*****I don't own Ultimate Spider-man or Young Justice*****

***Dedicated to jdkeller2000***

Why I hate Gym

"...and so all city campuses are on high alert. Report any suspicious persons immediately." Coulson stated at school as I sat down next to Ava. On the news last night, J Jonah Jameson started reporting that Spider-man was a student at Midtown High.

Agent Coulson told us we needed to be on high alert for any villains hoping to fight Spider-man. He would have told him this himself but, the web warrior wasn't at training last night. At least that's what Danny told me. I had magic training with Doctor Strange last night. I train with the team every other night so I don't fall behind especially after the Harm incident.

"Huh, I see one now." Flash Thompson called out as he saw Peter enter the room, making the other jocks laugh. I rolled my eyes. The brunet walked toward us.

"Pretty good show with Batroc ze Leaper last night, huh, Ava?" Peter asked.

"Lapse of training, late for school. Good show, Parker." she responded.

"You could cut the tension with a knife." I muttered under my breath. I felt both pairs of eyes on me. Peter walked away and sat with MJ and Harry. "I'm guessing it didn't go so well convincing him to 'be more responsible' "

"No. Not even a little."

"And cutting him some slack isn't at all on the table?"

"No and besides you're one to talk. You leave us hanging ever other night to work on your magic. You need to hone your combat skills and learn the different team maneuvers." 'Am I seriously being lectured right now?'

"I don't just do magic when I train with Doctor Strange. My dad made sure that I incorporated combat into my training when I was a kid. Danny keeps me up to date about all the new maneuvers and leads."

"Yeah but how are we supposed to even know what level you're at and if you can keep up with us?"

"You worry about you and I'll worry about me." I stood up and started walking away. 'I'll show her.' Flash knocked Peter out of his seat and right into me.

"Speaking of squirts..." Flash mocked. Peter stood up and extended a hand to me. I took it and we rushed back to the table, glaring at Flash. The jock wore a triumphant smirk.

"Thompson, Zatara, Parker." Coulson called to get our attention and stop the fight. "Pay attention. Your gym teacher, Mr. Molskin will be out due to a freak accident after last night's game. Mr. Jager will be your substitute until further notice." A man with brown hair, brown eyes and a mustache walked in. He wore a white sweatband, a grey t-shirt, black shorts, an armband and sneakers.

"I look forward to the challenge of unlocking your hidden talents." Mr. Jager stated. 'Is it just me or does this guy seem a little creepy?'


"Dodge Ball!" Flash shouted as he and his buddies each held a ball. Flash threw the object at Peter.

"Wait!" he shouted to no avail. The ball hit the brunet straight in the face, sending him to the floor.

"You lose again!" a second ball came flying and hit him again.

"Jeez, Parker. A little overkill just to maintain your cover." Ava stated as she picked up the ball. "Is that your face print?"


Mr. Jager made us all line up after he stopped Flash's dodge ball 'game'. I stood next to Sam and Harry.

"I'm looking for finalists for the citywide athletic achievement contest. I want to see everything you got in this obstacle course." Mr. Jager began. The course was a climbing wall, a balance beam, swinging down from a rope with a pool of water below it, a vaulting horse and strung up tires to jump through. "Push yourselves to the limit. Don't give me less than 110%."

"You and Zatanna could both learn something from him." Ava commented. I rolled my eyes. 'Perfect chance to show her what I can do.'

"How to creep people out?" Peter stated.

"Mr. Thompson. Go!" Mr. Jager stated

"I'll show you how it's done." Flash said. He climbed with ease, kept his balance on the balance beam, swung down from the rope without landing in the water, jumped over the vaulting horse and through the tires. "First to finish. Good, huh, coach? Am I in?"

"Okay, next one up. Go! Ayala, next."


"Zatara. Go!" Mr. Jager ordered. I took a breath in before I started. 'You can do this. This is gonna be a piece of cake.'

I ran toward the wall and jumped toward one of the higher foot handles. 'Over and stick the landing' I climbed the rest of the wall and landed perfectly on the other side. I ran through the tires below not missing a single one. 'Steady breaths' I hopped on the balance beam with ease and walked across it like nothing. 'Over and stick the landing' I grabbed the rope and swung across, landing next to the water. I ran toward the vaulting horse, jumping over it. 'Big finish' I saw the tire in front of me. I jumped through it and rolled as I hit the ground. I stood up, sticking the landing.

"So? How's that for someone who 'skips' practice?" I spoke to Ava.

"A little showy but, impressive." she praised.

"Guess I couldn't shake the stage performer in me. My dad taught me stage magic in addition to real magic."

