Pepper Ann copyright Sue Rose/Disney

Spider-Man copyright Marvel Comics

Tangled Web

Chapter 01: Old Friend

The town of HAZELNUT...
it's a pretty average place, full of average people living simple, normal lives.

while some are are "natural" citizens most of the town residence are people from much BIGGER towns and cities, who move to town for "better" lives.

one such person was Lydia Pearson.
who was a single mother who moved back to Hazelnut with her daughter Pepper Ann.

but, ANOTHER person was to return to the small, quiet town...with her "special" grandson

[Hazelnut High School, Noontime]

a fourteen year old girl in glasses with Strawberry Red hair and, wearing a purple shirt and yellow skirt rushed into the school halls.

"oh, FUZZY!
i can't believe I'm late!" said the girl

just as soon as she dashed into a corridor-

CRASH!

the girl bumped into someone and fell on her rear.
she looked up and saw Princible Hickey...her "worst enemy"

"P-Princible HICKEY!"

the middle-aged man scowled at her.

"well, well...i fit isn't PEPPER ANN PEARSON.
and, late for class AGAIN I see...(tsk-tsk), you haven't changed one bit since Grade School."

Pepper Ann stood up.

"S-Sorry, Princible Hick-"

"just get to CLASS.
I'll speak to your mother about this later."

the redhead grumbled.
she then walked off.

"and, remember: NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS!"

Pepper Ann growled in her throat.

"man, can this day get any worse?"

Pepper Ann walked into her classroom.
naturally, all the other students were already seated...and the teacher scowled at her.

"Ms. Pearson...your late again.
I'm afraid I have to issue you a DETENTION SLIP."

the man handed Pepper Ann a pink piece of paper.
Pepper Ann groaned as she squeezed the paper and stuffed it in her pocket.

"stupid, blasted-"

"please take your seat, PEARSON."

Pepper Ann sighed, then walked over and sat on a chair.
sitting right next to her was a girl with long, light blonde hair who wore a light blue sweater, dark pink skirt and a long-sleeved sweater tied to her waist.

"late again, I see." said the girl in a "timid" sounding voice

"gee, what was your first clue, NICKY." said Pepper Ann

Pepper Ann then sighed.

"man, I sure wish Milo wasn't spending the weekend with his dad...I miss him already."

"as do I.
but, we'll have to make the best of it." said Nicky

just then, Princible Hickey walked in.

"Class...as Princible of this fine school.
it is my jo-I, err...mean HONOR to introduce a new student to our fine institution."

at that moment, a brown haired, blue eyes teenager walked in.
wearing only a simple short sleaved shirt, blue jeans and a backpack.

"Class...this is Mr. Peterson Benjamin Parker.
he just moved to Hazelnut from New York, so...let's make him feel at home."

Peter waved at the other, smiling timidly Nicky was the first to smile and wave at him...Pepper Ann just stared.

"peter...
hmmm...why does that name sound so FAMILURE."

"Mr. Parker...please take your seat." said Hickey

"uhhh...o-okay."

Peter walked over and sat down quietly.

"now, Mr. Carter...continue with the lesson."

Hickey then walked off.
various kids stared at Peter and began talking quietly (Trinket and Alice Kane, mostly)

Peter just sighed sharply.

[Later, After School]

Pepper Ann and Nicky Little walked out the school building.
it was at that moment that Nickey saw Peter walking alone.

"hey, Pepper Ann...why don't we go over and talk to Peter."

"why?"

"well, he IS new here.
we should be civil and make him feel comfortable here at Hazelnut."

Pepper Ann scoffed.

"why should ANYONE be comfortable here!, Hazelnut is such a boring town."

Nicky glared at Pepper Ann, growling a bit.

"but, I guess it couldn't hurt to talk to him." said Pepper Ann nervously

Nicky smiled.
the two then walked over to Peter.

Nicky was the first to approach him.

"Excuse me..."

Peter looked at the two girls.

"yeah?"

"Hi, my name is Nicky, Nicky Little.
and, this is my friend: Pepper Ann-"

"Pearson?" said Peter, as if excited

Pepper Ann eyes him.

"you...KNOW me?"

"of course i do, we're OLD FRIENDS!"

Pepper Ann still looked confused.
Peter then sighed sharply.

"hold on."

Peter reached into his pocket and took out a pair of black rimmed glasses.
he put them on, and after a few minutes...Pepper Ann stared in shock.

"oh...my gosh, PETER!"

Peter smiled sheepishly.
Nicky then looked at both of them.

"am I...missing something?"

"Nicky, this is PETER PARKER!
he's an old friend of mine, I knew him LONG before I ever moved to Hazelnut!"

Peter nodded, then removed his glasses.

"we were only young kids at the time.
but, Pepper Ann moved away a long time ago...I never saw her again after that."

"why, that's wonderful!
uh, that your here NOW, I mean." said Nicky

Pepper Ann looked at her friend.

"so, Pete...what have you been up to the past several years?"

Peter darted his eyes, as if thinking (and, worried) about something.

"oh...you know: THIS...and, THAT.
I try not to dwell on the past that much."

"what about your Aunt and Uncle, how are they doing?"

Peter looked a little pale.

"Aunt May is fine."

Pepper Ann raised an eyebrow.

"what about your Uncle Ben?"

Peter looked down.

"let's just say...New York can be a "dangerous" place.
and, Aunt May decided to move here to Hazelnut after..."

Nicky gasped.

"oh my..."

"Uncle Ben is GONE?" said Pepper Ann, stunned and shocked

"man...I-I can't believe it!
and, he was such a nice guy, too.

"yeah...well, as I said: I try not to dwell on the past."

Pepper Ann nodded.

"right.
SO, you want us to show you around?"

"SURE!, I'd love to."

"Kay, let's go.
I have TONS of things to show you."

"EEK!" shrieked Nicky

"what?" said Peter

"THERE'S A SPIDER ON YOUR SHIRT!"

Peter looked and saw a small Spider crawling down is arm.
he effortlessly brushed it off, as if it was nothing.

"WHEW!, that was close.
your lucky it didn't bite you!" said Nicky

"eh, I've ALREADY been bitten by one of those things before." said Peter

Peter then looked at them.

"so...we going, or what?"

"sure...let's go hit the town!" said Pepper Ann

the three teens then all walked off together, with Pepper Ann leading the way.

Author Note: the first chapter of my Crossover story, which will (hopfully) renue interest in the Pepper Ann series.

my reasons for doing this story is THAT, and the fact that Spider-Man is a superhero that kids can relate to...and, Pepper Ann and Nicky Little are like Alternate Versions of 'Mary Jane Watson' and 'Gwen Stacy' to me.

Peter Parker HIMSELF will be more like a fusion between "Amazing" and "Ultimate"