BEAUTY AND THE MAN-SPIDER
Chapter 3: Staying at the Mansion
Here it is ladies and gentlemen, Chapter 3! Brace yourselves for the continuation of Beauty and the Man-Spider, so don't expect so much whatever ya'll do. This is suppose to be very exciting and be prepared for the adventure of a lifetime, Bloom is now staying at the mansion and won't learn how the Man-Spider is not what he seems until later on down the line.
Andy Hamill was not in a good mood, it had been over three days since Bloom McNally had rejected him again. By now he was in the high school café, sitting by the fireplace and brooding over what to do.
"Who does she think she is?!" he seethed "That girl has tangled with the wrong guy! No one says no to Andy Hamill!"
"Got that right!" remarked Larry as he came over with two sodas.
"Dismissed" Andy growled "rejected, publicly humiliated! Why it's more than I can bear!" he cried, throwing both sodas into the fire.
"Hey! I was saving those!" cried Larry indignantly "Wouldn't you like me to order some more sodas?"
"What for?" Andy snapped before turning his chair around "Nothing helps, nothing whatsoever. I'm disgraced."
"Who you? Never!" Larry told him vehemently even as Andy continued to turn his chair around to ignore him. "Come on Andy, you've got to pull yourself together."
"Hey listen to this!" the bartender called, the whole gang turned to see that a news report was going on. "Just live in, the police department is taking federal offence at someone for making harassments. The police chief is taking it personal that the person who called them was raving about his daughter being kidnapped, and also said something about a man-spider in a haunted mansion. Now about that last part, there is no evidence to support his claims."
"Now this should be interesting" said Andy, a devious grin spread across his face.
"What's interesting?" asked Larry feeling a bit concerned about the situation.
"Come on, I'll tell you on the way" Andy answered, the two friends headed out the door and went to Andy's car. Andy Hamill was now feeling confident that things were going to go his way from now on.
Elsewhere
Mike McNally had been having the most terrible day of his entire life, one minute he was on his way to the airport hoping to go on a business trip but ends up getting lost in the woods and comes across a strange mansion. Then the next thing he knows is that the mansion is inhabited by many strange creatures, including a huge terrifying man-spider that accuses him of trespassing and locks up him in the basement.
Now his adopted daughter had just made the choice of staying behind in his place "Oh what am I going to tell Vanessa?" he asked himself. He kept pondering this question over and over in his mind until he finally reached his house, he looked at the door and wondered he should say. So he got out of his car and went into the house, his wife greeted him at the front door.
"Mike! Where have you been?!" cried Vanessa as she ran forward and hugged him tightly. "Wait, where's Bloom?"
"Well…you're not going to believe this" he told her the whole story about his dilemma and left nothing out, starting with how he got lost in the woods and came to the strange mansion, encountering the Man-Spider. Then he explained the part when Bloom and all her friends came to the mansion and how Bloom offered to stay behind in his place.
"What was she thinking of?!" Vanessa cried out in alarm, Mike quickly placed both his hands on her shoulders to calm her down "Don't worry, everything's going to be alright" he told her gently.
"But shouldn't we call the police?" she asked.
"Vanessa, I've tried that already" Mike answered "But they wouldn't believe me because I didn't have any evidence to prove my claims."
"So we've run out of options?" Vanessa asked grimly.
"The least we can do is pray that everything will be alright" Mike told her sincerely.
Back at the mansion
Bloom was still laying on her new bed crying, feeling and distraught at the Man-Spider's mean words. Her friends came into the room to comfort her and console her, just then there was a knock at the door "Who is it?" Bloom called, her voice was a bit choked up from so much crying.
"It's just me honey, Mrs. Richards" called a voice that none of them had ever heard before, the six friends looked at each other and back at the door. Flora, ever being the sensible one went to answer the door herself and when she opened it, she was ever more surprised at what she saw.
