re usually quite the noodle of a figure, but you feel really… solid today. What’s that about?”

“Pushups, vitamins, and plenty of juice,” Peter uttered dismissively, readying himself to walk away. However, Trixie grabbed his arm before he could venture too far. “What now?”

Exhaling, Trixie pointed at the clock high above their heads. “You’re going the wrong way, dingus. We have to go to class.”

A sense of dread came over Peter, but he simply sighed before shrugging. “First period. Right. What would that be by chance?”

-u-

The nightmare continued as Peter was escorted to the school’s gymnasium. After awkward introductions and a brief change of attire, everyone walked onto the basketball court. Peter wore a simple tank top and gym shorts, dreading the ideas of what were to come. Sadly, gym class started with a tradition that bore harsh memories for the young man. Several of the school’s jocks and even some of the athletic girls reveled in glee once the coaches brought out an array of crimson balls. The students were aligned on two teams, standing across from each other, and to no one’s surprise, the power scaling was lopsided, with the aforementioned jocks and athletes lined up against those lesser in size and skill.

“Dooooodge-baaaaaaall!” the coach screamed at the top of his lungs before blowing feverishly into his whistle.

Everybody immediately scattered, like sharks that smelled blood in the water. Peter stood still, watching as his fellow teammates were taken out one-by-one. One girl was struck squarely in the back by a ball, carrying her momentum into a roll, and the second-to-last tried to catch one of the incoming round objects, only for it to strike his forehead. As quickly as the game began, it was nearly over, with Peter being the lone surviving member of his team. He lifted his widened gaze, eyeing every member of the opposing still intact and with dodgeballs in their possessions respectively.

“Look, guys! It’s our lucky day! We saved Puny Parker for last!” one exclaimed, spinning his ball over a finger.

Another grinned mischievously, squeezing the ball in her grasp with both hands. “Stand still! We’ll be gentle!”

Peter grimaced. “I somehow doubt that.”

The first three students hurled their balls at blinding speed simultaneously, but Peter nonchalantly sidestepped the assault. The group blinked at the sight, prompting the young man to stammer about forcefully. The entire team grabbed their balls this time, with each taking turns hurling their items in rapid succession. However, like before, Peter swayed his body accordingly to each ball. Once the assault ceased momentarily, he let out a relieved sigh. Unfortunately, upon glancing to the side, he spotted several bewildered gazes locked onto him.

“Oh, great. I’m already making a scene,” he thought, pausing as his Spider Sense chimed.

The whole world slowed as the leader of the group hurled his ball with all of his might. Peter watched as the ball slowly soared through the air with a widened gaze. To the world around him, it resembled a fast, round bullet, while to Peter himself, it practically resembled an airborne turtle slothing its way toward him. Letting out a defeated sigh, he simply ignored his sixth sense and allowed the blow to finish him, albeit slowly.

Peter only begged that it’d be swift and painless. To no surprise, there was no such luck. The ball collided into his cheek with a ‘slap’ potent enough to echo throughout the entire gymnasium, and the force of the blow knocked his head back until he landed on his shoulders. As if all was right in the world at witnessing the death of a plucky nerd, the group celebrated their victory and walked by the young man’s corpse.

Peter grumbled under his breath as he blankly stared at the ceiling. “Today's youth. Savages.”

Trixie made her way to Peter’s side, offering her open hand to him. “Sole survivor? You did great today, and I’ll give you credit. It’s not often that I see someone eat a dodgeball at that velocity.”

Peter accepted the gesture, allowing the young girl to help him back to an upright position. “Just don’t ask me to do that often.” The pair made their way to the bleachers before taking a seat. Trixie retrieved a cold cloth, holding it over the welt forming on the young man’s cheek. Peter blinked and stared intently at the auditorium, furrowing his brow. “That's weird. I can sense the fragment, but I can’t pinpoint its location. I wonder if there’s too many people in one location or a disturbance. I can’t waste too much time wandering around.” He glanced to the side once Trixie removed the cloth. “Hey, Trixie. Has anything weird happened lately, by any chance?”

Trixie rolled her eyes, poking Peter’s cheek’s with a finger. “The weirdest thing I can recall lately is you. Ever since that spider bite, you’ve acted a bit differently than usual. Come today, you’re practically unrecognizable.”

Smirking, Peter chuckled under his breath. “Oh, sure. I’m bitten by a spider and get super powers as a result. Plus, I’m not actually the Peter you know. I’m a Peter Parker from a different reality off on a journey to save the multiverse and find my friends.” He arched a brow at the girl. “Does that sound like an answer you wanted?”

Trixie stared blankly at Peter, exhaling harshly. “Stop acting coy, you imbecile. I’m the sarcastic one between us.” She retrieved a brush from her backpack, combing it through her hair dismissively. “Fine. Joke if you want, but something’s different about you. I’ll find out what it is eventually.” Trixie caught something from the corner of her eye, evident by her widened gaze. She let out a low sigh. “Oh, goodie. Look at who just entered the gymnasium, and she’s actually in uniform today. It’s seems everyone is acting a bit differently.”

Peter turned his head in Trixie’s direction, spotting a lavender sight, and his eyes grew as wide as saucers at the familiar sight. She bore a very slim figure, holding a timid expression. A pair of large glasses were placed over her violet irises, and her long violet hair with a purple and pink streak in the middle was pulled back into a ponytail, still reaching her lower back. In a strange sense of irony, she wore a belt that bore a pink star emblem reminiscent to another’s cutie mark of another reality along with a star-patterned designed etched across her dark violet shorts. She hesitantly entered the gymnasium, holding her hands together over her chest nervously.

“Twilight!” Peter uttered, inhaling sharply.

Trixie rolled her eyes and shrug. “Of course you remember her but completely forget me. You have such a one-track mind.”

Peter felt the temperature in his face rise, but he shook his head, clearing his thoughts. “She’s… very pretty.”

“Yes, and grass is green,” Trixie dryly retorted, leaning back into her seat. “Ever since she transferred here last semester from Crystal Prep, you’ve practically been gawking over her every single day, like a dog over a bone. I still don’t understand why you don’t just go talk to her.” Trixie huffed under her breath. “Take it from me. A girl likes a guy that’s willing to approach her. You stay in the background, and she’ll never notice you.”

Peter arched a brow at the girl. “Is that a fact?”

Nodding, Trixie continued to brush her silver blue hair. “Have I ever steered you wrong before?”

“Is water wet?” Peter questioned, earning a blank stare from the girl.

Trixie exhaled, shrugging momentarily. “You really are being far more coy than usual. I can’t say that I like it.”

Peter returned his gaze towards Twilight, eyeing her figure with a warm gaze. “So, the gym shorts are a rare sight, huh? She’s fills them out pretty well. And those glasses. They really add to her cuteness. She’s that dork that really captures the heart.” The young man rested her chin over the palm of her hand as he eyed her slim yet long legs. “Nice socks.”

A girl passed by the pair, scoffing in disgust. “You’re such a loser.”

Blinking, Peter held out his hands in a surprised fashion once the girl walked away. “I’m surrounded by savages. What happened to the kindness around here?”

Trixie waved her hand dismissively. “You and Twilight may have the highest grades in the school, but she has a certain charisma that you sorely lack.”

“Let me guess. I’m the smart and shy guy that nobody likes, and you’re the egomaniac that gets on everyone’s nerves?” he whispered, folding his arms.

“I’d prefer the term ‘confident beauty that nobody but one idiot seems to understand’,” Trixie retorted in a haughty tone, causing the young man to shrug in a hapless manner. After an awkward moment of silence, she glanced to the side and arched a brow at a sight. “My point stands. You really should try to approach Twilight. If not, you’ll miss out on your opportunity. I see a pair of fine gentlemen are trying to earn her attention already.”

Peter’s eyes widened, sharpening into an icy glare at the comment. “What?!”

Just as the young man shifted his gaze, someone approached Twilight. He wore a dark jade skull cap, concealing most of his bright green hair, and his skin tone was a fair tan. With his athletic figure, camp shorts, and bright smile, it was easy to assume he was popular among the masses with his nature outlook. Twilight also seemed to have been captivated by his charms, evident by her flushed features. Just that sight alone sent Peter into an upheaval, with the young man pulling at his unkempt hair.

However, the situation only worsened before it could improve. Suddenly, another male approached Twilight. He wore a black jacket and simple jeans. His bright blue, spiky hair matched his irises, and he had a smile that could rival any rockstar. Fittingly, the blue-eyed wonder carried a guitar around his back, and his fair skin was silky smooth, enough to make any girl drool in ecstasy. Much like the first guy, Twilight blushed in his presence, further adding to Peter’s misery.

As if sensing his utter fall from grace, Trixie arched a brow at Peter. “Are you okay? You’re suddenly pale as a ghost. You can’t be surprised. Flash is one of the most popular guys in the school.” She paused, furrowing her brow after a thought. “In regards to Timber, he’s already graduated. I hear he’s just passing through town before he heads out of state for good. Something about a grand hike.”

“A dude-bro and a jock... all while my wife is gushing over both of them,” Peter murmured under his breath as his complexion paled further.

Trixie furrowed her brow at his inaudible response. “What’d you say?”

Groaning inwardly, Peter stood abruptly. “Nothing. I need some air.” The young man rushed out of the gymnasium, passing by everyone in his path. Eventually, Peter made it outside and reached an alleyway, placing one hand against the wall for support as he lowered into a slouched stance. “Okay. I swear that God has a twisted sense of humor. I don’t know anything about that Timber guy, but that guy with the blue hair reminds me of Flash Sentry. I know that stupid, spiky haircut anywhere! Of all the guys my wife had to have a crush on, it’s a Flash! I think that guy is even wearing the same jacket Flash Thompson used to wear!” With a low sigh, Peter placed a hand over his forehead. “I’ve barely been here a couple of hours, and I already hate this reality!”

“I thought that was you earlier, but I had to be sure,” a female’s voice declared from nearby. Peter’s eyes widened as he glanced around aimlessly, failing to locate the source. Suddenly, a tiny dog emerged from behind the nearest dumpster, bearing a familiar light blue fur coat with diamond-shaped spots scattered about its form. Strangely enough, the dog had large floppy, snow-white ears, orange irises, and dark blue hints of fur that resembled scales of some sort. Peter eyed the dog’s collar, specifically it’s ruby design before the realization struck his mind like lightning would to a rod. The dog nodded feverishly, smiling. “Peter! It’s me! Ember!”

Slow to respond, Peter stared at the toy-sized dog for what seemed like ages. Like pouring water through a weakening dam, the young man stifled his growing laughter with gritted teeth, but his resolve diminished before he burst into wild guffaws. Ember waited for Peter’s laughter to cease with an exasperated glare. Sadly, it never did before Peter lifted her tiny frame with both hands gently.

“Oh, my God! You are literally the most adorable thing ever!” Peter grinned, holding Ember inches away from his face. He took in winded breaths, attempting to recollect his senses, but it proved futile upon noticing the dog’s unamused expression, laughing more uproariously than he already had. “I knew you were loyal, Ember, but I had no idea you were ‘man’s best friend’ kind of loyal! Looks like I was right to make you my second-in-command! Oh, tell me! Do you do any tricks? How about sit? Or heel? Roll over!”

Ember growled. “I am the Lord of Dragons! Treat me with respect!”

“I’m so going to keep you, but I’d better make sure you’re housetrained first! Haha!” Peter laughed, causing the dog to exhale harshly.

Eventually, Peter’s laughter subsided, much to Ember’s relief. “If you’re finished, we need to talk someplace private. It’s about the fragment.”

Unfortunately, just as Peter readied himself to respond, something tapped a can behind their position. “I suggest you listen to the talking dog,” Trixie firmly stated, folding her arms across her chest, “and I think it’s time you told me who you really are.”

Sharing a defeated glance with Ember, Peter could only let out a low sigh. “Ah, applesauce...”

To be continued...

I Was a Teenage Parker, Part II

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Chapter Five “I Was a Teenage Parker, Part II”

To say Peter’s journey into this reality was not off to a grand start would’ve been an understatement. Although he’d located Ember, it seemed his secret was already discovered by this reality’s Trixie. They had retreated to his home for a full debriefing, fortunate that Aunt May was away running errands. After hearing a considerable amount of information from both Peter and the talking dog, Trixie eased into her seat.

“So, let me make sure I got this right. You’re not the Peter Parker that I know, but instead, you’re from a different reality taking his place temporarily?” she hesitantly questioned, holding a hand over her forehead. Inhaling deeply before exhaling, Trixie stole a glance at the small dog sitting on Peter’s shoulder. “And you’re actually a dragon from that reality who was transformed into a dog?” Once both Peter and Ember nodded, Trixie shook her head and sighed. “Quite frankly, I feel like I’ve finally lost it and gone insane.”

Ember raised a paw objectively. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but it’s the truth. All of this happened because a powerful relic called the Tablet of Order and Chaos was shattered, and it disrupted the very fabric of time and space.” The dog nodded, furrowing her brow. “We’re working to retrieve the fragments. Once that’s done, we’ll be on our way, and your Peter will be returned to this reality.”

Slow to respond, Trixie furrowed her brow. “Okay. As much as the talking dog should be enough, I believe I need further proof.” She arched a brow. “You’re different from the Peter I know, but just how different are you? Show me.”

Peter scratched the back of his head, as if contemplating his actions. There was much to say, but Trixie made a good point in suggesting that his actions would’ve spoken louder than words. Placing Ember down on the floor, the young man walked up to the nearest wall before scaling it. Trixie dropped her cup of tea, holding a slack-jawed expression once Peter reached the ceiling like a living, human spider.

“Wha-- I mean, huh?!” Trixie blurted out, her mind racing faster than her mouth could process.

Peter flipped from the ceiling, landing gracefully on his feet mere inches away from the girl. “Yeah. In my reality, I’m known as the Spider-Man. I can cling to almost any surface, possess strength and flexibility proportionate to that of a spider, a sixth sense for danger, and greatly enhanced reflexes. Ironically, your Peter already possesses the same abilities, too.”

Trixie blinked, her eyes remaining wide. “What?! How? Since when?”

Placing a hand over the girl’s shoulder, Peter grinned. “You said it yourself. I’ve been acting weird lately, right? You know Sunset Shimmer? When she entered this world through a magical portal, she brought magic into this reality. Turns out, a spider was close to the portal, and it ended up biting your Peter, giving him super abilities.”

“He told me about the spider bite, but never told me anything about that.” Trixie glanced to the side, her eyes softening. “Why didn’t he tell me?"

Ember frowned. “If I had to guess, he’s still trying to figure things out. A body going through that type of change overnight, and it’ll fill anybody with a lot of questions. Besides, would you have even believed him?”

“A magical spider bit me, and I now have super powers! Yeah. That sounds legit,” Peter chuckled, folding his arms.

Ember huffed under her breath, smirking. "When you put it like that, it sounds ridiculous."

Trixie blinked, shifting her furrowed gaze to Peter. “As far as your powers go, what’s the main difference between you two?”

Peter raised a finger. “Your Peter was bitten by a magical spider. I was bitten by a radioactive spider. My origin doesn’t sound nearly as silly.”

Exhaling, Trixie shook her head before whimpering under her breath. “Even so, both sound equally implausible. I think I need a minute to process this.”

“Oh. And please don’t tell anyone about all this,” Peter lightly whispered, taking a seat next to the girl. “We’re taking a big risk by telling you everything. If this gets out, it can really ruin your Peter’s life.”

Trixie scoffed harshly. “As if anyone would believe me anyway. If anything, I’m just upset that idiot didn’t talk to me about it sooner.” She glanced to the side, spotting Peter’s softened, hazel gaze. Letting out a defeated sigh, Trixie shrugged in a hapless manner. “Fine. I won’t say anything. Just stop giving me that look. He knows I can’t say no to that face and those doughy, puppy dog eyes.”

Ember managed a smile. “We really appreciate this, Trixie. My instincts tell me you’re immensely trustworthy.”

Waving a hand dismissively, Trixie forced herself to a standing position and leaned over the nearest counter for support. “So, you’re looking for a fragment from this Tablet, right?”

Peter nodded. “Yeah. Whoever is in possession of one can get powers beyond measure. Has anything weird happened lately? Is there anyone you think might’ve gotten it?” He paused, tapping a finger against the side of his head. “My Spider Sense can track a fragment, but I can’t seem to pinpoint it here. I could use a hint or something.”

Trixie tapped a finger against her chin repeatedly as she shifted her gaze skyward. “Right off, nothing really sticks. As far as I know, you two are honestly the strangest things to happen lately.” However, her eyes widened at a realization. “Wait. There is one thing that’s been a little off. It’s the Crystal Prep’s principal. She’s been hanging around the school a lot lately.”

“That’s weird?” Ember questioned, tilting her head to the side. “There shouldn’t be anything unusual about a principal visiting a different school.”

Trixie shook her head. “Yes. But it’s very weird for Principal Abacus Cinch of Crystal Prep. She thinks Canterlot High is an inferior school compared to her’s, and wants the status quo to remain the same. She’s a firm believer in the notion of actual skill over popularity.” She brushed a hand through her silver-blue hair. “Twilight used to be a student of hers. After a… crazy incident last semester, she transferred over to Canterlot High. I imagine Cinch hasn’t taken that too well.”

Ember arched a brow. “Why?”

“Twilight was Crystal Prep’s top student, a regular prodigy. The only person with better grades than her is Peter,” Trixie muttered, placing her hands over her thighs. “Twilight was a bit of a hermit and a pushover. She still is, really, but she’s coming around and slowly opening up. Twilight was closer to Dean Cadance than anybody else. After an incident at the Friendship Games, Twilight chose to change her original plans from going to an independent study program and chose to instead transfer to Canterlot High.”

Peter furrowed his brow. “Let me guess. Was it so she could study and understand friendship?”

Trixie’s eyes widened at the comment before she nodded in response. “Actually, yeah. Sunset Shimmer and her colorful crew of friends are helping Twilight with that.”

Chuckling under his breath, Peter nodded inwardly. “This reality has more in common with mine than I thought.”

Trixie trailed off, closing her eyes. “Anyway, Dean Cadance ensured that the transfer went through, but I imagine Principal Cinch probably still holds a grudge. Sunset and her friends caused Cinch’s prized student and five other of her own prized students to turn traitor, even though they remained at Crystal Prep afterward. That’s perfect motivation for revenge, if I do say so myself.”

Peter nodded. “Okay. So it sounds like Principal Cinch and Twilight are our only leads.” The young man stood from his seat. “Let’s head back to the school. Maybe we can get some answers.” He slid Ember into the confines of his backpack, leaving an opening so she could free her head from inside. Before long, Peter offered the bag to Trixie. “You two keep an eye out for Cinch. I’ll go talk to Twilight. Any idea where she’ll be right now?”

Slow to respond, Trixie glanced at the clock across the room which read 11:05 A.M. “It’s third period right now, so Twilight has a free class. She usually likes to go where it’s quiet.”

“A free class, huh? All right. That’s all I need. If this Twi is anything like I think, I know exactly where she’s going,” Peter declared, managing a small smile. “We’ll meet back in front of the gym by one o’clock.” The young man trailed off, narrowing his gaze. “You know, I just thought about it. I’ll need my costume in case things go south. If I go as myself, everyone will assume it’s your Peter, and he’ll never have a moment’s peace afterward.”

Ember nodded. “Good idea. Can you just bring it up like always?”

“Magic doesn’t really exist in this world, and I can’t really use it without Dream,” Peter groaned, folding his arms. Slowly yet surely, a realization came to mind, and the young man’s eyes widened afterward. “Hold on. Trixie, is Peter’s Uncle Ben still alive?”

Trixie blinked, shaking her head. “Unfortunately, no. He was gunned down by an armed mugger a few weeks ago. Why?”

Faster than anyone could react, Peter ran to the back of the complex until he entered a small room. The young man opened the closet, shaking his head upon seeing nothing of particular interest. Trixie soon entered the room afterward with an arched brow, eyeing the scenery as the alternate version of her childhood friend searched around the room. Pausing, Peter hummed to himself before lifting his gaze, spotting a string concealed within the ceiling. He pulled the thread, causing a secret compartment to open up, and a costume fell to the floor, landing at his feet. Ember climbed onto the bed and narrowed her gaze as the young man removed his clothing.

Trixie cursed under her breath, groaning while she shielded her eyes with a hand. “A little warning would be nice the next time.”

Peter paused as he slid the tights over his body. “You don’t seem surprised. Most girls react a lot stronger to a naked dude.”

“Probably, but Peter and I have known each other our entire lives. It wouldn’t at all be the first time I’ve seen him naked. His Aunt and my mother made us take baths together as children,” Trixie muttered, shaking her head at the memories stored in her mind. “Seeing him naked is no different than me looking into a mirror. Doesn't that unnerve you?”

Peter simply shrugged at the girl’s statement, ignoring her blank gaze. “Not really. In my reality, Trixie’s my best friend and like a big sister to me. We’ve seen each other naked enough times to not really react. I think we’re too close to really react. It’s not a bad thing.”

Trixie smiled. “Maybe you aren’t all that different, after all.” She peeked up after a duration, inhaling sharply. A red and blue costume hugged Peter’s slim yet athletic figure tightly, bearing a spider insignia at the center of his chest. The pits under his arms were comprised of webbing, shaped as makeshift wings. Trixie blinked at the sight. “Peter… had that stowed away?”

Peter hesitantly nodded. “I can’t say the exact details, but your Peter probably feels like his Uncle Ben’s death was his fault. The reason he’s been acting unusual lately is because he’s debating on how to go about redeeming himself. This costume and his powers are a representation of that.” He paused, letting out a low sigh. “With great power…”

“Comes great responsibility. Yeah, yeah,” Trixie gently interjected, waving a hand dismissively and earning an affirming nod from the young man. She walked to the other side of the room. “He’s been muttering that to himself a lot lately. I guess it all makes sense now.” She lowered her head, managing a smile before sharply pointing a finger at Peter. “All right. You can wear that tacky thing you call a costume for now, but don’t get it destroyed before I can give Peter a better sense of fashion direction. I’m so not letting this one go.”

A confident smile formed on Peter’s face as he gripped his mask tightly. “You got it. This Spider’s going old-school.”

-u-

Meanwhile, deep within the reaches of the library, Twilight sat in the middle of the room. Her hands trembled involuntarily as she gripped her book with unease. She scrolled through the walls of text, but her mind couldn’t rid the images from her consciousness. Her ex-principal had requested an impromptu meeting of sorts. Sadly, it didn’t go as well as imagined.

-u-

“What is that?” Twilight questioned, tilting her head to the side.

Principal Cinch held out a small fragment, gripping it soundly. “I stumbled upon this item in a crater along the outskirts of Crystal Prep. I’m not certain what this fragment is exactly, but it distorts everything around it.” She eyed the stone carefully, smiling. “It’s clearly of magical origin. I would like you to create a special kind of technology and examine it, and if possible, amplify its effects. We must see what this fragment is capable of.”

Twilight’s complexion paled at the woman’s words. “With all due respect, Ms. Cinch, I’d rather not. After the last incident, I never want to lose my mind and body to magic again. I didn’t understand the principles of magic and its combination with the technology I developed. I’d rather not risk another incident.”

“I can understand why you’re hesitant, but think of the breakthroughs we can accomplish!” Principal Cinch exclaimed, a dark glint flashing across her eyes. She placed a hand over Twilight’s shoulder, edging closer until their cheeks were inches apart. “I still haven’t forgiven you for your betrayal, but this is a perfect way to make amends for your mistakes. Join my cause, and I’ll see to it that you’re reinstated at Crystal Prep!

Shaking her head, Twilight gripped her books soundly and hastily walked past the woman. “I-I’m sorry, Ms. Cinch. But I can’t. I actually like the students here. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Faster than she could react, Cinch reached out and snatched Twilight’s arm. “You would say no to me again?!”

“Let me go!” Twilight reactively pulled her arm away and nodded feverishly. “Of course I would! You never cared about us! You only cared about the status quo! And I’ll never work for someone as cruel as you!”

-u-

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Twilight rubbed a hand over her pulsating forehead. “What am I going to do?”

“Ah, so this is where you were,” a soft voice whispered from behind, causing the girl to let out a surprised squeak. That same second, a hand fell over her mouth before the sound could travel throughout the library. Peter lowered his head until the girl could see his face, and her demeanor lightened, evident by the relieved sigh she let out. The young man removed his hand and chuckled sheepishly, brushing the wrinkles out of his jacket and pants. “This is a library. We’re supposed to be quiet here. I didn’t mean to startle you. Mind if I take a seat?”

Slow to respond, Twilight peered up at the young man with a widened gaze, unaware that her glasses were hanging off of her face. “Oh, um. Yes. I’m sorry! I was… just deep in thought. Sure. G-go ahead.”

Peter arched a brow, pointing a finger at the side of his head. “You might want to…”

Twilight inhaled sharply, sheepishly straightening out her glasses as Peter took a seat across from her position. Once she was situated, the girl cleared her throat. “So, what can I do for you?” Blinking, Twilight tilted her head to the side and stared intently at Peter for what seemed like ages. “Oh. Brown eyes. I actually didn’t recognize you for a second. You’re Peter Parker!” She glanced to the side, unaware of the pink tint burning on her face. “I-I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”

Peter waved a hand dismissively. “It’s no problem. I understand, really. I hardly recognize myself, ever since I started wearing contacts.” He leaned over the table, smiling. “Anyway, it’s always easy to recognize you, Twilight. I’ve actually been wanting to talk to you for a while.”

“Really?” Twilight questioned, her expression lighting up before brushing a finger through a strand of her long hair. “S-so, what did you want to discuss?”

Peter smiled widely, nodding. “Let’s talk about you! This is the first time I’ve talked to you directly.” Holding a hand over his forehead, he chuckled nervously. “I’m just sorry that it took so long.”

Twilight straightened her glasses with a hand. “It’s okay. I’m just as much at fault. You see, I’ve always watched you from a distance and wanted to talk with you personally.” She blinked, closing her book before placing it down with a sheepish smile. “ Sorry. That sounded a little creepy. It’s just that you always seemed laser-focused on your studies. I guess, I was… too intimidated to talk to you.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the comment. “Really? Oh, no. That’s not the vibe I wanted to give. If anything, I’m just not good at talking with people. More often than not, I tend to confuse them, whether I’m discussing scientific theories or talking about spilled milk. As they say, the inner machinations of my mind are an enigma.”

Smiling, Twilight chuckled and shared a nod. “I can actually understand that. I’ve spent so much of my life studying that social interactions are far harder for me to grasp easily. If not for my new friends, I’d be completely lost.”

“Same thing in my case,” Peter lightly retorted, grinning as he gestured a thumb over his shoulder. “You know that narcissist that I always hang around? She’s got a bit of an ego, but she’s a good person once you get to know her. She’s been pretty good to me. If not for her, I’d be a total hermit. Trixie’s actually been pushing for me to come talk to you sooner.”

Twilight tilted her head to the side slightly. “Did she convince you to be so… direct?”

Chuckling sheepishly, Peter shook his head. “Trixie’s methods are far more discreet than mine. So, this moment was all me. Is that a bad thing?”

The girl’s eyes widened at a realization as she raised her hands, waving them defensively. “N-no! Not at all! It's just that you’ve hardly said a word since I’ve come to this school. I’m just… pleasantly surprised,” she whispered, unaware of the pink tint glowing on her face.

Peter managed a smile before his eyes softened at a thought. “Truth be told, there’s another reason I was hesitant to talk with you.” Twilight’s eyes widened as Peter sobered, folding his arms slightly. “You’re very pretty, and everyone’s taken a shine to you. I saw you this morning talking with Flash and Timber. I thought something might’ve been going on.”

Twilight blushed immensely, shook her head and waved her hands defensively. “Really? I can promise you that nothing’s happening. I hardly even know Flash, let alone like him.”

Peter blinked lamely. “What? Then, what happened earlier?”

“Oh, during gym class? It’s embarrassing, really,” Twilight stammered, raising a finger objectively. “You see, Flash saw that I had my shirt inside out and merely pointed it out.”

As if a sense of relief had come over him, Peter felt a great weight lift from his shoulders, evident by his elated yet embarrassed smile and chuckle. “Huh. Well, what do you know?” he sheepishly whispered, pausing once a realization came into mind. Not wanting fate to deal a fatal blow to his psyche and hope, Peter inhaled deeply and waited for the worst-case scenario. He glanced off to the side shamefully. “What about Timber? You seem a bit into him, not that I blame you.”

Slow to respond, Twilight furrowed her brow at the young man as if contemplating his words. “Timber is nice, and I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t handsome. Plus, I can admit that I’m quite attracted to his nature-loving side. I actually came really close to kissing him once.”

Like a knife cutting deep into an open wound, Peter winced at the girl’s words. “Oh, God. Jam the knife in and put me out of my misery already!”

However, her demeanor shifted, as if all humor had left her features. Her brow lowered in thought, giving the girl a studious expression. “It’s just… that’s all. There’s something missing. I can’t quite place it. If you want the truth, I think it’s something that you have that they don’t.”

“Yes!” Peter exclaimed, causing the librarian in the distance to glare in his direction. Twilight giggled innocently as the young man cleared his throat. Letting out a relieved sigh, Peter returned his gaze to the girl. “Lucky me, huh?”

Twilight nodded, instinctively twirling her hair with a finger. “So, you think I’m pretty?”

“Totally,” Peter lamely answered, before he warmly declared, “Actually, I think you’re beautiful.” Peter scratched the back of his head. “It’s one guy’s opinion, but I mean it.”

Twilight’s thoughts grew fuzzy as her cheeks glowed a bright pink tint, practically burning. “I… Oh… Thank you.” She fidgeted in placed, rubbing her hands together nervously, but her smile remained intact, widening. Twilight eventually glanced to the side. “You’re quite a puzzle. You’re silent one second, and now, you’re a chatterbox. Talking to you personally, it’s actually surprising that you have the highest grade point average out of the entire school.”

Peter smirked, nodding. “Let's just say I’m full of surprises.” Arching a brow, the young man edged his seat closer to Twilight. Surprisingly, she didn’t seem to mind, evident by her knowing smile. Once they were side-by-side in their respective seats, Peter’s smile grew. “Stop me if you heard this one before. Two chemists walk into a bar. The first one says ‘I’ll have H2O.’ The second one says ‘I’ll have H2O, too’-- and he died!”

Meanwhile, behind the pair, Trixie sat out of sight with the backpack containing Ember. The girl exhaled, shaking her head in dismay. “Is he trying to scare her off? That joke was terrible! I don’t even get it.”

Suddenly, Twilight threw a hand over her mouth, stifling her laughter before releasing a high-pitched giggle. “I get it! H2O is the molecular form of water, but H2O2 is the molecular form for hydrogen peroxide, which is lethal to drink!” The librarian in the distance arched a brow, prompting the girl to cease her laughter, but it proved difficult, apparent by her stifled giggles. “Simple, yet genius.”

“You’re the only one who gets that joke. That one usually flies over everyone’s heads,” Peter chuckled, edging closer while holding a hand over the side of his mouth. “I’ve got another. Why can you never trust atoms? They make up everything!”

Twilight inhaled sharply in a quick attempt to catch her laughter, but it was for naught, as the girl snorted involuntarily before bursting into a second fit of giggles. “Atoms are the smallest pieces of matter. They literally make up everything we see! I get it!”

As the row of jokes and laughter continued between Peter and Twilight, Trixie stared blankly at the sight. “I don’t know what I’m seeing. It feels like I’ve lost my sanity, and the whole world is sinking into chaos.”

Ember poked her head out of the backpack, smiling as she shared a glance with the girl. “I happen to see something quite special. Are you listening to Twilight Sparkle? That’s genuine laughter.” She arched a brow, nodding. “I believe it’s universal when I say that most females like a male that can make them laugh.”

Trixie huffed inwardly, staring intently at the pair before her demeanor lightened. “I think Twilight can laugh because she’s comfortable. I’ve never seen her so relaxed around anyone before. She usually fidgets about, but with Peter, she’s acting perfectly… normal.” The girl paused, folding her arms. The corner of her lips curled into a smile after a duration. “I’ve never thought I’d see Peter come out of his shell. Granted, it’s not the same Peter, but I can be practical in understanding the circumstance.” She lowered her gaze, meeting Ember’s once more. “I’ve heard Peter muttering something. So, what’s his history with Twilight in your reality?”

“Twilight Sparkle is a princess in our reality and co-ruler of our land. She’s also married to Peter, and they’ve been together for well over twenty years now,” Ember stated, causing Trixie’s eyes to widen. They watched as the pair continued to laugh, making light yet engaging conversation with each other. Ember turned back to Trixie with a nod. “This Twilight isn’t that different from his own. He’s a kid again, seeing the girl of his dreams in her young days. There’s nostalgia there, and it shows that their love is eternal.”

Trixie rolled her eyes dismissively. “Sounds romantic, I suppose.” Peter stretched his arms high overhead, feigning a yawn before sliding one arm over the girl’s shoulder. Twilight inhaled sharply, glancing at the arm, but she yielded to the warmth exuding from the young man, leaning into his side. Peter peered down, holding a warm smile, and Twilight returned his gaze, giggling contently. Trixie simply nodded afterward, smirking. “Okay. Now, that’s surprisingly smooth. I never thought he had that in him.”

Ember chuckled under her breath. “Don’t underestimate him. While this Peter may not be of this world, I imagine yours isn’t all that different deep down. He’s brighter than one would think.” Peter paused, glancing at Trixie and Ember from the corner of his eye. He coyly gave the pair a wink before returning his gaze to Twilight. Ember simply nodded. “Crafty. I think he’s doing this for your Peter.”

Slow to respond, Trixie furrowed her brow before chuckling under her breath with a smile. “Sometimes, we just need a little push. I just hope that my Peter doesn’t somehow screw it up.”

Meanwhile, Peter and Twilight subsided in their conjoined laughter, much to the librarian’s relief. The young man peeked down at the girl, grinning at her smile. “There you go. You’re much prettier when you smile.”

Pausing, Twilight managed a smile as her cheeks bloomed. “T-Thank you. You keep surprising me. You’re very sweet.”

“It’s a talent,” Peter chuckled, sobering as a stern yet gentle expression surfaced on his face. “What’s up? When I first walked in here, you looked troubled. Did you want to talk about it?”

Twilight inhaled deeply before sighing, glancing to the side. “It’s nothing. My old principal came back earlier today.”

“Principal Cinch?” Peter questioned, earning a small nod from the girl.

Rubbing her hands together nervously, Twilight managed to meet Peter’s concerned gaze. “She was up to her usual ways. Ms. Cinch wanted to recruit me back to Crystal Prep and study a fragment, but I--”

“Did you say a fragment?!” Peter blurted out as he abruptly stood from his seat, causing the girl to stop in her tracks. “It had some kind of power, didn’t it?”

Twilight blinked, managing a nod. “Yes, but I didn’t want to help Ms. Cinch. I’ve had one incident already, and I really don’t want history to repeat itself.”

Peter edged closer to the girl until their faces were inches apart. “Twilight. Where is Principal Cinch? We have to stop her from using that fragment at all costs!”

“You know what it is?” Twilight questioned, never averting her gaze from Peter’s.

Nodding, Peter frowned. “Yeah. It’s a fragment from an artifact known as the Tablet of Order and Chaos. Anyone who holds a fragment will gain powers beyond their imagination, but it’s unstable and could cause some serious destruction.”

Twilight glanced to the side. “Is… that why she wanted me to test it?”

“That doesn’t matter,” Peter firmly declared, shaking his head before reaching out and gently taking hold of the girl’s hand. With a soft yet firm squeeze, his eyes softened into a pleading gaze. “Please, Twilight. You have to tell me where Principal Cinch is. We can’t let her use the fragment.”