"Guess I was wrong about you, Zee." We turned to the course to see Peter fall from the climbing wall.

"Oiy. I'll see three of you here tomorrow for the final cut. Rand, Osborn, Thompson. The rest of you, anemic." Mr. Jager said before walking toward the door.

"Tomorrow? Saturday?" Danny asked.

"Did I stutter?"

"Danny, Flash and Harry? Harry? I aced that thing why am I not a finalist? Because I'm a girl?" Ava complained.

"Are you the only person on earth who sees school on a Saturday as a good thing?" Peter asked. She frowned.

"Fury is so right. You're soft." Luke groaned. 'This again' He motioned to Danny and me and pointed away from their argument. "You know, I say we show Mr. Jager who can do what." I started to walk away when I felt Ava grab my arm. 'Why me?' "The three of us are going to come back tomorrow anyway, list or no list and run that course again."

"And I'm involved in this why?" I asked.

"Come on you and I did way better than Harry. One of us should have made the cut." 'How do I get stuck in these messes?'

"If I'm late, you can start without me. Finish too. I'm beat. I have tomorrow set aside for sleep." Peter yawned to prove his point. Ava frowned.

"If I'm being dragged into this, so are you. Besides you owe me for using me as a cushion in the cafeteria." I responded.

"Doesn't that Jager creep you out?" We turned around to see the coach doing jumping jacks facing the wall.

"I work with a guy whose feet stick to walls. No one creeps me out." Ava stated before walking off. I shrugged before walking away as well. 'This should be interesting.'


I walked up to the school and spotted Ava. 'Where's Peter?' Danny said they had to be at the school at 8 for the final test. I made him promise not to leave me with Ava and Peter. I've been getting stuck in their arguments all week and its taken all my willpower not to use magic.

"Where is everyone? I would have thought they'd be out by now." I stated as the girl nodded.

"Maybe they got out earlier." She suggested.

"Doubt it. Danny was supposed to help me gather spell components for Uncle Stephen after he was done. I'm definitely not feeling the astor."

"I will never understand why you need to butcher the English language."

"Reminds me of home." I shrugged. "Have you tried going inside to scope it out for yourself?"

"I tried before you got here. The fence is electrified." I paused. 'Maybe there's a weak spot?'

"Whos em eht stnerruc ni eht cirtcele ecnef esaelp" The fence glowed with electricity. 'No weak spots.' The electricity died down.

"Let's see if Peter's heard anything." she picked up her phone and called the brunet. "Peter, have you heard from Harry? It's noon, and no one's come out from the gym yet...Something's wrong. Zatanna and I can't get into the school. The fence is electrified...Get here, now."

"Quick enough for you?" Spidey asked as he hopped down next to Ava. I giggled slightly at the girl jumping in surprise. "Oh! That's right, I'm that good."


"What took you guys so long?" I asked as I stood next to the now open front door of Midtown High. The pair jumped slightly. They thought I jumped over the fence with them.

"Something's up. We should call Coulson." White Tiger stated.

"No. We should go solo on this. Eh, you know, together. We can handle this." Spider-man stated.

"SHIELD added security."

"To protect the school from well for us." A camera turned toward them.

"Probably just a misfire."

"Are you coming in or would you rather keep chatting outside?" I asked before walking inside. The pair followed me after a moment.

"I mean, who electrifies a fence and leaves the door unlocked?" Spidey asked. We quietly walked through the halls.

"Dark, creepy, dank." Ava stated.

"I told you not to come to school on a Saturday."

"Hello? Is anyone there. Help! Help!" a voice called out. We ran toward the source of the voice. We rounded a corner and saw Janitor Stan pinned against the wall by one of the security protocols. "Can anyone hear me? Oh, I sure could use a hand. I've got myself in quite a pickle here. Oh, if Irving Forbush could see me now."

"Hang tight, janitor guy. We'll get you out." Spider-man jumped over to the device and moved it off the civilian.

"Etativel mih ot eht dnuorg!" I quickly chanted before the janitor could fall to the ground. He ran over toward White Tiger and I. Spidey let go of the machine and it went back to its previous state.

"Mucho malfunction security system."

"Oh, my."

"Don't move. Whoa!" White Tiger called out as a trap door opened, making the janitor disappear. We looked down the hole and saw him land below. 'I hope he's okay.'

"Wow, there's a lot of wax build-up down here." 'He's fine.'

"Who built the security? Doctor Doom?" Spider-man questioned.


"I'm calling Coulson." White Tiger stated as we continued down the halls. Spidey stopped and looked in the Principal's office. I followed him over and saw Coulson's office lit up meaning the SHIELD agent was here.