"Guys, come look at this!" she exclaimed, Bloom and the other fairies came over to see what she meant, and they were all just surprised as she was. There outside the bedroom door was a rolling tray with a tea set on it, three chameleons were also occupying the tray and appeared to be serving the tea.
"What in the world…" said Musa, who was a bit perplexed at the strange sight, the Bloom, Flora and the others were very surprised as well.
"Now there's no reason to stare" said the largest chameleon, whom the girls assumed was Mrs. Richards, the two other chameleons looked practically smaller as they poured some tea into six tea cups. "Alright kids, be careful with those cups and don't spill anything" so the two little lizards each carried the tea cups to the fairies who graciously accepted them.
"Aww! They're so sweet" said Flora, the others all smiled in agreement.
"How is this possible?" Bloom asked in amazement.
"Now that is a very excellent question dear" answered Mrs. Richards "But it's a question best saved for another time. Now do you have anything to get ready for dinner?"
"Actually, I'm not planning on having dinner anytime. Especially with him." Bloom responded rather harshly, Mrs. Richards looked at her very curiously.
"What exactly do you mean dear?" she asked kindly.
While they were still conversing, Musa went quietly downstairs and went into the parlor where the Man-Spider was sitting quietly in his armchair. The fairy of music walked straight up to the chair and tapped on the top to get his attention.
"Excuse me buster, sorry to bother you but we need to talk" she told him sternly but the beast didn't seem to hear her, so she tried a different approach. "Perhaps you should know that my friend Bloom happens to be the last surviving princess of a kingdom that was completely demolished. She was still just a baby at that time, and lost her real parents in the process." Man-Spider instantly turned his head around in surprise, but slowly lowered it in shame "I…I'm sorry to hear that, I had no idea…"
"But what gives you the right to boss Bloom around?" she asked angrily, Man-Spider slightly glared at her. "I'm not trying to boss her around" he answered.
"Then why'd you sound so mean to her when you said; 'You will join me for dinner, that's not a request'?" she asked him earnestly.
"It's complicated" he answered, not wanting to talk about it.
"Maybe it won't be so complicated if you'd just let it out" Musa persisted, the beast was a bit hesitant at first, but then he made up his mind. "Alright, if you really want to know then fine. First of all, I want her to stay because I...I only wish for her to keep me company and…" he faltered for a minute "I'm hoping that she might be the one who would break this terrible curse that makes me look the way I do now."
Musa was very surprised to hear that, she had never before heard of curses that made someone look just like a spider. Now a similar thing had happened with Stella, except she had been briefly cursed to look like an oversized frog. "Oh I'm so sorry, I had no idea that you were cursed" she told him "But for how long?"
"I've been this way for only four years" he answered solemnly before leaning his head back into his chair. "Ever since that strange witch, sorceress or enchantress, or whatever you'd want to call her, came to the mansion and changed me into this just to teach me a lesson I'd never even forget." Musa looked very shocked and felt very sorry for him, Man-Spider just continued "So that's why I've been stuck ever since, not being able to ever leave this mansion until the spell has been finally broken."
Musa had never heard such a sad story before in her whole life, she then lowered her head in shame "Well, I hope that this spell will be broken sooner than later" she told him before turning to leave the room.
"Wait, there's something I've got to ask you" said Man-Spider, the fairy of music turned to face him once more. "Would mind keeping this to yourself for now? Since I can't just tell Bloom all about it, she has to find out for herself in due time."
Now Musa was very surprised, was this creature who had been so cruel to Bloom's adopted father asking a favor of her just now?
"Okay" she answered "I won't tell a soul anything about this." Man-Spider sighed in relief and continued reclining in his chair, Musa went back upstairs to help Bloom get ready for dinner. By the time she got back to Bloom's bedroom, Stella and the other girls were already trying to help Bloom pick the right dress, but she still wasn't interested.
"Despite what you girls think, I'm still not going down to have dinner." Bloom declared sternly.
The other girls were about to try and coax her into trying on at one dress right when T'Challa walked into the room. "Dinner has been served" he announced.