Twilight inhaled sharply. “There’s just something in your voice. You’re talking as if we’ve known each other for years, and yet… a part of me feels as if we do. I can’t understand you,” she whispered, pausing before finally squeezing Peter’s hand in return. Twilight eventually sighed before smiling. “I may not understand you completely, but I feel like I can trust you with my life. That’s more than enough. I’ll take you right to her.”

-u-

Principal Cinch sat in a private office within Canterlot High as her gaze morphed into a venomous glare. “Such wasted potential.” Her fingers bore into the fragment before some of its energies bore into her body. A bright yellow light illuminated from her irises in a flash. “I’ll return glory to Crystal Prep myself! Sunny Flare! Indigo Zap! Lemon Zest! Sugarcoat! Sour Sweet!” Tremors coursed through the halls of Canterlot while her body levitated from the ground. Cinch cackled wildly as electrical current crackled across the vicinity. Suddenly, five girls morphed into existence, each folding their arms and glaring intently. Cinch sharply pointed a finger forward. “Start by destroying Canterlot High!”

To be continued...

I Was a Teenage Parker, Part III

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Chapter Six “I Was a Teenage Parker, Part III"

Running through the hallways, Twilight led Peter and Trixie with Ember in tow to the other side of the school. “Principal Cinch shouldn’t even be here, but she’s been hanging around the auditorium. That’s probably where she is right now.” Suddenly, tremors coursed through the building’s walls and floors, prompting the trio to stop in their tracks. Twilight staggered back, nearly losing her balance, but she fell back into Peter’s waiting arms, nodding appreciatively. The girl straightened her glasses, arching a brow at the closed doors across the halls. “What was that?”

Peter blinked, wincing at the alarm blaring in his cranium. “Nothing good. Come on.”

They pushed the door open upon reaching it, slowly walking into the auditorium. The room itself was large, resembling a miniature stage and theater with dozens of students present. Upon the stage, Cinch walked to the center as bright, chaotic energies spiraled around her being. Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna furrowed their brows at the woman while the rest of the students watched on in bewilderment, amazement, and horror.

Cinch held out her hands to the side. “For far too long, Canterlot High has disgraced the very school system of this county. You thrive on petty popularity and childish games, but the students of Crystal Prep are moved only by results and being the absolute best! Today, we make history! Crystal Prep will become the number one recommended school, not just in this county, but in the entire world!” Just behind her, five girls materialized into existence out of bursts of light while Cinch pointed a finger at the crowd. “And it starts with the destruction of Canterlot High!”

The entire student crowd murmured in distress, chattering among themselves. Trixie gripped the straps of her backpack. “Is she serious? This is a high school, not an imperial kingdom.”

Twilight held a hand over her mouth. “What has gotten into Principal Cinch?! She was always ambitious, but she would never resort to outright destruction!”

Peter shook his head. “It’s not entirely her fault. It’s the fragment. Its chaotic energies are twisting her thoughts, making her more violent than usual.” He shared a glance with the girl, nodding. “All the more reason why we need to get that fragment away from her.”

Cinch folded her arms, smirking. “Now, I suggest you all evacuate the building in a hasty manner, but if you are in need of motivation, Sunny Flare has a perfect remedy.”

One of the girls stepped forward, her skin a bright shade of blue, and she smiled widely, holding her hands out as they glowed with energy. “We won’t ask you twice,” Sunny exclaimed, her short, violet-and-pink hair floating gracefully. The energies she wielded burned brightly. “Now leave!”

Sunny hurled two balls of bright magic at the ceiling, and both exploded on contact, sending tremors coursing through the whole building. Shards of stone erupted from the blast, causing some to land by nearby students. Suddenly, in a panic, everyone in the auditorium rushed from their seats. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna did their best to calmly lead as many students out possible, but a majority were clamoring about wildly in a desperate push for the exit.

Faster than Peter, Twilight, or Trixie could react, they were swarmed by a sea of humanity and were pushed in different directions. Twilight was hurled to the side, hitting the side of her head on a seat. Fortunately, the row she fell in was empty, and the girl laid under a seat in a daze. Peter somewhat managed to maneuver his way through the crowd, holding his ground as they pushed past him. He looked around feverishly for his friends, calling out to the them to no avail. Trixie was practically swept away, unable to halt her unwanted momentum while the students pushed for the outside.

Once a majority of the students had evacuated, Cinch glanced to the side and nodded. This prompted Sunny Flare to hold her hands together, causing particles of magical energy from the atmosphere to channel into an orb hovering over her palms. Suddenly, she unleashed the ball, the energy whistling as it traveled, and it collided with the ceiling, detonating on impact. Cinch and the Shadowbolts quietly exited from the auditorium through the back door of the stage. The beams holding the ceiling in place creaked ominouslyly, as if the foundation was struggling to stay in place.

Twilight’s eyes fluttered open as she slowly pulled herself to a standing position. She held a hand over her head, groaning as her dulled senses steadied. The very foundation of the ceiling came apart, with the supporting beams snapping under the unevenly distributed weight, and a large piece of the building came crashing down. She peeked up, only to spot the incoming disaster speeding toward her. She raised her arms defensively and fell back, slamming her eyes shut.

The entire ceiling itself crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom, sending out a massive dust cloud. However, no such thing finished the girl. Twilight slowly opened an eye, inhaling sharply upon spotting an amazing sight. Peter stood over her with the entire concrete ceiling weighing down on his shoulders. The entire world around them slowed as the young man strained, groaning as his legs beneath him shook.

However, he lifted his gaze until it met Twilight’s, and Peter managed a smile, chuckling weakly. “Hi.”

Slow to respond, Twilight’s widened gaze and slack-jawed expression remained intact, but she soon forced the lump in her throat down with a swallow. “H-hey.”

“Wish I could talk, but this is… really heavy,” Peter strained as his body buckled, but he straightened his posture momentarily, managing to lift the ceiling a touch higher from the ground.

Trixie soon reentered the vicinity, gasping at the sight at the center of the auditorium. “Egad!”

Just as she readied to crawl underneath the wreckage to reach him, Peter shook his head. “No, Trixie! Stay back! I want you to take Twilight and get out of the school! It’s too dangerous!”

Twilight’s eyes widened at the statement. “You can’t expect me to leave you like this!”

“I am, because you don’t have a choice!” Peter coughed, lowering to a squatting position. Beads of sweat poured from the young man’s face, but he laughed under his strained breath, sharing a glance with the girl. “Trust me. I finally got you. There’s no way I’m dying now, but I need you to trust me. Go with Trixie and get outside the school.”

Placing a hand over her chest, Twilight’s eyes softened. “But…”

Peter wheezed, lowering his head to the ground. “If I survive this, we’re going to be an item. That means study sessions at the library, movie nights, and dinner dates at my Aunt May’s. She’ll want to meet you. No questions asked. Oh, and kisses everyday. I really like those.” All traces of doubt left his voice, and only unwavering determination could be heard. “I’ve loved you since you walked through the doors of Canterlot High. That’s the truth. I finally start talking with you and this happens! No way is this slowing me down!” He lifted his gaze and nodded with a smile. “Now, go with Trixie and wait for me outside. I’ll lift the ceiling as high as I can. When I do, run and don’t look back.”

Trixie gripped the straps of her backpack tightly. “Twilight! We don’t have time for this, come on!”

Twilight alternated her gaze between Trixie and Peter, inhaling deeply before letting out a defeated sigh once the ceiling rumbled. “All right. If you survive, I promise to kiss you everyday, but you have to show me your formula on quantum physics and your scientific presentation on balancing chemical equations first. We’re going to study every day and night together. That’s a promise!”

“Kisses everyday from the prettiest girl in the school? I’d kill to be me during that time,” Peter whispered through a groan, all the while relishing a smirk. He then inhaled deeply as he stood upright and fully extended his arms, lifting the ceiling as high as his muscles would allow. The pair shared a final glance before Twilight rushed off. She maneuvered her way through the surrounding wreckage, having to crawl underneath a slab of concrete at the end of her path. Once within range, Trixie reached down and helped pull Twilight through the door. Both girls ventured off, running for the exit doors. Peter nodded contentedly while chuckling under his breath. “I’m falling in love with my wife all over again.”

Relinquishing his hold, Peter’s body dropped, and gravity quickly prevailed, allowing the ceiling to finally crash to the ground. A thunderous tremor coursed through the entire building. Twilight stopped in her tracks, glancing back at the door leading to the auditorium as a dust cloud rushed out from within. Trixie stopped soon afterward, frowning upon spotting the distraught expression on Twilight’s face.

“We shouldn’t have left him,” Twilight whispered, shaking her head before holding a hand over her eyes. “I wish I didn’t leave my amulet at home. I could’ve lifted the ceiling off of him.”

Trixie simply placed a hand over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. You couldn’t have known this was going to happen. Anyway, he’s just fine. It may come as a surprise, but that plucky goof is much tougher than he looks. You saw that firsthand.” Twilight’s eyes widened at the comment before she managed to meet Trixie’s firm yet gentle expression. “Trust me. Peter has fawned over you since the start. Now that he has your attention, he’s not gonna let something as small as a ceiling falling on him get in his way. Plus, he has a threshold of secrets that he’s going to share with you. Let’s wait for him outside, and I bet he’ll talk you to death when he gets back.”

Twilight inhaled deeply before sighing, holding a hand over the center of her chest. “He’d better.” The pair eventually made it outside, and a pair of officers escorted them past the barricade. Once a safe distance away, magical energies rose from the ground, surrounding the entire school behind a dome barrier. Everyone watched the spectacle with bewilderment, each clamoring wildly. Twilight blinked at the sight before stealing a glance at Trixie, furrowing her brow at the backpack around her shoulder. “Where’s your dog?”

Trixie’s eyes widened at the question. “What? She should be right here.” She removed her backpack, gently placing it down before sliding the zipper open. Strangely enough, the backpack was empty. Trixie and Twilight shared a glance before shifting their gazes to the school. The silver-blue haired girl grimly frowned. “Oh, no.”

Meanwhile, within the broken auditorium, a large chunk of stone rummaged before it rolled to the side. Peter rose from underneath, tapping the back of a hand against his shoulder. “Why do the largest things constantly fall on my shoulders? A building. That air-walkway Cap dropped on me. Twilight when she was pregnant with Gwen. Oh, and now a school rooftop. I oughta have a talk with gravity and ask her to lighten up one of these days.” He glanced to the side, letting out a relieved sigh. “I’m just grateful everyone got out, and there was enough room for me to crawl around under the wreckage. I guess my luck doesn’t always suck.”

Lifting his gaze, Peter jumped onto the side of the nearest wall and climbed up to what was left of the auditorium’s rooftop. He removed his casual attire, folding everything before tossing them into a makeshift bag made of webbing. The young man took his mask and pulled it down over his face, taking back his old mantle of Spider-Man once again. He glanced down, his sixth sense chiming as it tracked Cinch’s whereabouts.

Shrugging, Spider-Man shot out a strand of webbing onto the nearest wall before swinging in their direction. “Okay. Time for recess, Principal Cinch!”

-u-

Near the corner of the school, Cinch narrowed her gaze on a hallway of empty classrooms. Each Shadowbolt alternated their gazes about, awaiting her command. However, just as she readied herself to lift her hand, a being landed behind her position and lowered to a squatting position. She turned, blinking at the sight of a masked man clad in crimson and blue with bug-like lenses and a spider insignia over his chest.

Spider-Man pulled himself to a standing position, raising a finger objectively. “Yo. I know you think you’re doing a lot of kids a big favor. I mean, destroying a school means summer break’s going to last a whole lot longer, but that’s a nightmare for most parents. Not to mention the school administration.” He trailed off, lowering his gaze. “Oh, right, and destroying a school is technically illegal. How about we stop this before it gets out of hand?”

Cinch’s face scrunched up with disgust as she released a harsh scoff. “You are just a stupid child making light of a serious situation. I suggest you be a good little boy and leave this building while you still can.”

Shrugging, Spider-Man shook his head. “I may be stupid, but I’m smart enough to know that the fragment you’re using is causing you to act differently.” He extended a hand, keeping his distance. “You have to let it go, before this gets any worse. It’ll consume you if you keep using it.”

Sobering, Cinch’s dismissive gaze morphed into a glare. “So, you know about the fragment. It seems Twilight has betrayed me yet again. If you came here on your own, you’re nothing but trouble.” She huffed, sharply pointing a finger at the young man. “I won’t let you stop me from achieving my goals. Girls… destroy him!"

All five girls’ eyes illuminated with a bright light simultaneously before they rushed forward, surrounding Spider-Man from every angle once they were mere feet apart. All wore a matching uniform varied in style, with a burgundy jacket or vest, violet bow-tie, white button-up shirt underneath, and a multicolored skirt with streaks of blue, purple, and darker shades of both.

The one who destroyed the auditorium stood on the left. “I’m Sunny Flare.”

The girl next to her had bright yet fair skin, a light violet gaze with matching freckles on her cheeks. Her hot pink hair was pulled back in a long ponytail. “I’m Sour Sweet.”

Another stood at the center, her skin a light shade of violet along with a dark purple gaze. Her long silver-blue hair was pulled back into two pigtails, and their length reached her lower back still. “I’m Sugarcoat.”

Next, a girl narrowed her yellow gaze into a glare, pausing to straighten her pink headphones within her long, green hair before refolding her arms. “The name’s Lemon Zest.”

Lastly, the girl on the far right had a short hairstyle consisting of two shade of blue-green with a pair of bright goggles hanging over her forehead. “Indigo Zap.”

They all folded their arms, glaring intently at the one male between them. “We’re the Shadowbolts, and you’re in our way!”

Slow to respond, Spider-Man snorted involuntarily before chuckling slightly at the sights around him, each girl shorter than him in stature considerably. “Seriously? What are you? A bunch of girls cosplaying as the Sailor Scouts? Don’t tell me you’re going to do the transformations now, too? The last thing I need is for this to morph into a magical girl anime! I’m practically already living in an ecchi-harem anime as is, with the super hot wife, a circle of super hot friends, and I'm the only guy in the bunch!” He glanced to the side. “Then again… I’ve seen enough hentai to know where that would—”

Faster than he could react, Indigo Zap closed the distance and delivered a stiff punch to the jaw, staggering Spider-Man. Dazed, Peter couldn’t react as Sugarcoat followed up with a jab of her own, sending the young man further off balance. Sunny Flare extended her glowing hand, unleashing a small orb of energy, and the magic detonated upon impact, launching Spider-Man from his feet. Leaping high, Indigo Zap grabbed his ankle before slamming his frame back to the ground with a thud. Lemon Zest motioned her hands and fingers, as if playing an air guitar, and she slammed a foot into the ground, generating a thunderous shockwave that echoed with a musical blast.

Spider-Man spiraled across the hallway, flipping several times before finally landing on his feet. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Ow. Geez, those teenage girls pack a punch. Sorry for my misogynistic comment. Trust me. All of my teammates are girls. I can testify how awesome-- and scary-- girls are.” He paused, gazing at the one named Indigo Zap. 'That one might be trouble. She triggered my spider sense, but she was so fast that I couldn’t react. I hope that doesn’t become a running trend.’

His masked eyes furrowed as dark energies exuded from their beings. Indigo Zap punched the palm of her hand, smirking. Lemon Zest bounced in place to a rhythm of sorts, and she held out her hands as energies from the atmosphere channeled into her palms. Soon, the magical energies took the shape of a glowing guitar. Sunny Flare smirked as energies emitted from her hands, crackling. Sugarcoat raced in place, fading in blur as she ran circles around her friends before skidding to a halt. Finally, Sour Sweet retrieved a bow from nearby, holding an arrow in place. However, her very image split into two identical copies, one smiling endlessly while the other’s demeanor seemed gloomy.

Spider-Man’s masked eyes furrowed at the sight before he groaned under his breath. “Oh, well, that’s just perfect. A warrior, a bard, a mage, a thief, and an archer? Now you’re cosplaying as every Final Fantasy team ever!” He glanced back at Cinch in the distance, who seemed to lack the same energy output in spite of her being in possession of the fragment. A realization soon struck his mind like lightning would to a rod. “Ah, crumbs. Cinch has the fragment, but she split its power between all five of her students. It explains their powers. Looks like I’ll have to take them down one-by-one and focus on Cinch last. I’ll have to use the whole school for an advantage.” Exhaling once more, Peter lowered into a defensive stance. “It’s never easy, is it?”

Sunny Flare unleashed a pair of magical spheres at Spider-Man, prompting him to leap away from the wall as they neared. The orbs detonated upon impact, reducing the surrounding stone to rubble. Sugarcoat watched as Spider-Man dove into the nearest classroom for support, and the girl sped through the debris in a blur, leaving behind her friends as they slowly followed. Spider-Man rolled to his feet, pausing to glance at his surroundings, but his Spider-Sense blared suddenly, prompting the young man to turn back. Faster than he could react, a blow knocked him to the ground, and his momentum carried him into a skid until he crashed against a desk.

“No-offense-but-you-should-just-stay-down-before-you-get-hurt,” Sugarcoat hastily stated, her words practically blending together. She zipped across the room, delivering a kick to Spider-Man’s side. She lowered, grabbing him by the collar before racing around the room and dragging his body across the floor. Sugarcoat relinquished her hold, sending Peter careening into another desk. As Spider-Man groaned under his breath, as if gathering his bearings, Sugarcoat bounced in place. “Oh-well-don’t-blame-me-it’s-your-funeral.”

Spider-Man shook his head, glancing at the girl. “Man. It’s like fighting Sonata if she were in the middle of a sugar-rush! Fortunately, all speedsters have one critical weakness.”

He pulled himself back upright, holding his ground as Sugarcoat sped away in a rather indistinct blur. His Spider Sense chimed, rumbling before suddenly crescendoing into a sharp and insistent buzzing. Spider-Man stepped to the side in response to his sixth sense, extending an arm, and Sugarcoat’s face took a direct hit from his outstretched limb, causing her forward momentum to carry her into a violent roll. Her momentum ceased only after she skidded to a halt by smashing into the wall, out cold.

Peter chuckled under his breath once the magical energies emitting from Sugarcoat faded. “Spider-Man used Clothesline! It’s super-effective!”

Suddenly, Spider-Man’s senses blared, prompting him to duck underneath a magical blast. Sunny Flare rushed into the room, unleashing many explosive orbs at once. The nearest wall crumbled to rubble and flame, allowing Spider-Man to jump into the next area. Back within the gym, Peter avoided each orb as it neared, managing to land perfectly on a beam near the ceiling. His eyes widened at his blaring senses, and he ducked his head, narrowly dodging another orb.

However, he shot webbing onto the speeding projectile, enveloping it within gossamer without relinquishing his thread. “Hey, buddy! I think you lost this!” he exclaimed, sling-shotting the encased magical orb back to its user. Sunny Flare lifted her gaze at the last second, only for the orb to slam into her chest. A chain reaction triggered at the point of impact, with a small explosion of magic and webbing detonating. The blast sent Sunny sailing into the nearest wall, cracking the back of her head sharply against the stone. The magical energies illuminating from her body subsided, earning a firm nod from the young man. “Two down, three to go! This is going better than I tho—"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Indigo Zap jumped to his position, delivering a stiff knee to the side of his head. Spider-Man fell from the rafter, crashing on the back of his shoulders while the girl gracefully landed on her feet mere inches away. Indigo smirked as Peter pulled himself back upright, lifting her arms in a kickboxing stance while bouncing in place. Spider-Man chuckled under his breath, throwing a swift punch, but the girl bobbed underneath the attempt, countering with an elbow to the midsection. Peter winced, clutching at the area before shrugging it off. He immediately threw a wide kick, yet Indigo swiftly spun to the other side of his body, sweeping Spider-Man’s leg with an arm. Spider-Man’s body spun just as it crashed to the ground with another thud.

“Okay, I take that back. You’re not a warrior. You’re a monk,” Peter said with a groan.

“That all you got?” Indigo chuckled, holding her stance.

Spider-Man hopped back up, forcing a laugh. “Where I’m from, it’s considered very bad form, and unknightly behavior, for a guy to hit a girl.” In a flash, Indigo closed the gap and swung the point of her knee with daring accuracy. All of the air rushed out of Peter’s mouth as his nether region was nearly crushed, accompanied by a high-pitched grunt of pain. Spider-Man lowered to kneeling position, clutching at his aching groin. “Cut me some slack. I’m a little jet-lagged. Been traveling around a lot lately.” Throwing another punch, Indigo swayed out of its reach before countering with a stiff chop to the neck. Peter groaned, staggering back as he clutched at his neck. “Hey! Stop that! I kind of need my head! How else am I going to wear hats?”

“I can do this all day,” Indigo boasted, smirking.

Spider-Man simply nodded. “I bet you can. I can sense you coming, but you’re moving in too fast for me to react. That’s why I have to ask. Do you have super strength, or are your reflexes just cranked to eleven?”

Indigo cracked her knuckles. “The latter. Lucky for you. Not like I need super strength to beat you.”

“Oh, well in that case...” Spider-Man trailed off, quickly firing strands of webbing onto Indigo.

“That won’t work!” she exclaimed, raising an arm. The girl instinctively readied herself to deflect the attack, but the gossamer spread upon impact with her limb, prompting the young man to unleash more of the sticky substance onto the girl. Indigo stared wildly at the webbing on her bound arm with an expression mixed with bewilderment and horror. “What the heck? Is this stuff coming out of you?!”

“The first time is always the most awkward. That stuff gets everywhere, even in the hair. Peanut butter always gets it out, though,” Spider-Man dryly muttered before he spun Indigo around in place, never ceasing his web-assault. Soon enough, her entire frame and limbs were cocooned, allowing Peter to deliver a straight yet nonchalant backhand to her forehead. Spider-Man let out a relieved sigh once her magical energies escaped from her body, dusting his hands off. “That about wraps you up.” Upon receiving no response from the unconscious girl, Spider-Man shrugged helplessly. “I know. That pun was too easy, but it was all I had on short notice.”

Lemon Zest huffed upon entering the gym, turning a tiny knob on the side of her headphones. Despite being several feet apart, Peter could hear the blaring rock music playing in the girl’s ears. She held out her hand, generating her invisible electrical guitar, and the instrument caused sparks of electricity to crackle across the wide open space. Fiddling her fingers, Lemon threw one hand high over her head before plucking the guitar’s magical strings roughly.

A shockwave raced outward, sending Peter careening uncontrollably through the stone wall behind his position. Spider-Man skidded across the hallway, finally coming to rest next to a water fountain. Lemon Zest steadily approached the prone man, raising her arm as if ready to strike another note. However, Spider-Man spun to the side and kicked the metal fountain from the wall. Water gushed from the broken pipe, and Peter held his hand over its top, guiding the substance at the girl.

The water poured over Lemon, causing the buildup of electricity to, rather predictably, short out. The girl was locked in place, her muscles shaking profusely as electricity traveled through them, and her long hair stood on end. Eventually, the magic energies rushed from her smoking frame, and Lemon exhaled, allowing a tiny cloud of smoke to escape from her mouth. She collapsed onto her back, yielding to unconsciousness like her friends.

Spider-Man leaned against the wall, holding his shoulder in place. “Valhalla, eat your heart out.”

Unfortunately, Sour Sweet emerged from around the corner with her bow and arrow primed and ready. Spider-Man caught sight of the girl, glancing to the side upon spotting her copy approaching as well. He exhaled, remaining stationary until they stood over him. Both Sour Sweets shared a glance, one with their arrow aimed at Peter’s shoulder while the other fixated on the other shoulder.

“We shouldn’t hurt him too badly,” the smiling Sour Sweet declared, nodding.

The disgruntled Sour Sweet shook her head, pulling back on her arrow. “After what he’s done to our friends? No dice. I say we put him out of his misery!”

While the girls contemplated his fate, Spider-Man dumbly nodded at a realization. “Oh! A split-personality. I get it. You know? Because she literally split in two?” Both Sour Sweets ignored him, prompting the young man to groan inwardly. “Seriously. Nobody gets me but the socially-awkward librarian.”

The kind Sour Sweet frowned at her angry double. “You are so mean! He was only defending himself!”

“Don’t give me that garbage! If he just went along with Principal Cinch, we wouldn’t be in this situation!” the gloomy Sour Sweet hissed, fuming.

Spider-Man watched as the doubles argued, whispering. “Wow. It’s like if Harvey Dent and Two-Face split up and went through a bad divorce.” He simply raised a hand slowly. “Excuse me, uh, Sour Sweet?”

“What?!/Yes?” they said respectively, one angrily and the other politely.

Slow to respond, Spider-Man pointed a finger between the girls. “So, which one is the real Sour Sweet?”

Both Sour Sweets simply huffed, smiling confidently. “I am.”

An awkward silence filled the air as both girls glared at each other. The gloomy Sour Sweet scowled. “You’re too soft to be the real me.”

The polite Sour Sweet held a finger against her chin. “Honestly, I’d say you’re too rude to be the real me.”

Soon enough, both Sour Sweets childishly squabbled, going back and forth repeatedly between each other.

Spider-Man slyly slid behind them, placing his hands on their shoulders respectively. “I know who’s the real one,” he said objectively, earning the attention of both versions. However, he shifted his hands sharply, causing the back of both Sour Sweets’ skulls to crack together. “You both are.” Their eyes rolled into the backs of their heads before their bodies faded behind a bright light, fusing together to form one Sour Sweet. Soon afterward, the magic emitting from her body faded. Spider-Man took in winded breaths, exhaling. “And then, there was one."

Following his Spider-Sense, Peter readied to pursue the fragment, but he glanced to the side, immediately spotting Cinch eyeing him sternly. The older woman scoffed at the sight of her unconscious students. “Failures. I’m surrounded by failures!”

Spider-Man slowly walked towards the woman, holding a hand against his side. “It’s over, Cruella De Vil. Or is it Maleficent? Either way, hand over the fragment before this gets any worse.” He pointed a finger at Sour Sweet’s unconscious form behind his position, never averting his gaze from Cinch. “I don’t know about your methods, but I doubt you want to hurt your own students just to get what you want.”

Cinch reached into her pocket and gripped the fragment closely against her chest. “Never! The fragment is mine! This item can help Crystal Prep finally regain its place at the top of the school system! I’ll never…” she trailed off, attempting to fight back a tingling sensation channeling through her nose. Eventually, it came to light in the form of a loud sneeze. Cinch sniffled before sneezing even louder than before, her allergies practically flaring. “Achoo!”

“Bless you,” Spider-Man politely stated, folding his arms.

Cinch nodded appreciatively. “Thank you. I—” Her eyes widened as a horrific realization came to mind. “That smell. It could only be a…” she whispered, inhaling sharply once a tiny blue dog entered the vicinity. Cinch attempted to wave off the animal, clumsily stepping back, but Ember lunged out, latching her tiny fangs into the woman’s ankle. All sense of logic and professionalism left the confines of Cinch’s mind as she instinctively screamed at the top of her lungs. Throwing her hands high over her head, she bounced in place in a wild attempt to shake the dog free, all while sneezing profusely and repeatedly. “Get off-- Achoo-- me! You filthy-- Achoo-- beast!”

Spider-Man lamely stared at the sight, watching as a grown lady flailed helplessly against the nibbling assault of a toy-sized dog. He walked forward, retrieving the fragment of the Tablet of Order and Chaos. The magical barrier surrounding the school instantly dissolved from sight. Suddenly, the sounds of sirens echoed loudly along the outskirts of the school. Spider-Man glanced to the side, hearing the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from the hallway. He raced forward, scooping Ember into his arm before he jumped onto the wall and climbed through the hole in the ceiling. As the local authorities proceeded to tend to Cinch and the Shadowbolts, Spider-Man managed to land in an alley outside of the school.

“Excellent work, Peter. You've retrieved the third fragment of the tablet,” Julia’s voice warmly declared. “Are you ready to return?”

Peter shook his head after changing into his casual attire, glancing to the side. “Not yet. There’s something I need you to do for me first.” He eased Ember onto his shoulder before lifting his gaze. “A lot has happened here. If we return this reality’s Peter back, he won’t understand much of anything. Is there a way you can implant memories of what I experienced during my time here, taking out key details and whatnot? I thought I’d ask, seeing as you’re a telepath.”

Julia hummed under her breath. “I see. That’s smart, actually. You want Peter to move and experience his life normally.” She paused, chuckling. “I’m also fully aware of what you’ve done with that world’s Twilight Sparkle.” Slow to respond, the woman let out a defeated sigh. “Very well. I’ll bend the rules just this once. As much as you’ve saved reality, this is the least I can do.”

“Thanks, M-Dubs,” Peter softly stated, managing a smile. “Give me a few minutes. I wanna say goodbye.”

Ember edged closer to Peter, grinning. “Let’s find Trixie and Twilight. I did kind of vanish without telling them. I’ll have to apologize.”

Peter waved a hand dismissively. “You just saved the day, Ember. There’s nothing to apologize for. You just proved why you’re the most loyal member of the Avengers and my second-in-command. So thanks.” He paused, sliding the fragment into his backpack. “You’ll need to hang onto the fragment until I find the others. Until then, stay with Trixie.”

-u-

The trip back to the school was brief. Most of the students had already departed, heading back home once the officers cordoned off the sprawling campus. Twilight and Trixie were among the few that remained, keeping their gazes centered on the school. Ember leaped from Peter’s shoulder and rushed to Trixie, jumping onto her leg. The girl peeked down, inhaling sharply upon spotting the dog. Once Trixie picked up Ember, Twilight glanced to the side and spotted Peter approaching. His step was hobbled due to a limp, yet his smile remained firm, showing teeth. Twilight rushed forward with her arms extended, embracing Peter once they were inches apart. She buried her face into his chest, tightening her hold.

In spite of his body’s aches, Peter reveled in the warmth brought by the girl. He grinned confidently. “I told you I’d make it back.”

Twilight bit down on her lip and nodded. “You’re right… and I have a promise to keep.”

The girl’s voice was low, causing Peter to lower his gaze. Just as he prepared to question what the girl said, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. Taken aback, Peter’s eyes shot open, but he quickly eased into the act of affection, returning the kiss in full. The heat around them intensified, matching the very power of the sun. Yet, they remained still, savoring each other’s taste. They were worlds apart, yet it seemed as if their souls had never parted.

Eventually, they parted, yielding to their need for oxygen. Her mind fuzzy, Twilight’s mind slowly but surely leveled back to reality from the blissful heavens she soared among. Abashed, she held both hands over her burning cheeks and glanced to the side. “O-oh… my! I am so sorry! I-I don’t know what came over me! I just…” she whined, shaking her head madly. She returned her gaze to meet Peter, and it lowered to the ground, shamefully. “I just wanted to…”

Peter quietly raised a finger, gently pressing it against the girl’s soft lips. “Don’t be sorry,” he whispered, kissing her once more. Unlike the first, this was controlled, yielded by a serene understanding. It wasn’t lust that they were feeling. Peter’s hand found Twilight’s amidst the kiss, and their fingers interlocked, perhaps out of instinct. They parted, resting their foreheads against each other, but they held eye contact, with violet irises taking in hazel orbs. Smiling widely, Peter’s face blushed. “That’s the first of many. I’m looking forward to the rest.”

Twilight returned his smile, shaking her head. “Just don’t pull any more crazy stunts.”

“People do crazy things when they’re in love,” Peter retorted, earning a playful punch to the shoulder from the girl. However, Twilight soon rested her head against his shoulder. They stood in a comfortable silence, watching nothing in particular, yet their hands remained entangled, bound by the blossoming feeling exuding from their hearts. They were in heaven, young teenagers ready to face the unknown. A part of him wanted to stay, but his venture wasn’t over. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter lifted his gaze and closed his eyes before retreating to the back of his mind. “Alright, Julia. I’m ready.”

Trixie watched the young couple from the side, holding a content smile. However, her brow furrowed. The mature gaze Peter bore suddenly vanished, allowing a younger expression to take its place. The hazel irises were the same per se, but they had a familiarity to them, something Trixie recognized instantly. As if nothing had changed, Peter and Twilight resumed their conversation, with the young man being a touch more energetic suddenly.

Inhaling sharply, Trixie bit her lip as she clutched at her chest. She knew then that her Peter had returned, picking up where the other had left off. Despite this, the inside of her chest tightened, and her eyes hurt. A guardian angel had come to their world to save it, not before helping a lost child find his purpose and symbol of happiness. Fresh tears streamed down the girl’s face, prompting her to clean her cheeks with a forearm.

“Why are you crying, Trixie?” Peter obliviously questioned, tilting his head to the side.

Trixie’s eyes widened as she glanced to the side, spotting Peter and Twilight staring at her questionably. The girl cleared her throat and huffed. “Don’t ask stupid questions, you idiot. There’s so much dust in the air. That’s all.”

“If you say so,” Peter lightly stated, pointing a finger in the distance. “Let’s head home. Since the school is trashed, I bet we have the rest of the day off. Our parents are probably flipping out.” Gently squeezing Twilight’s hand, Peter grinned. “I’ll walk you home.”

Twilight blushed. “T-thank you. I appreciate it.” Her eyes widened at a thought. “My mom should be home. She'd love to meet you.”

As the pair walked forward, Trixie quietly followed before shrugging, ensuring Ember and the fragment were secured in her backpack. She stole one last glance at Peter before a warm smile graced her features. “Thank you, Peter… for everything. I’ll make sure my idiot doesn’t screw this up.” She walked up to the couple. “Now, Twilight, if this is going to work, we’re going to have to lay down some ground rules.”

Peter blankly stared at the girl. “Seriously? Do you have to butt in now?”

“Of course,” Trixie grinned, resting her hands behind her back. “You two would be lost without me, otherwise.” Her smile widened. “Just think of it as… sisterly advice.”

To be continued...

Sounding Like a Bad Comic Book Plot

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Chapter Seven “Sounding Like a Bad Comic Book Plot”

Meanwhile, Peter landed onto a platform amidst the distorted realm, staring somberly at the portal he’d just returned from. Twilight’s image morphed into existence next to Peter’s position in astral form. The alicorn nodded, sharing a glance with the stallion. “That’s four fragments of the tablet. Only six are left. Great job, honey.”

“Thanks,” Peter whispered, folding his hooves across his chest. Inhaling deeply before sighing, he lowered his gaze. “I’m sure you saw what happened. Are you mad?”

Twilight huffed at his words, closing her eyes. “I was at first, but I can't really get upset that you kissed me. If anything, you got away with a technicality.” Sobering, the alicorn chuckled under her breath upon noticing her husband's unreadable expression. “I’m only kidding. I watched the whole thing and thought it was very sweet of you. You just wanted to give that reality’s Peter a push in the right direction: in my direction, and you went out of your way to do it.”

Peter frowned. “Well. That was my plan at first, but I got a bit too into it.” Twilight's eyes widened at his words, and the stallion edged closer to the alicorn’s image, smiling. “That Twilight is exactly like you were when we first met: clumsy, awkward, yet so charming in her dorkiness. Plus, I'm constantly reminded that no matter the form, whether it’s a human or pony, you're the most beautiful girl that I know.” His eyes softened as their gazes met. “This experience made me fall in love with you all over again.”

The temperature in Twilight's face reached a zenith, evident by the pink glowing tint in her cheeks, while her heart skipped a beat, feeling as light as the clouds overhead. The alicorn let out a defeated sigh before smiling warmly at the stallion. “That’s so not fair. You always make it impossible for anypony to stay mad at you.”

“That’s one of the reasons why you married me,” Peter grinned, arching a coy brow at the mare.

Twilight huffed, smirking. “Yes, but it’s also because you have a cute butt.”

Blushing, Peter chuckled under his breath. “Why, Mrs. Twilight, I feel as though you’re trying to seduce me.” The pair shared a laugh, only closing the gap between them. In spite of their distance between realities, the couple couldn’t be separated as their hooves intertwined out of instinct, even though physical contact was impossible to attain. Eventually, they parted before the stallion pointed a hoof at the side of his head. “That makes me remember. You should wear your glasses more often. They make you look younger and really add to your cuteness.”

