Issue 12: Trial By Fire Part 1

It was quiet in Central Park as some people were going about their business even if fewer people were in the park than usual.

There was a few kids running around playing, some joggers running and some elderly folks enjoying the scenery.

All was quiet and calm before a scream caught everyone's attention.

The scream was a young child who was on his butt in fear as the Hobgoblin landed in the park with a sick smile.

"More victims?" Hobgoblin asked with a chuckle.

His mind was almost completely gone as he was only getting the urge to keep killing, not caring who it was.

The child barely had time to scream before people began running in fear as they saw the child die.

~NYPD Precinct~

"What we just found out does not leave this room." Bales said closing the door quickly.

Shannon gave Bales a surprised look as Cassandra gave a nod. "If word gets out about Spider-Man's blood being untraceable every drug dealer, murderer and terrorist will be after him to get that blood." Cassandra said seeing where Bales was getting at.

"I'll erase the data from the NYPD Database." Shannon said typing quickly. "But Chief, this will also make it easier to find him."

"We'll worry about that when this Hobgoblin is off the streets." Bales said with a frown. "We need to ID him, speaking of which did U,N.I.O.N ID Electro?"

"Whoever he was, he isn't in the database." Cassandra said deciding to give him that much. "Someone actually wiped his history making it as if he doesn't exist."

"Lovely." Bales muttered pinching his nose before someone knocked on the door.

Eyes widening, they turned to see Darrel entering. "Chief, I checked every Hospital I could but there's no sign of anyone as badly injured as the eyewitnesses said Spider-Man was." He said to Bales before seeing Cassandra and Shannon as well as some files out. "Sorry if I'm interrupting something."

"It's fine, Darrel I need you to keep checking though." Bales said and Darrel gave a nod before leaving only for Kent to run by and force his way into the room.

"The Hobgoblin was spotted." Kent said making Bales act.

"Alright, get the SWAT Team ready." Bales said to Kent. "Where is he?"

"Central Park."

"I'll have U.N.I.O.N soldiers go there " Cassandra said leaving the room.

~The Base~

"What are you talking about?" Zack asked cautiously as the stranger calmly walked up to the torn costume that Cedric wore in his first fight against the Hobgoblin that was laying on the couch.

"It's a simple question really." The man said looking at Zack with a smirk. "How much are you willing to bet to help your friend?"

"Everything." Zack answered truthfully as he still eyed the man warily.

"Even your soul?"

Now Zack took a cautious step back. "You're shitting me." Zack said getting what was going on. "Y-You're the Devil?!"

"I suppose you could call me that, but I go by another name." The man said with a dark chuckle. "They call me Mephisto."

"B-But that's just a comic!" Zack protested now backing way up away from the guy.

"Who do you think planted the idea of that in Stan Lee's Head?" Mephisto asked with a wave of his hand. "All it took was some discrete suggestions put in his head without him being the wiser, I am very real, as was the Rider once upon a time."

"Y-You're looking to turn me into a Rider." Zack said unable to believe what he was hearing. "Why me?!"

"It's been years since I've had a Rider on this Earth." Mephisto said looking right into Zack's eyes. "And as for you, well lets just say you are of interest Zachary Maxwell."

"What do you mean?" Zack asked cautiously.

"Your friend Cedric is going to die." Mephisto said and he was suddenly in front of Zack, pressing a finger to the teen's forehead and Zack saw a vision of Cedric being torn apart viciously.

No sooner did Mephisto pull his finger away did Zack fall to his knees dripping with sweat from the vision.

"Every outcome is his death." Mephisto said making Zack look at him in horror. "Except for one."

"... One where I sell my soul." Zack said seeing where he was getting at before realizing something that Mephisto said earlier. "Wait, you said you haven't had a Rider on THIS Earth in a long time?"

Mephisto just smiled darkly. "You don't have to accept my offer, if you say no, I'm gone."

"You tell me Cedric will die if I don't and say that I don't have to accept?" Zack glared at the man. "How do I know if you're telling the truth about this being the only outcome?"

"You don't." Mephisto said without a care in the world. "But are you willing to take that chance?"

Zack went quiet as Mephisto held out a hand.