Meanwhile downstairs in the dinning hall, the Man-Spider was passing back and forth and getting impatient. "What's taking her so long?" he demanded "She should have been down here by now. Why isn't she here yet?"
"Oh try to be patient" Susan told him patiently "I'm pretty sure that she's taking her sweet time to get ready." she had come back down after giving Bloom some tea. "But in case you haven't noticed, she's lost both her father and her freedom all in one day."
"Spidey, if I may be so bold to ask" said Scott "Have you thought that perhaps this girl could be the one to break the spell?"
"Of course I have!" snapped Man-Spider in annoyance "I'm not a fool!"
"Good!" Scott told him "So you fall in love with her, she falls in love with you, then POOF! The spell is broken. We'll all be human again by midnight!"
"Now Scott it's not that easy, things like this takes time" said Hope the wasp, who was in fact his girlfriend.
"Oh I know" Scott answered before putting an arm around her, "But the rose has already began to wilt" but she slinked away.
"Be careful Scott" she told him "When the sorceress put a spell on us, she also turned you into a fire ant. So don't forget, I've been burned by you before." Scott chuckled at his girlfriend's timidity.
"So Spidey, you haven't forgotten that your twenty-first birthday is just around the corner have you?" he asked.
"Of course I haven't!" Man-Spider snapped, but then he paused for a moment before continuing "Oh it's no use, she's so beautiful and I'm just…Well look at me!" he cried out at the last moment.
The enchanted inhabitants exchanged glances and looked back at him.
"Well you need to help her see past all that" Susan told him.
"But I don't know how" Man-Spider objected.
"Well, you can start by making yourself more presentable" Susan explained. "When she comes in, straighten up and try to act like a gentleman."
"You can also give her a dashing, genuine smile" Scott suggested, the Man-Spider did as he was told by giving a wide smile that looked more like a great big toothy grin. "Okay, not that big a smile."
"But whatever you do, don't scare her so much" Susan continued.
"Make attempts to impress her with your rapier wit." Scott reminded him quickly, Man-Spider looked very annoyed when he heard that.
"But also be gentle with her" Susan said.
"Shower her with some compliments" Scott added.
But be sincere" Susan told him.
"And above all…" Scott added before Man-Spider covered his ears to try and ignore the last part.
Both: "You must control your temper!"
Just then, the door to the dining room started opening "Ah, here she comes!" said Scott. Man-Spider looked up with wide eyes a smile on his big face, expecting Bloom to walk straight into the room, but his expression quickly faded as the face of the Black Panther poked itself in. "Good evening" T'Challa greeted.
"Well, where is she?" asked Man-Spider, wondering why Bloom hadn't turned up.
"Well…she is in the process of…things aren't exactly what they are." T'Challa began to explain "What I'm trying to say is…she's not coming."
"WHAT?!" Man-Spider roared out in a fury, then he dashed madly out of the dining hall and straight up the stairs, the others following close behind him. He ran up to the room where Bloom was staying and pounded hard on the door "I thought I told you to come down to dinner?" he demanded angrily.
"I'm not hungry!" Bloom answered from inside her room.
"You come out or I'll…I'll break down the door!" Man-Spider threatened.
"Spidey, I could be wrong but I don't think that's the best way to win the girl's affections" implied Scott.
"Spider please, I know this doesn't make any sense to you, but at least attempt to be a gentleman" T'Challa insisted.
"But she is being so difficult!" snapped Man-Spider impatiently.
"Just try speaking gently with her" Susan told him firmly, Man-Spider hesitated at first, but then he turned back to the door "Would you mind coming down to dinner with me?" he asked.
"No!" snapped Bloom's voice, Man-Spider was about to make an angry retort when T'Challa cut him off short "Wait! Try another approach."
"It would give me great pleasure" Man-Spider continued "If you would join me for dinner."
"Now it always works to say please." T'Challa told him.
Man-Spider thought for a moment "Will you please come down to dinner?" he asked, but he still didn't get it right.