Frowning, Twilight glanced to the side. “I’ve told you before that I’m not a fan of those things. Plus, they make me look too much like Moondancer.”

Peter arched a brow. “That was back when you two were the same height, and she doesn’t have an ethereal mane. You can’t use the ‘look-a-like’ excuse anymore.” Holding his hooves together, the stallion nodded. “Come on, dear. How often do I actually ask for anything?”

“Rarely, but it’s always the most unusual requests,” Twilight whined, letting out a defeated sigh. “Okay. Fine. I’ll use the glasses every now and then.”

The stallion smiled widely. “That’s why you’re the ultimate waifu.” Sobering, the couple shared a glance with Peter’s gaze softening. “So, no hard feelings?”

Twilight shook her head. “Not at all, but you owe me dinner and a movie with my pick of both.”

Before anypony could respond, the scepter hummed to life in Twilight’s hoof. “Cheater, cheater~! Pumpkin eater~!”

Twilight’s brow twitched involuntarily. “Shut up!” The alicorn blankly stared at the stallion. “Go find the rest of the fragments. Take too long, and I’m smashing this golden nuisance against a wall!”

“I will not be silenced!” the scepter exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, all while still bearing Peter’s voice. “I demand democracy! I demand justice! I demand… cheesecake!”

Slow to respond, Twilight glanced to the side before her stomach growled, as if in agreement. Blushing, the alicorn stood and ventured from the area. “That’s the only good thing this mouthy scepter has said today. I suppose I’ll grab a slice.”

Peter grinned. “I told you it’s like me. It comes up with good ideas every now and then.”

Oblivious, Gwen giggled uncontrollably and smiled while her mother’s astral image faded from sight. “Haha! Mommy’s face is turning red again!” The filly turned her hazel gaze towards her father before smiling innocently. “Oh! Hi, Daddy!”

Peter knelt down next to the filly’s image, grinning. “Hi, sweetie. Are you keeping an eye on Mommy for me?”

Gwen nodded feverishly. “Yeah! I’m making sure she stays happy!” Pausing, the filly giggled. “I miss you, Daddy! Come back soon! You promised to have a tea party with me!”

Peter simply nodded, smiling warmly. “You got it, sweetie. Make sure Smartypants II is there this time. You know Daddy loves his tea and crumpets. We’ll do a sleepover afterward, too. Just you and me. Sound good?” The filly nodded eagerly, rushing away. Once her image faded from sight, Peter scratched the back of his head. “That kid is a walking case of diabetes. Mayday was a touch prickly growing up-- well, at least with everyone except me--, Ben’s very reserved, only really going out of his way to speak with Twilight. But Gwen is just so sweet. She loves everyone. Not that I mind. I just won’t live that long if she keeps pushing her sweetness onto me. I’ll die of a sugarhigh.”

“That level of innocence and kindness is endearing, yet fragile. Make certain to tend to your daughter at all times,” Julia gently interjected, walking next to the stallion.

The stallion firmly nodded. “I’m her dad. That’s my job.” Stretching his limbs, Peter climbed onto the platform above his position before reaching the portal spiraling in place there. “Okay. Hero time. Let’s see what this reality’s like.”

The stallion leapt into the portal, fading into the surrounding energies. Before long, he landed onto the streets of a city. However, with the night skies, no life was present. Peter stood upright and held a hoof inches away from his face, quickly realizing he had retained his original equine form. Strangely, his white and black costume had materialized over his being, with the exception of his mask. The stallion shifted his gaze up, staring intently at the surrounding skyscrapers.

Peter furrowed his brow. “Okay. This place seems familiar. Where have I seen this before? The empty city. The large skyscrapers. The only thing missing is the--” Suddenly, Peter’s sixth sense blared uncontrollably, prompting the stallion to search around frantically. A shockwave erupted, and the glass windows behind his position exploded, knocking him to the ground. A being sped past the stallion, laughing wildly. Peter groaned under his breath, dragging himself back to an upright stance. “Oh, yeah. A bad guy. That’s what we’re missing.”

The image slowed to a halt, revealing that of a mare with light blue-violet fur. The tendrils of her long mane and tail slithered adamantly, like a row of snakes as if each was alive. Garbed in a bright violet costume with golden bands around her hooves and neck, she stared wildly at a glowing orb. Her bright emerald and crimson irises widened before she showed a smile with teeth, laughing maniacally.

Blinking, Peter’s sixth sense chimed at the orb in the mare’s grasp. “Oh, crumbs. She has the fragment,” he grumbled under his breath, clearing his throat before raising a hoof objectively. “Hey, um, Medusa? What’s going on?”

“Medusa?” the mare questioned, scoffing. She stuck her chest out dramatically. “Fool! I am Mane-iac, the greatest villainess in all the world and the Power Ponies’ most evil nemesis!” The mare glanced to the side, shaking a hoof. “I was just a driven owner of a mane-care product company. However, I fell victim to an accident when I tumbled into a vat of green liquid and was shocked by a downed power line!”

Shifting his gaze about in a confused manner, Peter arched a brow before pointing a hoof at his chest. “Are… you really giving me your origin story? This seems forced and contrived. I didn’t ask for any of that.”

Not paying the befuddled stallion any mind, Mane-iac raised a hoof dramatically. “As unfortunate as the accident was, it gave me new powers, but drove me a tad over the edge!” She leaned her head to the side until an ear touched the ground momentarily. She straightened her posture, prompting the tendrils on her mane and tail to lash about wildly. Before long, the mare erupted into crazed laughter. “Now, my mane is alive, and my plan is to rule Maretropolis, all while making everypony’s manes grow out of control like my own!”

“So… you just want to cause havoc and destruction just because? That’s amazingly one-dimensional. I feel like I’m looking at a walking parody,” Peter muttered, blinking as the mare fidgeted in place and giggled uncontrollably. “She’s like a combination of the Green Goblin and the Joker… if they thought ‘subtlety’ was spelled in all caps and highlighted with fireworks.”

Trailing off, she stared at the stallion with mild bewilderment. “I don’t believe I recognize you. Are you an acquaintance of those accursed Power Ponies? If so, you’re too late! I’ve already defeated them and locked them away! They’ll never see the light of day again!”

Peter’s eyes widened at the comment as a realization struck his mind. “Power Ponies? Mane-iac? You mean that comic book series that Gwen and Spike like so much?” He glanced to the side with a widened gaze. “That means I’m in a comic book universe!” The stallion tapped a hoof against his chin. “Why does it feel like an oxymoron when I think about it?” Shaking his head, Peter pointed a hoof at the mare. “Yeah! I’m a friend of the Power Ponies. The name’s… uh… actually a work in progress. I’m leaning between Spider-Spector and the Webbed Wonder.” Waving a hoof dismissively, Peter cleared his throat. “Nah, both of those are bad. Never mind. Anyway, I’m a hero, and I’m here to stop you.”

Mane-iac blinked, snorting involuntarily before laughing wildly. “What nerve! You, a no-name, intends to stop Mane-iac?!” She snickered, holding a hoof over her mouth. Like the water through a breaking dam, Mane-iac’s light laughter morphed into unrelenting guffaws as her eyes rolled in place. “Ha! And they say I’m crazy! You just missed the mane event, where I toppled those Power Ponies.”

Blinking, Peter cringed at the mare’s emphasis. “First of all, rude! Second of all, really? And I thought my puns were bad. You can always do worse. How about a-mane-zing, or you’re my mane girl?” Shrugging, the stallion pointed at the tendrils on the mare’s body as they hissed. “Having a bad mane day?”

“Neigh, but you will,” Mane-iac scoffed. Suddenly, the mare vanished from sight in a burst of light, reappearing behind the stallion. Before he could react, one of her tendrils of mane whipped around his waist and hoisted his frame from the ground. Mane-iac stared intently at the ensnared stallion, holding him upside down. “What do you have to say now, hero?”

Peter forced the lump in his throat down with a swallow, eyeing the tentacle-like strands of mane around him. “When I said ‘come at me bro’, I didn’t mean this. My body is so not ready for this.” One of the snake-like tendrils edged closer to the stallion’s face, causing a bead of sweat to fall down the side of his face. “I feel like I wandered onto the wrong side of the internet.”

“Nothing is safe! Nothing!” Mane-iac exclaimed, cackling at the top of her lungs. “The spider has fallen into my web now!”

However, before the worst could transpire, a being soared from the top of the nearest rooftop. Once they were within range of the pair, they sliced through the strand holding Peter in place. The stallion fell to the back of his shoulders while Mane-iac staggered back, holding her mane strand. Just as the strand of mane regenerated, she stared intently at the long chocolate-maned intruder with a furrowed brow. While diminutive in stature, she stood upright, wearing a yellow and black costume, and the mare soon unsheathed a pair of razor sharp claws from both of her hooves.

Holding a fanged smirk, the mare growled. “Let’s go, bub!”

Peter arched a brow at the mare. “Laura! It’s you! How’d you find me?”

“I was in the neighborhood,” Laura huffed, holding her gaze on Mane-iac. “I saw that one grab the fragment, and I’ve been tailing her for a few hours. I recognized your scent as soon you made it here.”

Mane-iac laughed in a haughty tone. “I’ve already dealt with seven cumbersome heroes. I suppose two more won’t be an issue.” Cackling, the mare tilted her head. “So, what do you call yourself, little one?”

“I’m the Wolverine!” Laura snarled, stretching her neck until a crack was heard. She thrust out her forelegs, unsheathing a claw in each forward hoof before lowering into a feral stance. “I’ve got six reasons for you to walk away. Trust me. This is gonna hurt a lot.”

Faster than even Peter could react, Wolverine dashed ahead for Mane-iac, and the stallion reached out to his compatriot in a futile gesture. “Laura! Wait!”

Wolverine threw a wide slash at the mare once she was within range. However, the orb glowed in response, causing a metallic layer to shield one of the strands of mane. Mane-iac deflected Wolverine’s attack, knocking the mare off-balance, and her metallic mane lashed out, striking Laura across the jaw. The force of the blow sent Wolverine flying, and Peter jumped in her path with his hooves ready to catch her.

However, her momentum was too great, sending the pair into a violent roll until they crashed into a light pole and buckled the steel. Mane-iac materialized beside the two prone ponies in a flash. That same moment, the previously cut strand from her mane slithered across the ground. Once it reached Peter and Laura, the snake-like strand wrapped around their waists, binding them to the pole before tying itself into a knot.

Shaking the cobwebs from his head, Peter blinked before lifting his gaze. He shuddered as the mane tightened, hissing. “With a mane like this, you have to give consent before you do anything.”

Mane-iac grinned, turning her gaze to the horizon. “I’d love to have more fun with you two, but you seem a bit tied up at the moment! I have a city to address as mine to rule!” Dropping a device next to their hooves with a set of numbers on its screen, Mane-iac grinned uncontrollably. “This bomb is rigged to blow in three minutes! Now, watch as everything you know is reduced to fire and brimstone!”

“Three minutes?!” Peter exclaimed, wiggling in place while Laura stirred back to consciousness. “That’s hardly enough time to come up with an explosive-related quip!”

Pressing the button at its top, Mane-iac watched with glee as the numbers started counting down. “That must really burn you up!” The mare’s cackling echoing through the city’s skies before she climbed onto the side of the nearest wall, using the long strands of her mane and tail to scale the building. “So long, heroes! It’s been a blast!”

Peter blankly stared at the mare as she climbed out of sight. “Oh, she’s good.”

Laura gritted her teeth, snarling ferociously. “I swear that I’ll take each of her limbs the next time!”

Exhaling, Peter shook his head. “Not. Okay.” The clock continued to count down as the stallion glared at the mare from the corner of his eye. “We can’t keep doing this, Laura! You’re always rushing in without a plan! I mean, look at us! We let a mare with bad puns, and an equally bad manecut, get the better of us! If the others saw us right now, we’d be laughed right out of the Avengers.”

Laura rolled her eyes, exhaling. “Yeah. No kidding. I’d probably have to slit someone’s throat to get them to stop laughing.”

Slow to respond, Peter blinked. “Graphic visual aside… I want you to hear me out, Laura. We’re part of a team, and that means listening to each other in the thick of things! For crying out loud, you were with the X-Men. Wasn’t teamwork part of their mantra?”

“Don’t talk down to me like I’m one of your children!” Laura spat, straining as she attempted to wiggle one of her limbs free. “Besides, I was a part-timer. They didn’t want me there anyway.”

Pausing, Peter’s brow lowered into an exasperated glare. “Seriously? If you didn’t antagonize everyone around you, I’d bet you would fit in easily. You’re calm, cool, collected, pretty, and my friend. You’re my C.C.C.P.F of the Avengers… with Umbra and Ember.”

The mare let out a defeated sigh once the tendril’s grip tightened slightly. “Don’t patronize me. I’m not Mayday, and you’re not Logan. Besides, don’t act like you know it all. This is all your fault!”

“Are we really doing the blame game? It’s hard enough to talk to you without hearing my wife’s voice. I don’t need you practicing her mannerisms, too,” Peter grumbled, pausing before blankly staring to the side. “I just realized that you two haven’t been in the same room together yet. Are you sure you’re not a clone of Twilight instead of Logan?”

Laura exhaled. “You’re an idiot, and very lucky my claws can’t reach you.”

Shrugging, the stallion glanced at Laura from the corner of her eye. “Says you. If you didn’t rush in and try to take down Starlight on your own, we wouldn’t have had to come save you!” A low silence filled the vicinity, with the ticking time bomb being the only source of sound for a few seconds. Peter managed to slide his hooves underneath the mane strand, stretching the elastic yet tight material. “Look, I’m giving you as much freedom as possible. It’s what Logan would’ve done, but if we’re going to make this team work, we have to start listening to each other. If we don’t, we’re just putting everyone else in danger.”

Laura raised her hooves once her limbs were free, slicing the strand of mane to ribbons. She pulled herself back to an upright stance, inhaling deeply before letting out a low sigh. “I’m not a member of your team. I’m a part-timer, remember?” Soon, her emerald gaze softened. “You have a point, though. Logan always said that about you. For as much stupid crap that comes out of your mouth, you say something smart when it matters most.” Folding her hooves, the mare frowned. “Fine. I’ll do things your way for a while, but if I don’t like where you’re going, count me out.”

“That’s fair,” Peter whispered, nodding before turning his gaze to the bomb. With over a minute remaining, the stallion popped its lid open and eyed the wires inside. He held a hoof over each, alternating until his sixth sense didn’t chime over a blue wire. Blinking, the stallion held a knowing expression before unplugging the wire from the device. The bomb’s timer stopped with thirty seconds remaining, and Peter tossed the device behind his shoulder nonchalantly. “It’s always the blue one.”

Laura eyed the bomb, slashing the device before it could reach the ground. Sheathing her claws afterward, the mare arched a brow at the stallion. “Why three minutes? That seems like a lot of time for us to escape.”

Peter waved a hoof dismissively. “Bad guys are idiots. They always do stuff like this. Lucky us. Plus, we’re in a comic book universe. Comic books are full of cliches at times. Overconfident villains? The heroes escaping in the nick of time? The renegade and the nice guy coming to an agreement before kicking the bad guy’s butt?” The stallion scratched the back of his head, glancing to the side. “Sheesh. This is starting to sound like a bad comic book plot.”

Wolverine pressed her hooves together until a set of cracks were heard. “Then let’s get that fragment back, so we can get out of this world of stupid cliches.”

Meanwhile, along the edge of the city, Mane-iac confided herself to an abandoned warehouse. The mare squeezed at the orb in her grasp, cackling wildly. Suddenly, Peter and Laura burst into the scene from the glass ceiling, landing dramatically mere hoof-lengths behind the mare.

Inhaling sharply, Mane-iac acknowledged their presence with a furrowed brow before clutching at the fragment. “You managed to escape?! Impossible!”

Peter blankly stared at the mare. “You left us tied up with three minutes to spare. James Bond villain logic dictates that your mistake was giving us a chance to begin with.”

Laura unsheathed her claws, lowering into a defensive stance. “Which is why we’re going to give you some slack. Drop the fragment before you do something you’re going to regret.”

Mane-iac furiously shook her head. “Never! I’ve already bested those blasted Power Ponies. I refuse to let myself lose to a pair of noponies!”

Wild energies began to emit from the fragment before they enveloped the mare. Slowly yet surely, the snake-like strands of her mane hissed violently as each acted out. One slammed into the ground, shattering the wooden beam while another’s outer layer morphed into a steel substance. One of the tendrils roared, unleashing a trail of flames, and another spat out acid, melting away a steel beam.

Mane-iac laughed uproariously, her voice echoing throughout the building. “Once I’ve dealt with you, all of Maretropolis will bend to my will! I’ll be the one true ruler! Mayor! No! President! No, even better! Supreme ruler of the galaxy!”

Slow to respond, Peter shrugged dismissively. “Meh.”

Taken aback as if insulted, Mane-iac blinked. “What do you mean ‘meh’?”

The stallion waved a hoof objectively. “Nothing. I’ve just heard this before.”

"No, you haven’t!” Mane-iac barked, stopping in place.

Laura huffed. “Everyone has. My advice? Get a new act. Over-the-top villains are so seventies. Everyone just makes fun of them these days.”

Mane-iac stomped her hoof, retrieving a bottle of mane-spray from her pocket. “Silence! I will not put up with such lip!” She aimed the bottle at the pair, alternating its nozzle between the stallion and mare. “The chemicals of my mane-spray act as an repelling agent! Whatever powers you possess will be gone with a single spray! Muhahahaha!”

While the mare laughed maniacally for seconds on end, Laura reached out and casually slashed the bottle in half . All of the contents of the bottle poured over Mane-iac’s body. Suddenly, the tendrils on her body wiggled uncontrollably, hissing before whipping around her frame. Tightening, the tendrils acted like a straitjacket and left the mare with her limbs bound. She wiggled in place, attempting to break free, but her laughter never ceased, evident by her insistent giggling.

“Curses! Foiled again!” Mane-iac exclaimed, dropping the fragment next to the stallion.

Laura rolled her eyes in an exasperated manner, sheathing her claws before folding her hooves. “You talk too much.”

Peter reached down, retrieving the fragment. “Evil gloating. Gets them every time. I swear, it must be in a villain’s genetic structure to monologue.”

Mane-iac’s laughter grew in volume. “Just you wait! I’ll have my revenge! Muhahaha!”

Laura groaned. “Okay. That’s starting to get annoying.”

Ignoring the wiggling mare, Peter offered Laura the fragment. “Easy. We’re halfway through. Five down, five to go. Hang onto this piece. It’s your ticket out of here. Once I find the others, we’ll bring you back.” Once Laura accepted the item, she simply nodded. Peter managed a smile, running out of the warehouse while waving to the mare. “All right. I’m heading to the next world. Hold the fort.”

Laura huffed and smirked as she held her gaze on Mane-iac before unsheathing her claws from a hoof. “I think I can keep myself occupied until you’re ready.”

“And don’t kill her!” Peter exclaimed, his voice firmly heard even at his distance from the building.

Grumbling under her breath, Laura sheathed her claws and exhaled. “Fine. I won’t kill her.”

Mane-iac, still bound and tied, pulled herself to a sitting position before shifting her wide gaze to the mare. “Fool! Vengeance will be--!”

Laura thrust her hoof and punched Mane-iac’s jaw with a crack, rendering the mare unconscious. Exhaling, Wolverine rubbed the aches from her hoof. “But that doesn’t mean I have to listen to her.” Pausing, Laura sniffed the air and caught wind of a peculiar scent. The mare chuckled under her breath, sharing a glance with Mane-iac as she stirred back to life. Waving a hoof dismissively, Wolverine exited the premises and never looked back. “Have fun, Mane-iac.”

Once she stirred, shaking the cobwebs from her head and the soreness from her jaw, Mane-iac blinked upon seeing that she was alone. The mare laughed uproariously, wiggling in place. “That’s right, fools! Run! That fight was just the warm-up! When I get free, the mane event will truly begin!” She bounced in place, managing to open the doors to the warehouse before slithering outside while still tied by her own mane and tail tendrils. “Nopony will dare to face the wrath of Mane-iac!”

“Ahem!” a voice coughed forcefully, causing the mare to pause momentarily. Seven shadows cast over Mane-iac from above, prompting the mare to shift her gaze to the nearest rooftop. A team of costumed mares and one young colt stood heroically tall, each glaring at the helpless mare. The mare at the center, wearing large goggles nodded. “The Power Ponies dare!”

Mane-iac’s complexion paled before her ears lowered shamefully, a defeated expression surfacing on her face. “Oh, poo.”

Meanwhile, Peter jumped into the portal, floating aimlessly through the spiraling energies. The stallion’s eyes widened as his trajectory was rocketed forward, but he spun in place, managing to land gracefully on the ground. He peeked up as the portal vanished, and Peter immediately caught sight of the surrounding environment. It resembled a marble utopia of sorts. However, his sixth sense blared before he could study the environment, prompting the stallion to shift his gaze to the side.

Suddenly, a being crashed through a wall, shattering the stone. A stallion unicorn with a snow white fur coat and bright chocolate brown mane rushed towards the debris, using his magic to levitate chunks of the many rocks away. Slowly but surely, a unicorn mare with a matching coat as the stallion rose from underneath the stone, shaking her head. Her emerald irises narrowed to the side, widening once she caught sight of Peter. The stallion inhaled sharply upon recognizing her curly violet/pink mane and bright emerald gaze.

“Sweetie Belle! Is that you? Am I back in the future? What’s going on?” Peter questioned, slowly approaching the mare as his mind raced at the speed of a hurricane.

Just as Sweetie Belle readied herself to respond, the stallion by her side paused. He stared at Peter with a widened gaze and his mouth agape. “...Dad?”The entire world slowed to a halt as the young stallion’s words cut into him like a knife through the gut. Peter’s mind faded to a blur while a look of bewilderment and horror filled his features.

To be continued...

Future Tense, Part I

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Chapter Eight “Future Tense, Part I”

The outside world had yet to progress by a revelation keeping Peter’s spirit secured firmly in place. A stallion that was supposedly his son stood before him, borne from a night of infidelity. Both ponies stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, but the shadow of a being hovering over their positions drew both their gazes towards it. Strands of the distinctive violet and pale blue-green mane whipped gracefully in the turbulent winds as light purple irises stared down the trio of ponies.

Peter’s sixth sense blared at the mare before he furrowed his gaze. “Starlight. So, you finally showed back up.” Pushing his intrusive thoughts to the side, the stallion straightened his posture. “What are you doing here?”

“I think you already know.” Starlight huffed with sarcasm clear in her tone, frowning. Her horn glowed momentarily, prompting a fragment to materialize into existence in a flash inches away from her head. As it levitated in place, Starlight scoffed under her breath in a condescending tone. “I’ve been attempting to locate the other fragments.”

Peter smirked, waving a hoof dismissively. “How’s that going? I hear the multiverse is a big place. Do you have a map? I hear you can download one from Google.”

“Funny,” Starlight dryly muttered, scowling. “I’m well aware that you have been gathering pieces of the tablet. After all, you are the embodiment of Order. It’s what you’re meant to do.” She glanced to the side, gazing at her own fragment before it dissolved from sight. “I am not so fortunate. I’ve studied the tablet for years, and I’ve come to learn its limits and capabilities. While I can jump through time effortlessly, it takes considerable concentration for me to make a jump through reality, due to the distorted space created by the shattering of the tablet. I’ll admit this jump took its toll, but I have more than enough power to deal with the lot of you.”

Sweetie Sun Belle shook her head, frowning. “Whoever you are you have absolutely no right to tear this land apart! We’ve spent years working hard to see to Equestria’s restoration, and you’re threatening to undo all of our progress. As Princess of the Land, I ask that you stand down.”

Starlight’s nose scrunched up with disgust before the mare scoffed dismissively. “I’m not aware of what happened in this timeline for you to be its ruler, but you clearly lack the wisdom and common sense Princess Celestia had. Here’s just a taste of what I can do.”

Starlight vanished from sight in a burst of light, reappearing between the trio of ponies. The snow-white stallion turned and threw a high kick, only for a shield to materialize around Starlight and deflect the blow. Faster than he could react, the mare’s horn glowed before she unleashed a bolt into his chest. Sweetie Belle fired a beam at her side, but Starlight vanished, reappearing behind the unicorn and quickly discharging a single shot into her back, knocking her away. Peter leapt out, ready to throw a punch. However Starlight’s horn glowed momentarily, causing a wave beam to rotate around her frame.

Each blow was delivered in rapid succession, within a second, and the ground underneath Starlight ruptured, causing stalagmites to rise sharply from the ground while everypony flew back from their respective strikes. Sweetie Belle and the stallion burst through the nearest wall, skidding to a halt. Peter careened into a marble column, shattering the stone and causing the newly formed rubble to bury the stallion. Tremors coursed through the entire area as Starlight descended to the ground and stood mere hoof-lengths away from Peter’s pinned form.

Particles of energy from the atmosphere were channeled into Starlight’s horn while she grinned evilly. “Once again, history repeats itself. Even with just a fraction of the tablet’s power I’m more than a match for you and your allies.” She lowered her head, aiming her charging energy at the stallion. “I won’t give you the chance to ruin my plans again.”

Peter weakly lifted his gaze, straining as he tried to pull himself free. Starlight prepared to unleash a magical beam aimed at the stallion’s head. However, a dark blur raced towards her. Starlight’s eyes shifted in its direction, forcing the mare to cut off her attack and bring up a shield around her position. Being a second slower would have been devastating as a sharp blow met the defensive barrier with an echoing clang.

Garbed in a long, black jacket that reached her hindlegs, a pink mare with a slightly darker yet straight mane pushed against the shield with a sword between her teeth and another in hoof. Spinning in place, the mare cut through the shield, and the force of the blow knocked Starlight away, sending her flying through the nearest wall. As the dust cleared, Starlight rose from the debris with a scowl. The pink mare lowered herself into a defensive stance before jumping high into the air, raising both of her blades high while she sped toward the unicorn.

Starlight scoffed under her breath. “Not yet. I’ll be back soon. Count on it.”

Starlight vanished from sight just before the pink mare impaled the ground where she previously stood. After closely examining the space around her, she sheathed both blades back within their respective scabbards before placing them in her jacket.

Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle managed to pull herself back to an upright stance, pausing to help the young stallion by her side. Elsewhere, Peter inhaled deeply before sliding his hooves underneath the stone and lifting it high over his being. Once he was clear, the stallion stepped forward and allowed the platform to fall.

Peter exhaled, shifting to a kneeling position momentarily. “Is everypony okay?”

“We’ll live,” the pink mare coolly declared, slowly approaching the stallion. Peter’s eyes widened upon recognizing her cold features, specifically the scar over her milky eye and her bright blue iris. Smiling, the mare’s demeanor lightened as tears formed in both her eyes. Her ears perked happily while a lone strand of her mane drooped over her nose. “For a ghost, you always seem to find a way to come back.”

Peter inhaled sharply, his mouth hanging agape. “Pinkie?! I thought you were--! I saw you--!” Countless emotions overflowed the stallion’s mind. Where grief had previously burrowed, elation took its place. Peter cared not for the tears pouring from his eyes. The stallion could only yield to the happiness he felt. Reaching out, Peter wrapped his hooves around Pinkie’s waist and squeezed her frame gently yet firmly. “So many bad guys in my life die and get better. I’m just happy it happened with a friend for once.”

“The feeling’s mutual. I had a guardian angel that day. I woke back up just a couple of minutes after you left,” Pinkamena whispered, grinning under her breath. They eventually parted, with the mare resting a hoof over the stallion’s shoulder after she wiped her own face free of tears. “It’s good to see you again, old friend. We have a lot to catch up on, to say the least.”

No response was given right away. Instead, Sweetie Belle quickly closed the gap between herself and Peter. The mare’s eyes softened as she stared somberly at the stallion. With a small nod, she reached out and wrapped her hooves around his neck for a warm embrace. Peter closed his eyes before returning the act of affection in full, rubbing the side of his head against hers sweetly.

They soon parted, allowing the stallion to smile slightly. “Hey, Sweetie Belle. You’re looking good.”

Sweetie Belle brushed a hoof through her mane, nodding. “Thank you. Time seems to have treated you well, too.”

“How much time has passed? For me, it’s been twenty years since I’ve seen you,” Peter questioned, tilting his head to the side.

Nodding, Sweetie Belle huffed. “Same here. It’s been twenty years. A lot has happened since you returned to your timeline.” The mare paused once the snow-white stallion approached her side, holding his emerald gaze on Peter. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Sweetie pursed her lips and nodded. “More than you could believe.”

Peter’s mind grew fuzzy. He quietly stared at the stallion bearing his image, forcing the lump in his throat down with a swallow before returning his gaze towards Sweetie Belle. “Is he really my son?”

The stallion huffed, folding his hooves objectively. “It’s pretty obvious, don’t you think?” He paused, arching a brow. “I mean, I’m better looking, but still. The resemblance is definitely there.”

“Behave, Junior,” Sweetie sternly whispered, causing her son to step back and raise his hooves defensively. “I named him Peter, after you. He was born almost a year after you left. We… both know how that story goes,” she lamely added, flustered.

Pinkamena smirked. “He’s your kid though. Has a habit of saying the first thing on his mind, and it’s either silly or incomprehensible. Usually both. I guess that part of you is genetic.”

As if a realization came to mind, Peter’s eyes widened. “It’s great seeing you both again, but you actually don’t seem too surprised to see me.”

Sweetie Belle nodded, walking past everypony. “We were given a heads-up. Rather, somepony else from the past came here and explained everything about Starlight Glimmer and the Tablet. She’s waiting for us in the castle.” Motioning with a hoof, this prompted the others to follow. “We were expecting Starlight, but we can’t say the same about you Peter. You were a surprise, and I believe our guest will be happy to see you.”

“Really?” Peter asked, furrowing his brow. “I wonder who?”

Within the center of the area where Canterlot castle previously stood was a small town, made of several smaller buildings comprised of marble. Many species of Equestria coexisted together, including ponies, griffons, zebras, and many more. In the aftermath of what had been called the Liberation War, all resources gathered in the land had been dedicated to Equestria’s restoration. Unfortunately, the damage Chrysalis and the changelings inflicted made the process difficult and exhausting. However, with the changelings in complete disarray and retreating to parts unknown, everypony managed to enjoy the past two decades of peace.

Within the confines of the largest building, the trio walked through the hallways before entering the main lobby. Its interior design was similar to that of the original Canterlot castle, but its size was considerably smaller in scale, more akin to a suite than anything else. Peter paused in the main lobby, furrowing his brow at the large portrait perched on the nearest wall. At the center of the portrait, Peter posed amidst five mares, two of which were Pinkamena and Sweetie Belle. The stallion’s eyes softened at the remaining pair next to his image, of Applejack and Rainbow Dash managing smiles from their positions.

Pinkamena stopped in her tracks, walking over to the stallion. “The whole world recognizes us as heroes for that day.” She managed a smile, folding her hooves. “Knowing Applejack, she’d be annoyed by the attention, and we both know how Rainbow Dash would’ve reacted.”

Peter chuckled under his breath. “Yeah. She’d hold autograph signings everyday.”

“Exactly, although she wouldn’t need to,” Pinkamena softly chuckled before pointing a hoof to the side towards a window, specifically at the building behind it. “They’ve published books about it, and the story makes for great sales. It’s like something straight out of a fairy tale. A stallion everypony thought was dead returns, leads a small rebellion against the oppressive overlord, and once the land is liberated, he vanishes as quickly as he came. It’s silly, but it gives everypony hope. Plus, they even built a museum in your honor.”

Blinking, Peter tilted his head to the side. “A museum? Seriously? That sounds a little tacky. How’d they manage to do that?”

Pinkamena smirked. “You’d be surprised. Without the changelings hunting everypony we were given a chance to really scavenge the land for resources thoroughly.” The mare edged closer to the stallion. “We found what was left of the Spider-Mobile, your glider, a damaged set of web-shooters, some old broken armor of yours, and several other things that had once belonged to you.” Slowly but surely, Pinkamena chuckled once more. “It’s a great tourist attraction. We get a lot of visitors because of this spot.

Pausing, Peter placed a hoof over her shoulder. “Are you sure it’s not because they want to see the new raisers of the Sun and Moon?” Pinkamena simply shrugged, dismissing the stallion’s words. Peter eyed the markings over the mare’s hoof, bearing an insignia of the moon. “It’s still pretty wild that Celestia and Luna left their powers within the gauntlets. If I had magic, I’d be raising the sun and moon right now. I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave this timeline if that happened.” The stallion arched a brow at the mare. “So, how does it feel being immortal?”

Slow to respond, Pinkamena held a hoof inches away from her face. “I’m still not entirely sure. Unusual, I suppose? Technically I’m over sixty years old, but I still look and feel forty.” The corner of the mare’s mouth curled into a smirk. “Give me another twenty years, and I might be able to give you a better answer.”

Suddenly, tremors coursed through the entire building, seemingly stretching out throughout the entire town. Once the tremors ceased, Peter blinked at the unusual phenomenon, but Pinkamena held a knowing expression. A series of knocks tapped against the main door, prompting the mare to open it. A pair of guards stood firm, hesitantly alternating their gazes between Pinkamena and their side. Peter watched as they conversed, furrowing his brow.

A firm gust from the outside pushed the doors completely open, revealing a familiar image. A violet astral form stood outside, holding their nose against the door. The guards shrugged hopelessly before departing, leaving Pinkamena alone with her guest. Peter quickly joined her side, smiling widely upon peeking up at a yellow and crimson gaze. A large astral bear nudged its massive nose against the stallion, prompting him to rub his body against her fur affectionately.

Pinkamena smiled, chuckling at the sight. “It seems Ursa caught your scent. She’s usually not allowed within the town, but I can make an exception this time.” The mare paused, grinning at the bear. “You missed your Daddy, huh?”

Peter continued to rub the bear’s cheek with a hoof. “I’m glad you’re taking good care of Ursa, Pinkie. I couldn’t think of a better caretaker.” The stallion eventually ceased his petting, waving the bear off. Ursa purred contently before stepping carefully to the outskirts of the settlement, lowering into a resting position while keeping a soft gaze centered on the building where her owner resided. Meanwhile, Peter inhaled deeply before sighing. He closed the door and followed Pinkamena to the round table at the center of the room where Sweetie Belle and Junior sat. Once settled in, Peter took a seat and exhaled. “So, where do we start?”

Sweetie Belle glanced to the side, stealing a glance at her son before returning her gaze to Peter. “It’s a lot to take in at once, but I owe you an explanation.” Holding her hoof to the side, the mare gently nodded. “This is Peter Belle Junior. He’s your son, born a year after you left.”

“So I’m not going crazy,” Peter groaned inwardly, holding a hoof over his face. “Twilight’s going to kill me.” His eyes widened at a horrific realization, evident by his pale complexion. “Oh, my gentle Gee-Whiz. Twilight can see what’s happening right now, thanks to Eris and Madame Web.” Letting out a defeated sigh, the stallion shrugged. “Oh, well. There’s no avoiding that talk when the time comes.”

Peter Jr. folded his hooves and scoffed harshly. “Don’t act too proud, Dad.”

Blinking, Peter caught wind of the younger stallion’s irritated tone before waving his hooves defensively. “Oh, it’s not that I’m ashamed of you. I’m just… surprised. Twenty years later, and I find out that I have a son I never knew existed.” His eyes softened. “If anything, I’m ashamed of myself. I wasn’t there for you. I have three kids that mean the world to me, but I have a fourth I know nothing about. As a father, that’s… inexcusable, and I’m sorry.”

