The Marvelous Spider-Man

Chapter Forty Nine

By

Jason Richard

The Oscorp botanical garden was a giant greenhouse dome that looked fairly futuristic from the outside. From the inside, however, it was a garden that needed a better name. Botanical gardens just didn't do it justice. It was a lush, grass filled field filled with an incredible variety of exotic plant life. Trees, flower, bushes, and grass from every corner of the globe had been gathered in this place, as well as several hundred citizens of New York that had come to attend, all of them in some sort of costume, some of famous superheroes, and all of them chanting the name, "Mysterio."

From his room, just outside the gardens where the crowd was waiting, Mysterio, in full costume, took a deep breath as the enforcers waited behind him, also in their costumes.

"Can you hear it gentlemen?" said Mysterio. "All those people? That is the sound of fame. Listen well. Felicia, you remember the plan?"

Felicia, in a black dress and a cat mask, took Mysterio's arm. "Of course." she said with a sweet smile, thinking of both Mysterio's plan and her own. "Of course. I'm ready."

...

Captain Stacy, dressed in his police uniform with no mask, also took a deep breath. He turned to Harry, who wore a suit and comedy mask with a happy face, and said, "I hope you're ready." As they gazed at the entrance to the botanical gardens.

"So do I," said Harry. "So do I."

...

Peter sighed, looking at his fantastic four costume. It was a shame it was the only costume left in the store when he got there. Next time he would try not to save getting the costume for the last minute. As much as he liked the fantastic four they didn't wear masks, and that was the whole point of this. Peter didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, but the makeshift mask he had hidden in his shirt would probably draw attention to him anyway. At least it would hide his identity, so he couldn't be too embarrassed.

Hopefully.

He looked up an the entrance from where he was standing and said, "I don't think I'm ready for this."

...

Gwen stared at the entrance in her white dress and puppy mask and said to herself, "I'm so not ready for this." as she patter her purse, reassuring herself that she had brought the taser and pepper spray her dad had given her.

...

At the same moment Peter, Captain Stacy, Harry and Gwen stepped into the gardens, Mysterio walked out onto a stage, greeted by thunderous applause. The crowd raised its hands and screamed at the top of its lungs, and Mysterio was loving every minute of it. The holographic image that Mysterio wore gave a bright, charming smile.. He raised his own arms as if he was ready to embrace the entire audience. Then he put his palms down to silence the crowd.

"Friends," he said solemnly. "Let not today be about me. Let today be about those of us who are in need. Those of us who have been victimized," he looked up at Norman Osborn, who stood by side entrance. "Let today be those of you who were taken hostage, who were hurt, who were threatened." the Audience started to clap. "Let today celebrate not me, but the fact that the victims of our time may be safe from harm!" the applause became louder. "Let today be about that! For that is truly something worth celebrating!"

The audience clapped louder than ever. Even if Mysterio had something else to say, he wouldn't be heard over the applause.

...

You get applause, thought Peter, I get mocked.

Sure enough people were pointing at Peter and laughing.

"Where'd you get that?" said another. "The bargain bin or the garbage bin?"

"Nice dude," said one guy. "You decided to wear the costume and the bag it came in."

"All hail the amazing bag man!" said another.

For it was true. Having nothing else to use Peter had cut holes in a brown paper shopping bag and put it onto his head. He was regretting it. A lot. This, thought Peter, is the last time I get a costume at the last minute. The very...last...time.

He was so ready for something to happen, so he could get into his Spider costume. So...very...ready.