"No thank you!" Bloom shouted; the ant, the chameleon and the panther were very surprised to hear that the girl would be so surprisingly stubborn.
"You can't stay in there forever!" shouted the Man-Spider.
"Oh yes I can!" Bloom answered determinedly.
"FINE!" Man-Spider roared "Then go ahead and STARVE!" Turning back to his friends, the beast told them firmly. "If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all!" so with that, he turned and stomped off to the West Wing in anger and slammed the door behind him.
"Oh dear" said Susan "That didn't turn out very well at all now did it?"
"Then we'd go downstairs and start cleaning up" T'Challa told her "Lang, stay near the door and keep watch, in case there are any changes."
"You can count on me sire" Scott answered with a salute.
The Man-Spider stormed back into his bedroom in the West Wing and threw several objects all over the place in a rage. "I asked her nicely, but she just outright refuses. What does she want me to do? Beg?"
He then picked up the magic mirror that also left behind by the enchantress and looked into the glass "Show me the girl!" he commanded. All at once, an image of Bloom and her five friends appeared, they were all apparently talking about him.
"Honestly Bloom" said Musa's voice "All he wanted you to do was join him for dinner, but you turned him down flat."
"Who cares" Bloom answered flatly "I just want him to leave me alone."
"But what if he's not that terrible?" suggested Flora "Remember how earlier he gave us our rooms? He was being very hospitable."
"I agree" said Tecna "He's probably not that bad once you get to know him, so why don't you give him a chance?"
"I don't want to get to know him!" Bloom snapped "I don't want to have anything to do with him!"
Man-Spider became very shocked and downhearted when he heard that, he put the mirror and covered it with a cloth. "I'm just fooling myself, she'll never see me as anything…but a monster." He looked at the enchanted rose as it dropped another pedal before covering his face in shame "It's hopeless."
One hour later
After awhile, Bloom finally came out of her room, she looked around to make sure that no one was around, then headed on down to the kitchen. Her five friends then followed soon afterwards and they all went downstairs together, they came to the kitchen where heard someone talking:
"Well, if you ask me, that girl was obviously being stubborn" said a voice, the girls wondered who it was since they had never heard that voice before.
"But if the Spider doesn't learn to control that temper of his" said a voice that they all recognized, being that of Mrs. Richards. "Then the curse will never be lifted in time."
"What did she mean by that?" asked Stella, the others didn't know since Bloom would have to figure that part out for herself and Musa was the only one who knew about it. So they went into the kitchen to see who was talking, and were very surprised to see not the same chameleon from earlier, but also an inky black panther in the middle of the kitchen.
"Why hello there!" called a strange voice, the Winx turned to see who had spoken just now, and were shocked to see a six-inch fiery ant on the wall that wasn't far from any of them. "What's the matter? Have you never seen a real live ant talk before.."
But before he could finish the sentence, Bloom screamed and blasted him into next week, I mean she blasted him with a bolt of magic and he hit the floor very hard.
"Man! you are so darn strong!" exclaimed the little fiery ant, shaking his head to collect his thoughts. "And a feisty one too!"
Bloom and the others were shocked to hear that "You…You can actually talk?"
"Of course he can talk!" snapped another voice, the girls turned to see who had spoken just now, it was the same panther from before. "It's all he ever does is talk!"
"Oh!" cried Bloom "I didn't know you could all talk!"
"Now don't be alarmed honey" said Mrs. Richards soothingly "Of course we all talk, but what brings you down here?"
"Oh…, we're feeling a bit hungry" Bloom admitted, her friends all nodded their heads in agreement.
"Did the rest of you all hear that?" asked Mrs. Richards "These girls are hungry." So with that, the household staff set to work getting the dinner table set with plates, napkins, and silverware. The six friends were amazed at how this was actually happening.
"Come, sit down all of you" said Mrs. Richards gesturing to the dinner table.