Taken aback, Peter Jr. inhaled sharply at the stallion’s soft comment. Blinking, he glanced to the side while scratching the back of his head. “Wow. I, uh, wasn’t expecting that. Mom always told me that you have a habit of blaming yourself for whatever went wrong.” Clearing his throat, he managed to meet his father’s gaze. “It’s okay. I can’t hold a grudge against you. The situation was beyond your control. I can tell by looking that if you could have been there with us, you wouldn’t have hesitated. I guess… seeing is believing, and I like what I see.”

After a brief duration, Peter let out a relieved sigh. “Thanks, kid. I… That means a lot to hear. You sound like a nice kid. Your mother raised you right. Then again Sweetie Belle was always probably the nicest mare I know, right after Fluttershy. I’m just glad you took more after her than me, both physically and emotionally.” The stallion chuckled, smirking. “You’re a good looking kid.”

The center of his cheeks burned to a glowing pink tone, prompting the younger stallion to whine under his breath and look away. “You’re here for a few minutes, and you’re already embarrassing me.”

Sweetie Belle grinned, playfully nudging her son’s side. “He’s making up for lost time. I told you that your father was sweet.” Her horn glowed momentarily, retrieving a folder from the nearest shelf. Once within range, the mare opened the folder and slid a photo from a pocket. She reached out, offering the picture to Peter. “Here’s a baby picture.”

Peter accepted the photo, eyeing it gently. Fresh tears poured down Sweetie Belle’s face as she held a baby colt close, rubbing her cheeks gently against his mane. The young colt peered up at his mother, cooing. Both of their cheeks burned, evident by the blushes they bore. However, that day would forever remain in their hearts, a bond every mother and child shared.

Peter’s smile grew. “This is really something else. You mind if I keep this, Sweetie?”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened at the question before she nodded feverishly, grinning. “Not at all! I have plenty of copies to go around.”

The stallion took a final glance at the photo before he slid the photo underneath his costume. “So, do you have the spider powers?” Peter asked, arching a brow after sharing a glance with his son. “My oldest child has some of them, the second is in the same boat, and the third is too young to develop anything just yet.”

Peter Jr. tapped a hoof against his chin and nodded. “Oh, yeah. I have super strength, can cling to any surface, and a sixth sense for danger. The headaches can get annoying, though.”

“He’s not nearly as strong as you were, but I believe more strength will come with age and training,” Pinkamena huffed, folding her hooves tightly. “I’ve been training him since his powers started surfacing. He’s rough around the edges, but I think he’ll exceed his glass ceiling.”

A stern expression surfaced on the older stallion’s face. “So, why are you training son? You live in a world of peace.”

The younger stallion inhaled deeply before sighing. “I guess I want to be like you. You may not realize it Dad, but you’re a legend here. You’re the pony who led the charge against the changelings. If I’m your son, I want to honor that legacy.” Pausing, the younger stallion cleared his throat. “Auntie Pinkie keeps me in shape, and we deal with some straggler changelings on occasion. If they ever rebel or try to rise again, I want to be ready and help put them back in their place, just like my heroic dad did before. I have this power for a reason. I just want to use it for a good cause.”

Peter grinned, unaware that his cheeks were glowing. “That’s a flattering thought, son.” Sobering, the older stallion’s smile faded. “Peter, I fight to make sure that my family’s safe. This peace is what I strive for, so you don’t have to fight, but if this is what you want to do, I’ll give you my blessing. Are you sure that you want this to be your career choice?”

“I’m positive Dad,” Peter Jr. calmly retorted without hesitation.

With a small nod, Peter smiled. “All right. Then I won’t say anything about it anymore. You’re as stubborn as your older sister. She gave me the same response right before she joined the Avengers. I guess my children are just naturally headstrong.” Peter trailed off, sharing a glance with Pinkamena. “I’d be worried, but Pinkie’s the greatest warrior in this world. Really, I wish I could recruit her into my Avengers. We’d be unstoppable with her. She just defies logic and physics. Plus, we can always use another great smile. You’re lucky she and Sweetie Belle are the ones keeping you in check.”

Pinkamena smiled, shaking her head. “I’d love to. It’d be great to see everypony again: Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and… Maud… but my place is here.” Sobering, the mare straightened her posture. “You have your own responsibilities as well. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”

Clearing his throat, Peter nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. That’s what I meant to ask. What’s been happening here? When did Starlight show up?”

Sweetie Belle glanced to the side as her horn glowed momentarily, knocking at the door across the hall. “I think your teammate could explain it best.”

The door slowly creaked open, earning the collective gazes of those nearby. Peter’s eyes widened at the familiar sight of a hazel-gazed mare. She wore a simple labcoat and glasses, furrowing her brow as if pondering something. However, the mare lifted her gaze, inhaling sharply upon spotting the older stallion in the room. Brushing a hoof through her violet and pink mane, she raced towards Peter, and he extended his hooves, catching the mare in a warm embrace. Both ponies hugged tightly, nuzzling their heads against each other affectionately.

“Dad!” Mayday sweetly cheered, kissing her father’s cheek before they parted. She playfully punched his shoulder while smiling. “You certainly took your time. I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up.”

Peter grinned, placing a hoof over the top of the mare’s head before messing up her already messy mane slightly. “You know my old saying. Better late than never.” Sobering, the stallion’s gaze softened, yet his smile remained intact and earnest. “I’m just happy you’re okay, sweetie.”

“Right back at you,” Mayday whispered sweetly, holding a hoof over her father’s chest before turning and taking a seat at the round table. Once Peter took the available seat between her and Pinkamena, the mare held both hooves over her mouth. “What’s been happening? I’ve been practically blind while stranded here. I know the tablet shattered, but are the other Avengers okay?”

Leaning back into his seat, Peter raised a hoof objectively. “Long story short, I caught a piece of the tablet before everyone else was scattered. So far, I’ve managed to find four more fragments of the tablet. Umbra, Eris, Ember, and Laura are accounted for, safe, and are holding onto their fragments. I still haven’t found Trixie, Sonata, or Dream yet, but I’ll take care of them once I find the fragment in this reality.” The stallion paused, narrowing his gaze on his daughter. “Also, you can’t leave this timeline without the fragment.”

Mayday rolled her eyes before exhaling. “There always has to be a catch.” Straightening her glasses with a hoof, the mare huffed under her breath. “I’ve been keeping myself busy waiting for you. I’ve managed to rig up an energy tracker, but I can’t pinpoint the fragment’s exact position. The distorted energies caused by the portal are sending massive ripples through the device’s radar. Locating an energy signal would be like searching for a needle in a stack of needles.”

Sweetie Belle edged closer to the table from her seat, nodding. “We sensed the portal when it opened a week ago. Mayday told us right away what was going on. We gave her access to the items in the museum. She’s practically your heir, whatever you left behind was hers.” Sweetie Belle relaxed, shrugging. “The moment we gave her access to your stuff, she holed herself up in the nearest basement and worked nonstop since. Mayday’s practically been a hermit during her entire time here.”

“Let me guess. Whatever my daughter found she’s picked apart for her own devices-- figuratively and literally?” Peter questioned, earning a simple nod from Pinkamena.

Peter Jr. tilted his head to the side. “Is she always like that? I tried to talk with her a few times, but socialization is clearly not her first, second, or third strength.” Blinking, the younger stallion trailed off. “Are my other siblings like that, too?”

The stallion chuckled knowingly before glancing to the side with a furrowed brow. “Yup. That’s my baby girl in a nutshell.” Waving a hoof dismissively, Peter shook his head. “Don’t worry. Mayday’s the oldest and oddest child. You’re technically my second child, since you’re twenty years old. Anyway, Ben’s very soft-spoken and reserved. He’s sixteen by the way. And Gwen, while only four, is easily the sweetest girl on the planet.” Patting Mayday’s shoulders, Peter nodded. “Don’t mind your big sister. She’s… the quirkiest out of all of you.”

Mayday frowned, clearly unamused. “Quirky? You make me sound like I’m a robot.”

Peter leaned over, kissing the mare’s forehead. “Quirky is a fancy term for ‘favorite’.”

Blushing, Mayday rolled her eyes and glanced to the side with an exasperated gaze. “You’re such a dork, but I love that about you.”

“Dorky is what dorky does,” Peter grinned, causing the mare to exhale.

Mayday lowered into her seat and allowed the side of her head to rest against his chest. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“It’s only for you, sweetie,” Peter replied, resting his chin against the top of the mare’s head.

Peter Jr. watched the pair with a warm smile, chuckling under his breath. “Looks like I’ve missed out. You two are practically inseparable. Color me envious.”

“So... Three children in your timeline, huh? Somepony’s been busy.” Pinkamena dryly chuckled, shaking her head.

Sweetie Belle smiled warmly at the pair. “I remember how you two were joined at the hip when she was just a filly. Now Mayday’s an adult, and nothing’s changed. You two are somehow even closer.”

Sobering, Peter folded his hooves and narrowed his gaze. “Still… Mayday’s been here for a week? It’s only been a few hours for me, and I’ve gone through four realities.”

Mayday sat up and hummed, tapping a hoof against the side of her temple as if contemplating something. “It must be the Tablet’s residual energies. Space around us is already distorting, and it stands to reason that it’s beginning to separate time between each reality as well. The space-time continuum is intricately woven and the shattering of the tablet is beginning to put some strain on it.” The mare sternly nodded. “If that’s the case we need to hurry and put the tablet back together. If the balance of space-time isn’t restored soon, all of reality will unravel and we’ll all simply cease to exist.”

Placing a hoof over his daughter’s shoulder, Peter firmly nodded. “It’s a work in progress. I won’t let it come to that.”

Peter Jr.’s complexion paled as he blankly stared at his father and sister. “Don’t sound so casual about it. It’s only the end of reality as we know it.”

Pinkamena frowned, sharing a glance with Peter. “Starlight showed up just a few minutes before you did. We’d better find that fragment before she does.”

Peter’s eyes widened in realization. “I can help with that. Madame Web augmented my Spider Sense so I could easily track the fragment.” Standing from his seat, the stallion pointed a hoof into the distance. “If we go now, we can find the fragment before Starlight does.”

Sweetie Belle pursed her lips, nodding before lifting her emerald gaze. “That’s a good idea.” Glancing to the side, the mare stood up from her seat before gently placing a hoof over her son’s shoulder. “Junior, I want you to stay here and watch over Canterlot while we’re gone, just in case Starlight comes this way."

Hesitantly, the younger stallion nodded. “All right Mom. I’ll hold down the fort.” He shifted his gaze to the side, pointing a hoof at his father. “If anything happens to her, I’m so disowning you.”

Peter chuckled under his breath. “Don’t worry. I’ll watch after your mother with my life.” The older stallion walked over to his daughter, taking hold of her hoof with his own. “How about you? What are you going to do, May?”

Mayday pursed her lips, furrowing her brow. “There’s not a whole lot I can do in the field without proper equipment.” She held out her free hoof, pulling back its sleeve to reveal a small electronic device. “Besides, there’s something in the lab I’m working on. I’ll monitor your progress from there and let you know if I see anything around your location.” The mare stepped back, retrieving an earpiece from her lab coat’s pocket before offering it to the stallion. “Keep this on so we can keep each other updated.” Once Peter placed the device on his ear, Mayday edged closer until she planted a soft kiss on his cheek. “Hurry back, and please don’t destroy that earpiece Dad. There’s over twenty four hours of my life in that thing! Do you know how hard that was to make with limited resources?”

“About as hard as it is to juggle chainsaws in the dark while standing on a tightrope?” Peter chuckled, earning a playful tap on the shoulder from the mare. Smiling, the stallion winked at his daughter. “You sound just like your mother. ‘Don’t break this. Don’t break that.’ It’s not like I have a reputation for breaking things.”

“I love you, Dad, but I can’t even humor that with a positive response,” Mayday lightly chuckled, turning the stallion before gently pushing him away. “Now hurry up and get that fragment back, so I can go back home to my lab.” Peter simply shrugged, sharing a glance with Sweetie Belle and Pinkamena. As the trio quietly exited the premises, Mayday’s eyes softened while she rested a hoof over her chest. “Be careful.”

Meanwhile, in the distance, Starlight watched as the trio reached the outskirts of Canterlot from an undisclosed location. “That’s right heroes. Find the fragment for me. That’ll make my job so much easier...” she paused, smirking evilly. “I have nothing holding me back this time. Destroying you all will be child's play.”

To be continued...

Future Tense, Part II

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Chapter Nine “Future Tense, Part II”

The sun hovered brightly overhead, blessing the land with its light and warmth. Peter held a hoof over his eyes, shielding his vision as he gazed upon the surrounding Whitetail Woods. The trees were full of life, their bright green leaves rustling in the breeze. Even the river was revitalized producing a colorful stream that traveled through the forest.

Peter brushed a hoof against the nearest tree, smiling. “It’s nice seeing some life returning to the land after so much time. The last time I was here almost everything was a dried up husk.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes softened. “It’s a slow, steady process but we’re managing. We can’t restore the land without the land itself. Fortunately the best farmers and plantation workers came from all around Equestria, most being distant members of the Apple family.”

“When they heard how Applejack gave her life in the fight against Chrysalis, they all practically rushed here.” Pinkamena whispered, folding her hooves. Eventually the mare managed a smile. “I can’t complain. Thanks to them we had fresh fruits for the first time in years. They eventually spread out, planting trees and slowly restoring the many forests that were lost during Chrysalis’ reign.”

Peter chuckled under his breath. “That’s good to hear. Sometimes the hardest part of overcoming a dictator is the aftermath. It’s one thing to fight and destroy, but it’s a totally different ballgame to preserve and restore.” The stallion nodded firmly, holding a genuine smile. “Princesses Celestia and Luna would be proud of you two. Everypony’s following your lead, and the future’s looking bright for them.”

Sweetie Belle brushed a hoof through her curly mane, returning the stallion’s smile with one of her own. “Thank you Peter. That means a lot, but it was you who gave us this chance. There’s no way we were going to squander that.”

“We’re not the only ones working through change.” Pinkamena whispered, approaching the stallion with a furrowed brow. “Mayday has told me quite a bit about your peace treaty with the changelings, among other things.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, the mare threw her hooves out to the side. “I don’t know what’s more disturbing: your willingness to forgive the changelings or that Chrysalis is actually relatively kind in your timeline.”

Peter narrowed his gaze, frowning. “I don’t blame you for being skeptical Pinkie. What Chrysalis and the changelings did in this timeline was unforgivable. However, Chrysalis in my timeline had a chance to be rehabilitated. Rather, she hadn’t had the chance to make those same mistakes that sent her on the violent path she took here.” The stallion pursed his lips, glancing to the side. “They were starving and desperate. I’m just lucky Chrysalis was willing to drop her pride for the sake of her people.” The corner of his mouth curled into a smile. “It’s been a great partnership. A new generation of changelings were born, made from pure love, and Chrysalis has proven to be an invaluable friend, even if she’s still a bit rough around the edges.”

Pinkamena shook her head. “I’m not faulting you Peter. If anything, I’m glad. It just shows that even the hardest of hearts can change, if given the chance.” The mare paused, smiling. “After all, I lost my smile for over twenty years, and I only started smiling again after you came back.”

“It takes more muscles to frown than to smile,” Peter playfully retorted, earning a light chuckle from the pink mare.

Sobering, Sweetie Belle approached the stallion. “Speaking of that, what was it like for Twilight to take Celestia’s place?” Her expression softened. “I imagine it was difficult. Mayday seemed… troubled talking about it.”

Raising a hoof objectively, Peter’s eyes softened. “It was rough at first. The sun works a tight schedule and it can get exhausting. The first couple of years were really hard, not just for Twilight but for Luna as well.” The stallion soon nodded, straightening his posture. “However, Twilight caught on with time. She’s really good with her scheduling, and her body’s adjusted to the changes. Plus, Luna was really patient with her.” Peter smiled warmly, nodding. “Now Twilight’s a natural-born princess: a tall one, too. She’s always working, but she makes more than enough time for family. I just do what I can to make things easier for her, whether it’s a small kiss, a massage, lunch, or a bad joke after a tense business meeting.”

Pinkamena’s smile grew in width, showing teeth momentarily, and she placed a hoof over the stallion’s shoulder. “That sounds exactly right. Be good to her, Peter. When you two were together here, you were all Twilight talked about in that blissful light. I imagine nothing’s changed between you two.” A serious expression resurfaced on the mare’s face before she firmly nodded. “You need to hurry back to Twilight, and quickly. It’s all the more reason we need to find that fragment as soon as possible.”

Both ponies shared a nod before the stallion narrowed his gaze to the side. His sixth sense chimed, highlighting the environment from his perspective. “I can sense the fragment. It’s really close.” The stallion walked through the forest following the trail as Pinkamena and Sweetie Belle quietly followed him. Eventually, Peter paused upon reaching a boulder, its size dwarfing his own height by five times the mass. He shimmied around the stone, finding the fragment embedded within the rock after a brief search. “There it is. I wish it was always this easy.”

“Why, thank you! You saved me so much trouble finding it!” a female’s voice exclaimed from behind. Just as Peter, Pinkamena, and Sweetie turned to the source the ground underneath their hooves distorted before stones enveloped their limbs. The rocks settled, fusing with the earth, and the trio were trapped in place, straining to move, let alone attempt to break free. Suddenly, Starlight Glimmer materialized into existence before the large boulder in a flash of light, holding a hoof over the fragment imbedded in the stone. “I certainly wouldn’t have found this without your help.”

Exasperated, Peter rolled his eyes and exhaled. “And there it is! I’ll learn to keep my mouth shut one of these days.”

Sweetie Belle frowned, narrowing her gaze on the mare as she eyed the fragment. “Starlight, the energies of the broken fragment are beginning to spread. If we don’t repair the tablet soon, all of reality will unravel before collapsing!”

“I am aware of that,” Starlight mused, closing her eyes before groaning. “I have my own plans, and this mess was caused by Peter Parker’s rash actions. I fully intend to fix the tablet and restore order, and that starts by erasing you from existence! But first…” she trailed off, turning the entirety of her attention towards the fragment.

Her horn glowed momentarily before a laser raced out, cutting into the stone. However, the energy reflected back and struck the center of her forehead, staggering the mare and leaving her wide eyed. She attempted to repeat the action, only for the same result to occur. The fragment remained firmly embedded in the boulder, and the stone itself stood firm, undamaged.

Howling in fury, Starlight braced herself in a wide-legged stance before unleashing a volley of energy beams into the stone in quick succession from her horn. Each bolt collided into the rock, some dissolving upon impact while others rebounded at random angles off its’ surface. Starlight paused after a duration to allow both her horn and the dust to settle, but the mare ground her teeth together in anger once she saw the fragment was unharmed and not even slightly loosened from its position within the boulder.

“The fragment is infused with the boulder and projecting a protective barrier! I can’t remove it,” Starlight cursed under her breath, narrowing her gaze into a glare.

Peter chuckled under his breath. “That’s unfortunate. Maybe you should just give up on this whole thing then?” The stallion hummed under his breath. “I can remove it. Remove the stones, free my friends, and maybe we can cut a deal? Surely, we can come to some sort of a compromise.

Frowning, Starlight’s face scrunched up with disgust. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ll never let that happen.” Particles of energy from the atmosphere channeled into the mare’s horn as she aimed it at the stallion. “I’ll figure something out, and you won’t live to see the solution!”

Pinkamena watched as Starlight readied to fire at the stallion, lowering her head until she could retrieve a blade from her pocket with her mouth. Slamming the tip of her sword into the stone holding one of her hooves in place, the rock shattered at the point of impact. Pinkamena used her free hoof to pull her second blade from her pocket, slashing the remaining stones holding her hooves in place. Starlight glanced up, narrowly managing to block a direct blow from the earth pony with a bubble shield. Pinkamena spun in place before thrusting a straight kick into the barrier, and the force of the blow sent Starlight’s body careening into the nearest wall with a dull thud.

A dust cloud billowed up at the point of impact. Pinkamena turned, managing to cut both Peter and Sweetie Belle free in a matter of seconds. Before long Starlight burst from the rubble, levitating several hoof-lengths from the ground. Peter and Sweetie Belle lowered into a defensive stance while Pinkamena spun both blades in her hooves, each holding a stern gaze at the unicorn hovering before them. The surrounding winds intensified, rustling the leaves of the trees and traces of electricity crackled across the ground as Starlight’s irises faded behind a blinding light.

“Enough of this! I’ll destroy you all!” Starlight bellowed before unleashing a bolt at the trio.

Peter, Sweetie Belle, and Pinkamena jumped away in three separate directions before the attack could connect and the energy exploded upon coming into contact with the ground, generating a small explosion. Starlight vanished from sight in a burst of light, materializing behind Sweetie Belle as a dust cloud erupted from the explosion. The lavender and light pink-maned mare turned, unable to react as a beam collided into her chest. The projectile’s momentum carried the mare through the forest until she collided rather forcefully with a tree, cracking the bark and knocking a few weak branches loose.

Meanwhile, Peter flipped to the side, managing to land upright. Suddenly, the earpiece in his possession crackled to life with a brief burst of static before Mayday’s voice could be heard. “Daddy! The energy readings in your area just spiked exponentially! What’s going on over there?”

“We found the fragment in the Whitetail Woods, but Starlight followed us. She’s right on top of us,” Peter replied, holding a hoof over his ear. Starlight materialized overhead before unleashing a volley of beams at the stallion in rapid succession. Peter hopped to the side, leaping out of each bolt’s blast radius after they detonated, and he eventually slowed to a halt, perching himself onto a branch on a tree. “We’ll do what we can. You just--!”

He trailed off, inhaling sharply once his sixth sense blared wildly. Peter jumped from the tree as a beam neared, but the energy detonated, generating a shockwave. The stallion was launched from the blast, pinwheeling through the air before he crashed into a collection of bushes. The device in his ear fell out due to the stallion’s launch trajectory, cracking to pieces from the momentum once it fell to the ground.

-u-

Within the basement back in one of Canterlot’s buildings, the static churning in Mayday’s ear sent the mare over the edge. She stood up from her seat, feeling her heart practically stop. “Daddy!” she cried out, receiving no response. “Daddy! What’s happening?!” Tossing her earpiece to the side in frustration, Mayday slammed her hooves over the table and lowered her head in dismay. “What am I supposed to do now? Daddy could be fine, but what if he isn’t?” The mare blinked, stealing a glance at something from the corner of her eye. The mare frowned, narrowing her gaze as a determined expression surfaced on her features. “I’m not leaving this to chance. I have to use it.”

-u-

Back within the reaches of the Whitetail Woods, Peter slowly pulled himself from the shrubbery, shaking the cobwebs from his head. Starlight eyed the stallion from behind his position, channeling her latent energies into her horn. She unleashed a beam, its energy distorting everything in its path. But Pinkamena emerged in front of the prone stallion, swinging both of her blades into the bolt directly. Straining, the earth pony held her ground, managing to slice through the projectile, and the energy dissolved from sight, withering from existence.

Before Starlight could follow up, Sweetie Belle unleashed a bolt from behind and struck the mare squarely in the back. The unicorn spun from the air, using her magic to cease her momentum once she neared the ground. The energies that created the bubble shield around her glowed, shifting until they enveloped Starlight’s body, seeming almost like armor and a second underlying layer for her body. Once she stood, Peter flipped over the nearest bush and delivered a straight kick to her gut.

The force of the blow sent Starlight skidding back, but she remained upright, barely fazed by the attack. Pinkamena followed and flipped over the stallion before slashing both blades repeatedly against the mare. The cuts couldn’t penetrate the magic shielding Starlight’s body yet their marks remained, albeit briefly until the energies erased all visible traces of damage. Starlight lifted her gaze, smirking. Both Peter and Pinkamena attacked simultaneously in rapid succession, alternating their strikes. The stallion threw a stiff punch into the side of Starlight’s head, knocking her off balance, and Pinkamena slammed the blunt end of her sword into the back of the mare’s leg, bringing her down to a kneeling position.

Sweetie Belle leapt high into the air, prompting Peter and Pinkamena to jump away from Starlight. Particles of energy from the atmosphere spiraled into her horn before the mare unleashed a large magical beam onto the unicorn. The bolt engulfed Starlight, boring heavily into the ground, and the attack intensified, generating a shockwave at the point of impact. Eventually the energies subsided, revealing a deep crater in the ground. However, Starlight levitated from it, the bright aura emitting from her body having remained intact and hovered high above the ground with a smug expression, shaking her head.

“Is that really the best you can do?” Starlight grinned, eyeing the energies glowing from her form. All cracks within the magical armor faded from sight, repairing itself once again. Pinkamena readied herself to attack, lowering into a defensive stance, but Starlight merely huffed, waving a glowing hoof dismissively. “None of that.”

Suddenly, a dark spell of distorted space spread, engulfing the entire trio. Time for them slowed to a crawl while it moved normally for Starlight. The mare frowned before firing several bolts of magical energy into the ground underneath their hooves. The time spell holding them in place dissolved, but before they could hope to react, the earth erupted, triggering an accumulated explosion. A shockwave detonated, launching Sweetie Belle high into the air before she roughly landed on the ground.

Pinkamena was engulfed by a trail of energy, careening into the nearest tree with enough force to topple the oak from its roots. Lastly, Peter was launched skyward, unable to react as Starlight unleashed a bolt into his chest from above, and the stallion sped into the earth, generating violent tremors and a dust cloud at the point of impact. Starlight hovered above the ground and stood over the deep crater she created, specifically the stallion laid out at the bottom of it.

Starlight grinned, narrowing her gaze on the ponies scattered around her. “With only a fraction of the tablet’s power, I’ve overwhelmed you once again.” As Peter began to stir, groaning under his breath, Starlight frowned while energy spiraled into her glowing horn. “I’m almost disappointed it was this easy, but I exceed my own expectations at times.” However, just before the mare could finish the stallion, she paused once her ears perked at a peculiar sound. She glanced to the side, narrowing her gaze on an airborne object as it sped towards her position. Taken aback, Starlight blinked. “What in blazes?!”

Faster than Starlight could react, a being clad in crimson and black armor soared by her, skidding to a halt. Just as she readied herself to question the oddity, the being in armor raised a hoof and unleashed a pulsating blast. Starlight’s eyes shot open as the force of the unexpected blow knocked her back, sending her crashing through a tree. Her momentum continued until she skidded to a halt. Gritting her teeth, Starlight fired a volley of beams at the armored being, but it merely stood, absorbing the magical projectiles.

Starlight could only blink before the stranger raised a hoof, too easily reflecting the entirety of the volley back at the source. Each high-powered beam collided with the mare, staggering her until she was violently launched into an uncontrolled face-first skid across the forest floor. Brushing a hoof over her mouth, Starlight paused upon noticing a thin rivulet of blood matting her fur down. The mysterious individual held out their hooves, prompting an array of missiles to rise from hidden compartments in their sleeves, shoulder pads, and fore-limbs. The individual maintained a steady aim at the unicorn, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

Growling under her breath, Starlight scoffed. “This is quite a setback, but it’s nothing! I swear! I’ll be back!”

The mare vanished from sight in a burst of light before the armored being straightened their posture, allowing the missiles to fall back within their compartments. Sweetie Belle and Pinkamena pulled themselves back to a standing position. Elsewhere, the mysterious individual stepped into the crater and stood over Peter as he shook the cobwebs from his cranium. Once the stallion’s vision cleared, the stranger extended a hoof. Pinkamena and Sweetie Belle watched as the stranger helped Peter out of the crater. Once the mares tended to the stallion, the mysterious individual stepped back without uttering a response.

“And just who might you be?” Pinkamena questioned, keeping a hoof on the hilt of her blade.

The pony was slow to respond before tapping a hoof against the side of their head, prompting their helmet to fall to the ground. “I think you already know!” she exclaimed. Everypony inhaled sharply at the familiar sight of a violet and pink mane falling to the side. Mayday clumsily straightened her posture, posing in a dramatic fashion. “Mayday’s the name, and hurting bad guys is my game!”

A low silence filled the air before the mare yelped involuntarily as the armor hummed to life before shorting out. Her shoulder piece loosened, slipping from its hinges. The mare exhaled at the sight, blinking as she tapped the buttons over her fore-limb with a hoof.

“That test run went much better than I expected, but there are still a lot of kinks to work out in the armor. It attaches just fine, but it comes apart too easily,” she groaned, swiping at the icons over the screen emitting from her hoof device. “The thrusters put in too much kick, and my feedback generators weren’t able to reroute their progress to the backup capacity. It’s a simple fix if I find an alternate power source, but that’s pretty hard to come by in this world. Maybe I could use the Spider-Mobile’s battery? Its power capacity is still impressive, given the damage it sustained. I’ll have to run more tests as soon as--”

Peter placed a hoof over the mare’s shoulder, ending her rambling tirade. The stallion arched a brow while eyeing his daughter’s armored attire. “I take it that this is what you were working on the entire time while you were here?”

Mayday simply nodded, holding a small smile. “Yeah. You left plenty of resources for me to experiment on. Your old armor, the glider’s thruster system capacity and pieces of the Spider-Mobile in particular gave me some ideas. Some forging materials along with a few swings of a hammer, and I came out with this suit.” The mare tapped a hoof against the chestplate, humming. “I also took a page from your book and used the anti-magical crystals from the catacombs underneath Canterlot. Breaking them down and fusing them with the armor was the easiest part of the process.”

Peter lifted the helmet from the ground, furrowing his brow at the artificial horn at the center of its forehead. “Familiar design, but what’s with the horn? You’re a pegasus, not a unicorn.”

“It acts as a conduit,” Mayday lightly declared, tapping the appendage. “So, if I’m struck by electricity, it’ll channel into the horn and add power to the overall system.”

Blinking, Peter shrugged as if enlightened. “How about that? Next thing, you’ll tell me that you have a coffee machine inside that armor?”

“You created something that advanced and refined from leftover scraps, in just a week?” Sweetie Belle questioned, politely interjecting before chuckling under her breath. “That’s very impressive. I knew you shared your father’s intelligence, but I believe you might have exceeded him with this feat.”

Pinkamena folded her hooves. “Indeed. It seems Starlight wasn’t prepared for this scenario in the slightest. I doubt she’ll be coming back anytime soon.”

Peter was slow to respond, brushing the dust from Mayday’s shoulder. “This is quite a feat Mayday. The armor’s impressive, and you look good in it. However, this is too advanced for a week’s notice.” He paused, arching a knowing brow at the mare as their gazes were mere inches from each other. “You’ve been working on this concept for a while now, haven’t you? It certainly explains the notes you usually have JARVIS save.”

“You read them?” Mayday asked, holding a hoof over her chest.

Shaking his head, Peter frowned. “No. It’s not my business, but I could tell that you were working on something important. I just figured you would tell me when you were ready to.” The stallion paused as his eyes softened. “But why armor? You’ve always made it clear you wouldn’t be on the frontlines. Why the change of heart?"

Mayday inhaled deeply before sighing, shifting her gaze to the ground. “I didn’t tell you because I was hoping it would never have to come to this.” The mare pursed her lips, holding a hoof inches away from her face. “The history books say you’re the greatest hero in history Dad, but I wasn’t blessed with your strength or durability. However, I did get my intelligence from you and Mom. I figured the best way I could help everypony was to use my mind to its fullest degree. That’s why I joined the Avengers, to give you all support from a distance.”

“What changed?” Peter questioned, stepping away before walking to the boulder the fragment was embedded in.

Nodding, Mayday narrowed her gaze. “Sometimes to protect the things most precious to us, we have to adapt. You taught me that.” The mare paused, waiting until her father effortlessly pried the fragment from the stone. “This armor was to make up for my physical shortcomings, and it lets me fight by your side.”

As if taking his daughter’s advice to heart, the stallion simply nodded before managing a smile. “Your mind’s set on it, so I’ll support you on your decision. Besides, you saved the day. I can’t really object.” Peter smirked at the mare. “I think I have a new name ready for you. It’s funny how the multiverse works sometimes. Trixie walks around dressed like one of my old enemies, and you come up with a suit of armor that strikes a resemblance to an old friend of mine.” Pausing, the stallion offered the mare the fragment. “From here on, you’re now Iron Mare. What do you think?”

Blinking, Mayday accepted the fragment before letting out a relieved sigh. “I was worried you were going to call me the Tin Spider. Iron Mare is probably the best name you’ve ever come up with.”

“Well, Spider Droid did come to mind...” Peter lamely added, earning a blank stare from his daughter. “Speaking of that, I need to come up with my own name. Something like Oracle Spider? Maybe Amazing Arachnid?”

Mayday shook her head and waved a hoof dismissively. “...and I’m sticking with Iron Mare, because anything you come up with now is just stupid.” Sobering, the mare eyed the portal in the distance before sharply pointing a hoof in its direction while holding a stern glare at her father. “Did you forget about the whole ‘Space-Time Continuum unraveling’ talk already? Go get the other fragments back already, before reality as we know it collapses!”

Chuckling under his breath, Peter simply nodded before wrapping his hooves around Mayday’s neck for a brief yet warm embrace. “You’re just like your mother, May. All right. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Once they parted, the stallion faced the remaining two mares. Sweetie Belle stepped forth first, smiling while shaking her head. “We have to stop meeting like this. You always show up when we’re in trouble and disappear the moment the day is saved.” The pair shared an embrace, with the mare fighting back a sob. They soon parted, allowing Sweetie to straighten her posture. “I’ll miss you. Junior’s going to miss you as well.”

“This isn’t good-bye, Sweetie,” Peter whispered, placing a hoof over her shoulder. “Now that we have a bead on this reality’s location, I can arrange something with Eris. We’ll set up communications so we can talk every now and then.”

As if satisfied with the suggestion, Sweetie Belle nodded and smiled. “That’s very thoughtful. If it’s possible, we’d both appreciate that.”

Lastly, Peter shared a glance with Pinkamena. The mare simply chuckled, offering her hoof. “Until we meet again, old friend.”

No words were needed as Peter accepted the gesture, holding eye contact with Pinkamena for what felt like eons. With a final nod, the stallion waved off his peers before dashing towards the portal. Sweetie Belle brushed a hoof through her curly mane, allowing tears to stream down her cheeks, and Pinkamena held a wide smile, reminiscent to her younger days momentarily. Mayday, on the other hoof, clutched the fragment in her possession before turning her attention back to her armored suit with a determined expression.

The adventure wasn’t over yet, and the real fight had only just begun.

To be continued...

Waterworld

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Chapter Ten “Waterworld”

“So...what do you think?” Peter questioned, holding out a photo so the astral image of Twilight standing next to him could see. The mare stared intently at the picture with a furrowed brow. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter’s eyes softened. “I still can’t believe that I have a son in that timeline. If anything, I’m glad he takes after Sweetie Belle.”

Slow to respond, Twilight pursed her lips. “He looks like Ben, but I can easily see a lot of Sweetie Belle’s more notable qualities in him.” The alicorn chuckled under her breath. “Junior’s quite handsome. The bright green eyes look great on him.”

“I can always get contacts.” Peter slyly replied before easing the photo back into a hidden pocket within his costume, earning a small laugh from the princess. After a brief duration, the stallion sobered while an unreadable expression surfaced on his face. “I know seeing that couldn’t have been easy. I wouldn’t blame you if you were upset with me right now.”

Twilight closed her eyes momentarily before shaking her head. “I’m not upset, Peter. I can’t be.” The stallion’s eyes widened at her comment, prompting the mare to clear her throat. “I’ve spent years holding a grudge against you for what happened. The situation was beyond your control and I eventually learned to forgive you. If our roles were reversed, I'm not sure I could keep a clear head either.”

“It’s become little more than an excuse at this point. You're my wife, and I cheated on you in a moment of weakness. I have to live with that,” Peter muttered in a somber tone, brushing a hoof through his unkempt mane. “I can’t change what happened. I have to accept responsibility. It’s just hard to imagine a kid being born from… that.” Smiling lightly, the stallion shook his head. “Then again, you and I don’t believe in accidents. We prefer the term surprise miracle.”