~With Spider-Man~

Spider-Man gritted his teeth in pain as he swung through the city.

He wasn't being truthful with Zack about being healed enough.

His arms were still sore and he could feel that his ribs were cracked.

But he can't worry about that, not when the Hobgoblin was out there killing people.

'Just push through the pain.' Spider-Man told himself before seeing a News Chopper flying by.

Seeing how it hasn't seen him, Spider-Man hitched a ride underneath it only to hear Violet Crane inside of it.

"How close are we to Central Park?"

"A few minutes out, are you sure about this Vi?" The Cameraman asked with worry in his tone. "This Hobgoblin sounds like a piece of work."

"We need to get the story out there." Violet said to him. "People need to know the truth."

'Central Park?' Spider-Man was about to jump off only to see that they were passed the tall buildings and if he jumped off now, he may as well be street pizza.

Giving a sigh, Spider-Man heard a gasp and looked up to see Violet looking at him out the window with a look of surprise making him wish that he brought a camera.

"Mind giving me a lift to Central Park?" Spider-Man asked over the noise of the rotors.

"Is the camera on?" Violet asked quickly.

"It is." The Cameraman said to her. "And we're live."

"Good Afternoon, this is Violet Crane and we are on our way to Central Park where the Hobgoblin is located only to get an unexpected passenger that is none other than Spider-Man himself, I am going to attempt to interview him."

"Seriously?!" Spider-Man asked in disbelief.

"You need a lift to Central Park, why not answer a few questions while we head there." Violet said making Spider-Man sigh, relenting a bit.

"Fine, what questions?" Spider-Man asked as he kept his balance on the leg of the Helicopter instead of the underbelly.

"Well first off where did you come from?" Violet asked curiously. "How did you get your powers?"

"A complete accident." Spider-Man said with a sigh. "I can't really go into the details right now."

"Very well." Violet said getting to her next question. "Now why do you dress up like a Comic Book Character? Why are you helping people?"

"You mean besides the fact that people called me Spider-Man first before I went with the look?" Spider-Man asked before sighing. "And people shouldn't need a reason to help others, I'm just a guy wanting to help, is that so hard to believe?"

"Then why the mask?" Violet asked him. "Wouldn't it be easier for people to trust you without it?"

"Yeah and then you can have every criminal knowing who I am and coming to seek revenge." Spider-Man said sarcastically as he sighed. "But I have people to protect, people that don't even know about me being like this."

Violet gave a nod hearing about that. "Now for the big question, what is your plan for the Hobgoblin considering he beat you the other day?" She asked as Spider-Man tensed a bit. "... You do have a plan right?"

"Yeah." Spider-Man said half-heartedly as he saw Central Park with smoke coming from a location and helicopters circling it. "And I need to get there now."

"Then hang on." Violet said giving a nod to their pilot as he flew towards there.

~Central Park~

Hobgoblin chuckled as he killed two or three more people before he felt something hit him from behind and he turned to see a metal slug hit the floor.

Looking up, Hobgoblin saw the NYPD SWAT team with Riot Gear out as they were firing at him.

The shots were barely stinging, but it was bothering him as he breathed fire only for them to duck as they continued shooting, with one of them launching tear gas.

One of the trees caught fire as the flames lit up the area with Hobgoblin ripping a tree trunk out and tossing it, hitting one of them before he came to claw them before a Helicopter came flying by firing at him and he was starting to get pissed.

"Keep it up!" Hobgoblin heard as he turned to see Chief Bales who was also firing at him.

"DIE!" Hobgoblin roared as he ran at them with his claws gleaming in the fire before something slammed into him and exploded sending him flying back.

Bales turned to see Cassandra with her U.N.I.O.N Task Force and they had RPG's firing at him. "Figured we needed the heavy fire power." Cassandra said to his incredulous look.

"I'm not complaining." Bales commented as he saw Hobgoblin push himself up but there was some blood coming out of his mouth and he was holding his left side gingerly. "Especially since that hurt him."

"Of course that hurt him, it was a freaking rocket." Kent deadpanned before looking at Cassandra. "Any chance you brought extras?"

Hobgoblin interrupted them by throwing a park bench as they ducked to avoid it.