Bloom sat down at the head of the table while Stella, Flora, Tecna, Musa, and Aisha sat down on either side of her, then the mansion staff proceeded to bring out trays of delicious entrees and deserts. "Oh, that is so nice!" said Musa.
"But what's a dinner without a little music?" asked Scott, piping the girls' interest.
As he spoke, a spotlight came on, shining all around him and he picked up a matchstick, using it like a cane as he began to sing:
Ma chere Mademoiselles, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you all tonight. And now we invite you all to relax, let us pull up a few chairs as the dining room proudly presents-
Your dinner!
Bloom and all her friends gasped in amazement before smiling as the fire-ant continued:
Be…our…guest! Be our guest!
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin round your neck, cherie
And we'll provide the rest
Soup du jour
Hot hors d'oeuvres
Why we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff
It's delicious
Bloom and the other fairies each sampled the grey stuff, and it really was tasty. Scott just continued singing:
Don't believe me? Ask the insects
They can sing, they can dance
After all miss, this is like France
And a dinner here is never second best
Go on, unfold your menus
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest
Oui, our guest
Be our guest!
Then the kitchen staff placed all the trays of food on the table, the girls were all amazed and very grateful at the service. They began to enjoy their meal as Scott and all the kitchen staff sang out loud:
Beef ragout
Cheese souffle
Pie and pudding "en flambe
Scott: We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret!
You're alone
And you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining
We tell jokes! I do tricks
With my fellow fire-ants
Chefs: And it's all in perfect taste
That you can bet
All: Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass
To be our guest
Scott: If you're stressed
It's fine dining we suggest
All: Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
All at once, the lights grew dimmer around Scott as he started to sing different lines:
Life is so unnerving
For a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
Ah, those good old days when we were useful…
But suddenly those good old days are gone
Four years we've rusting
Needing so more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills!
Flabby, fat and lazy!
You walked in and oops-a-daisy!
Even Mrs. Richards and the rest of the kitchen staff joined in on the chorus:
Mrs. Richards: It's a guest! It's a guest!
Sakes alive, and I'll be blessed!
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed
With dessert, she'll want tea
And my dear that's fine with me
While the cups are being soft-shoeing
The pot'll bubbling and be brewing
It'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot?
Clean it up! We want the company impressed
We've got a lot to do
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guests!
Kitchen maids: They're our guests!
Mrs. Richards: They're our guests!
Kitchen maids: They're our guests!
All: Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request
It's been years since we've had anybody here
And we're obsessed
With your meal, with your ease
Yes indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going
At the last moment, a few more performers stepped out and joined Scott in singing:
Scott & Chorus: Course by course, one by one
'Til you shout, "Enough! I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up
But for now, let's eat up
Be our guest!
Be our guest!
Be our guest!
Please, be our guest!
As soon as the song ended, Bloom and her friends clapped a round of applause and the performers bowed in response.
"That was incredible!" said Musa excitedly, Bloom and the others nodded in agreement with her.
Then the girls finished their meal and were about to go back upstairs when T'Challa stepped forward. "How would you young ladies like a tour of the mansion?"
"Oh we'd love too!" said Stella excitedly, Bloom and the others each nodded in agreement with her, so they all set off with the ant, the panther, and a huge dog that looked like an oversized pug with a piece of metal sticking out of its forehead.
"Wow! This place looks amazing!" exclaimed Musa, the others also looked around in complete amazement. They had just come out into the halls that were in the right side of the mansion and there were also empty suits of armor on either side of the hall.
"I wonder where these stairs lead to?" Bloom asked, indicating a large staircase that was on the right side of the hall.
"Oh, there isn't much of anything for you to see in the West Wing" T'Challa told her, prompting Scott to pinch him really hard.
"So this is the West Wing" Bloom said in surprise, and her friends began to feel a bit uneasy about the whole thing while Scott berated T'Challa.