Nodding, Twilight returned his smile with one of her own. “That’s why I’m proud of you. You handled the situation with grace and respect. You opened up to Junior lovingly and treated him no differently from our own children.” She paused as her eyes softened. “You did what any good father would do, and I’m proud of you for it. Once everything is situated, Eris said she would open up a communication channel so you could keep in touch.”

Letting out a relieved sigh, Peter nodded. “Thanks for understanding, Twilight.”

Just as Twilight readied to respond, the scepter hummed to life in her hoof. “I will destroy you, for my name is Sparklebutt! Fear my sparkly booty!”

Twilight’s eye twitched involuntarily before she howled and threw both hooves around the scepter’s neck, attempting to strangle it. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

Peter blankly watched the sight before Twilight’s image faded from sight, blinking afterward. “I’m beginning to regret modifying that scepter.” Shaking his head, the stallion turned towards the next portal and stretched his limbs. “Anyway. We’re almost done. Three more fragments before we focus on Starlight! Let’s hope this one’s easy, too!”

The stallion jumped into the nearest portal, soaring through the surrounding energies. However, Peter’s body remained light once the vortex subsided and was met with an immediate cold sensation that engulfed his entire being in an instant. The stallion inhaled sharply out of reflex to the sudden chill. However, his gasp was not met with the expected result; nearly choking instantly at the unexpected sensation of fluid rushing into his lungs. Peter threw both hooves over his mouth and nose at the realization of the underwater settings around him. Alternating his gaze about wildly he noticed the dimly-lit ground beneath his hooves before shifting his gaze up at the surface, which seemed impossibly far away.

Fighting back the rising panic in his mind, Peter quickly collected himself and attempted to swim towards the distant surface. Unfortunately, before he could make any progress, a pack of creatures emerged from the depths at multiple angles quickly surrounding the stallion. Their scaled forms were exceptionally larger than the equine’s, towering over him by at least three times his height; while each bore their fangs, as if ready to attack. Peter’s eyes widened at their familiar shapes, resembling the sirens he encountered several years ago.

“Outsider! We don’t know how you made it this far, but you are approaching the boundary!” one exclaimed, narrowing its gaze on the stallion. The other members of the group inhaled deeply, prompting particles of energy to spiral into their mouths. “Turn back now or be destroyed in the name of the Siren Empire!”

Peter’s mind rapidly began to shut down, as traces of water continued to fill his lungs. His eyes rolled into the back of his head before he yielded to unconsciousness. The sirens watched as the stallion finally inhaled, evident by the air bubble that escaped from his mouth, and he fell limp, floating in place. However, before any of them could react a loud boom echoed throughout the vicinity, causing the sirens to glance aside towards the source.

Suddenly, a small being raced past the group with the speed of a missile, grabbing the stallion as it passed. The nearest siren caught sight at the last second before unleashing a potent blast from its mouth, causing the others to mirror its action. The being glanced back at the incoming blasts, pausing before greatly intensifying its speed with the stallion in tow. The surrounding waters were met with an explosion of prismatic light, erupting outward with the force of a shockwave. The expanding wall of colors shattered the beams from existence, and the being disappeared from sight instantly.

The blast met the collection of the sirens with tremendous force, scattering all but one in it’s wake. The remaining siren growled through grit teeth with a furrowed brow. “It’s that thing again! She’s really becoming a nuisance. I’ll keep track of their movements!” She faced the remaining group, growling. “The rest of you inform Empress Adagio! She’ll want to handle the outsiders personally.”

-u-

Meanwhile the pair breached the surface, with Sonata dropping Peter’s unmoving form along the nearest bank onto his back. “That was way too close! In case you couldn’t tell, the locals aren’t very welcoming of new ponies.” she stated with a frown, folding her forelegs with a huff before pausing upon receiving no response. “...Peter?” Looking back to the stallion, Sonata blinked before her gaze slowly widened at a realization. Straightening her posture, she quickly placed her ear against the stallion’s chest before shifting it to his mouth. On both accounts, no sound reached the siren’s ear and her complexion paled. “Oh, no. He’s not breathing!” Furrowing her brow, Sonata simply nodded. “There’s no time to waste. I have to do it!"

Sonata lowered by the stallion’s side, pressing her lips against his own before exhaling. She paused, receiving no response. The siren straightened her posture, positioning her hooves over Peter’s chest, pushing against his sternum repeatedly. Beads of sweat fell from Sonata’s face, but she remained vigilant, alternating and repeating the processes in an attempt to resuscitate her friend. Pressing her lips against Peter’s once more she readied to try again, but the stallion’s eyes shot open before he rolled to the side, coughing roughly as water escaped from his mouth.

“Peter!” Sonata cheered, gently rubbing a hoof over the stallion’s back as he recollected his senses and freed the remaining fluid from his lungs. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was scared I lost you for a second there.”

Slow to respond, Peter’s labored breathing slowed until it balanced back out. He weakly peaked to the side, sharing a glance with the siren. “I thought I was supposed to be saving you.”

Sonata giggled in response, standing before offering a hoof. “There’s still time for that. I mean, I’m totally stuck here right now. Home would be a really nice change of scenery.”

Peter accepted the gesture, allowing the siren to help pull him back to a standing position. He briefly lowered to a hunched stance. “That went south so fast. One minute into this reality, and I drown. Heck of a start.” The stallion lifted his head, gazing at the horizon. Only a few rock formations, stone columns, and remnants of broken towers narrowly stood over an endless body of water. Furrowing his brow, Peter frowned. “Where are we? What is this place?”

“Believe it or not, this is Equestria… or what’s left of it,” Sonata grimly whispered, causing the stallion to sharply shift his widened gaze in her direction. The siren inhaled deeply before sighing, rubbing a hoof over her forelimb. “You see, it’s been almost three days since I ended up here, and I’ve heard a lot of things. Apparently, the sirens are the dominant race of this world, and every other species has been driven to near extinction.” Sonata’s eyes softened as she shifted her gaze away. “What’s worse? The one behind all of this is Adagio. She’s the one in charge here.”

Blinking, Peter edged closer to the siren. “You’ve been here for three days? How’ve you been coping?”

Sonata pointed a hoof in the distance. “Not well. The second the other sirens saw me, I was cast out and warned not to return. I guess a pony siren hybrid isn’t natural to their eyes.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, Sonata shivered involuntarily before brushed her hooves against her forelimbs. “It’s hard to breathe here, Peter. There’s so much negative emotions in the air. I had almost forgotten what it tastes like.”

Peter glanced to the side. “Oh yeah, that’s right. If the sirens are in charge that makes sense. You’re the only exception to the siren race because of the cure we made for you.”

Sonata nodded. “Yes, and I’m very grateful for that. Everything just feels so cold here. Believe me, I don’t miss the taste one bit.” Shrugging, the siren exhaled before forcing a smile. “I’m just lucky that I’m faster than everypony here. I’ve had a few close calls here and there, but I had to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. It’s a good thing I did. Otherwise, I would have missed you.”

Peter simply nodded. “Yeah. Just a few more minutes, and I would have been fish food for sure.” His eyes widened at a realization. “Hold on. You haven’t eaten anything for three days?” The siren simply nodded, prompting the stallion to chuckle inwardly. He briefly wrapped his hooves around Sonata’s neck for a warm embrace. A bright light illuminated from the siren’s frame, causing her to inhale sharply at the tingling sensation coursing through her muscles. The pair soon parted, with Peter placing a hoof over her shoulder. “There you go. Does that help?”

Smiling, Sonata nodded. “It does. Thanks. That’s always refreshing, but I wouldn’t mind if you brought a spare taco with you, too.”

“No such luck, but I’ll treat you when we get back home,” Peter grinned, earning a content nod from the siren. Sobering, the pair held their somber gazes on the surrounding sea. Peter held a hoof against his chin, furrowing his brow. “So, the sirens rule, and pretty much everything that lived on land is extinct? We’re dealing with an alternate reality, and if Adagio is the one in charge, I can think of a possibility of how this world came to be.” He raised a hoof objectively. “It’s a theory, but what if Adagio actually managed to defeat Starswirl the Bearded with you and Aria? It’s possible that all of this followed right after that.”

Tilting her head to the side, Sonata pondered the thought with an arched brow. “It’d be the exact opposite of what happened to us.” Shaking her head, the reformed siren let out a despairing sigh. “I’ve always wanted the siren race to thrive, but not with a cost quite THIS high.” She glanced to the side as her ears lowered into her mane shamefully. “Darn it, Adagio. Why do you always have to be so stubborn?”

Peter frowned. “This world’s too far gone. It’s just the way things are meant to be here. The sirens are the dominant race, and if we try anything rash, we’ll disturb their way of life.” Nodding, the stallion placed a hoof over Sonata’s shoulder. “The best thing we can do is grab the fragment before things get any worse.”

Sonata managed to share a glance with the stallion, pausing before eventually nodding firmly. “You’re right, but where would it be?”

“Hopefully, not underwater. My Spider Sense is augmented to trace the fragment’s whereabouts,” Peter whispered, shifting his line of sight to the side. Pointing a hoof to the horizon, the stallion narrowed his hazel gaze. “It’s a good ways out, but if we head straight we should find it.”

Sonata practically bounced in place, giddy at the aspect. “Oh goody! The sooner I get out of this gloomy place, the better!” She hopped into the water without hesitating, resurfacing after a brief duration. “Hop in! Just give me the directions, and I’ll swim us there!”

Peter nervously chuckled under his breath. “The idea of you diving is scary. Just stay topside. I don’t have gills, remember?” The stallion merely sighed before jumping into the water, carefully approaching Sonata before wrapping his hooves gently yet firmly around her neck from behind. Once situated, Peter inhaled deeply before pointing a hoof forward. “Just head straight. Nice and easy.”

“You got it! Nice and easy!” Sonata exclaimed, dashing forward without warning. Peter struggled to hang on as the water ruptured behind the speeding siren, splitting into two waves. Oblivious, Sonata merely hummed and bobbed her head playfully. “We’ll be there in no time!”

-u-

The journey to their destination was brief, lasting only a few minutes due to Sonata’s breakneck speed. They soon approached a ruined landscape emerging outward from the seemingly endless sea. Holding a trio of large marble columns, broken statues of what once resembled equines, and several empty ships floating in the sea around the locale. Peter furrowed his brow at the sight while they passed one of the derelict ships, its foundation aged yet stable. His sixth sense soon chimed, prompting the stallion to tap a hoof against the siren’s shoulder. Sonata slowed to a halt, reaching a pillar.

Peter climbed from her shoulder, climbing onto the side of the column. “What happened here?”

Sonata’s eyes softened as she glanced back at the surrounding ships. “I don’t know, but it’s really gloomy here. This place feels like it’s some kind of a graveyard, like, as if something really bad happened here.” The stallion offered a hoof to the siren, prompting him to lift her onto his shoulders before he proceeded to climb the column. The skies overhead rumbled with thunder as lightning crackled through the skies. Sonata furrowed her brow afterward. “I really don’t like this place, Peter. There’s so many negative emotions flowing through the air. It’s almost suffocating. Where is the fragment? I just want to grab it and get away from here.”

Pausing, Peter pursed his lips. “Don’t worry. We’re close to it.”

The pair soon reached the top of the column’s platform, with the stallion easing the siren atop before he joined her side. Shifting his gaze about, Peter frowned. Soon, he walked over to the edge of the platform and pointed a hoof in the distance, specifically at one of the equine statues overhead. He stared intently at its side, inhaling sharply before noticing the fragment embedded in the stone. The stallion blinked, leaping across the platform and landing on the side of the nearest rock formation, scaling it until he reached the statue.

“There it is. Let’s grab it before--” he whispered, prying the fragment free from the stone. However, a blaring alarm erupted in his cranium, causing the stallion to sharply turn his gaze to the side. “Spider Sense is tingling! Something’s happening!”

Just as Sonata readied to question the stallion’s statement, the column in which they stood on shook as tremors coursed through the entire vicinity. A shockwave erupted, knocking Peter from his heightened position, but the stallion spun in midair, managing to land gracefully next to Sonata. He paused to glance at his empty hoof, cursing under his breath upon noticing the fragment was missing. Peter walked to the edge of the platform, watching as something rose from underneath the water.

A large scaled being levitated, elevating to their position until it hovered over the pair. Sonata blinked, inhaling sharply at the familiar sight. The siren possessed orange scales and a mermaid like tail, towering nearly three times the height of both ponies combined. Its rose tinted irises glowed momentarily before it bore its fangs, snarling. Peter narrowed his gaze on the fragment levitating in her possession, blinking once it fused into her being.

Sonata stared at the siren with a widened gaze and her mouth agape. “Adagio?”

“That’s Empress Adagio, whelp,” she growled as her gaze sharpened into a glare.

Grumbling under his breath, Peter shook his head in an exasperated fashion. “This day just keeps on sucking. How did she know we were heading this way?”

Adagio smirked. “Just because I rule under the sea doesn’t mean I don’t keep tabs over what’s happening above the surface.” The siren huffed once a pair of armored sirens joined her side. “You may not have noticed, but I had a spy trailing you two. You were simply heading in a straight line across a great distance.” Trailing off, Adagio smirked. “This peculiar fragment has been emitting volatile energies for days, yet none of my guards could remove it. When I heard of a mysterious pair approaching it, I figured it was a good opportunity to see if you could do what we could not. As always, I was correct.” She then shifted her gaze to the stallion. “I haven’t seen a pony in ages. I am certain your kind are all extinct. Where have you come from?”

Peter chuckled nervously. “Oh, you know. Under a rock somewhere. We’re a stubborn race, like cockroaches. Even drowning us doesn’t really kill us… sometimes.”

Sonata arched a brow. “What are you even doing here?”

Adagio looked sternly at the interrupting mare. “I admit that one such as I-- the ruler of the world-- am forced to attend to this petty matter. I heard of a siren with pony-like qualities constantly running from my guards all week long. Then I hear of an actual pony swimming along the outskirts of our civilization?” Glancing to the side before returning her line of sight to the pair, the siren snarled. “You could say that I was forced to attend to the situation personally. It was I that issued the order to wipe the equine race from existence. The mere thought of having missed one was unacceptable.”

Peter frowned inwardly. “So her role was reversed with Celestia’s in a sense, except Adagio took it above and beyond.”

Sonata frowned, furrowing her brow. “That’s not what I meant. Where are Aria and me-- uh, I mean-- Sonata? They’re the ones who helped you defeat Starswirl the Bearded. Why aren’t they here with you?”

“You have some nerve asking such a question,” Adagio scoffed, glancing to the side with a bitter gaze. “If you really must know, they were both killed in the final war against ponykind. In a battle that took place in this very location in fact.”

Pointing a hoof behind his head where the ships rested, the stallion frowned. “What’s with the graveyard?”

Adagio scoffed harshly, shaking her head. “A memento of false hope. The Equestrian forces tried one last desperate attack before we wiped the last of their kind from existence. Consider it little more than a lingering memory of those who would ever dare consider opposing the siren race.”

Glancing to the side, Peter’s eyes widened at a sudden realization. “I get it! It makes sense why the fragment was here of all places. They're drawn to chaos. Every fragment so far has been found at the seemingly most chaotic location or individual in that reality. The shattered future, Discord, Cinch, Infurnus. Oh, and Mane-iac. She was pretty nutty, but I found her kind of fun to be honest.”

Meanwhile, Sonata’s eyes widened briefly at the comment before softening towards Adagio. “I see... That certainly explains why you’re so... Bitter.”

Peter shared a glance with Sonata, holding a hoof over his mouth while whispering, “This was a judgement call. Bad for her, but lucky for us.”

Slow to respond, Adagio stared intently at the smaller siren. “You speak as if you know me... Who are you?”

Sonata held a hoof over her chest. “A friend. One from long ago, not that you’d recognize me.”

Adagio huffed, narrowing her gaze into a sharp glare. “No friend of mine would associate with a pony.” Growling, the siren narrowed her glare at the stallion. “Now, enough questions. I want to know how one reached the outskirts of our civilization.” She paused, shifting her glare to Sonata. “Above all, I want to know what this… thing is.”

Sonata blinked, holding a hoof questionably at herself. “I’m standing right here.” Poking her lips out in a huff, the mare exhaled. “Besides, I’m a siren like you, but my genes have been blended with the ponies. You can say that I’m a pony-siren… or a siren-pony. Something like that.” She held a hoof out to the side, sharing a glance with the stallion nearby. “It’s because Peter here helped me. I don’t have to feed on negative emotions. Now, I can feed on positive emotions, and I feel so much better for it.”

Adagio’s eyes widened at the comment. “So you’re a hybrid?” Slow to respond, the siren’s expression darkened as she gritted her teeth to the core. Dark energies emitted from her body while her rose tinted irises glowed with a bright crimson light. “You repulsive, disgusting piece of filth! You are an abomination! The very representation of what would doom our race! You may as well have joined the changelings, if they weren’t already extinct, too.” Tremors coursed through the entire vicinity, and Adagio’s body trembled violently while traces of magical aura glowed across her body. “Neither of you will not live to see past this day!”

Peter blinked, lowering into a defensive stance. “You’re going to destroy us just for being different? That’s not how the world works Adagio. You let fear drive your actions, and you’ll never see the good those who are different around you have to offer.”

Frowning, Sonata shook her head and glared intently at the siren. “Don’t bother, Peter. She’s just too stubborn to listen to anypony.” Holding a stern expression, she never averted her gaze from the true siren. “She’s no longer the friend I once knew.”

“You have some nerve, talking as if you know me!” Adagio roared in a distorted voice, slamming her tail into the column behind her position with enough force to the shatter the stone and cause its entire foundation to crumble. The energies glowing from her body grew malevolent, spiraling out of control in a vortex. “I am not Adagio! I am the Queen of the Sirens!”

Black mist exuded from her form while several large tentacles erupted from her back. Before long, Adagio twisted in place and fell over the ledge. However, one of her tentacles lashed out, forcing Peter to push Sonata out of its path, and the blow knocked the stallion high into the air. Adagio dove deep into the water while Peter soared through the sky, managing to land gracefully onboard one of the ships floating in the sea.

Sonata jumped back to her hooves, ready to pursue the stallion, but the two siren’s guards hovered in her path, both attacking at once with a sharp song. A pair of pulsating waves approached the mare at two angles, forcing her to inhale deeply before shrieking at the top of her lungs. A shockwave erupted around Sonata, and the force of the blow launched both sirens skyward, one colliding through a pillar while the other burst into a wall. Both creatures fell limply into the sea below afterward, rendered unconscious by the vicious sonic assault.

Meanwhile a massive whirlpool churned up in the open ocean, stretching out as far as the eye could see. One by one, the large flotilla of ships were pulled into the whirlpool’s rough and choppy outer edges, and several tentacles rose from the sea, reaching many yards above the surface of the water. Peter stood onboard his ship, watching the spectacle as it unfolded, and Sonata quickly dove from the column, swimming towards the fray with the speed of a torpedo. That same second, one of the many tentacles slammed into one of the ships as it took a swipe at Sonata, shattering the wooden vessel into nothing more than splintered timbers upon making contact with a resounding SMACK, and the destroyed ship sank beneath the waves, colliding with a rock.

The whirlpool’s speed intensified, pulling the dozens of vessels towards it center at a faster rate. Peter furrowed his brow upon spotting something beneath the water at the center, recognizing Adagio’s orange skin, but it was larger in scale, matching the size of the large ship he stood on. Suddenly, one of the limbs snaked around the head of the ship the stallion occupied, lifting it high into the air. Peter maintained his balance, even as the ship was shaken violently.

Meanwhile, Sonata inhaled sharply at the spectacle, diving beneath the surface before turning and rocketing herself out the water. While airborne, the siren inhaled deeply before screaming at the top of her lungs. A sharp bolt rushed out from her mouth, piercing the skies before colliding into the tentacle's tip holding the ship skyward. A shockwave erupted at the point of impact, and the energies sliced cleanly into the tentacle’s tough hide, causing a gash to spread. Peter eyed the injury, latching a strand of webbing onto the tentacle just as it relinquished its hold on the vessel.

He clinged to its side, holding firm even as it dove underwater. Holding his breath, the stallion withstood the currents and lifted his gaze. A colossal monster stared at the pony from the shadows, its large pair of rose-tinted irises glaring intently at him before it roared ferociously. The tentacle rose from underneath the water violently, launching Peter high into the air once he lost his grip. Many of the other tentacles shot out afterward, lunging towards the stallion.

Spinning in midair, Peter narrowly avoided the first, and he shot a strand of webbing onto the next, slingshotting himself over the second and third as they swiped at him. The stallion landed on the side of another tentacle, running across its surface as a fourth and fifth tentacle readied to slam onto his position. However Sonata shot out from the sea once more, vaulting clear over Peter as he ran. As if the world slowed momentarily, the siren turned to face both razor sharp tentacles. She unleashed a high-pitched wail, sending out several shockwaves, and the impact stopped the tentacles in their tracks, cracking their scales.

Peter hopped over Sonata soon afterward, leaping from one tentacle to the next before shooting a strand into the distance. The thread latched onto the tentacle that previously held the ship, evident by its wide gash. The stallion spun around the tip of the tentacle, never relinquishing his hold of the webbing. Once his momentum ceased, Peter pulled at the strand and tightened its hold, allowing Sonata to unleashed another scream, and the bolt released from her mouth slammed into the open wound, triggering a small explosion before the tentacle was severed into two pieces. Adagio roar out in response, gritting her teeth violently.

Peter dove from his position, speeding into a free-fall, and the stallion dove into the sea, falling deep into its trenches. Glancing around, he floated aimlessly. However, just as he readied to swim back to the surface, the stallion paused as a massive monster raced past him while passing a glance. His sixth sense blared as a tentacle lashed out from overhead. Peter lifted his hooves, managing to block the blow, but the tremendous force from the appendage sent him into a spiral.

Just as the second tentacle swung down, prepared to swat the stallion, Sonata raced onto the scene. The siren burst through the tentacle, rupturing the tip from the base without losing momentum. Peter shifted his gaze to the side, holding a widened gaze as Adagio’s grotesque and massive transformed being raced towards him from the dark of the depths with her fangs drawn. Once within range, she attempted to bite the considerably smaller stallion, but he swayed out of range of her mouth with a hoof extended, managing to grab hold of the siren’s fin at the top of her skull.

Pulling himself to a mounted stance, Peter punched at the hide repeatedly until its surface cracked, and he thrust a hoof underneath, prying a chunk of the scale free. Adagio released a pained screamed, stopping in her tracks. Suddenly, she shot for the surface, landing at the top of the structure where the statues and platforms stood. Peter crashed onto the nearest platform, giving Sonata just enough time to join his side.

As she helped the stallion back to a standing position, Adagio’s tentacles stretched out and wrapped around many of the rock formations and columns, allowing the transformed siren to tower over the platform where the pair stood. Her form was no longer recognizable, all of her body having dissipated while tentacles sprouted from its place and held her massive head upright. All sense of reason had left her gaze, leaving only animalistic instincts in place. She hissed loudly, bearing her fangs as traces of drool escaped from her mouth, and the dark energies emitting from her body glowed brightly, igniting.

Adagio leaned forward, releasing a loud roar, and the force of her voice sent tremors coursing through the platform, prompting both ponies to hold their ground. Sonata inhaled deeply, counteracting the scream with one of her own. Both energies collided, pressing against each other. Peter climbed to the highest point of the area while both sirens continued their beam struggle. Once he reached his destination, he jumped as high as possible before speeding into a free-fall towards the transformed siren.

However, before he could react, one of the tentacles snatched his form from the air and slammed him into the nearest wall. Shaking the cobwebs from his head, Peter stood as four of the appendages aimed their razor-sharp tips in his direction. They lunged forward, but the stallion held his ground, lowering into a defensive stance. Once his sixth sense blared at its zenith, Peter jumped high over the conjoined strike and sliced a massive chunk of the rock free.

Faster than the appendages could react, the stallion managed to web all four tentacles in place, and he sped back into a free-fall alongside the massive rock. Latching a pair of strands onto the stone, Peter spun in midair before launching the object directly into the gash on Adagio’s skull. The rock shattered on impact, causing the transformed siren to stagger and falter. Sonata’s eyes widened as Adagio’s screams lowered, prompting her to brace down. Inhaling deeply, the magical wings on her back sprouted and glowed. That same second, Sonata’s roars intensified, and the blast swallowed Adagio’s before it rushed forward, colliding into the transformed siren’s face.

The energies generated a shockwave at the point of impact, triggering a small explosion. The fragment emerged from her body, landing on the edge of the platform. Adagio’s eyes closed shut as the surrounding tentacles shrank, retreating back into her body, and her entire form retook its original shape soon afterward. Peter landed by Sonata’s side as Adagio weakly opened her eyes, stealing one final glance at the pair before her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Yielding to unconsciousness, she toppled over the edge of the platform. Sonata rushed to the edge, watching as her friend of old fell into the sea, and her form fading into the murky depths.

Sonata inhaled deeply before sighing, a somber air overtaking her psyche. “I’m sorry, Adagio. You’re too lost in hatred to ever hear me again.”

Peter’s eyes softened as he placed a hoof over Sonata’s shoulder. “Sorry you had to go through that, Sonata. Sometimes, the smallest difference in a timeline can greatly affect those that we know and love.”

Slow to respond, the siren managed a nod. “I know. She wasn’t the Adagio that I knew, but the similarities were scary. My Adagio was just like that before she died: drowning herself in hatred so much that she couldn’t see the good around her.”

“True, but the Adagio you knew saw the error of her ways and sought to right them in the end. If that’s any indication, it means that there’s still hope for this Adagio. We just don’t know how or when,” Peter whispered, earning a small smile from the siren. Sobering, the stallion retrieved the fragment. “Here. I managed to grab this during the fight. You need to hang on to it. I only have two more fragments left to find. You’ll have to lay low until then. Will you be okay?”

Sonata accepted the fragment with a hoof, grinning. “Yeah. I’m faster than everypony here. Plus, there’s a nice oasis a good distance out. I doubt the sirens will be in a rush to find either of us after what happened to their leader.” The siren playfully punched the stallion’s shoulder. “Just don’t take too long. This place is depressing, and I need a full proper meal. Tacos, if we can help it.”

Peter reached out, wrapping his hooves around Sonata’s neck for a brief yet warm embrace. “Sounds like a deal. Until then…” the stallion trailed out, tightening his hold as he gently nuzzled the side of her head affectionately. A large array of bright, warm energies channeled into the mare, causing her form to glow momentarily. Once the pair parted, Peter grinned as a portal spiraled into existence mere hoof lengths away. “That should hold you over for a while.”

“That’s always refreshing!” Sonata giggled, waving the stallion off as he rushed into the gateway and faded into its energies. Sobering, the siren smiled sweetly once certain she was alone. “Don’t take too long. I miss the rest of my family, too.”

To be continued...

Darkness Reigns

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Chapter Eleven “Darkness Reigns”

A portal spiraled into existence before Peter leapt from within, landing upright gracefully along the edge of the roof of a castle. It stood perched over a cliff, hanging above a sea of rushing water and jagged rocks. The moon shone brightly in the night sky, and strong winds brushed through the vicinity.

Freeing the dust from his shoulder, the stallion nodded. “Okay. Two fragments left, and we can go after Starlight.” Honing his sixth sense, Peter narrowed his gaze on nothing in particular, but his eyes widened at something unusual. “That’s weird. It feels like the fragment is… closing in on me?”

Faster than Peter could react, a dark being soared through the air at breakneck speed and drove their shoulder into his chest. The force of the blow sent the stallion flying into the nearest wall with a flat thud, sending a small tremor through the building. Peter lamely skidded to the ground before pulling himself to a sitting position, holding a hoof over his aching cranium.

“Nope. I was right. Well, at least I found it,” Peter grumbled, peeking up at his attacker.

The being stared down at the smaller equine with a fanged grin. Their horn glowed momentarily, causing particles of magical energy to materialize around Peter’s neck before they lifted his form from the ground. The stallion clutched at the makeshift noose, holding his gaze on the dark alicorn holding him captive. Soon, he recognized the individual’s sky-blue, slitted gaze, black fur, and sparkling ethereal mane. She edged the stallion’s hanging frame closer until their faces were only scant inches apart from each others’, sharing a menacing smirk with her immobilized captive.

“Oh, great. Nightmare Moon,” Peter groaned, pulling at the energies around his neck. “Lady Luck is not my friend today.”

Nightmare chuckled under her breath. “Don’t fade on me yet. I have plans for you.”

Blinking, Peter arched a brow. “Plans? It seems like you were waiting for me. I don’t think we’ve ever met.” Feigning shock, the stallion’s eyes widened as he gasped in an exaggerated manner. “Have you been stalking me? I mean, you are hot and all, but I’m happily married with a girl just as tall as you. Though you’re doing a good job of tickling my fancy.” Shrugging dismissively, Peter blankly stared at the mare. “Besides, it wouldn’t work out between us. I have this thing against girls that work for the dark side.”

“Make your jokes all you want. I’m aware of your history,” the mare sternly stated, licking her lips seductively. “You have quite the dark side yourself. You’d make an excellent host.”

Peter shook his head. “Newsflash, N&M. You’re not my first Nightmare, or second, or third. Besides. I already have a partner, and you can never replace my friend.”

Nightmare’s grin widened, showing fanged teeth. “Don’t be so boring.” The mare’s horn sparked, causing the fragment to materialize next to her head in a flash. “This Nightmare has something your Nightmare never had.”

“The fragment?!” Peter blurted out, eyeing the glowing stone.

The alicorn nodded. “Yes! With its power, your body, and my abilities, we will tear this world apart!” She paused, narrowing her gaze on the stallion. “Join me. Together, nothing can stop us.”

Peter blinked a response. “I’m confused. Aren’t you already using Princess Luna as a host body? What do you need me for?”

“Your body and mind are fully compatible with the energies I exude. With your strength and magical power, I can be far stronger than I can in this body,” Nightmare declared, frowning. “So, I ask you once more. Will you join me willingly?”

Scoffing harshly, Peter rolled his eyes. “If you know so much about me, you should already have an idea of what my answer is.”

Nightmare growled under her breath, levitating the stallion’s form over the edge of the cliff. “That’s fine. I’ll just have to take your body!” The mare cackled wickedly as she relinquished her magical hold, dropping Peter. “Have a nice flight!”

Yielding to the effects of gravity, Peter watched Nightmare stand on her perch before he turned to face the ground. The stallion sped into a free-fall, narrowly avoiding the rocks along the side of the cliff. Nightmare dove after the stallion, unleashing a series of bolts from above. Peter’s sixth sense blared, prompting him to spin or twist out of the path of each beam as he fell.

Once Nightmare was within yards of the stallion, Peter shot out a strand onto the mare’s chestplate and yanked her towards him. Spinning in place, the stallion delivered a stiff kick to the back of the alicorn’s head. Dazed momentarily, Nightmare plummeted to the waiting waters below while Peter managed to whip a strand of webbing to an elevated position. The stallion’s momentum ceased once the thread stretched to its limit, and he bungeed skywards, soaring before landing on solid ground at the foot of the castle.

Suddenly, dark energies erupted from below his position, and thunder rumbled through the skies as lightning crackled across the clouds. Peter looked back, diving into the nearest opened window of the castle, and he caught sight of a thestral as it steadily turned in his direction. Nightmare took back to the skies, hovering in place. Her silhouette beamed through the moon’s light, and the mare shifted her gaze about diligently, attempting to locate the stallion.

After failing to do so, Nightmare grinned madly. “Hide all you like, I will find you! I have eyes and ears all over this castle!” The mare’s eyes glowed momentarily. “Before long, you will be mine!”

The alicorn’s wings flapped, lifting and guiding her frame to the top of the castle. Meanwhile, Peter watched the sight from within the castle walls, concealed behind the window. He dropped the unconscious thestral, who now possessed a large knot over the head, gently down by his side, and he never averted his sight from the outside. Once certain the mare was out of sight, the stallion let out a relieved sigh before sliding down to a sitting position with his back against the wall.

“This is exactly how I pictured my day would be going,” Peter muttered sarcastically, rubbing a hoof over his eyes. “Good news is I know where the fragment is. Bad news is that it’s Nightmare Moon holding it. To make matters worse, she wants to possess me. The fact that she was waiting for me is disturbing. How could she have known I was coming?” Blinking, the stallion’s eyes widened at a realization. “Wait a second. She knew who I was, where I came from, and my personal history regarding another Nightmare. That means Dream is here!”

“It stands to reason that Dream was captured when she came to this world,” Julia’s voice coolly interjected in the confines of the stallion’s mind. “If Nightmare is already in possession of Luna, she would have easily sensed Dream’s presence. Considering how different their ideals are, it stands to reason that there might have been a disagreement between them.”

Tapping a hoof against his hoof, Peter’s brow furrowed. “Is that a guess, or did you read her mind?”

Julia cleared her throat. “A logical and educated guess.”

Peter closed his eyes and exhaled. “Either way, I won’t be able to fight Nightmare Moon on my own. Luna killed me when she had the Venom symbiote. With the Nightmare Force, I imagine the end result would be same. Unless my friends have the Dragonballs handy, I’d rather not die again.” The stallion pursed his lips, frowning. “If Dream is here, I have to find her. I’ll be able to make a stand against Nightmare afterward.” Peter stood upright on his hind legs, nodding. “Plus, I miss her. We have the great dynamic of funny guy and straightman going. Then again, some would say I already have that same chemistry with my wife. Trixie, too. Plus, Luna hardly smiles. The more I think about it, I can add Umbra, Ember, and Laura to that list. Oh, and Julia can’t be missed.”

“All the more reason you need to find her as soon as possible,” Julia hastily declared, ending the stallion’s ramble prematurely. “She must be somewhere close. Perhaps you can acquire some information? It’s only a matter of time before Nightmare locates you. Interrogating one of Nightmare’s subordinates is the fastest route to locating your partner.”

Taken aback, Peter arched a brow. “What am I? Batman? That’s not really my thing.” Pausing, the stallion shifted his gaze skyward as Nightmare’s wild cackling echoed through the castle’s walls. Letting out a defeated sigh, Peter shrugged sheepishly. “I guess now’s as good a time as any to experiment.” After a brief duration, a thestral patrolled the hallways. Just before it could react upon seeing its unconscious cohort, two strands of webbing collided onto their being, cocooning limbs together while covering the mouth. Peter yanked the thestral to his side, nodding. “Mind if we have a quick chat outside? I hear the view is lovely under a starlit evernight.”

The stallion led the thestral outside, dragging her across the ground by a strand. “Look. I don’t have anything personal against you,” he muttered, rolling his eyes. Once at the edge of the cliff, Peter lifted the pony from the ground and held them by the collar. “Let’s be friends, okay? I just want a little information about a friend of mine. She’s really cute, but a bit blunt. Just think Nightmare without the tyrannical attitude.”

“I have nothing to say to you!” the thestral spat, sharpening her yellow gaze into a glare. “I will never betray our lady! She will destroy all traitors to her name! She warned us about you, Spider!”

Peter edged closer to the mare, darkly growling under his breath. “What makes you so sure I won’t?” Pausing, the stallion held his hooves over his head before lowering into a hunched stance. “Your master may have briefed you about me, but you don’t know the extent of my power.” He crawled along the ground, scaling the wall before hissing. “The spiders.”

The thestral blinked, stammering. “Uh... what?”

The stallion flipped back to the earth mere hoof-lengths away from the ensnared thestral, rubbing his hooves through the grass strangely. “I’m summoning the spiders!”

“What are you…?” the mare trailed off, skeptical of what was transpiring.