"No phone needed." Spider-man stated.

"He's here. On a Saturday? Agent Coulson?" the heroine walked toward us. I opened the door slowly.

"Don't come into my office." Coulson ordered. The agent was hanging upside down in his underwear above a vat of who knows what.

"I can see why you wanted to be alone. Nice tighty whities" the web warrior commented.

"The whole school is rigged. Taskmaster corrupted the SHIELD security tech."

"Who?" White Tiger and I asked simultaneously.

"Assassin. Hates me. Hates Fury."

"We have to contact Fury." White Tiger stated.

"You can't. He jammed the frequencies. You shouldn't have come to school today."

"Told you." Spidey said. I nodded.

"Work on getting yourselves out of here, and then find Fury. Don't waste time on me, and definitely don't go after Taskmaster alone. He's a combat chameleon. Do you understand?" 'Combat chameleon?'

"Wait. He was bitten by a radioactive chameleon?" a scream filled the halls. "That's Harry. I remember that scream from slasher movie night at camp. Come on!" We quickly ran out of the office.


"What did Coulson just say?" White Tiger asked as we rounded the corner.

"I don't know. I couldn't hear him." Spider-man answered.

"Really hope it wasn't important." I stated.

"Spidey-sense. Get down!" The trophy case started firing trophies at us. We each started dodging the trophies. "If Flash and Harry are here at least they've got Danny to protect them."

"Hguone htiw eht gniylf seihport!" The objects fell down around us and the security system stopped.

"Cutting it a little close there." We continued to run down the hall.

"There they are." White Tiger informed as we spotted the boys running upstairs.


"You think he's behind us?" Flash asked.

"I'm not looking." Harry stated. As we heard their voices we opened the door we were behind. Taskmaster landed in front of the pair, scaring them.

"Which of you is going to change into Spider-man before anyone else gets hurt?" the villain asked.

"They're in danger." Spidey stated.

"It's the moment you've trained for." White Tiger added before laughing. "Oh, wait, that's right. You never train." I rolled my eyes. The two boys started to run. Harry accidentally activated a net trap, catching him in the air.

"Flash, don't leave me here." Harry begged.

"Hey, I'm the strongest guy in school, but I'm no Spider-man." Flash called back as he ran around the corner.

"You're obviously not him." Taskmaster stated as he walked past the trapped boy. "Come on out, Spider. It's go time." I cringed as the villain started scraping his sword against the lockers.

"Flash is in your locker. What's the plan?" White Tiger stated.

"He wants me, he gets me." Spider-man responded before shooting a web."You guys get Harry and Flash somewhere safe." the web warrior went off to face the villain.

"Great plan." Spidey hung upside down facing the villain after he stole his sword with his webs.

"Edih Hsalf morf Retsamksat gnisu ruomalg." I chanted. Even if Taskmaster opened the lockers, he wouldn't be able to spot Flash.

"Destroying school property goes on your permanent record, you know." he quipped.

"Oh, decided to come clean, Thompson?" The pair started to engage in battle. Dodging blow for blow. Spider-man led him through the hall, jumping from wall to wall. The web warrior turned around and tried to kick the villain. He missed giving Taskmaster the chance to use his move against him. White Tiger went to cut Harry free, bringing the villain's attention to us. "You're next."

"He's copying your moves, Web-head." White Tiger called out. Harry cowered behind the heroine.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you copying is cheating?" Spider-man said as he stood back up for round two. The two went at it again. Neither missing a single hit until Taskmaster grabbed Spidey's hand.

"I call it winning." the villain responded as he knocked Spider-man to the ground. "End of the line, Thompson. You can take off the mask."

"Etaerc a reirrab dnuora Nam-redips!" I chanted as Taskmaster reached to pull off Spidey's mask. The barrier created the distraction we needed.

"I was going to say the same thing." White Tiger called out as she went to attack the villain. She kicked the skull mask off of his face revealing Mr. Jager. "If it is a mask, ugly." Harry screamed before running the other way. "Mr. Jager? Our gym teacher?" He picked up the mask and placed it back over his face. "So that test was only about finding Spider-man? Now I don't feel so bad about gettin' cut." White Tiger jumped to avoid his kick. "I'll show you the benefits of training." She started to attack him with her electrified claws. The villain didn't seemed phased. They continued being matched blow for blow. 'He's toying with her.'

"Oh brother." Spidey commented getting up.