"Way to go your "highness"!" Scott snapped at the panther before running up and got in front of Bloom. "Now hold there missy! You can't just go wondering into wherever you go, didn't your parents ever teach you not to go into places that you shouldn't be?"
"Yes, they did" Bloom answered "But if the West Wing is forbidden, then what does the spider have to hide?"
"Hide?" asked T'Challa in disbelief "Nonsense! Why in the world would he ever hide anything up there? Besides, there are no secrets."
"Then I guess it wouldn't be forbidden in the first place" Bloom told him before trying to go further up the stairs but then her friends stopped her from going up there.
"I don't think it's such a good idea" Flora told her friend "Because I think when the Man-Spider said "it's forbidden!", he must have meant that no one goes up there without his expressed permission." The other girls nodded in agreement, not wanting Bloom to get into any trouble from going into the West Wing.
"Anyway, how would ya'll like to see the library?" Scott suggested, wanting to change the subject immediately "We've got tons of books there."
"Sure! That'd be fun" said Musa, they all started to follow the animals further down the hall, only for Bloom to slip away from them and head on up the stairs to the forbidden West Wing.
The young fairy walked up two rows of stairs before coming into a dark hallway where she saw a broken mirror on the left side of the hall, that looked like it had been damaged for years. "That's odd" she thought to herself "How long has that been there?" she continued down the hall towards two doors that were closed on either side of a large doorway, as soon as she came close enough, she reached out to open the doors but hesitated. Would the Man-Spider really be more angry if he found out that she had come to the West Wing without his permission?
Bloom shook her head in exasperation and opened the doors to peak inside, she was astonished to see a big mess all over the place. She went inside and looked around, she was so extremely applauded at the horrendous sight that she forgot to even look where she was going and nearly tripped over a small in-table.
"I've got to be more careful than that" she told herself before picking herself up and went further into the huge room. "Of course, this room could use a little bit of cleaning and remodeling."
She came across a big bed with long posts, thin sheets, and a thick comforter that needed some straightening out, but then she turned and saw a torn-up picture that was still hanging on the wall. "Now that's odd" Bloom thought to herself before reaching out to touch the picture, which she noticed had the face of a young man that she had never seen before in her life. She was about to press the remains of the picture into place when she felt a strange light in the room.
Bloom turned around to see what it was, and there on a small round table was a shining red rose positioned under a glass cylinder, now she could tell that the flower was very lovely in form and beautiful. "Oh my gosh!" she thought to herself "I've never seen anything like it."
The girl went closer and brushed a strand of hair out of her face before removing the glass cylinder. Then she reached out to touch the rose but just as her hand was a few inches from the delicate little flower, a massive shadow covered her face and a deep growl was heard. Quickly, Bloom looked up in time to see the Man-Spider come in from the balcony where he had been roosting. Man-Spider snarled in anger and lunged forward, snatching up the cylinder and putting it back over the rose, then he turned his attention to the girl and glared at her.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded angrily.
"I…I'm sorry…" Bloom started but Man-Spider cut her off short.
"Don't you realize what you could have done?!" he shouted out loud before starting to smash and throw things around all over the place.
"Please stop!" Bloom pleaded on the verge of tears.
"GET OUT!" roared Man-Spider in sudden anger, scaring the poor girl so much that she promptly ran out of the room back the way she came. "GET OUT!"
Bloom fled from the West Wing as fast as she could go, even stopping by her room to grab her belongings. Then she raced down the stairs towards the front door, but didn't go unnoticed by Scott and T'Challa.
"Miss, where are you going?!" Scott cried out in alarm.
"I'm leaving for good!" Bloom answered "I just can't stay here another minute!"
"No, please don't leave!" T'Challa pleaded, but he was ignored as Bloom continued to run out into the snow. Then she transformed into her fairy attire with wide wings and proceeded to fly away past the gate and into the woods, but she hadn't gone far when a pack of huge scorpions crawled out from the trees.