Peter raised a hoof objectively, continuing to wave the other about in an unusual manner. “I am the Great Spider, and you’re making me mad. I’m summoning the spiders. They will come to my call.” The stallion’s voice was gravelly, resembling the sound of glass scratching against a rough surface. He brushed a hoof through the thestral’s mane, trailing a tongue against his own lip. The color in his irises darkened. “Hundreds of them. Thousands. And all of them hungry and at my command.” The thestral’s complexion paled as Peter edged his face closer to hers, holding an unreadable expression. A long silence filled the air before the stallion cackled wildly. “Because I am the Great Spider!”

Letting out a high-pitched shriek, the mare slammed her eyes shut and wiggled in place. “Okay, I give! Lady Nightmare has imprisoned the imposter in a sacred gem! It’s located within the throne room!”

The stallion was slow to respond, bearing his teeth, but he straightened his posture, patting the mare over the top of the head. “You shall be spared.” Gently lifting the thestral over his shoulder, Peter quietly made his way to the basement where the previously unconscious guard still laid. Just as the mare readied to scream, the stallion shot a wad of webbing over her mouth. She glared intently at him, releasing muffled screams before Peter closed the door to the room. Brushing his hooves off, Peter nodded and shifted his gaze skyward. “All right. Let’s head to the throne room.”

-u-

Deep within the reaches of the throne room, Peter crawled in from the highest window and remained on the ceiling. The room itself was empty, but clamoring could be heard vividly outside. More than likely, Nightmare had alerted the guards of his presence, and everypony was searching adamantly for him. Knowing time wasn’t on his side, Peter swiftly yet quietly descended from the ceiling while hanging onto a strand of webbing upside down. He shifted his gaze about before settling it on the pink gem perched above the large stone chair on the other side of the room.

A dark mist spiraled at the center of the gem, causing its surface to glow momentarily. Peter flipped from his strand and landed in an upright stance. Without hesitating, the stallion raced towards the gem, but once he was mere hoof-lengths away from it, a beam soared across the room, slamming into his chest. The force of the blow knocked Peter back into a violent roll until he crashed back-first into a wall.

Exhaling, the stallion stared blankly at the ground before lifting his gaze to find the alicorn standing over him. “I really need to stop getting my hopes up whenever things look easy. Fate is always there to slap me in face and bring me back down to reality.”

“Did you really think I didn’t know what you were planning? How pathetic,” Nightmare huffed, holding a bemused glare. She turned her back to the stallion, facing the gem. “Dream. That’s what she calls herself? The fact that she somehow allowed herself to be manipulated is beyond me, but I can reform her with time and remind her of our purpose.” Frowning, the alicorn narrowed her gaze on the stallion. “As for you, I see that if I am to claim you, it’ll have to be with force.” Her horn glowed momentarily, causing a bright aura to envelope the stallion. Nightmare growled under her breath as she lifted Peter from the ground via telekinesis. “You brought this pain upon yourself.”

She sharply turned her head to the side, violently tossing Peter across the room until he crashed into another wall. She repeated this action, lifting and tossing the stallion about, and the stone walls were steadily giving away, evident by the spreading cracks in their structure. Relinquishing her hold, Peter limply fell to the ground in a dazed state before he crawled across the ground, groaning. Nightmare stepped to the side, eyeing the prone stallion with a furrowed brow while particles of energy from the atmosphere channeled into her horn.

“This pain can stop at a moment’s notice,” Nightmare whispered, straightening her posture. “Just give in to the darkness of your heart and acknowledge me as your God.”

Peter managed a weak chuckle, shaking the cobwebs from his head. “Sorry, but what’s a God to a nonbeliever?”

Nightmare’s brow twitched at the comment before she bore her fangs. Howling at the top of her lungs, the alicorn lowered her head and unleashed a massive wave of pure dark energy at the stallion. Peter’s sixth sense came to life quite suddenly with a clear warning of inbound danger, slowing the flow of time in the world around him as the beam approached. Its trajectory was straight and wide, leaving no room to maneuver. Glancing to the side, he caught sight of the gem holding his friend prisoner.

Peter shot a strand across the room, latching it onto the jewel, and he yanked it to his position, managing to catch it. Swiftly facing the wave as it was inches away, the stallion held out the gem in the face of the attack. The force of the blow staggered him, causing his legs to buckle, but Peter held his ground, holding the jewel firm. The wave pressed on, cracking the gem’s surface until it eventually shattered.

The wave immediately engulfed the stallion, causing his form to disappear in the onrushing maelstrom of energies. Suddenly, an explosion detonated at the center of the wave, triggering a shockwave potent enough to shatter the surrounding walls. Each shard of stone fell from the tower, and a dust cloud spread from the point of impact. Nightmare stood firm, staring at the source of the explosion with a furrowed brow.

However, her eyes widened once the dust cleared, revealing the stallion’s form still intact. Suddenly, his gaze emitted a bright blue light, burning through the smog. A firm gust rushed out from under his body, chasing away the surrounding dust. Gone was his hazel gaze, replaced by blue slitted irises. A bubble shield illuminated around his otherwise unharmed form before Peter’s horn sparked, prompting his black and white costume to materialize over his body.

Within the confines of his mind, Dream took form. She held out her hand, letting out a relieved sigh. “It feels so good to be back.”

Peter’s image morphed into sight next to the entity as he placed a hand over her shoulder, nodding. “I wish we could savor the moment, Dream, but we have a bit of a problem to take care of first.”

“Indeed. We’ll revel in our reunion afterward,” Dream affirmed, placing her hand over the young man’s own.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Peter lifted his glowing gaze until he met Nightmare’s. “Kindness isn’t a weakness, Nightmare. Dream and I found a power in the bond we share that you could only imagine. It isn’t because we control each other. It’s because we trust each other.”

Nightmare scoffed harshly. “Is that a fact? Then show me this power!” Her horn emitted magical energies before a silver-blue armor materialized into existence over her body, revealing only her wings, ears, eyes, mouth, and horn. Suddenly, a scythe morphed behind the alicorn’s position, her energy glowing around its long handle. A cyan gem shone at the weapon’s tip, and the dark blue blade itself was shaped like a crescent moon, reminiscent to the mark on her flank and facemask. Thunder rumbled in the skies while lightning crackled across the clouds. The alicorn narrowed her gaze on the stallion, straightening her posture. “I shall show you the depths of the abilities I possess!”

Nightmare vanished from sight in a flash of light, materializing into existence directly behind the stallion with her scythe reared back. A blaring alarm echoed throughout his cranium, prompting him to sway his body to the side out of harm’s way as the mare swung her weapon. Even from her distance, the stone wall across from the path of her weapon fell in two pieces, sliced cleanly in half. Nightmare leapt back, slashing wildly at her foe, but Peter swayed in response to each attack, flipping high into the air backwards.

Once he landed, Nightmare dashed forward until she was hoof-lengths away, and she cackled wildly before swinging the point of the scythe down with malicious intent, aiming to cleave the stallion in two from the middle. Peter slammed his hooves together, stopping the weapon just a mere inch from his face. The pair stood, straining as each attempted to gain the advantage. Beads of sweat fell from Peter’s forehead before he swung his hooves to the side, managing to shift Nightmare’s momentum, and the point of the alicorn’s scythe embedded into the ground.

Faster than she could react, the stallion drove his shoulder into her chest, driving her back, and he raised his legs, slamming it down in the form of an axe-kick over the handle of the weapon. The reinforced wood gave way and shattered, with two pieces of the handle flying in separate directions. Nightmare staggered back, unleashing a volley of magical beams, but Peter performed a series of backflips, avoiding each projectile before leaping high into the air. Once the stallion landed in a perched stance on top of a pillar, the alicorn shot out a beam onto the column at her enemy’s hooves.

Peter hopped over the projectile as it detonated upon colliding into the marble, triggering a small explosion of fire and magical energy. The world slowed around the stallion as he soared through the air, eyeing the large chunk of stone that fell from the blast. Shooting a strand of webbing onto the broken column, Peter spun in midair while never relinquishing his hold until his image resembled a twirling propeller blade. Releasing his thread, the stallion launched the large stone at breakneck speed.

Nightmare’s horn glowed, causing a magical barrier to erupt into existence around her position as it neared. However, the world slowed once more as Peter vanished in a flash, reappearing inches away from the shield. He punched the barrier repeatedly with speed matching that of a gatling gun, each blow harder than the last, and tremors coursed through the castle’s walls until a crack surfaced in the defense. Suddenly, the stallion faded instantly in a burst of light. Time seemingly resumed before the stone slammed into the barrier, shattering the defense, and the column collided into the ground mere inches away from Nightmare, with the force of the blow sending the alicorn flying back through the nearest wall.

Bursting from underneath the pile of rubble, violent bright energies rushed from the mare’s body as she took flight. She rushed into the stallion faster than he could react, grabbing him by the collar before flying straight up. The pair soared past the clouds, eventually reaching the stratosphere. Peter shifted his weight, managing to halt their flight, and they fell into a rapid descent, racing back towards the earth at near-terminal velocity. Nightmare snarled, holding both hooves over the stallion’s neck as electrical currents sparked from her horn.

Once she lowered her head to unleash a bolt, Peter rolled to the side, and the beam narrowly missed his head by the tiniest of margins, evident by traces of scorched mane. Firing multiple strands of webbing over the appendage on her head, the stallion lifted himself to a mounted position with a hoof reared back. Nightmare snarled as energies channeled into her horn, but the magic quickly dissipated, causing the alicorn’s eyes to widen. Peter delivered a series of stiff punches to her jaw repeatedly, ending his attack with a straight hoof to the chest.

The force of the blow sent Nightmare flying back, but the stallion halted her progress when he latched a strand of webbing to her chestplate, yanking her back to him. For Peter, the world slowed once more as he held his hooves out to the side. Particles of magical energy from the atmosphere spiraled over his limbs before morphing, taking physical shape into a pair of gauntlets. Twilight Arms II’s light illuminated in the surrounding darkness, acting as a pair of beacons.

Peter and Dream roared together in unison as the stallion lunged forward, thrusting a hoof into Nightmare’s chest with all of his might. A shockwave erupted at the point of impact, and the blow matched the roar of thunder, rumbling across the skies of Equestria. The armor surrounding Nightmare’s chest shattered into multiple pieces, spreading in many directions, and the fragment spun from her being, levitating towards the stallion. That same moment, just as Peter grabbed the missing piece of the tablet, the force of the blow launched Nightmare with the force of a missile straight down through the castle from above.

The very foundation of the stone building ruptured as the earth split, shooting skyward. Multiple thestrals screamed at the chaos, flying from the castle as it collapsed into the sinking earth. Violent tremors shook the land asunder while a crater spread. Strangely, only darkness waited as Nightmare plummeted. The alicorn could only fall unconsciously, her image fading in the abyss as shards of stone and remnants from her once great castle followed.

Meanwhile, Peter continued to plummet via free-fall with the fragment in his possession. “One more to go,” he muttered, spinning several times in midair before landing gracefully the side of one of the collapsing walls. The blue faded from his eyes, allowing his hazel gaze to resurface as he leapt to the ground. Once stationary, the stallion held a confident smirk. “I missed you, Dream! I almost completed this entire adventure without you! Julia’s just about sick of my company.”

In the confines of the stallion’s mind, Dream folded her arms. “I am grateful that you came to my aid. It’s almost sickening having to listen to an egomaniacal version of myself for many days.” She inhaled deeply before sighing. “It was lonely, admittedly. I miss the warmth you constantly provide.” Feeling the temperature in her face elevate, the entity cleared her throat and glanced to the side. “Although... I can deal without your puns on occasion. I can hardly imagine the troubles you’ve stumbled into without my guidance.”

“You have no idea,” Peter grinned. “We’ll have plenty of time to catch up after all of this is said and done. I have one more piece of the fragment to find before we can pull the team back together.” Sobering, the stallion narrowed his gaze on the portal in the distance and nodded. “You’ll have to sit tight for a bit. I can’t bring you back with me just yet. Is there a way you can stay out of sight and hang on to the fragment until then?”

“All things considered, I believe that I can manage,” Dream calmly retorted, folding her arms. “When the portal opened here originally, Nightmare was close by, and that led to my immediate capture. With you defeating her, she’ll be focused on recovering before attempting to relocate me. I can stay under the radar while using a thestral as a host in the meantime.”

Peter hummed, holding a hoof over his mouth. His eyes widened as a smile surfaced on his face. “I think I have the perfect candidate in mind.” The stallion made his way to the cellar, finding the thestral he interrogated earlier still there. “Hi! It’s me again!”

Her eyes shot open at the sight of the Spider, and she wiggled feverishly, attempting to break free from the webbing binding her limbs together. “Stay away from me! I don’t want the spiders all over me!”

Dream opened her mouth, ready to question, but she simply shrugged, exhaling. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. She’ll do just fine.” Suddenly, the dark energies rushed out of Peter’s body, spiraling into that of the thestral’s. She lowered to a kneeling stance, shaking her head before standing upright. The yellow in her eyes faded, allowing a bright blue slitted gaze to take its place. She held out a hoof inches away from her face, huffing. “This one’s will is surprisingly weak. It will be of no issue to maintain control for as long as I need to.”

Peter retrieved the fragment, offering it to the mare. “Okay. Hang on to this, Dream, and stay out of sight. I’ll be back for you.”

“Understood,” Dream whispered, accepting the item. The pair shared a nod before the stallion rushed into the distance, making his way to the nearest portal. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Dream nodded while smiling. “I look forward to our more permanent reunion, Peter. The universe has come to be a lonely place without you.”

To be continued...

Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part I

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Chapter Twelve “Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part I”

“So, you’re finally down to the last fragment?” Twilight gently asked, earning a small nod from the stallion. Letting out a relieved sigh, the princess managed a smile. “I’m glad. Hopefully, this whole thing will be fixed soon.”

The scepter at her side hummed to life off-key. “My little pony~! I used to wonder what friendship could be~!”

Her brow twitched involuntarily, but the alicorn simply inhaled deeply before sighing, attempting to ignore the scepter’s constant singing. “I can’t wait. Once you get back, I’ll lock this annoying thing in the attic for good.”

Peter chuckled, resting his hooves over his hips. “You just miss my wonderful personality in the flesh.”

Twilight huffed, rolling her eyes. “Sure. You at least can take a hint when I glare at you.”

Feigning mock hurt, Peter held a hoof over his chest. “That’s only because you’re surprisingly mean when you’re grumpy.” Sobering, the stallion shared a glance with the astral image of his wife. “How are things on your end? I’ve been running around nonstop, which means that I haven’t had time to ask how you are doing.”

Slow to respond, Twilight waved a hoof dismissively while holding an earnest smile. “All things considered, I think I can forgive you. Repairing reality takes precedence, but I appreciate you always checking on me during your mission.” The alicorn slowly eased to a sitting position, letting out a low sigh. “Fortunately everything has remained peaceful here, outside of the constant unwanted chirping from a golden item.”

“Don’t hate me because I am beautiful” the scepter chimed, humming a light tune.

Releasing an exasperated groan, the alicorn shrugged. “It hasn’t been all bad. I just received a visitor, and Gwen was thrilled.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the comment before he tilted his head to the side. “Really? Who might that be?”

Just as Twilight readied herself to respond, Gwen trotted into the room while giggling happily. Another filly soon followed, an alicorn filly with a bright pink fur coat and light violet mane with a blue streak at the center. Her luminous cyan gaze held an undeterred innocence, matched only by the hazel sight of her fellow filly. They played feverishly, exchanging pleasantries while struggling to contain their laughter. Both seemed close to the same age, with only minute differences to distinguish them from one another.

Peter smiled at the sight. “Oh, Flurry Heart! I actually forgot that she was supposed to be staying with us for the weekend.”

Twilight nodded, watching the pair run around in circles while shifting her gaze to her husband occasionally. “Yeah. Cadance just dropped her off about an hour ago. I don’t think those girls have sat down yet.” She raised a knowing brow at the stallion. “I hope you haven’t forgotten your promise to have a tea party and sleepover with the girls. They sure haven’t.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Peter chuckled, scratching the side of his cheek with a hoof. Once the fillies were a safe distance away, the stallion’s complexion paled as he held a hoof over his mouth. “Make sure you help the girls bake the cookies next time. I nearly lost a tooth to the last batch they made. Gwen got flour mixed up with one of Mayday’s powder reservations the last time.”

Twilight snorted involuntarily, failing to stifle her laughter. “Duly noted. It was sweet on your part to humor Gwen, but I remember your dentist lacking the same empathy.” The princess watched both fillies for a few seconds with a sweet smile, humming. “It’s funny. Mayday and Diamond couldn’t stand the sight of each other until they were adults. Even now, they’re... acquaintances at best.”

Peter shook his head, sighing. “We can’t help that. Mayday’s just built to be anti-social. She loves her studies and gadgets. Plus, she’s pretty decent with you, Ben, and Gwen.”

“True, but she treats you like a diamond in comparison. You’re really the only one who can get to her emotionally,” Twilight mused, smirking. “You were her prom date, remember? Even then you practically had to bribe her to go. Sadly, that might just be the closest our oldest child ever gets to an actual date.”

Pausing, Peter chuckled. “Mayday’s like you were when we first met. You know, if you had the sexual and emotional response of a rock.” The stallion shrugged, never losing his smile. “It’s not a bad thing. It’s just who Mayday is.”

Twilight nodded, narrowing her gaze on the fillies in the distance. “That’s what makes me smile about Gwen. She and Flurry Heart are practically inseparable. They’re best friends already, and that bond will only flourish as they grow.”

“They’re two peas in a pod. It’s pretty easy for them,” Peter reaffirmed, folding his hooves. “Mayday and Diamond were just too opposite of each other to see eye-to-eye. Ben has friends, but he still keeps to himself.” The stallion’s demeanor softened once Gwen slipped, landing roughly on her stomach. However, Flurry Heart stopped in her tracks, helping her cousin back to a standing position. Once certain everything was okay, both fillies continued to play. Peter extended a hoof, sharing a glance with Twilight. “That’s exactly why. They have a lot in common. They’re both only months apart in age, extremely friendly, overly positive, and caring of others.”

Grinning, Twilight pursed her lips. “We’re blessed with all of our children. Mayday’s quirky, Ben’s soft-spoken, and Gwen is just brimming with affection. It makes me wonder what our fourth child will be like when that time comes... Not that I’m in a rush for another one anytime soon.”

“Once Ben graduates from high school, we’ll make plans for a fourth. I bet it’ll be another girl.” Peter grinned, nodding.

Twilight smirked while arching a brow. “Who says it’s going to be a girl? I’d rather much prefer having another boy. With our track record, I’d say luck is in my favor. Consider it a female’s intuition.” The alicorn’s image steadily faded as Peter stepped back, approaching the last of the unexplored portals. “At any rate, don’t take too long. I’ll take your company over a mouthy scepter any day.”

“We all know I wear the pants in the family! By pants, I mean thong! Have I mentioned my sparkly booty? It’s huge, and my husband loves it!” the scepter chimed, causing a vein to pulsate over the mare’s temple.

Twilight snarled, gritting her teeth as she clutched at the scepter’s neck with both hooves. “Last warning! Shut. Your. Mouth!”

The scepter paused, as if taking the alicorn’s warning to heart, but it hummed once more. “Oh, Twilight…! Don’t you dare be sour! Clap! For your beautifully handsome husband! And feel the power! It's a new day! Yes, it is!”

Peter gestured a friendly wave, oblivious while Twilight held the scepter high overhead and swung it to the ground, as if attempting to destroy it before her image dissipated completely. He gazed upon the portal, shrugging before leaping inside. The stallion soared through the whirling energies before reaching the end, landing amidst the outskirts of a forest. Peter gathered his thoughts as he glanced about his surroundings sternly. However the skies were bright with a sunny gaze, a gentle breeze brushing through the environment. Eventually he settled his gaze on the village in the distance, eyeing the equines chattering casually.

Blinking, Peter furrowed his brow. “This looks like Ponyville... And nothing’s wrong. I can’t even sense the fragment.” He glanced to the side where his castle would have presided, but nothing stood there, only a lush grassy plain. “It’s so weird not seeing our castle here.” Murmuring inwardly, Peter tapped a hoof against his chin. He stared intently at Ponyville with a furrowed brow, inhaling sharply upon spotting a familiar sight. A large tree decorated to resemble a home sat near the center of the village. Peter’s gaze widened as his mouth fell agape. “Is that the Treebrary? I haven’t seen that in years.”

“It resembles your home, but you are within a different reality,” Julia interjected, her voice echoing in the depths of the stallion’s mind. “However, things may not be as they seem. Learn of your surroundings before you venture out. Nothing appears to be immediately out of place, but you must remain vigilant nonetheless.”

Nodding, Peter narrowed his gaze on the village. “Okay. Let’s check out this place. See if it’s familiar or alien.”

Venturing forth, the stallion reached the gates before traveling further into the village. As he anticipated, everything was where it was supposed to be. The Cakes still resided in their rightful place, with the couple gesturing a friendly pair of waves at the stallion. Replying with a smile, Peter pressed on. Derpy flew overhead, nearly colliding with a chimney, but she waved eagerly upon spotting the stallion before continuing her mail route. Fortunately, many of the residents replied similarly, holding familiar smiles while greeting the stallion. Yet, there was a quiet air filling the atmosphere. Some of the villagers were wary of the stallion’s presence, bowing out of respect while staying out of his path.

He eventually reached the Treebrary, pausing to steal a glance at the village once more. “I mean it’s like my Ponyville, but something feels off.” Shrugging, the stallion knocked at the home’s front door before straightening his posture. “I’ll try getting some answers here first. Twilight is usually pretty good about keeping up with what’s happening in the world, unless she’s stuck in a book. Heaven forbid if the latest Daring Do came out. She’d turn into a hermit.” Glancing to the side, Peter rolled his eyes. “Let’s face it. The hermit in Mayday came from her mother.”

The door steadily creaked open, revealing a familiar sight, but it was not the one Peter anticipated, evident by his widened gaze. A mare with bright orange fur and a fiery mane stood within the Treebrary, arching a brow at her guest. Peter blinked, recognizing the sight, but he eyed the wings on her sides as well as the horn on her head with a puzzled gaze. Spike stepped out from behind the alicorn, tilting his head to the side, and the stallion furrowed his brow, noting the baby dragon’s lack of growth.

“Peter?” Sunset Shimmer questioned, managing a smile after a brief duration. “I wasn’t expecting you today. What’s up? It’s not like you to come visit without your armor and shield.”

Slow to respond, Peter frowned before scratching the back of his head. “Hey, uh... Sunset. I was in the neighborhood. I’m taking it easy today.”

Sunset chuckled, turning around while taking a seat. “Taking a break from the castle, huh? You’re usually sleeping at this hour. So, that explains a little bit.” Waving a hoof dismissively, the mare shrugged. “At any rate it’s good to see you.”

“Sleeping? I like sleeping in and all, but it’s three.” Peter muttered objectively, folding his hooves.

Spike arched a brow. “You still work the night shift, the last time we checked. So it’s not surprising if we think you should be asleep right now.”

Peter blinked, rubbing a hoof over his forehead. “Night shift? Now I’m really confused.”

Sunset threw a book across the room, striking the stallion’s head. “What’s with you today? There’s something off. You don’t remember your own job? I know you’re an idiot at times, but I wouldn’t expect that from you.”

Chuckling sheepishly, Peter stammered about. “Ha! Sorry! I was up all night, and I… haven’t fallen asleep yet! Guess I’m a little loopy right now!” Sunset and Spike shared a bewildered gaze while the stallion pointed a hoof behind his position. “I’ll head on back to Canterlot. Maybe a good day’s sleep is what I need.”

As if satisfied with his response, Sunset nodded before placing a hoof over the stallion’s shoulder. “That’s more like it. I know I give you a hard time but I do love you, you know? Besides, what sort of best friend would I be if I didn’t give you at least some grief?” The alicorn turned Peter around, unaware of his now widened gaze, and she gently pushed him away from the Treebrary, waving afterward. “Now, go home. I’m sure your wife would have an ulcer if she found out you haven’t gone to bed after a nightshift.”

Spike chuckled mischievously. “Yeah. Don’t keep Luna waiting. You know how grumpy she gets when you make her worry.”

“Uh, y-yeah,” Peter muttered, hesitantly waving before taking his leave. Once Spike and Sunset closed the door to the Treebrary, the stallion’s brow lowered in thought. “Okay. That was unexpected. Sunset Shimmer is an alicorn in this reality, and she’s my best friend? I mean, nothing wrong with that. Sunset’s always been pretty cool but how is she living in the Treebrary?” Pursing his lip, Peter lifted his gaze. “Plus, Luna? She’s my wife here? It’s surprising, but… expected at the same time. I wonder how that happened?” The stallion slowed to a halt narrowing his gaze on nothing in particular. “If Luna and I are together here, then what happened to this world’s Twilight? There’s a lot I don’t know, and it’s bothering me.”

“Perhaps you should head to Canterlot Castle,” Julia politely interjected, inhaling deeply before sighing. “The princesses keep track of everything that happens in the land. They are your best chance to find answers. If you’re lucky, maybe Trixie considered this option as well.”

Peter’s eyes widened before he nodded in response. “Yeah. If I know Trixie, she’s doing what she can to try to find the fragment already.” Slowly but surely, the stallion sped into a gallop as he raced in the direction of Canterlot. “All right. Let’s hope for the best. If anything they might hear me out, since I’m married to Luna.” Groaning inwardly, Peter’s brow furrowed. “Although, this can get awkward if this world’s Peter is there. They’d assume I’m a clone or a changeling. Considering I haven’t seen a single changeling out in the open yet, that wouldn’t be good.”

“Indeed,” Julia reaffirmed, clearing her throat. “Be ready for anything, Peter.”

-u-

The journey to Canterlot was brief, lasting only a few minutes, and upon his arrival, the greeting from the locals was practically similar to those from Ponyville. There was an air of familiarity surrounded by a sense of admiration. However, they seemed more familiar with the stallion, evident by their willingness to greet him in person. It reminded Peter of those in the Ponyville of his reality.

In spite of his royal status he talked with everypony around him openly, and over time there was a sense of trust. He was the prince everypony could approach and chat with, all while still holding a sense of high respect out of instinct. With a nod Peter came to realize that if this world’s version of himself was anything similar, then it was apparent that Canterlot was truly his home.

Peter eventually reached the castle gate, pushing through the door. Most of the guards greeted him in a friendly manner, bowing out of respect before waving. Furrowing his brow, Peter frowned. Even the knights here treated him with more respect. While they were friendly with him in his own reality, it seemed as if they were truly acquainted here on a personal level. In his own reality, authority figures had a knack for disliking his nonchalant behavior. It only left his mind pondering what this reality’s Peter Parker was like.

Freeing himself from his self-induced trance, Peter shook his head upon reaching the throne room. He glanced about his surroundings, eyeing the structure of the interior. However, he paused once his line of sight settled on something familiar. An alicorn with a bright coat and multicolored ethereal mane stood near the center of the room, keeping her light violet gaze focused on the scroll in her grasp via magical telekinesis. The center of his chest tightened once the alicorn faced him, smiling obliviously.

“Princess Celestia?” he gently called out, choking back a sob.

The alicorn sheepishly grinned. “Oh my, hello Peter. I thought you and my sister retreated to your private quarters for the evening.” Pausing, Celestia’s smile widened. “Then again, I know my sister can be inconsolable when the mood suits her. That makes her bedside manner quite sporadic, am I right?” Blinking, Peter offered no response, and Celestia cleared her throat, waving a hoof dismissively. “Oh, pay no attention to me. You know I only speak out of fun. If you’re up, that means you want to talk. What is on your mind exactly?”

Slow to respond, Peter gathered his thoughts before clearing his throat. “Nothing. I’m just… really happy to see you.”

Taken aback, Celestia sobered at the stallion’s soft tone. Her smile remained intact. “I always enjoy your company as well. We’re siblings by law, but you do know that you can talk with me about anything.”

Peter managed a smile, nodding. “Yeah. I know. I just like it when you remind me every now and then.”

“As unusual as ever... But that’s one of the reasons why my sister is so drawn to you,” Celestia gently declared, brushing a hoof through her mane. Once she took a seat, the alicorn closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before sighing. “Now, I’ll ask you again. What’s wrong? Something’s clearly on your mind. It’s practically painted on your face.”

Blinking, Peter chuckled. “I can’t hide anything from you.” The stallion chuckled inwardly. “Wow. It sounds like Celestia and this Peter are really close. I know they’re technically in-laws, but I feel it’s deeper than that. It makes me wish I spent more time with my Celestia. There’s the old saying. We don’t truly miss what’s special to us until it’s gone. There’s so much truth to that.” Clearing his mind, Peter raised a hoof objectively. “Has anything weird happened lately? There’s something I’m trying to find, and it’s really important.”

“That’s... unusually cryptic of you,” Celestia murmured, her brow lowering in thought. The alicorn pondered the thought, humming to herself. “The only thing that comes to mind right off was the sudden arrival of Trixie Lulamoon. She barged into the castle, asking for you while wearing an… unusual outfit to say the least.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the comment, waving a hoof near his face and waist respectively. “Was she wearing a steel-plated mask and star-spangled cape?”

Celestia firmly nodded. “Yes. She was very insistent to talk with you. What’s odd is that Trixie spoke as if she knew you on a deep personal level.” The alicorn frowned. “You haven’t seen her in years, and for her to show up at our doorstep is quite bizarre.”

“Which way did she go?” Peter questioned, relief and concern filling his voice. “I have to find her as quickly as possible.”

Slow to respond, Celestia’s expression stiffened. “What are you talking about? You went after her a few hours ago and came back already after failing to find her.” Peter’s eyes widened at the comment before a long silence filled the air. Celestia stood from her seat, narrowing her gaze on the stallion. “Just who are you, exactly?”

“A fake, that’s who!” a voice exclaimed from the other side of the room.

Just as Peter readied to respond, his sixth sense blared uncontrollably. He managed to duck his head as a shield soared through the air. The object ricocheted across the walls before landing in a stallion’s waiting hoof. Peter turned his gaze, blinking at the sight standing upright on his hind legs. He wore a light suit of dark blue armor bearing a spider insignia over the chestplate, and the bright shield he carried had a symbol of the sun at its center. The stallion lifted his stern gaze, bearing an exact resemblance to Peter.

“Who are you? A changeling? I’m not keen on the idea of clones running around in my place.” the armored stallion grunted, rubbing a hoof over the shield’s surface.

Peter blinked, arching a brow. “Whoa. Are you Captain Equestria? I’m digging the mighty shield. Does that mean I have to yield?” The stallion waved a hoof dismissively. “Anyway, I’m you--but from an alternate reality.”

“Really now? Let’s see if you’re lying,” the doppelganger huffed, clutching his shield before hurling it at the ground.

The item skidded to a halt mere inches away from Peter, and he eyed the bright weapon with an arched brow. However, the shield magnetized towards him at full speed after a brief silence, but Peter managed to lift his hooves at the same second, catching the weapon. His hooves skidded across the marble floor until he ceased. Blinking, the stallion stared at the shield.

“Wow. Nice design! You made this yourself? I can tell Captain America was your favorite hero,” Peter commented while closely examining the armament. He strained, attempting to bend it. After a brief duration, the stallion chuckled and tapped a hoof against its surface. “It’s surprisingly lightweight, and it feels unbreakable. Is it resilient against magic? The coating is pretty similar to a pair of gauntlets I have at home.”

The other Peter furrowed his brow with a frown, catching the item with a hoof as it was tossed back to him. “Yes. It’s my primary weapon. I’m not the best at magic. The shield is meant to deal with troublesome unicorns and other magical items. Sometimes, the best offense is a sturdy defense.”

“Or sometimes the best offense is a giant metal frisbee being thrown that can decapitate heads from shoulders or give moderate to severe concussions,” Peter lightly added, earning a blank stare from his counterpart.

Celestia simply nodded in agreement from a distance, grinning. “In his early years Peter has given many concussions to the local guards during his training hours.” Her stallion shot a glare, causing the alicorn to wave a hoof sheepishly. “Why do you think half of the guards fear you? You’ve hit them over the heads enough times to cause paranoia.”

Scoffing, the other stallion glanced to the side. “Ignoring my trollish sister-in-law, I designed my shield to magnetize towards my specific magical signature. A changeling can mimic my appearance, but it can’t mimic my genetics. You really are me from a different reality.” Pausing, Peter shook his head and sighed. “I’m saying that like it’s normal for a guy to bounce from one reality to the next.”

“It is for me. This is my… fifth time that I recall dealing with multiverse shenanigans. My math may be off. Plus that’s how you got here, right?” Peter simply declared, raising a hoof objectively.

The other Peter blinked, staring at his counterpart. “Five? I only had one incident to speak of, and that was my one-way trip here to Equestria. It sounds like you’ve had more adventures than me. I’ll thank my luck that it was you than me.” Clearing his throat, the stallion straightened his posture. “So. What do you call yourself, fellow Spider?”

“I’m Peter Parker and formerly Spider-Mane in my reality,” Peter cheered, nodding. “Now, I’m the Spirit of Order, believe it or not, and I haven’t thought of a new heroic Spider name yet.”

Cringing, the other stallion shook his head. “Spider-Mane? I love Pinkie and all, but that name was so stupid. I’m known as Spider-Knight here.”

Pausing, Peter stared vividly at his counterpart with a widened gaze. “Spider-Knight?! That’s so cool! Why didn’t I think of that?! It’s so obvious!” Letting out a defeated sigh, the stallion held a hoof over his forehead. “But I guess I can’t use that name now. It’s already taken.”

“We’re getting off-topic here,” this reality’s Peter sternly stated, freeing his doppleganger from his self-induced rambling. “If you’re really from an alternate reality, how exactly did you get here, and what is it that you’re looking for?"

Scratching the back of his head, Peter chuckled nervously. “Well, it’s kind of a long and crazy story. I doubt even you would believe it.”

The other stallion slid the shield over his back before folding his hooves. “Try me.”

Peter raised a hoof, nodding. “Okay. Someone back in my world named Starlight Glimmer took something called the Tablet of Order and Chaos that was previously hidden in a pocket dimension. When she attacked, I ended up breaking it, but that turned out to be a bad idea when the energies within were threatening to tear reality asunder. Bad news, right? Anyway. Several fragments and my teammates were scattered in various realities, and now, I’m trying to find everything. Right now, I’m on my last fragment and teammate. That Trixie that came by here earlier was my Trixie. She took up the mantle of a good Mysterio in my reality. Go figure. So, yeah. A fragment is in this reality somewhere.” Clearing his throat, Peter lamely blinked. “So, does that make sense?”

Exhaling, the other Peter shrugged and rolled his eyes. “That sounds so stupid that it has to be true.” Pausing, he blankly stared at his doppelganger. “You talk so much.” The stallion glanced to princess nearby. “Was I really this annoying at that age?”

“That age? Dude, I’m forty-five, married, and a father of three,” Peter stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

The other Peter stared at his counterpart, slack-jawed. “What?! Mid-forties?! I’m not even thirty yet, and I’m more mature than you.”

Celestia walked next to Peter while holding a coy smile at her brother-in-law. “I think he’s more fun than you. He’s not as… stuffy. Can we keep him? I promise to feed him.”

"Will you take me for walks, too? I hear the Winsome Falls are a great spot. No leash needed! I’ll ride horseback!” Peter chuckled, sharing a laugh with the alicorn.

The other stallion bit down on his lip and groaned. “Bah! I don’t need you encouraging her! Celestia’s a pain in the butt on her own.” Waving his hooves defensively, the other Peter huffed. “Okay. I’ll bite. We’ll help you find this fragment and your Trixie. She said she was heading north. For what? I don’t know, but maybe you will. If we head out now, we might be able to catch up to her.” Nodding, he glanced to the side before sharing a glance with Celestia. “We might be busy for a while. You mind covering the nightshift if need be?”

Celestia managed a smile, chuckling. “Of course not. Do what you have to. I’ll watch over the castle in your absence. Should I tell my sister what you’re doing?”