"Never met a move I couldn't match." Taskmaster stated as he continued to fight my teammate. "Yours, spider's." Tiger sent a punch at the villain. "That K'un Lun kid's" he caught her fist. My eyes widened.

"Danny? What did you do to him?" White Tiger asked. The distraction was enough to give the villain the chance to kick the heroine toward the stairs. I nodded at Spider-man who went after her. I took the opportunity to free Flash from his locker.

"Is that creepy guy in the skull still out there?" the jock asked as I opened the door.

"He's gone for now but, you need to get out of here. Wohs mih a efas htap tuo fo eht loohcs!" I chanted as a light appeared on the floor, creating a path. "Follow this path and you'll be out of here in no time." Flash nodded and started following the path. 'Almost forgot.' "Evomer eht romalg no Hsalf!" I ran toward the staircase after the others. Spider-man was holding onto the railing while Taskmaster stood over him, holding a gun.

"Refuse...no one gets out alive and I turn you over to my employer. Limited time offer. Clock's ticking." The villain stated as he pointed the gun on the webslinger.

"A job, huh?" Spider-man asked.

"A powerful man hired to bring you to him. But I'm powerful myself and I'm offering you an opportunity to be part of something amazing, Spider-man."

"So you're not just a madman. You're a double-crossing madman." 'I've heard enough'

"Etativel mih!" I chanted making Taskmaster float into the air.

"What?"

"Oh? Have you never fought a magic user?" I nodded to Spider-man. Hopefully, he and White Tiger can come up with something while I keep Taskmaster busy. He let go of the rail.

"Hiding behind tricks. Pathetic." I moved my hand and caused the villain to fly through the doorway and back into the hall. I ran out there just in time to see him on the ground.

"How's that for pathetic?" he jumped back up, not amused.

"Not bad but, lets see if your combat skills match up." I took a deep breath and focused.

"Erif deeh ym dnammoc. Enibmoc htiw ym lacisyhp skcatta!" I charged at the approaching villain. I dodged a punch and sent one back. I smirked as he quickly moved out of the wave once he saw the flames surrounding my hand. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." I jump kicked at him, barely missing him.

"Clever girl." We continued to fight, him quickly evading while I didn't hold back. He kept moving backwards. "But not clever enough." He punched the glass on that held a fire extinguisher and grabbed it, spraying me. The force of the spray pushed me back into a wall. Before I could get my bearings together, I felt a kick to the stomach. He continued to use this advantage and continue the onslaught.

"Tropsnart em dniheb mih!" I watched as he looked surprised that I was no longer in front of him.

"Magician Girl, do you copy?" White Tiger asked across ours communicators. The villain turned around and spotted me.

"Yeah but, I'm a little busy. Unless you've got a plan, I'm gonna have to let you go."

"Tiger and I have a plan. Think you can lure Tasky to the gym?" Spider-man added.

"Just tell me what I need to do." I flipped backwards as the villain tried to hit me. I nodded hearing my instructions. I quickly turned a corner and spotted Spidey. "Laecnoc em htiw romalg!" 'Time to get the best of Taskmaster.'


I hurried into the gym, Taskmaster was distracted by Spidey so I could get into place. As soon as the villain burst through the doors I knew it was time.

"Sthgil tuo esaelp!" I whispered watching the gym turn dark. Spider-man appeared over the next door, waving at Taskmaster.

"Darn those budget cuts. No lights on the weekend, Tasky!" he called out.

"You're only prolonging the inevitable." he responded.

"Then we might as well make it fun, right?" The villain ran toward the web warrior.

"Ekam eht moor rekrad dna tuhs eht srood!" I continued silently.

"Tiger, turn on the night vision."

"I make this spider night vision look good." She added.

"Come out, come out wherever you are, little spider. You can't beat me. I know all your moves." I heard White Tiger make her way down and land a hit on Taskmaster.

"You ain't seen nothing yet." Spider-man spoke as he swung down and hit the villain. "And you ain't gonna." I heard the sounds of hand to hand combat.

"It's dark, but you're still you." Tiger hit the ground. "And I know what you do."

"You sure about that?" The heroine asked. The villain made a sound indicating she caught Taskmaster off guard.

"Not bad for a first timer." Spidey added as his hands glowed. "Recognize where you are, Jager?"

"You just did me a favor. I have a photographic memory. I can move through here as well as if the lights were on." the villain boasted. I heard him slip.

"You could if everything was still where it was yesterday, sucker." White Tiger mocked.

"Evem a erit htaenrednu Retsamksat!" I chanted. I heard the villain groan in pain. By the sounds of it, the duo's plan was working.

"Spidey, you got him?"