"Fire those damn rockets!" Cassandra ordered as more fired but Hobgoblin was more wary this time as he took off, dodging what he could before he ran at them considering they were in the midst of reloading.

"HEY UGLY!" A voice called out as Spider-Man jumped down using gravity momentum to kick the Hobgoblin in the jaw causing him to stumble. "Remember me?"

Hobgoblin shook his head to clear it before seeing Spider-Man and he snarled. "Killed you." He said in a low tone. "You died."

Spider-Man raised a brow at how he was speaking before running at him.

Bales saw one of his men aiming at Spider-Man and he quickly put a hand on the officer's arm. "Focus on the Hobgoblin." He ordered. "It's more important to get that maniac then Spider-Man at this point."

~The Base~

"What's the catch?" Zack asked glaring at the man. "What do you want besides my soul?"

Mephisto chuckled, amused by the boy in front of him. "Is it so hard to believe that I simply want to have one of my favorite creations roam this Earth again after a long time?" He asked casually.

"I'm not stupid." Zack said knowing he was stalling. "What is your real reason?"

"Now that would be telling." Mephisto said with a chuckle as he waved a taunting finger at Zack. "So have you given your answer?"

"I-..." Zack wanted to tell him to shove the offer where it wouldn't shine, but the visions of Cedric being torn apart went through his mind before he clenched a fist.

Mephisto smirked at seeing how Zack was acting before the boy looked him in the eye.

"I accept."

"Then hold out your hand." Mephisto said holding his out and as Zack hesitantly put his hand out, Mephisto grabbed it quickly.

Zack screamed in pain as a burning sensation began to overcome him with smoke coming from his hands and he saw blood dripping.

"From now you are my Bounty Hunter for this Earth." Mephisto said with a dark smile as he had power surged through Zack's veins. "Whenever there is something I need you will do it, whenever you are near evil you will sense it. You are bound to my will until the day you die."

With that he blasted Zack back as he was still screaming with smoke pouring off of him, his skin slowly burning away as he fell to his knees, his hands already burnt to the bone before he looked up as his eyes were engulfed in flames.

When the pain finally stopped, Zack stood there as a flaming skeleton with no clothes on.

"What is you will?" He asked in a dark tone, bowing with his flames turning a shade of blue.

"At ease Zarathos." Mephisto said to the Spirit of Vengeance. "You are bonded to a new host, he will regain control in a few seconds."

Zarathos frowned as he went through the mind of this host. "A child?" He asked looking shocked before his eyes narrowed. "You sealed me within a pubescent child?!"

Mephisto wasn't fazed one bit at Zarathos rage. "There's a reason I chose this child, Zarathos."

Zarathos looked away in annoyance before he shook his head and now the flames were normal looking. "Fuck that was painful." Zack muttered in daze before noticing he was naked. "Ack."

Mephisto snorted at seeing his 'Rider' attempting to cover himself. "You are a skeleton, there's nothing to see." He reminded him before waving a hand and clothing appeared on Zack.

He was now wearing a dark motorcycle jacket with blue flames on the sleeves, black gloved with metal on the knuckles, dark pants with metal plated combat boots.

Zack looked himself over a bit, surprised by what just happened before he looked up to see Mephisto was gone.

"Weird." Zack muttered.

Then he shook his head.

He needed to go.

It took a few moments before he was outside the warehouse and he walked down the street to see people backing away from him.

Not that he expected anything less due to being a skeleton that was currently on fire.

A scream caused Zack to stiffen as he felt darkness creeping through him.

Following the sound as he walked down the alley, he felt the darkness getting stronger before he saw a man holding a kid at gunpoint as a couple was nearby. "Give me your money." The man ordered before crying out in pain as his gun began to heat up much to his shock.

That was when the man noticed Zack who pointed at him deciding to pull something out of the movie. "Guilty." He said in his best dark tone.

"The fuck?!" The man backed up as Zack walked up to him past the family.

"Go." Zack said and the family didn't waste any time on doing that before he quickly grabbed the man.

"P-Put me down." The man said before Zack looked to the side to see a Motorcycle nearby.

"Nice bike." Zack said with a smirk.