“No. I’ll do it. If I don’t keep her in on the loop, she’ll castrate me,” the other Peter shared a glance with his counterpart, pointing a hoof before walking from the vicinity. “You stay put. My wife will more than likely want to join us.”

Peter chuckled. “I can imagine. Luna’s one of my best friends in my reality, and she’s super stubborn. It’s not surprising if she’s the same here.”

Huffing, the other Peter’s demeanor faltered. “If I may pry, who are you married to within your reality?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Twilight Sparkle. We’ve been married for nearly twenty five years now,” Peter lightly grinned before glancing to the side questionably. “I’ve been meaning to ask about her. I haven’t seen or heard of her while I asked around. Is this one of those realities where she never existed? If it is, I’m just throwing you off, huh?”

The air in the vicinity grew thick, making the simple act of breathing challenging. The other Peter simply exited the throne room quietly, hiding a somber gaze. Just as Peter readied to question what had transpired, Celestia left her seat and walked towards him. Blinking, the stallion eyed the alicorn’s saddened expression.

Before Peter could utter a response, the main door to the room swung open. Like lightning would strike a rod, Celestia’s mood swung from depression to shock. Peter blinked as a mare with blue fur and silver-blue curled mane stomped into the room, garbed in a colorful dress. A trio of golden belt buckles were wrapped around her pointy hat and waist, matching the boots on her hind legs. Bright blue stars were patterned on both her violet hat and cape.

She marched to the throne chair, raising a hoof objectively. “I have returned, and I demand that you listen to me this time! I will--!”

“Trixie?” Peter politely questioned, poking a hoof at the mare’s chest.

Trixie’s words fell into her throat at the sound of the stallion’s voice. She stared at him with a softened gaze, sobering before releasing a haughty scoff. “You certainly took your time! Here I was, stranded in an unknown world for a whole two hours, and my supposed ‘best friend’ cares not for my safety!”

Frowning as if offended, Peter stood his ground. “Hold on a second! I literally just got here, and you’re already yelling at me!” Exhaling, he tapped a hoof impatiently against the ground. “Sounds like you were already burning your bridges here with your whole ‘Listen to me world’ attitude!” A realization came to mind once Peter eyed the attire the mare was wearing. “When did you have time to change? You were only here for two hours! Where… Where did you even get that?”

“Down the street. They had a lovely shop with a dress my size. I’m fortunate my bits are just as good here as they would be in our world.” Trixie muttered dismissively.

Peter stared blankly at the mare. “Seriously? You were in so much danger that you went shopping?” Blinking at another realization, the stallion arched a brow. “Hold on. You mean the fifty bits I let you borrow?”

“You wouldn’t miss it anyway. You hardly ever spend a dime,” Trixie exhaled, waving a hoof dismissively and ignoring the stallion’s exasperated glare.

Peter threw his hooves high over his head. “I never get to spend anything because I’m always loaning my bits to you and Mayday! We may as well be married! You ponies are like vultures! ”

As the pair bickered with each other, Celestia quietly closed the door to the throne room before retaking a seat. “Trixie Lulamoon?” she gently called out, narrowing her gaze on the mare. The two ponies ceased their argument, with Trixie meeting the alicorn’s line of sight. “What is your history with Peter? He has elaborated on your situation.”

Clearing her throat sheepishly, Trixie lowered her head out of respect. “My apologies Your Highness. This pony is my best friend in our reality.”

“Before you barged in, I was about to tell Princess Celestia about our Twilight,” Peter whispered, causing the mare’s eyes to widen.

Princess Celestia’s eyes softened. “Do you have a history with Twilight in your world?”

Trixie shared a glance with Peter, who simply nodded. After a brief moment, the mare nodded. “Yes. I was Peter’s Best Mare at the wedding. I’m his best friend, and Twilight is the little sister I never had.”

Peter placed a hoof over Trixie’s shoulder while sharing a glance with Celestia. “Trixie’s lived with us during the course of our whole relationship. She’s the glue that holds everyone together.”

“I see. You two are… very close to Twilight,” Celestia whispered, holding a hoof over her aching chest. Tears escaped from the corner of her eyes while the corner of her lips curled into a small smile. “If I may. Please. Can you tell me about my student?”

To be continued...

Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part II

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Chapter Thirteen “Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part II”

Several minutes had passed since the pair of outworlders entered the throne room. They regaled the alternate Celestia elaborate tales of her former star pupil, with each pony highlighting a particular fond moment they had shared with the Twilight they knew. Trixie sat underneath the throne room’s central chair after removing her dress, on a stair to be exact, and Peter took the time to change into his uniform, squeezing into the pair of black and white tights. Celestia fell into a trance, yielding to the building sorrow and admiration welling up in her heart. Yet she listened with a smile, relishing each of the memories being shared with her so freely. Clearing her throat, the alicorn nodded before allowing her chin to rest on an upturned forehoof.

Trixie folded her hooves, humming. “These two found a way to have a child under… unusual circumstances, but they managed to stay together, getting married a few months later.”

Celestia’s smile widened before she shared a glance with the stallion after he finished changing into his uniform. “You said that you two have three children together? What are their names? What are they like?”

Peter brushed his hooves over his uniform several times, chuckling. “Yeah. Mayday is our first child. She’s a pegasus, twenty-four now and just finished college.” Once situated the stallion retook his seat next to Trixie on the stairs. “Mayday’s very intelligent, definitely smarter than her mother and I were at her age. We had to homeschool her seeing as she was too far ahead of the other kids her age. She’s the Avengers’ tech specialist. That girl’s got a sweet side, but a prickly one as well. She’d rather focus on her gadgets and studies before interacting with anypony around her.”

Celestia snorted involuntarily, holding a hoof over her mouth in a vain attempt to stifle her laughter. “The apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Trixie crossed her legs, leaning back in her seat. “Fortunately, Peter can reach Mayday’s emotional and feminine side. Otherwise it’s a moot point for that mare. She holds no interest in emotional connections with other ponies.” The mare waved a hoof dismissively. “Luckily, his son Ben isn’t quite as emotionally unresponsive. He’s kind to those around him, but he’s very reclusive, as he keeps to his own space. In a couple of years, Ben will graduate from high school. He’s attending your school for Gifted Unicorns, actually.” Exhaling, Trixie rolled her eyes. “I remember how much of a devil that pony used to be as a baby. I oddly miss it at times, admittedly.”

Nodding, Peter grinned. “Gwen is our youngest child. She’s just turned four, and is the second naturally born alicorn in our world’s history.”

Celestia furrowed her brow. “An alicorn at birth? In my long life, I never thought I’d see such a thing.” The alicorn glanced to the side. “Shining Armor and Princess Cadance of my world gave birth to an alicorn a few years ago here. I was stunned, but life always finds a way.”

“Flurry Heart?” Peter questioned, causing the alicorn’s eyes to widen in response. Once Celestia nodded, the stallion chuckled under his breath. “In our reality, Shining and Cadance gave birth to a unicorn son a few months after Mayday was born. They had Flurry for nearly a year before Gwen came around.”

Shaking her head, Trixie huffed. “Those two are practically inseparable. They’re first cousins but act more like sisters. There’s so much positivity between them that it’s nearly impossible not to smile around them.”

“Children are beacons of innocence if raised right. I can tell Gwen and Flurry Heart’s bonds as family, and their boundless love for others, will only grow deeper with age.” Celestia grinned, nodding. Inhaling deeply before sighing, the alicorn sobered at a thought. “So Twilight was able to ascend to another alicorn in your world. It’s almost surreal to believe that she’s a princess, wife, and mother. I couldn’t be more proud of her. It seems like only yesterday that I sent her to Ponyville in order to learn about the importance of friendship.” The alicorn stood from her seat, walking to the nearest window, and as she stared at the grassy plains in the distance, a somber air came over her. “She had so much potential, but it seems her heart wasn’t ready for the task ahead.”

Peter furrowed his brow at the alicorn. “What happened to this world’s Twilight? She was still your student from what I can guess, but Sunset Shimmer was in her home at Ponyville.”

Trixie folded her hooves, frowning. “It’s quite troubling. Every time I asked about Twilight in Ponyville, nopony wanted to talk about it and quickly changed the subject. I even tried to consult with Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie about the matter.” She paused, raised a hoof objectively. “Yes. Pinkie Pie didn’t want to talk about it. I truly thought something was wrong with this reality when that happened.”

Slow to respond, Celestia’s eyes softened. “It’s still fresh in their minds. Twilight didn’t take the news well of you and my sister dating. She isolated herself from everypony, blaming us for what happened. Once I took Sunset Shimmer back under my tutelage, I suppose that was the last straw.” The alicorn turned to face the pair, retaking her seat before letting out a low sigh. “She didn’t understand. I was simply taking a student back with Sunset, not replacing her. Twilight just up and left Ponyville without a trace. We’ve continually searched for her, but she did an excellent job of covering her tracks. We were forced to move on. Sunset managed to bring her friends’ spirits back up once she moved into the Golden Oak Library, but I can tell they still think about Twilight to this day.”

Trixie let out a small sigh, shaking her head. “The multiverse can be a cruel and unfair place sometimes”

The stallion tilted his head to the side. “Golden Oak Library? You mean the Treebrary? I never used the real name. Treebrary was always our nickname for it.” Peter pulled himself to a standing position before walking to the alicorn, placing a hoof over her shoulder. “I’m sorry for your troubles. I can imagine that’s been rough.”

Celestia managed a smile, placing her hoof over the stallion’s own. “I appreciate that. Twilight made her choice, but I can’t help but feel that I didn’t do enough to keep her from straying to such a degree.”

“You can’t blame yourself.” Trixie gently claimed, narrowing her softened gaze on the alicorn. “I always stress this to Peter. As a guardian or parent, you can only do so much for your child. Even if you provide all the care, love, and instruction in the world, there’s always a chance they’ll find a way to rebel.” She brushed the wrinkles from her dress, scoffing. “It sounds like Twilight’s heart was broken for the first time, and she clearly took it horribly. Those types of emotions can be explosive, for better or for worse.”

Slow to respond, Celestia’s eyes widened at the comment but a content smile surfaced on her face. “Trixie Lulamoon. I believe you are a very integral piece of the puzzle. Are you still a traveling magician?”

Trixie nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Trixie still travels but her schedule’s light with about three to five shows a year. She’s usually at home with us,” Peter politely interjected, raising a hoof objectively.

Celestia hummed. “I see. You are quite humbled in comparison to your counterpart that resides here. You hold an air of maturity, and I can see you having an influence on those around you.”

Peter involuntarily snorted at the alicorn’s remark. “I’d never thought I’d hear the words ‘humble’ and ‘Trixie’ mixed together-- Ow!” The stallion cut off into a yelp as Trixie delivered a sharp kick to the back of his leg.

Grinning, Celestia nodded. “I mean it. Once Peter decided to move to Canterlot to be with my sister, Trixie left to resume her traveling magician career. I can safely assume that you two have kept Twilight grounded in your reality, but losing both of you pushed her over the edge in this one.” The alicorn smiled widely as her light violet gaze softened. “The bond you share is special. In spite of your quarrels I feel genuine love between you two, and Twilight does as well.”

Trixie glanced to the side, ignoring the blush quickly flaring up in her cheeks. “I wouldn’t call it love. I’m simply inclined to keep that idiot in check. Otherwise he’d just screw everything up.”

Peter blinked at the comment before waving a hoof dismissively, blushing as well. “Right.” He paused, tilting his head to the side after a brief duration. “Speaking of bonds, it seems like you and Peter are very close. If Trixie and Luna are my two best friends in my reality, does that mean Sunset and you are that for this reality’s Peter?”

Nodding, Celestia closed her eyes and smirked. “Your instincts are spot-on. That’s exactly the case. Sunset was a troubled mare with a chip on her shoulder. I had Peter escort her on a year-long pilgrimage around Equestria in order to learn the lessons of friendship and proper socialization.”

Trixie swallowed the lump in her throat down as her complexion paled. “Thank the heavens I wasn’t forced into such a thing. I may be a travelling magician, but having to deal with Peter’s idiocy on the road would have been unbearable.”

“Oh come on. I’m not that bad. I bet she was having the time of her life.” Peter smiled triumphantly.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Trixie dryly said with a smirk. “She probably wanted to throw herself off a bridge by the third week.”

The alicorn cleared her throat, glancing to the side sheepishly. “To say your relationship was rocky at that point would be understatement. Sunset was initially quite abrasive, and you became very impulsive and impatient as a result of being around my sister for that much time. You two had many disagreements, but you eventually found common ground.” Celestia’s demeanor lightened, evident by her small smile. “You renewed her sense of trust and she became a much needed friend for you, seeing as you didn’t have many to begin with on a personal level. She was even the Best Mare at your wedding.”

Peter held a hoof over his mouth, arching a brow. “You know, a small part of me used to have a weakness for redheads. Maybe that’s where it came from for this Peter.” Shrugging, the stallion faced the alicorn. “What about you? How did you two get to be so close?”

“That’s easy. I’ve spent most of my life as the eldest Princess of Equestria. Ponies have, throughout the ages, seen fit to always hold me in such high regard,” Celestia chimed, shifting her gaze back to the open window. “Peter came into this world as a bit of oddity. He was unorthodox yet genuine. When he and my sister were growing closer, we always chatted in between. Peter spoke with me so casually and lightly. I found it quite refreshing. Only my sister had the courage to speak to me in such a manner, but she finds a way to remain formal… and stuffy. That’s not the case with Peter.”

Trixie huffed, shaking her head. “That certainly sounds like the Peter I know.”

The alicorn chuckled. “I suppose that’s another reason why I guided those two together. Peter’s fun to be around, and my sister’s learning to lighten up again.” Poking her lips out playfully, Celestia held a blank stare. “Sadly, now Peter’s picking up some of my sister’s stuffiness. Something about ‘acting properly like a knight’ or whatnot.”

Peter smiled. “You hang around somebody long enough you might pick up their tendencies, but I believe Luna’s had a strong and positive effect on me here.” Raising a hoof objectively, the stallion hummed. “Luna has eons worth of life experience, and I was a college kid when I came here, right? A girl that mature is going to have an effect on a hyperactive goofball. She kept him grounded no doubt, and that’s not a bad thing.”

“Speaking from experience.” Trixie cleared her throat and brushed a hoof through her silver-blue mane. “I actually wish we could trade Peters. Your Peter doesn’t sound nearly as irritating as mine.” Ignoring the exasperated glare from the stallion, the mare laughed in a haughty tone. “It’s not surprising. Peter’s only a year older than Twilight. While she can keep him under control, it’s impossible for her to fully contain him. If anything, his energetic and positive demeanor is contagious. She’s far more outgoing now because of him.” Exhaling, Trixie sarcastically chuckled. “I suppose Peter has his charm, but I’m the one stuck with keeping him on a leash. I’ve heard enough knock-knock jokes to last several lifetimes.”

“Hey, Trixie. Knock-knock!” Peter grinned, edging closer to the mare with a coy smile.

Slow to respond, Trixie attempted to ignore the stallion, but his smug face was mere inches away from her. Exasperated, the mare exhaled before a blank stare surfaced on her face. “Who is there?”

Peter wrapped a hoof around her shoulder, chuckling. “A broken pencil!”

“A broken pencil who?” Trixie groaned, her brow twitching involuntarily.

Pausing, the stallion tightened his hold and smiled widely. “Never mind. It’s pointless!”

An awkward silence filled the room. Trixie simply arched a brow with a bemused gaze, groaning under her breath. “I hate you.”

“At any rate, I must ask what else is Twilight up to in your world?” Celestia innocently questioned, earning the collective gazes from both ponies. “You two appear to be hiding something. What else happened in your world?”

A low silence filled the air, making the simple act of breathing difficult. Memories of that day were fresh, plaguing their minds with regret and pain. Trixie lowered her head, tipping down her hat until her face was hidden. Peter folded his hooves, frowning while avoiding Celestia’s gaze. Feelings he had long concealed steadily resurfaced, and the stallion let out a low sigh. The alicorn stared at both ponies with an uncertain widened gaze, but she held her silence, giving them time to gather their nerve.

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter folded his hooves before frowning. “Twilight isn’t just the Princess of Friendship. She’s… the co-ruler of Equestria alongside your sister.” The alicorn’s eyes widened further at the comment, and Trixie glanced to the side, avoiding Celestia’s concerned gaze. Peter cleared his throat after a brief duration. “Fifteen years ago, you were killed in a grand battle for Equestria. I lost myself to the Nightmare Force and had the Elements of Harmony scattered.”

“Peter was just too powerful. It wasn’t just one Nightmare that possessed him but two. The details are a bit complicated.” Trixie shook her head. “Discord and his female counterpart, Eris, gave you what they called an Order serum, and you willingly charged Nightmare head-on. He... ran you through, but you had predicted this outcome, using the small opening it provided to ensure the serum hit him. You gave your life to see that Peter was freed. He became the Spirit of Order and Harmony as a result of your sacrifice.” The mare held out a hoof, frowning. “Prior to this action, you gave Eris your regalia and essence to pass on to Twilight should things go according to plan. Now, she raises the sun and watches over Equestria in your place.”

“The process was tough at first, but Luna helped Twilight through it. They grew even closer over the years. They’re like sisters now. It helped fill in the void you left with your death,” Peter whispered, straightening his posture before chuckling weakly. “She’s a natural now. You know how Twilight is with her scheduling. Once she got a rhythm started, things fell into place. I just do what I can to help ease her stress. Compared to her workload, I’ve got it easy. Oh, and she’s almost as tall as you now.”

Chuckling, Trixie pulled herself to a standing position before playfully tapping a hoof against the stallion’s chest. “She has very mixed feelings about the growth spurt, if only because her idiot husband is constantly teasing and staring at her.”

“What can I say? I’m a sucker for tall girls,” Peter offhandedly declared, nodding. Sobering, the stallion managed a soft yet genuine smile. “Twilight and Luna put on a strong face, but I can tell that they really miss you. It’s my fault that you’re gone.”

Celestia placed a hoof over the stallion’s shoulder. “If it meant preserving the world’s future, I know I would have had no regrets.” The alicorn reached out and held her free hoof over Trixie’s shoulder as well, smiling as both ponies gazed upon her. “Remember what I said. You two are important to Twilight. I’ll be counting on you to watch over her for me. Is that understood?”

Trixie cleared her throat, managing to reply with a nod and smile. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Peter mirrored her actions, grinning. “Yeah. We’ll… hold the fort.”

Clapping her hooves together eagerly, Celestia smiled. “Good to hear! Now, I believe we have pressing matters to attend to.”

“Speaking of that... what’s taking me so long to grab Luna?” Peter muttered, blinking.

Just as the alicorn readied to respond, the door on the other side of the room slid open. The trio glanced in its direction, catching sight of this world’s Peter removed from his armor holding the door open. He glanced back, allowing a smaller alicorn to enter the room. Her mane was sky-blue, narrowly reaching her shoulders, and her royal blue eyes settled on the stallion bearing an exact resemblance to the one at her side. A black cutie mark rested over her blue fur, holding an emblem of a crescent moon at the center. However, she was considerably smaller than Celestia in stature, standing slightly beneath Peter’s height.

“I pardon taking so long. I just had to personally see this myself to believe it,” the blue alicorn sternly stated, walking until she was mere inches away from Peter. The stallion blinked, holding a widened gaze. After an awkward amount of time, the alicorn huffed. “My husband assures me that you’re not a changeling. Enlighten me. Why should I believe that you’re from an alternate reality, and how can we trust you?”

Peter waved his hooves defensively. “I’m learning our realities are practically two sides of the same coin. So if there are any differences, they are very small in the grand scheme of things. With that in mind I have two ways to prove I can be trusted.”

The stallion opened his mouth to respond but instead he nonchalantly reached out, brushing his hoof swiftly yet gently beneath the crook of her neck. Luna’s world shrank as a sensation overtook her mind. Before she knew it, a loud peal of laughter escaped unbidden from the mare’s mouth, and it grew in volume as the stallion continued his assault, brushing his hoof feverishly against her weak spot. Managing to quickly recollect her nerve amidst her uncontrollable laughter, however, Luna swatted his hoof away hastily. Her features flushed, evident by the pink tint spreading like wildfire across her cheeks, and her embarrassment only grew deeper once she found Celestia stifling her own laughter, Trixie’s blank stare was, all at once, locked on her, and both Peters holding knowing smiles.

Grinning, Peter nodded triumphantly. “I thought so. You’re very ticklish, like my Luna.”

Clearing her throat, Luna edged closer to the stallion as a dark glint flashed in her eyes. “Never do that again.” Sharply turning away, the alicorn desperately shielded her flushed face with a hoof. “I’ve banished ponies for doing far less. If you didn’t look like my husband I would destroy you.”

The other Peter smirked, folding his hooves. “Love you too, honey.”

Blinking at a realization, Luna faced her husband’s counterpart. “What other information do you have? That could have been a lucky guess.”

Peter’s smile widened. “Well, I could tell Trixie your childhood nickname. It’s Moon--”

“Stop!” Luna roared, feeling the temperature rise in her face along with a sense of exasperation. “I believe you.”

Peter held a hoof out, pointing it at his face. “Was it my dashing good looks and charm that gave it away?”

“That would be the case if I wasn’t her husband. Between the two of us, I’m the cute one,” the other Peter declared, causing Luna to hit his chest with the back of her hoof. Once his princess stood by his side, the stallion faced the group and nodded. “We’re not here on shore leave. If this fragment is as important as you say, we should be out looking for it at once. I’ve never even heard of this Tablet of Order and Chaos.”

Trixie frowned. “You’ve never heard of it? This is my Peter’s second time dealing with the item,” she glanced to the other stallion with a bemused glare, “and his second time breaking it.”

The other Peter paused, frowning at his counterpart. “Dude, are you serious? I thought my luck was bad.”

Peter shrugged. “What can I say? They just don’t make ancient tablets like they used to.”

Celestia eased back into her seat, arching a brow. “At any rate what can you tell us about the Tablet of Order and Chaos? If a fragment is lost in our world,how can we search for it?”

Slow to respond, Peter pursed his lips. “I’ve already found most of the fragments. Only two remain: the one in this world and the other in Starlight Glimmer’s possession. Madame Web augmented my Spider Sense so that I can locate it.” The stallion hummed, holding a hoof over his mouth. “Just one fragment can augment one’s abilities beyond their imagination, and I just learned that they tend to materialize towards the most chaotic setting or individual of a world.”

Trixie glanced at the stallion. “You haven’t been able to sense it yet?”

Peter shook his head and shrugged. “Not yet. It’s weird. In the previous worlds, I was able to sense a fragment several miles away. Wherever the fragment is, it’s probably being concealed intentionally.”

“That’s possible,” Celestia mused as her brow lowered in thought. “However, I am puzzled by whom the fragment would flock towards. Discord is a natural choice, but we haven’t heard from him in years.”

The other Peter folded his hooves and frowned. “Equestria’s been peaceful for quite some time, outside of a bit of riff-raff occasionally.” The stallion trailed off, shaking his head. “The closest thing to chaos I can recall is…”

Faster than the other Peter could finish his statement, his counterpart’s cranium buzzed at a sensation. “Whoa! My Spider Sense just lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree. I can sense the fragment! It’s northeast of here!” Peter exclaimed, pausing before shifting his head sharply to the side. He clutched at his head. “Hold on. It just moved. The fragment’s… outside of Canterlot,” Peter paused, his eyes widening, “and it’s coming right for us!”

A cloud of smoke rose from underneath Trixie’s form, concealing her entire body. “Then, we have no time to waste,” she stated, her voice echoing. The unicorn emerged from the cloud garbed in her heroic attire, holding her metal mask in a hoof. Sharing a glance with her world’s Peter, Trixie turned her gaze to his counterpart. “We’ll investigate. Knowing Peter’s track record, things won’t go quietly. Change into your uniform and meet us outside. I’ll leave you a signal.”

“Fair enough,” the other Peter stated, nodding before arching a brow. “How will I recognize your signal?”

Peter stepped forward, casually holding his hoof out towards the mare. “Dude, it’s Trixie. A showmare of her caliber and ego isn’t subtle. You’ll know it when you see it.”

Exhaling, Trixie snatched her stallion by the ear via magic and dragged him behind her as they walked to the door. “We’ll see you soon.”

Celestia shared a glance with her sister while walking to the side. “I’ll spread word over Canterlot and ensure the guards protect the town while I do the same for the castle. Best of luck to you all.”

Once everypony exited the castle, the other Peter’s eyes softened before he turned to face Luna. “You should hang behind and rest. You’ve been groggy lately.”

“This is a matter of world security. I’ve slept plenty,” Luna plainly declared, huffing. The stallion edged closer to the mare, taking hold of her hoof. He never averted his gaze from her own, causing the alicorn to glance to the side shamefully. “I am fine. You should stop concerning yourself.”

Peter frowned. “Luna. You can drop your pride. You’re walking for two now.” The stallion’s demeanor softened before he managed a smile. “We’re only a month in. Your body’s going to experience some changes. It’s okay if you just rest.”

Luna inhaled deeply before sighing, managing a smile. “I’m coming with you. I’ll have ten months to rest. I’m a princess, and you could potentially run into danger. Humor me, beloved. A few more weeks and I’ll be forced to remain stationary. Just think of this as my last chance to move freely before restrictions apply.”

Letting out a defeated sigh, the stallion simply nodded and forced a smile. “Okay. Fine. You win. You can come along, but I’m naming the baby.” Both ponies stared lovingly into each other’s eyes, nuzzling their noses together. The mare returned his smile, giggling as their faces burned. Reveling in their conjoined warmth, the stallion and princess shared a smile before he chuckled. “I already have a name in mind. We’ll talk about it later. We’d better change and catch up with me.”

Meanwhile, a cloaked individual marched towards Canterlot, clutching at the fragment in hoof while a crimson amulet hung from their neck. “Soon. I’ll fix all of this.” They removed their hood, revealing a lavender unicorn’s mane. Her violet irises faded behind a glowing red aura, and she bore a wicked smile, cackling wildly as traces of bright yellow energies emitted from her body. “Wait for me… Peter.”

To be continued...

Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part III

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Chapter Fourteen “Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part III”

Canterlot stood on the horizon as Twilight clutched at the fragment in her hoof. The crimson amulet around her neck glowed, causing red energies to emit from her irises and body. The chaotic magical essence of the fragment vibrated, sending tremors through the earth under her hooves. Particles of energy from the atmosphere channeled into her horn as she steadily lowered her aim at the castle.

Violent thoughts entered the unicorn’s mind, evident by the scowl she bore. However before she could discharge so much as a single shot from her horn, or even move, a cloud of smoke rose from the ground several hoof-lengths away from her position. A masked mare stepped out from the fog, brushing her star-patterned cape to the side. Twilight furrowed her brow at the sight before scoffing, shifting her aim at the unknown oddity.

The stranger straightened their posture. “Twilight?” a female’s muffled voice questioned behind the mask. Staring at the fragment briefly, she raised her hooves defensively and shook her head. “I... I wasn’t expecting it to be you.”

“You’re in my way.” Twilight coldly declared, scowling. “Stand aside!”

The mare let out a low sigh, unlatching her mask before removing it with a hoof. Freeing her silver-blue mane after shaking her head, she held a soft violet gaze at Twilight. “I’m sorry Twilight, but I can’t stand aside.”

Twilight’s eyes widened upon settling her gaze on the mare. “Trixie?” As if out of instinct, the energies channeling through her horn dissipated instantly. Twilight stepped closer to the mare with a softened gaze. “What are you doing here?”

Furrowing her brow, Trixie frowned as she alternated her gaze between the unicorn and the castle in the distance. “Apparently I’m stopping you from making the biggest mistake of your life.” Pursing her lips, Trixie narrowed her gaze on the unicorn. “Attacking the castle? Whatever brought you to such a conclusion? Nothing good will come of it.”

“You don’t understand! Ever since you left, she took everything from me!” Twilight exclaimed, pointing a hoof at the castle. “I lost Peter! I lost my friends! I lost my teacher! Everything is gone! All because Luna couldn’t keep to herself!” Walking ahead, the unicorn stared intently at the castle in the distance with a crazed smile. “So I’ll just destroy Canterlot!”

Trixie furrowed her brow, aghasted. “Are you even listening to yourself Twilight? You’re talking as if destroying Canterlot is a logical and normal course of action. It’s not normal. It’s insane.”

“That’s the downside of being a hermit. You spend so much time underground that you forget how folks in the sun would act. Just ask Mayday. It actually explains a lot,” a voice declared from behind, the latter statement practically inaudible. A stallion garbed in black and white rushed into the vicinity and skidded to a halt next to Trixie. “It’s not because of Luna that you’ve fallen.” Peter softly gazed at the mare, frowning. “It’s because you’ve taken it in the worst way imaginable.”

Inhaling sharply, Twilight threw a hoof over her mouth. “Peter?!” Pausing, the mare shook her head and snarled. “What do you care? Why don’t you just go just back to your princess?! I just wasn’t good enough for you!”

“That’s not true!” Peter exclaimed, holding his hoof out. “Just because I’m with Luna doesn’t mean I stopped caring for you. You’ll always be special to me. It’s just that you up and disappeared without trying to actually… TALK to anypony!” The stallion trailed off before narrowing his gaze on the jewel linked around the unicorn’s neck, and his eyes widened as a realization came into mind. “Is that the… Alicorn Amulet?! Where did you get that?”

Twilight brushed a hoof over the amulet, nodding. “I’m surprised you know what this is. If I was going to exact revenge on Canterlot, I needed power. I researched for artifacts that could help in my quest.” The unicorn frowned, lifting her gaze. “I was fortunate to find a merchant in possession of it. With enough bits, he parted with the amulet easily.”

Peter groaned under his breath. “I’m really getting sick of that amulet popping up in my life.” The stallion shook the thoughts from his mind before sobering at a thought. “Look, the Alicorn Amulet and fragment are twisting your thoughts, Twilight. You have to let them go. Maybe then you’ll think rationally.”

Trixie edged closer to the unicorn. “Twilight. Listen to reason. We only want to help you.” Holding a hoof over her chest, Trixie took a step forward. “I too fell to a low point in my life as well, but I learned to get back up. So can you. You don’t have to do this.”

“I don’t need your help.” Twilight coldly dismissed, clutching at the fragment in hoof.

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Trixie shook her head. “What you’re doing is crazy. You know exactly what will happen if you attack Canterlot.”

“Shut up!” Twilight exclaimed, her voice distorting. “I. Don’t. Care!”

The dual energies of the amulet and fragment ignited, generating a shockwave, and the force of the blow knocked both back. Peter crashed into the nearest tree with a crack while Trixie skidded across the ground on her back for several meters before slowing to a halt. Paying the pair no mind, Twilight shifted her attention back to the castle in the distance as her horn emitted a bright light. However, once she readied herself to fire a shot, a shield soared through the air.

Catching sight of the incoming object from the corner of her eye, Twilight hastily willed a red-tinted magenta barrier into existence around her body. The shield rebounded harmlessly after making contact with its surface, spinning high back into the air before it landed atop Spider-Knight’s waiting hoof. Aiming a stern glare upward at the armored stallion for several seconds, Twilight quickly took to alternating her wrathful gaze between him and his prone counterpart lying behind her. Almost like she was an angel descending from the heavens, Luna gracefully landed next to her husband, matching the fallen unicorn’s stern expression with one of her own.

Twilight frowned. “A copy?”

Spider-Knight shook his head, sliding his hoof into the shield’s strap. “It’s a long story, but we aren’t trying to trick you. You’re out of control Twilight. Come back to Canterlot and we can help you.”

“No! I refuse to go back! Not with her!” Twilight exclaimed, sharply pointing a hoof at the alicorn. “She took you from me! You were mine! I’ll never forgive her for ruining my life!” Her distorted voice echoed throughout the skies as they blackened, blotting out the sun. The tremors coursing through the earth intensified as black energies enveloped developed around her form. The fragment dissipated from sight before its energies spiraled into her body, and the same occurrence transpired with the Alicorn Amulet, with the item dissolving into pure aura. Upon absorbing both energies, the unicorn’s body levitated from the ground while lightning bolts struck the ground around her repeatedly. “You betrayed me!”

Shaking his head, Spider-Knight waved his hooves defensively. “Nopony betrayed you Twilight!”

Luna frowned, standing her ground. “Listen to yourself! You can’t even see the reality before your eyes! We want to help you! Try to understand!”

Twilight released a distorted howl as the muscles in her body quaked violently. “You lied to me!”

Strands of her mane morphed into flames, maintaining their purple and pink streaks with a black strand stretching out at the center. The same happened to her tail as she held her forehooves out to either side of her. Blue flames enveloped her horn while they leapt from her eyes and hooves. A pair of dark wings suddenly emerged, tearing up and out from her back, and they began to beat the air furiously, keeping the former unicorn aloft with little effort. Peter and Trixie came to, shaking the cobwebs from their craniums respectively before lifting their gazes to spot a transformed Twilight hovering above them.

“Twilight!” Trixie cried out, sliding her mask back over her face.

The fallen unicorn cackled wildly as dark violet bands materialized over all four of her outstretched limbs. “There is no Twilight!” The entire area seemed to shift, cycling rapidly through the colors of the sky before they ultimately came to rest on a dark and starless skyscape. “There is only Midnight!”

Trixie exhaled harshly, shaking her head. “She’s inconsolable right now. I don’t think we can we reason with her.”

Peter closed his eyes and nodded. “It’s not all her fault. The corruption of both the amulet and the fragment are playing a part.” The stallion furrowed his brow as he turned to the other unicorn. “There’s no time. We’ll have to use force.”

Trixie’s eyes softened as she glanced to the side, placing the mask back over her face. “I had hoped it wouldn’t have had to come to this.”

Whirlwinds intensified around the vicinity, forcing everypony to hold their ground. Luna took flight and unleashed a magical bolt at the mare. A barrier rose around Midnight, deflecting the beam, and she responded in kind by firing a bolt back at the alicorn. In a similar fashion Luna caused a shield to materialize around her body, but the force of the blow still proved to be enough to send the alicorn careening wildly down to the ground and generate a crater at the point of impact.

The barrier surrounding Luna remained intact, albeit with several cracks spread along its surface. Lightning crackled throughout the skies before a large bolt spiraled around, looping around Midnight like a wild whip. She pointed a hoof at the alicorn, prompting the electrical current to race towards the prone and dazed mare. However, Spider-Knight jumped in the projectile’s path with his shield raised.

The lightning struck the weapon’s surface with booming force, generating a shockwave, and dust flew from the blast creating a smokescreen. Yet the stallion stood upright and strained as he pushed back against the electrical surge, keeping the attack from reaching his wife. Mysterio appeared behind both ponies in a burst of light, placing a hoof over their back respectively before vanishing once more. All three individuals disappeared before the lightning current struck the earth, rupturing the ground and causing another crater to spread for several meters.

Midnight vanished from sight in a flash, reappearing hoof-lengths away from Peter with her glowing horn aimed at his head. The stallion’s sixth sense triggered, slowing the world around him, and he swayed his upper body back in response, standing upright with an arched back as the beam narrowly sped past. The bolt collided into a tree behind their position, triggering a detonation of magic and fire. The blast sent Peter flying, forcing the stallion to cling to a tree to stop his unwanted flight.

Spider-Knight rushed back into the fray with a diving kick, striking the barrier before flipping back several hoof-lengths. He followed by hurling his shield at the mare, with the weapon slicing through the magical energies. Midnight vanished before the shield could connect, causing the item to ricochet through a few trees before it sped back to its wielder. The stallion alternated his gaze about, attempting to locate the rogue mare.