"Oh no!" Bloom cried out in alarm before she threw several fire balls at the creatures who were effected at first, but they kept coming. The young fairy flew off, leading them all on a wild goose chase, the scorpions gave chase through a dense marsh and into a clearing where Bloom had no idea where she was.
All at once, the scorpions surrounded the young girl and spewed poisonous acids from their tails that would have burned her, had she not put up a magical barrier that shielded her just in time. Then Bloom conjured a ring of fire around herself in order to repel the huge arachnids, but just then the creatures spewed their acids to put out the flames and one of them got close enough to grab the girl on its claws.
Now Bloom was very helpless, there was no one around to help her at the moment even as the scorpion holding her raised its tail to impale her. But just as the tail came down, two clawed hands grabbed it and squeezed it so hard that the big ugly scorpion was forced to drop Bloom on the ground.
Bloom looked up in surprise and she saw who had come to her rescue just then, it was the Man-Spider! The young fairy was very bewildered right now, and the Man-Spider roared at the scorpion before throwing it aside.
The rest of the scorpions were very startled at the change of development before charging forward only for the Man-Spider to counter their attack, then a big fight began. The Man-Spider and the scorpions battled for their lives, Bloom just could not believe her eyes! Man-Spider was actually protecting her from harm, and he was also putting his own life on the line as one of the scorpions pinched him with its claws while another stung him with its tail.
Man-Spider roared out loud in pain while Bloom covered her mouth in horror, but then Man-Spider managed to beat back the scorpions with all of his strength. Soon all the scorpions were forced to retreat right after the Man-Spider threw one of their own into a tree.
Bloom was relieved that the scorpions were finally going away, but she was also shocked to realize that Man-Spider was badly injured from scorpion stings. He was wincing a bit from the pain before looking at Bloom and fell down on his side, Bloom complicated about leaving for good. But then she had a sense that it wouldn't be right to just leave him here to die, so she went to his side and covered him with a blanket before levitating him with her magic, and carried him back to the mansion.
A little while later
Bloom poured hot water into a basin where she soaked a rag and then went to the Man-Spider's bedside and rubbed the rag on his back. Man-Spider grunted in pain, even while Bloom and her friends used their magic to purge the scorpion venom from his body so he could heal properly.
"Argh! Be careful with that!" he growled impatiently, Bloom and the other fairies just rolled their eyes in annoyance.
"If you'd be still for just a little bit longer, then maybe it won't hurt so much" Bloom reminded him sarcastically, Man-Spider turned his head to look at her in absolute disbelief. "Why did you run away?" he asked her.
"Because you scared me so much, that's why" Bloom answered "Why can't you ever learn to control your temper, and treat others just the way you'd like to be treated?"
"I wasn't trying to scare you" he said "I just wanted you…to stay out of the West Wing." Bloom wasn't so sure what to make of it, this gruesome creature who had once mistreated her adoptive father and then forced her stay in this mansion, was not so terrible as she believed him to be. But if what Mrs. Richards said was true, then perhaps she could help him to be kind to others.
"I…I want to thank you for saving my life" she told him seriously.
"You're welcome" the Man-Spider told her before he instantly fell asleep on his bed. Unknown to Bloom and the others, the small hint of a smile could be seen on his face.
Da-da-duh! Well, it took quite a long while to get this finished. But now all you readers out there can enjoy it. Further more, this chapter fully explored the part of having to see past the outward appearance of other people, for those of you who are Christians, it doesn't really matter what people look like. It only matters who they are at heart, and eyes are in fact windows to the heart and soul.
One more thing ya'll should know, I wanted to originally include the lyrics of the song 'Gaston' in this chapter. Except it would have something to do with Andy, and also I had discovered that he's got dark hair, according to the episodes of the fourth season on Winx Club. So that gives me further reason to make him similar to Gaston from "Beauty and the Beast" in this story.
Lastly, I just want you all to know that I'm planning to do another Spider-Man & Winx Club crossover. But I can't tell you what it is, cause it's a surprise.
Anyways, just sound off your thoughts in the reviews below!