"Y-You want it?" The guy asked with fear in his eyes. "Go ahead and take it-."

Zack stiffened as he felt something taking over and his flames became blue. "Look into my eyes." Zarathos said taking over.

'The hell?!' Zack thought in shock at his own body acting on its own.

The man made the mistake of doing so before screaming as the Penance Stare took effect.

Once he was done, Zack regained control and dropped the guy who was already dead and rapidly backed up. "What was that?!"

"He was guilty." Zack turned to see his reflection on a broken mirror in a dumpster but the reflection had blue flames. "I did what I was made to do."

"Who the hell are you?!" Zack asked wishing he knew as much about Ghost Rider as he did about the Avengers.

"Zarathos, Spirit of Vengeance." The reflection introduced himself to his host. "We'll be working together from now on."

"Working tog-." Zack glared at him. "You took over my body, you aren't doing it again."

"Be careful who you talk to child." Zarathos growled out. "Consider yourself lucky I took enough pity on you to keep control of your body."

"Why does it matter to you?" Zack asked cautiously but Zarathos disappeared and his reflection was back to normal.

Shaking his head, Zack remembered the visions that Mephisto showed him and he knew he only had a short amount of time before it could come true.

He knew where they were going to be from the vision at least.

Central Park.

Getting on the Motorcycle, Zack saw it shift a bit before it began looking demonic with fire coming out of the engines and he smirked.

Honestly he didn't know what he was doing as he revved the Motorcycle, this was the first time he got on one.

But it was like he's done this before… Maybe it was Zarathos sending him knowledge?

He'll worry about it later.

Now he needs to save Cedric.

To Be Continued…

Man it's been a whole year since I've started this story?! I can't believe it. Especially with only twelve chapters… Then again it's like a comic this way with an issue coming out each month. I'll try to update this one more frequently especially with the next chapter being the final part of Volume 2 for Spider-Man Prime.

But I hope you liked my take on Mephisto and Zarathos in this story along with the NYPD and U.N.I.O.N holding their own against Hobgoblin.

Oh and I'm shocked I never got a review asking about the elevator inside the warehouse with how unbelievable it should be. I do have an explanation for it but it will come much, much later.

And yes, this is actually Mephisto, I figure someone as powerful as him could actually speak across different dimensions with no problem.

He likes this particular dimension due to the fact that there is no Sorcerer Supreme in this one.

Now it's Review Time!

TheLoneWolfNT: Sure, either Iron Man or Iron Woman would be fine in this story.

Coldblue: Thanks, it's still hard to choose the right time to shift perspectives between characters as well as keep things flowing well enough. I hope you liked the scene with Zack gaining his powers as well as stopping his first crime along with him having a passenger of sorts inside of him. I figured with how I've typed him so far he would feel weight on his shoulders in stopping the Hobgoblin because up until now he was the only Superhero with powers fighting the bad guys. I felt it was time to show Bales in his element with being the Chief and taking charge after ten or so chapters in the story. Nah, it's something else that will be revealed in the next chapter, her mutation if I give her one will come later.

Now for your Questions. 1) There was a specific reason he chose Zack to be the Ghost RIder and it will be revealed in later chapters. 2) Oh he will, it will show in the next chapter. 3) Nope. 4) Eventually yes. 5) Yes they will. 6) I hope you enjoyed how I had them act. 7) Probably. 8) Sorry about that. 9) She will in the future. 10) They will when it comes to their attention and they won't be happy. 11) Ghost of the League is getting there, it'll be a few days if I get it done without writer's block popping up again. 12) I think they would. 13) Oh she will feel the pressure alright. 14) Probably in Volume 3 or 4, haven't decided yet. 15) Same answer as the last question.

Matt: Haha, thanks and as for the no talking to strangers thing I don't think anyone could resist talking to a man who mysteriously appeared in a hideout that was supposed to be secret.

Nightmaster000: Was it what you expected?

Guest1: Not sure when that one will be updated yet.

Phantom Fan: Haha thanks, and you are right on the ball with religion being more active due to the Ghost Rider appearing and hopefully you liked this chapter and how I had things go before the major rematch between Spider-Man and Hobgoblin.

Alright, that's enough out of me, Spidey signing out!