Faster than he could react, Midnight appeared behind him with a maniacal grin. The gravity surrounding Spider-Knight intensified, evident by the cracks spreading through the earth beneath his hooves. His legs buckled, forcing the stallion to a kneeling stance. Suddenly, tremors sundered cracks into the earth in all directions as Spider-Knight’s body was bored into a crater with thunderous force. Midnight ceased the assault once the stallion was buried within mounds of dirt and crumbled rock, staring intently at his damaged form.

Luna sped towards her, prompting both mares to take flight. They fired magical beams at each other while flying ever higher in their aerial showdown. Luna soared above Midnight with her back facing the clouds before the alicorn unleashed a massive blue concussive beam. Midnight stared the incoming projectile down, cackling before firing a violet beam of her own. The energies collided causing an explosion of light to ignite throughout the skies, and the beams struggled as they pushed against each other, with neither faltering.

“You ruined my life!” Midnight roared, her distorted voice echoing throughout the realm. Her expression grew feral, evident by her drawn fangs and dilated pupils. Her beam slowly pushed Luna’s back, fueling Midnight’s growing laughter. “Now, I’ll take everything from you!”

Meanwhile, Peter looked up at the beams pressing against each other before shifting his attention to his counterpart. He was stirring, slowly regaining consciousness, but his frame was still buried deep within the earth. However, Peter’s eyes widened upon spotting a bright shield protruding from the ground nearby. With a quick nod, the stallion retrieved his counterpart’s weapon and climbed from the crater. He eyed the beam struggle with a furrowed brow.

Mysterio rushed to his side, alternating her line of sight between the shield and the beam struggle high above. “Can you make the throw?”

“I’m not comfortable with the distance. It’ll veer off course if I throw it from here,” Peter whispered, inhaling sharply as Luna’s beam grew shorter by the second. Furrowing his brow, the stallion frowned. “Luna can’t last much longer. We only have one shot at this, so I’ve got to make it count...” Glancing to the side, Peter’s eyes widened at a particular sight, and he grabbed Trixie’s hoof before leading her away. “I have an idea. Come on!”

After uttering his idea to the mare, she watched the stallion climb onto the top of a tree with a concerned expression. “I am not certain about this, but I suppose our options are limited.” Her horn glowed momentarily, causing energy to envelop the tip of the tree where Peter was perched. She walked backwards and strained as the tree resembled elastic material and bent low enough for the tip to touch the ground while the root remained planted within the earth. She held the tree in place, taking in strained breaths. “Even if this works, what about your landing?”

“Let me worry about that! Fire away!” Peter exclaimed, pointing a hoof skyward.

Trixie slammed her eyes shut, relinquishing her magical hold. The tree whipped back upright, slingshotting the stallion high into the air with the speed of a rocket. Once several yards away, Peter’s momentum steadily decreased before the stallion hurled the shield directly into Midnight’s unprotected back. The mare hissed in pain and flinched, inadvertently causing her beam to cut out almost instantly as she lost her focus. Luna’s eyes widened at the sight before she refocused her energy, widening the beam as it sped forth.

Faster than she could hope to react, Midnight was swallowed entirely by the massive beam, and it soared through the skies, slamming into the earth. An explosive shockwave generated at the point of impact, rupturing the earth until a massive crater was spread. The shield gravitated towards Peter, prompting the stallion to catch it with his hooves as he yielded to the effects of gravity. Fortunately, the alicorn raced out and took hold of the stallion’s free hoof before he could crash into the ground. The pair eventually reached the earth safely, with the alicorn and stallion sharing a glance.

Luna let out a relieved sigh, all while arching a brow at the stallion. “I have no idea how you reached such altitude, but I appreciate your sentiment, even if it’s dangerous.”

Peter offered the alicorn the shield. “No problem. Thank you for catching Webhead Airlines. We look forward to seeing you again.” The stallion exhaled, lowering to a slumped stance while Luna accepted the shield. As if a realization came to mind, Peter pointed behind her position. “You should check on your husband. I’ll go and make sure Twilight’s where she’s supposed to be.”

Luna sharply turned, trotting in the direction given by her husband’s counterpart. “Very well. We’ll join back with you shortly.”

Meanwhile, Peter traveled through the forest for several seconds before he reached the outer circle of the crater. He slid down into the hole and inhaled sharply at the sight waiting for him. Midnight peered up at the stallion with a softened gaze while pinned underneath a collection of downed trees. The fragment sat by her side, but the mare retained her newly acquired form in spite of losing the item. Peter knelt down, holding a hoof over the fragment, but he scoffed harshly, moving past it before turning his attention to the mare.

The stallion slid his hooves underneath the tree at the lowest point, straining as he managed to lift it and the others several inches from the ground. Midnight’s mouth fell agape at the sight, and she lowered her gaze once the weight over her body was momentarily freed. She crawled from underneath the space, avoiding the stallion’s gaze. Once the mare was behind him, Peter dropped the weight and collapsed to a kneeling stance.

Faster than he could react, Midnight retook the fragment in her hooves before facing the stallion. “Why did you do that?”

“Because I care about you,” Peter whispered, raising his hooves defensively. “You’re hurting yourself right now, and I don’t want to fight you anymore. It’s not right.”

Frowning, Midnight stared intently at Peter. “Just who are you? You’re clearly not a changeling or a clone.”

Peter lowered his hooves and nodded. “It’s hard to believe, but I’m from an alternate reality. I was brought to Equestria by you, just like the Peter you know, but…” he trailed off, walking towards the mare. Midnight recoiled, causing particles of energy from the atmosphere to channel into her horn. Yet, Peter held his ground and continued to approach Midnight. “In that reality, you and I… are married.”

“What?” Midnight squeaked, her eyes widening. The energy emitting from her horn dissipated from sight. She never averted her gaze from the stallion’s soft hazel eyes. “We are?”

Smiling, Peter reached out before gently taking hold of the mare’s hoof. “Yeah. We’ve been together for nearly twenty-five years now, and we have three children together.” As if her entire world crumbled, Midnight’s gaze lowered to the ground. Peter pursed his lips. “That’s why I don’t want to see you hurt. You’re still my wife, in a sense, and I wouldn’t dare do anything to hurt you. So please give me the fragment. Without it, I can’t repair the distorted time realms, and… I’ll lose you.”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Midnight glanced at the fragment in her possession. “I only used its power so I could be with you. I’m not doing this for Equestria. I’m only doing it for you.” The mare surrendered the fragment, allowing Peter to take hold of it with a hoof. Midnight turned her back to the stallion, closing her eyes. “Now that I’ve seen you for myself, I’ll only try harder to fix this.”

“Revenge isn’t the right answer. It won’t solve anything, and it’ll only end in pain,” Peter softly declared, reaching out to the mare. Shaking his head, the stallion frowned. “Luna in my reality went through the same thing that you did. She never had a chance to tell me how she felt, but we remained close. Luna’s one of my best friends, even to this day. It took her quite some time to move on, but I think she managed to let go eventually. I’m not entirely sure, but we’re making it work.” Peter’s eyes softened. “Don’t make me worry about you. Try to make things work with your friends. They’re all worried about you and want you back.”

Midnight shook her head. “My mind’s made up. You can’t change it. Seeing you has… strengthened my resolve. I will win you back, somehow.”

A low silence filled the air as Peter’s gaze fell to the ground shamefully. Exhaling, the stallion planted a kiss on the mare’s cheek before turning his back to her. “Well then, you should get out of here. I’m not locking you up.”

“Why?” Midnight questioned, furrowing her brow as she held a hoof over her burning cheek.

Peter waved a hoof dismissively. “The day you come back to Equestria will be under your own power, not because we forced you to. Besides, if you’re anything like the Twilight that I married, I have faith that you’ll find yourself back on track, eventually.” The stallion shrugged, chuckling under his breath. “Darn it. You’re still my wife to me. Now go!”

Midnight stared intently at the stallion for a few seconds. Her demeanor softened, evident by the saddened expression she bore, but the corner of her lips curled into what resembled a small smile before she vanished from sight in a burst of light. Peter turned afterwards, nodding while holding his gaze on the fragment in his possession. Biting his tongue, the stallion climbed from the crater while everypony approached. Trixie helped him to a standing position once she was within range, and the pair shared a glance before he offered her the fragment.

“Hang on to that, Trixie,” Peter whispered, nodding. “It’s the last one. I’ll head out and send word to Madame Web to bring everypony to my position.”

Trixie accepted the item, narrowing her gaze on the stallion. “Okay, but what happened to Twilight? Did you find her?”

Peter walked back to the crater, inhaling deeply before sighing. “I saw her for a second, but she disappeared before I could say anything. She was still transformed, but I’m pretty sure she’s gone.”

The other Peter scoffed, sliding his shield’s strap over his shoulder. “Damn it... Oh well. At least we know she’s still alive. The best thing we can do is keep a sharp eye out for her.” The stallion walked up to his counterpart, offering him a hoof. Once both Peters shook hooves, the other Peter managed a smile. “Thanks. We can handle Twilight from here. One day, we’ll bring her back to normal. Maybe Sunset Shimmer and the girls can zap the crazy magic out of Twilight with the Elements of Harmony.”

Slow to respond, Luna sternly stared at her husband’s counterpart with an arched brow. “Are you certain that Twilight escaped before you could intervene?”

Peter nervously swallowed, forcing a laugh before nodding. “Yeah. I was slow. If I had moved a bit faster, I could have stopped her. I guess you could say my lack of knightly training is to blame.”

Luna’s gaze sharpened into a glare. She frowned at the stallion for what seemed like an eternity. Fortunately, the alicorn exhaled. “How cumbersome. It’s fine, I suppose. Like my husband suggested, we’ll find Twilight in good time.” Pointing a hoof to the distance, Luna huffed. “Seeing as all of reality hangs in the balance, you shouldn’t give quarter. Hurry now and remedy the situation!”

Nodding, Peter smirked. “As bossy as ever. You got it!” The stallion rushed past the pair, not before patting a hoof over Trixie’s shoulder. “I’ll call you soon!”

Everypony watched as Peter rushed from the vicinity, waiting until his image was out of sight in the distance. Luna shifted her gaze to Trixie, furrowing her brow. “He’s a terrible liar. I didn’t even need to read his mind to know that.”

The other Peter held his hooves behind his head. “Yeah.” He paused briefly before glancing to his wife. “Wait a second, am I really that bad at it?”

“It’s only because of your honest nature. I’ve been with you long enough to notice the smallest things.” Luna stated, smiling lightly.

Taken aback, Trixie’s eyes widened. “Wait. Are you saying he let Twilight go?” Glancing to the side, the unicorn frowned. “That idiot. I can’t say that I’m surprised though.” Her eyes widened at a realization. “Hold on. You two don’t seem upset.”

Peter folded his hooves and chuckled. “I can’t be mad at the guy. To be honest, I just imagined myself in his position. If I had to fight a lost, unstable version of Luna, I’m not sure what I’d do. Probably the same thing: just let her go and hope she eventually finds herself.”

“If anything, maybe his words will get through to her,” Luna whispered, glancing to the side. “He’s as idealistic as my sister, and I’m positive that she would have appreciated the sentiment he gave Twilight.” Luna’s expression softened as her smile widened. “I can sense your feelings as well, Trixie Lulamoon. You would have done the exact same thing as Peter.”

Trixie released a sheepish chuckle. “Yes, Your Highness. I would have. Twilight’s the sister I never had, and she makes Peter happy. Don’t ever tell him I said this, but seeing him smile brings me joy. It would go to his head easily.”

Nodding, the other Peter smirked. “Yeah, I can relate to that.”

Luna shared a glance with the mare, grinning. “Your secret is safe with us.” Trixie then vanished in a puff of smoke before stepping back into view after a brief duration, having removed her heroic attire and taking back her classic star-patterned pointy hat with the cape. Luna smiled widely, brushing the side of her head against Trixie’s affectionately. “Take care of Twilight and Peter. I can tell that you’re the glue that holds everything together. I’ll be counting on you. By definition, you technically are my sister by law, considering your sibling bond with Peter.”

“Yes. I’ll keep looking after them, for both of our sakes,” Trixie gently replied, responding to the act of affection in full with a smile.

Peter stepped up to the alicorn, placing a hoof over her shoulder. “Let’s get you home. The doctor told you to stay off your hooves. I bet you’re hungry, too. I’ll order takeout.”

“Expecting your firstborn already?” Trixie questioned knowingly, earning a widened gaze from the couple. The unicorn nodded, waving a hoof dismissively. “I’ve dealt with this three times with my Peter and Twilight. I recognize the signs. My personal advice? I suggest you name your daughter ‘Mayday’.”

Chuckling, Peter’s eyes softened. “Is that a hunch?”

“Call it sister’s intuition,” Trixie stated with a wink, earning a smile from both ponies. As they turned to make their way back to Canterlot, Trixie lifted her gaze skyward and grinned. “Okay, Peter. I’m ready to go back home now.”

To be concluded...!

Finale! Fight for the Fate of the Universe!

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Chapter Fifteen “Finale! Fight for the Fate of the Universe!”

Peter inhaled deeply before sighing, sharing a glance with Julia. “Okay, everyone’s got a fragment. We’re ready to repair reality when you are.”

Nodding, Julia managed a small smile. “Excellent. You’ve done well Peter.” Holding out her hands as the fragment hovered over her palms, the woman’s crimson locks floated in the surrounding breeze. “I will establish a telepathic link with your teammates and begin the Tablet’s restoration process. So long as they maintain possession of their respective fragment, I can simply bring them back here. It will take a couple of minutes. Although I can’t speak for Starlight Glimmer.”

An astral image of Twilight materialized next to the stallion, and the pair shared a glance, with the alicorn holding her gaze on Madame Web. “Not a second too soon. Let’s just bring everyone back here first. Then, we can figure out how to go after Starlight.” Glancing to the side, Twilight’s eyes softened as she gazed upon her husband. “I was beginning to think you’d never finish. You look tired.”

Letting out a low sigh, Peter nodded softly. “Yeah. It’s been a long day. I think that last reality did me in.” The stallion folded his hooves. “Just seeing how broken and distraught you were was unnerving. I know the multiverse is a big place, but would that have happened to you if you didn’t tell me how you felt?”

“I saw. I can’t say that it wasn’t uncomfortable to watch.” Twilight softly declared, frowning before lifting her gaze. “We can’t always focus on the what-ifs of our lives. You taught me that we have to focus on the present. If we worry about the past and what could have been, we might just miss the future right in front of us.”

Chuckling, Peter’s ears perked happily. “That was just the thing I needed to hear from you. Thanks honey. Once this is finished I’m coming home, and we’re cuddling.” As if a realization came to mind, the stallion arched a brow. “This is usually the part where scepter drives you insane. Where is that thing?”

Twilight cleared her throat before shrugging. However, her complexion paled as the scepter hummed to life from behind her position. “I am your god now! Bring me your virgins!” the golden item boasted with Peter’s voice. The alicorn exhaled, holding a blank stare as she removed the scepter from her throne chair’s side sleeve via magic. Once the item was in her hoof, the scepter chortled. “There is a point where we needed to stop, and we have clearly passed it.” Suddenly, the scepter erupted into a wild laughter. “But let’s keep going and see what happens! Muhahahaha!”

Twilight’s brow twitched violently before an evil grin surfaced on her face. A row of tape materialized into existence in a brief flash, floating next to the scepter. The alicorn wrapped several strands of tape around the golden item’s mouth. Once the deed was done, Twilight tossed the tape behind her shoulder with a coy grin, all while the scepter released a series of muffled responses.

“I can’t explain how cathartic that feels.” Twilight muttered, inhaling deeply before sighing. Ignoring the scepter’s continuous and indistinguishable mumbling, the alicorn shared a final glance with the stallion. “Okay. Hurry and save the multiverse. I’ll be waiting for you. Take too long, and I’ll make sure to whack you with this loudmouth scepter several times.” She gave Peter a friendly wink as her astral image faded. “Oh. Gwen and Flurry have your tea, cookies, and sleeping bag ready. Don’t hurt their feelings by not making it in time.”

Peter chuckled. “I’m living the dream life any husband and father would want. I have a daughter that wants to smother me to death with love, and I have a wife ready to bludgeon my head in with a talking scepter. Dare to dream, world!” Sobering, Peter smiled. “Keep the bed warm, honey. I’ll be back. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Twilight gently whispered, smiling warmly before her image completely faded from sight.

Meanwhile, the surrounding portals glowed brightly as the fragment hovering over Julia’s hands emitted luminous energies. Suddenly, Umbra was pulled from the first portal and roughly landed near Peter, all while holding onto her fragment. The others soon followed, with each individual maintaining a grip on their respective fragment. Before long, Ember in her dog form flew into the vicinity before morphing back to her dragon figure in a flash of light.

The surrounding portals ignited, detonating out of existence. The fragments floated free from each individual before rushing over to Julia. Spiraling over Madame Web’s hands and fusing together, a shockwave around her position triggered. Most of the surrounding platforms disintegrated from sight, causing most of the Avengers to topple to the central area where Julia and Peter stood. Umbra, Ember, and Eris managed to land upright while Sonata, Trixie, and Laura all landed in undignified heaps, right on top of each other.

However, faster than anypony could react, a beam crashed into Madame Web’s chest and knocked her back. The force of the blow nearly sent the woman over the edge of the platform, but Peter slid across the ground, catching hold of her forearm. As he helped Julia back onto the platform, the reformed fragment levitated into Starlight’s waiting hoof once she materialized into existence in a flash. Grinning, the mare slid the last remaining piece into the tablet, fully reforming the item.

Starlight cackled wildly as the entire Tablet of Order and Chaos emitted bright energy before it faded into the mare’s body as she absorbed it. “Finally! You saved me a lot of trouble, Peter Parker!” she roared, her distorted voice echoing throughout the entire realm. She floated high above their position while a black cape and mask morphed onto her being. Suddenly, the mare’s physique expanded until she matched the size of a large dragon, towering over the ponies and platform underneath. “I can finally take my place as God of this reality!”

Dazed, Eris held a paw over her forehead and attempted to shake the cobwebs free. “Starlight! You must stop! You cannot begin to comprehend the power of the Tablet of Order and Chaos! It was not meant to be wielded by mortals!”

“I am no mere mortal! I’ve spent years of my life studying the powers of the tablet and Starswirl the Bearded’s time spell!” Starlight exclaimed as dark energies spread throughout the realm. “I know full well what I am doing!”

Peter lifted Julia onto the platform, turning to furrow his brow at Starlight. “No! You don’t! The space-time continuum is collapsing. We’re looking at the end of all of reality!” He shook his head. “Let go of the fragment and stop using Starswirl the Bearded’s time spell! Time travel is something nopony is meant to mess with!”

Starlight scowled as the stars aligned behind her position. “Keep quiet! I have seen first-hoof where your leadership has gone. The world itself is veering off-course to utter chaos. Celestia’s rule was failing, and I know it will be only a matter of time before Twilight Sparkle loses what little control is left.” The mare raised a hoof, pointing it sharply at the stallion. “You claim to be the Spirit of Order, but you bring only chaos wherever you go.”

“That’s not true!” Sonata quickly shouted in response, shaking her head. “Peter’s a good pony! He tries his best to help everyone!”

“Is it not? I studied Peter Parker’s history during my search of the multiverse. I watched the type of influence he has had in other realities,” Starlight huffed, holding a firm tone. “There’s a reality like our own that is in the central cluster of the multiverse. In that Equestria, Peter was never summoned, and Celestia is still alive. Its timeline is peaceful, with only the occasional minor inconvenience. Even that world’s version of myself has found peace alongside Twilight Sparkle and her friends.”

Eris folded her hooves. “That’s not absolute. The multiverse has generated literally an infinite number of possibilities.”

“I’m not done,” Starlight mused, arching a brow. “In the central reality where Peter Parker resides, he alone is at the center of nearly every catastrophe. Whether he’s directly or indirectly the cause, it stands that Spider-Man is a catalyst for chaos.” The mare narrowed her gaze on the stallion. “His presence here in our Equestria is indication of that! We’ve lost Princess Celestia! The Nightmare Force is allowed to walk out in the open despite all of the atrocities it committed! Princess Luna suffered from a broken heart for years! Discord and his sinister lot threatened many lives just to get to him.”

Trixie frowned. “None of that is on Peter! You’re punishing him for things beyond his control!”

Starlight snarled, baring her fangs. “Yes, it is! His mere existence puts everything - and everypony - around him in danger!” Nodding, she cackled wildly as her own body morphed to a black shade. “I will correct this. By removing ‘Peter Parker’ from all of reality! There will be no Spider-Man! No false order! I will ensure that reality stays its course without unnecessary chaos!”

“You seriously think erasing my dad will help? He’s saved more lives than anypony could imagine!” Mayday exclaimed, staring intently at Starlight. “Hang onto your misguided holier-than-thou outlook, and you’ll just make things worse!”

“That remains to be seen, but your protests are predictable.” Starlight coldly whispered, holding her hooves out to the side before turning to face the distorted energies skyward as they fused together. “I will create a new reality, erase Peter’s entire existence, and rule over it as its god. I will ensure all life is truly created equal, and nopony will ever lose their way. I will simply remove free will and teach everypony to accept my beliefs uncritically through synthesis.”

“That sounds dangerously close to indoctrination,” Umbra huffed, frowning at the mare.

Mayday shook her head. “No. It’s almost more in line with dictatorship. Remove free will, and you’re nothing more than a tyrant. It may be your will, but it’s not that of those under you.”

Eris frowned. “It’s the tablet. It’s amplifying her thoughts negatively.”

Ember clutched at her scepter, narrowing her gaze. “The old ways have paved our path, and we’re forging a new means for everypony to walk the planet equally. What you’re trying to do will unearth everything.”

“Of all the ponies to question my methods, it’s you? I find that laughably ironic,” Starlight chuckled, pausing as a series of platforms took a place scattered about midair.

Trixie brushed her cape to the side. “If you’re the ruler of this upcoming reality, everypony will be as ignorant as you. It will truly set all of Equestrian lore back several thousand decades.”

Straightening out her glasses with a hoof, Mayday nodded. “I used to think Celestia’s means to control the peace was unethical. While I still don’t fully agree with how she carried it out, at least she had everypony’s best intentions in mind while giving them the freedom to make their own choices.” Clearing her throat, Mayday scoffed. “I was stupid as a kid to even think you and Discord made more sense than Celestia. I’ll make up for it now by knocking some of that sense back into you.”

Starlight arched a brow. “Well, I can tell your minds are made up. Fret not, I’ll just cleanse your minds in the birth of my new reality.”

Unsheathing her claws, Wolverine growled before lowering into a feral stance. “Cleanse these, and shove it.”

With a widened gaze, Sonata nodded. “Y-yeah! What she said!”

Starlight’s face twisted with disgust before she raised a hoof, prompting a meteor to speed towards their platform. Eris snapped her talons, causing a barrier to rise around everypony’s position.

As more meteors crashed against the defense, Peter turned to face his teammates. “Okay. It’s simple. We stop Starlight, and we’ll get the fragment back. All of reality is counting on us. No pressure, right?”

“Just a piece of that tablet caused all of us some serious problems.” Trixie groaned, lifting her mask momentarily to reveal an exasperated expression. As she walked next to the stallion, the mare lifted her gaze towards Starlight. “How are we supposed to stop her when she has the whole thing?”

“By working together.” Peter stated matter-of-factly, earning the collective gazes of his teammates. “All of us managed to piece the Tablet back together. If we work together, we can stop it. We’re the Avengers. We do the impossible in our sleep.” The stallion firmly nodded, tapping one hoof over the other. “I assembled you all because I know, as a team, we could be the absolute best. I just need you all to believe that as well and try to trust each other.”

Laura huffed. “Trust the process, huh? This is one hell of a way to start.” Shrugging, the mare nodded. “Like I said, I’ll give this teamwork thing a try for now. It’s what the old man would have wanted me to do.”

Ember nodded, spinning her scepter about before aiming its crimson gem at Starlight. “I will fight for the new world we promised to strive for. This pony is simply an obstacle.”

Mayday walked up to her father, placing the entirety of her armor on before placing a hoof over his shoulder. “I’ve got your back. I kinda have to. You get erased, and I’ll fade from existence, too! Not to mention the same thing happening to Ben, Gwen, and Junior.”

Unsheathing her sword from its scabbard, Umbra gripped its handle with her teeth. “This affects all of us here. I propose we cease this mare’s actions as soon as possible.”

Eris glanced back at her team, nodding. “Our minds are set. We are your guardians, Peter. Now lead the charge!”

As if a realization came to mind, Peter glanced to the side. “Guardian? Yeah. That may actually work.” Shaking his head free of intrusive thoughts, the stallion pointed a hoof at Starlight. “Avengers! Assemble!”

Eris vanished from sight, appearing on the platform just below Starlight Glimmer. The mare caught sight of the draconequus, scoffing. Suddenly, dozens of stone ponies bearing Starlight’s image rose from the ground and surrounded Eris from every angle. Many lunged out at once, attempting to tackle the draconequus, but Eris waved her glowing talon, triggering a series of detonations.

Flames and magic tore through their stone shells, shattering their frames. Eris lifted a paw, swinging one of the statues around her being as if it was trapped in her orbit. The stone replica of Starlight collided into every counterpart that neared the draconequus, and each shattered upon impact, prompting Eris to drop the broken rock after the duration. Starlight fired a beam at the draconequus before she vanished from sight.

Faster than she could react, Eris materialized into existence behind the mare with her tail raised, and she swatted the back of her head, sending her careening into the ground with enough force to generate a crater. Starlight rose from the ground before levitating in midair. However, she glanced to the side, only for Laura to spear into her being with her claws fully extended. Wolverine climbed onto Starlight’s shoulder before slashing wildly against her opponent’s distorted form.

Sonata rushed up under the mare, inhaling deeply before screaming at the top of her lungs. Laura jumped away as the pulsating waves slammed into Starlight, carrying her body over the edge before she burst through another platform. Starlight groaned as she pulled herself from the ground, waving a hoof sharply. A fierce gust rushed through the vicinity, knocking Laura, Eris, and Sonata away. Her blank gaze sharpened into a glare once she caught sight of Trixie several hoof-lengths away.

Mysterio forced the lump in her throat down with a swallow before she pointed a hoof to the side. The distorted energies erupted around Starlight’s energy as she lunged out at Trixie. However, a grappling hook shot out from the golden band laced around her hoof and latched onto the upper portion of a platform in the distance, pulling Mysterio out of harm’s way as Starlight lunged out at where she previously stood. Particles of energy spiraled into Starlight’s horn while lightning crackled throughout the distorted realm.

Trixie landed on the side of a stone, glancing back as Starlight unleashed a beam in her direction. She then turned, grappling onto another platform at the last moment. The projectile slammed into the rock where Mysterio previously stood, reducing the stone to little more than slivers at the point of contact and detonation. The shockwave from the blast sent the hapless mare flying until she collided roughly into a stone back first. Mysterio groaned as she struggled to get back to her hooves, vanishing in a cloud of smoke once Starlight landed directly above her position.

Before Starlight could react, Ember soared through the skies with her scepter held firmly in one claw. She unleashed a sharp ray from the crystal, holding it over the distorted mare’s head. Starlight winced, raising a hoof defensively. Meanwhile, Iron Mare rose behind Starlight in midair with her hooves extended. She fired a pulsating ray, whipping Starlight’s head forward through a stone with a crash, and the distorted mare tumbled over the edge, falling for several seconds before crashing onto the central platform amidst the vicinity.

Once she stood, Starlight waved her hoof sharply and a shockwave erupted around her, sending Ember, Mayday, and Trixie careening in seperate directions. Soon, the mare collapsed while taking in wheezed breaths. Suddenly, Umbra and Peter landed mere hoof-lengths away. The mare unsheathed her blade as black energies enveloped Starlight’s form. Peter gave Umbra a simple nod, prompting the mare to leap high into the air until she disappeared from sight.

Exhaling, Peter shot out a strand of webbing onto Starlight’s horn and never relinquished his hold on the thread. Jerking his hoof to the side, he wrenched Starlight’s head sideways into the ground with a resounding crack. She turned and attempted to break free, but Peter snapped his hoof swiftly to the other side, forcing her head to the stone platform once again. Latching another strand of webbing onto Starlight, the stallion held the mare in place as she kept trying to break free.

Umbra sped past the mare as dark energies enveloped her blade. Swinging her sword, she slashed clean through the distorted energies surrounding Starlight. Suddenly, the distorted energies erupted violently from the mare’s body. Starlight held out her hooves from her body as the chaotic energies faded from the entire realm. Slowly yet surely, the other Avengers joined Peter and Umbra, and they watched as Starlight clamored about wildly.

“No!” Starlight exclaimed, shrinking back to her normal size. She crawled to a kneeling stance, holding her trembling hooves over her glowing chest. “The Tablet can still be mine! I can fix all of this!”

Peter walked up to the mare as every member of the Avengers stayed close behind him. “Sheesh, some bad guys never learn. Speaking of learning, you should learn how to count. Something tells me you’re outnumbered.” Shooting a strand of webbing onto her chest, Peter yanked Starlight to a standing position and swung her in the direction of his allies. “Ladies.”

Eris raised her tail, slapping Starlight across the face repeatedly with enough force to send her staggering away. “Child. You caused us so many problems.”

Laura rolled her eyes, throwing a straight punch into Starlight’s jaw. “I really hate this pony.”

Ember scoffed as Starlight stumbled in her direction, smacking the mare across the face with the blunt end of her scepter. “Come now, Laura. You hate everything.”

Mayday chuckled, shrugging before extending a hoof and unleashing a small pulse blast into Starlight’s forehead. “Oh, come on! She’s a blast to hit in the face!”

“If this is your idea of bonding,” Umbra whispered, pausing before throwing a straight punch into Starlight’s jaw, “then I must admit that I am enjoying this prospect.”

Sonata shook her head, furrowing her brow while pushing the staggering Starlight in a different direction. “I don’t think that’s how it works, Umbra.”

“Excuse me, Peter,” Dream called out, causing Peter’s eyes to widen. Suddenly, his hoof rose on its own before swatting Starlight’s jaw. The stallion blinked, prompting the entity in his head to clear her throat. “My apologies. I was feeling left out.”

Trixie removed her mask, lifting it high over her head before whacking the top of Starlight’s head with it. Inhaling deeply before sighing, the mare smiled. “Well, that was cathartic.”

Starlight laid muzzle-first against the ground, groaning weakly from being thrown around like a ragdoll. But, rather quickly, her pained groans gave way to infuriated growling as the center of her chest began glowing. “I won’t let myself lose! Not like this! I’ll just go back in time and stop you all from being born!” The unicorn's horn glowed with magic briefly before fizzling out, causing the mare’s eyes to widen. “What? Why isn’t the spell working!?” Gritting her teeth, Starlight tried a second time, yielding the same result before chaotic energies suddenly spiraled out of the mare’s body and the Tablet of Order and Chaos rose from her chest. Starlight peeked down at the phenomenon with a widened gaze. “W-what’s happening to me?”

Peter shot out a strand of webbing onto the tablet and pulled it to his position. The rest of the Avengers gathered around the stallion as the distorted energies of the realm faded from existence, rushing into Starlight’s glowing form. With a sudden burst of light, the platform underneath their hooves vanished before they fell briefly and came to rest on the grassy earth of their Equestria. Starlight collapsed into a heap, the illuminating energies having lost their glow. The surrounding portals winked, one by one, out of existence while the cloudy skies cleared.

Trixie arched a brow at the sight. “What… just happened?”

Folding her arms, Eris sighed. “Starlight Glimmer couldn’t contain the energies of the Tablet any longer. The strain of the time travel process proved to be too great for her in her current condition to make the jump with the tablet.”

After a brief duration, Madame Web walked up to the Avengers before retrieving the tablet from Peter. “Excellent work. Time is repairing itself, and the portals are sealing shut. Everything is returning to its proper order.”

Mayday paused, glancing at the device over her hoof. “She’s right. The energy readings are starting to balance back out. At this rate, I suspect everything should be back to normal in a few hours.”

Sonata hummed, smiling. “Mission accomplished! ...Right?” Upon receiving a nod from both Mayday and Madame Web, the siren's smile grew exponentially. “Our first team-up ends with us saving the universe! It doesn’t get any bigger or better than that!”

Ember stared blankly at the siren before furrowing her brow and folding her arms. “Watch what you say, Sonata. If this was just the start, there’s no telling what else might happen to us. We should be prepared for anything.”

“Good. That means things may stay exciting around here,” Laura grinned, stretching her neck until a crack was heard. “I think I’ll stick around for a bit and see what happens.”

Pausing, Umbra glanced to the side before narrowing her gaze. “Celebration aside, we should grab Starlight and take her into custody. The last thing we need is her getting away and causing more trouble.”

The Avengers walked up to Starlight, ready to grab the mare. Peter paused and turned to Julia. “You’ll hang onto the Tablet this time? I’d rather not deal with that thing for a third time. I don’t think my heart can take it.”

Julia smiled, gently holding the Tablet against her chest. “I’ll do just that. I’ll keep the Tablet in a different pocket dimension to ensure its captivity and safety.” The woman turned to take her leave, sharing a smile with the stallion. “You should feel proud, Spider-Man. Your influence continues to be felt throughout all of reality, and you have earned considerable trust from your teammates. So long as that bond stays there’s nothing that can stand against you.”

Peter shrugged. “Yeah. If this keeps us, we might start a bridge club or something.” The stallion trailed off, raising a hoof with a smile. “And I’m not Spider-Man anymore. I’m Spider-Guardian from here on out.”

The pair gestured a friendly wave to each other before Madame Web’s image faded from sight. However, Trixie rushed up to the stallion. “Peter. You need to see this.”

“What? You want to show your underwear collection? I’m already aware you like frilly lace,” Peter blankly whispered, avoiding the mare’s bemused glare.

Instead of responding, Trixie simply snatched the stallion’s ear via magic - who was painfully moaning in protest - before leading him to the others. “Quiet. This is serious.” They soon reached Starlight’s position, pausing upon noticing something in particular. Starlight’s features appeared considerably younger, evident by the smooth features her body now harbored. Trixie arched a brow upon noticing the mare’s younger features. “Something doesn’t seem right here.”

Mayday held out her hoof, allowing her device to scan a blue light over Starlight’s body. She eyed her device with a furrowed brow. “How strange. Her body’s... regressing.” Mayday edged closer to the mare. “Starlight? Can you hear me?”

“Is she going to be alright?” Sonata asked once Starlight failed to respond, glancing back to the rest of the group with a look of clear concern. “Just because we needed to stop her doesn’t mean I wanted anything bad to happen to her!”

Umbra huffed in response. “She was experimenting with powers far beyond her ability to comprehend. Starlight brought this upon herself. Simple as that.” she declared before turning and walking away from the group. “I care not either way.”

Eris shrugged. “I’ve never seen this before. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

“So, what do we do now?” Sonata questioned, tilting her head to the side.

Slow to respond, Peter shared a glance with all of his teammates before letting out a low sigh. “Well, we can’t just leave her here. We’ll take her back to the castle and wait it out.” The stallion simply shrugged before hoisting Starlight’s unconscious form over his shoulder. “Let’s go home. It’s been a long day for all of us. We’ll let Twilight and Luna figure it out.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, walking towards the castle in the distance. Trixie managed a smile. “A million realities in the universe, but there’s still only one place to call home.”

To be continued...

What If? - Equestrian Avengers: Shattered Dimensions

by Maximus_Reborn

Shattered! Avengers Disassembled!

Reunion! First Stop in Fragment Hunting!

Topsy Turvy! A Game of Wits!

I Was a Teenage Parker, Part I

I Was a Teenage Parker, Part II

I Was a Teenage Parker, Part III

Sounding Like a Bad Comic Book Plot

Future Tense, Part I

Future Tense, Part II

Waterworld

Darkness Reigns

Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part I

Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part II

Two Sides of the Same Coin, Part III

Finale! Fight for the Fate of the Universe!