"Dodge ball!" Spider-man called out as I heard several balls hitting the villain. "Nice shot. Been practicing?" He praised as the sound of webs trapped Taskmaster.

"Now I know why you use these. This is fun."

"Evomer eht romalg dna tel ereht eb thgil!" I chanted as the light came on. I laughed as the pair jumped slightly.

"It's not too late for you to join me." Taskmaster stated.

"Yeah, you might think I'm a loser but, I don't." Spider-man responded.

"Then I'll simply expose your identity as Flash Thompson to the entire world."

"Which Flash Thompson? That one?" Tiger asked as Flash and Harry walked in. 'Guess he doesn't take direction well.'

"Yeah, loser. He can't get out, right?" Flash added.

"Another one of your tricks." I shook my head.

"If you paid attention in class you'd know that my powers don't work unless I speak. I haven't said a word other than to turn on the lights." I said with a smirk.

"It's Spider-man, Jager, not Spider-teen. But this school is still under my watch, just like the rest of the city. There's a lesson for you here-"

"Yeah, you just got schooled." the jock spoke.

"Not helping." Taskmaster pulled out a device, causing smoke to appear. We all started coughing.

"Hguone htiw eht ekoms! I chanted making the smoke clear away. Taskmaster was gone except for his Mr. Jager mask.

"Nice distraction, Thompson."

"How many masks can one guy wear?" White Tiger asked.

"You're asking me?"

"Think he'll be back with a different face?

"He knows what he's up against, if he shows whatever face he's got around here again."

"Ho-ho-ho, 'cause he got schooled." Flash laughed. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, it's still not working."

"Yeah...no...wha-whatever you say, Spider-man."


"No one in this school is cool enough to be Spidey, so forget that rumor. That said, I totally helped Spider-man save the dump. I saw this close to him! We're buds!" Flash told reporters. We finally made it out of the school and were debriefing with Coulson. We managed to free him and find Danny.

"Flash Thompson finally did me a favor." Peter stated.

"Taskmaster never even suspected Peter Parker was Spider-man. Your creativity was just as strategic as my training. More even." Ava added.

"Really?"

"Going solo paid off, okay? Not to mention you were able to fight and distract Taskmaster long enough for us to rearrange the course and come up with a plan." the long haired girl turned to me.

"Really?" I asked, unsure if Ava was able to give more than one compliment a day.

"Magic training might have saved our butts."

"There's still one thing I don't get at all. The tight briefs. Really?" Peter cut in.

"I swim." Coulson answered.

"Leave the man's underwear alone, Pete. Or he'll get short with you." I tried to hide my laughter as the agent walked away.

"Now its time to embark on an arguably more deadly task. Spell ingredient gathering." I stated looping my arm with Danny's.

"Compared to Taskmaster's School of Horrors, how bad can it be?" Peter asked.

"Its not like grocery shopping." Danny stated.

"Creatures, demons and hostile environments. Its more of a two person job but, Uncle Stephan prefers I go solo to practice my skills. But, Danny owes me so I hope you're not completely beat after that fight with Taskmaster."

"From what I heard, maybe I should be asking you that."

"You guys are welcome to join."

"Thanks but, I've got...something." Ava tried weakly. I frowned.

"Training. She means training." Peter supplied as the pair ran off. 'Cowards'


Hey guys! Here is the latest installment in this series. jdkeller2000 I really hope I did this episode justice for you. It's one of my favorites and because there really wasn't a time altering piece to it I could add it in. Whenever someone asks for a chapter unless it really is a no go I'll not only write it but dedicate it to you as a thanks. If it is a chapter I don't see Zatanna able to do much in I'm gonna have to skip it but I will give you an explanation. So since the lineup for Season 1 is already close to being finished, I'm now accepting episodes for Season 2.

Review time!

GUEST: I'm really glad you asked this question because it helped me to really think how it's all going to work. I really had to think because of the five year time skip between Season 1 and 2 of Young Justice. In the DC-verse it was late 2010 when Zatanna left. In the Marvel-verse she arrived in 2012 so there's a two year difference. While it's 2014 in this current season, its 2012 in the DC-verse. I really hope this clears it up for you. If you need more of an explanation don't hesitate to ask. As for your idea about having someone from the DC-verse come and be paired with Spidey, I am planning on having a character come in. They will be a part of a an arch in a later season. I'm thinking it won't be until season 3 or 4. I think you'll enjoy what I have planned.

Time for a shout out!

Thank you to nightwatcher55 for following!

Thanks for reading this chapter and I'll see you next time! Favorite, follow and/or review if you like (no flames please!) Have a great day/night!