— ...It can't be. YOU!
— Well, if isn't the not so friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! – it's always like that. When I think I got rid of him... of all of them, they come back to my life – surprised that the Goblin's back in town?
— Not even a bit – I was just passing by, doing my routine, minding my own business... when he appeared. For the first time, I tried to ignore what my Spider-sense told me.
— Oh, afraid of the mean goblin? How much you've missed me? – The Goblin and I have spent quite a good time together, so I don't see him as a threat. My gut, however... I'd say it works when my spider powers do not. Always trust the gut reaction.
— I would never miss you! – this Goblin... he doesn't laugh like before, but I know he's insane. It ain't only the macabre grimace on his mask.
— Sure you do! That's why there must a Spider-Man at all, right? – is he taunting me? I have no need to fight this creep, whoever he is.
— What do you want? – I said, landing upon a rooftop. I really don't want to fight at all...
— What do I want? Eh, not so much, you see. Is killing you asking too much?
— Kill me, huh? – oh, he can shoot deadly lighting rays out his fingers, though they never hit me – It won't be easy!
— I never asked for it to be easy. Nothing's easy when it comes to struggle – he sounds like Osborn, but isn't he dead? I saw him die in front of me — you may have killed Norman, but his legacy lives on... as the Green Goblin!
— The pumpkin bombs! Don't you!-You are a maniac! – just like Osborn!
— Oh, it's so easy to make you feel pain, Spider-Man, I see... You feel for everyone! – it can't be Osborn, can it? Because he's dead. There was no body, so... either he disappeared and is alive somewhere, or the bombs... My God.
I can't let them fall. Can't let them explode. The people below us, walking at the avenue, driving home, eating icecream... they have nothing to do with any of this. Heck, I didn't even wanted to be here. I'd rather be hit by these pumpkins than let anyone else. I'd rather waste all my web grabbing these little suckers and fall on the ground than let anyone fall for me. Gotcha! Whew, I grabbed all the bombs with my web and sealed them on a bag. Thank God they haven't exploded. I have responsibility, and the power that follows.
— Happy July 4th, Goblin! – and a bit of humour too. It's what makes me sane at these times. The bombs explode in the air, emanating of a horrifying noise. An almost human scream...
— Throwing bombs at me? Just like you did last time! – not even a scratch on the Goblin's suit. I've had enough of his tantrums too. Yet, they do have an effect on me, can't deny I'm all shaken and frightened. He caught me off guard.
— Shut up! – had I been the old and careless Parker, I would have threw a punch on his green yucky face. Instead, I run away.
— Oh! Where are you manners with your enemies? Your jokes? I miss those too! – the Goblin is at my back, he won't let me go. Not even once! – it's getting old, isn't it? Here! I have an item in my bag of tricks, one that will get you scarred! Who needs pumpkin bombs when you have these sentient razorblades after you?
— Heh he, that tickles! – ARGH! It hurts a lot! I hate these bat things swarming around me like flies. They're worse than Mysterio's little devils. Luckily, I'm fast enough to avoid them, a few superficial cuts aside. Just a momentary annoyance – alright, I've had enough fun for tonight, fake Goblin!
— Fake!? For a fake, I have made quite a shock on you – and the Goblin still mocks me. Norman Osborn is dead, I swear. As for who has taken over his equipment, that concerns me – oh, don't lie to me! I can see your eyes beneath the mask. Well, I can't. Not yet!
— Sorry, you won't take that away from me – this Goblin relies too much on pumpkins and razorblades and he has not fought with his fists. Still – the bombs, the jetplane, the Goblin outfit... all original.
— Why? Still in doubt that I came back? Out of your nightmares? Don't be any more surprised, Spider-Man – I'm really not. Voice can be imitated. Technology, copied. My gut says.
— Sorry, but I can't let you take off my mask – he went behind me, almost collided with the glider at my back. Spider-sense, you are a bless. Without you, I wouldn't have jumped and grabbed the Goblin's neck from behind.
— Why is your identity so important? Is it because you feel stronger under an alter ego? Or because you're afraid of leaving this shell you have put yourself in? – Yet, something in his way of talking, acting, the willingness to... reminds me a bit of good old Norman – admit, you are stronger under the suit. We are stronger than the rest. Together, we could rule New York, be partners but sincerely... I don't care.
The Goblin threw me against the wall. I felt nothing. It's almost as if I wanted to be throw away, and to be fair, I didn't really wanted to be here, how many times do I have to say that? Aunt May must be worried by now. Late at night, and her nephew Peter Parker is somewhere, doing some shady stuff. I don't think my aunt believes that, but it's a possibility. If I could just tell her I'm Spider-Man, if I had someone to tell I am this amazing, spectacular person, this fool who accepted to fight and never give up to the evilest of all men. Speaking about the Green Goblin, he's nowhere as strong as the Goblin I fought before. Either that, or the wall I hit is made of styrofoam, which pretty much isn't.
That means he...or she, who knows? They haven't taken the Green Globuline which made Norman stronger, therefore... but, how did he got all this equipment?
— I'm not here for business, my friend – the Goblin stands on his silver glider and watchs me from above, as if he was able to predict every single move of mine. He lands on a building, his glider is gone, and then he points at me, like a child accusing another – besides, you and death are longtime partners.
— Death and I... Partners!? We are not!
— Really? Tell me, how many people almost died because of you? – he's exhausted, for sure.
— And don't forget you! – his attempt at mind games is sickening me, though. I can confirm it's he, not her at least.
— Me? Oh, no no no... I never killed anyone – not before this night, he meant to say with that awful smile.
— Neither I did! – people should not trust the news. Well, tell that to Jameson and the Bugle's millions subscribers – I am not as much as criminal you heard about, know that. Was I really afraid of a wannabe Goblin like you?
— Heh heh heh heh... – evil laugh, how cliché. I can feel his malice poisoning my soul, now that's something else – you're a criminal who breaks the law in order to keep it in place, as much as I. Think about it, Spidey... To get rid of you would mean to get rid of a lot of problems. It would be a benefit for everyone else if you were to be killed by the Green Goblin!
— The Goblin, huh? The one who harmed a lot of people? – I too have hurt lots of people, to think about it. Enough about me, it's the Goblin's return from dead we're talking about. If that's even possible.
— You came before I did! You are the very reason why I exist, Spider-Man! – totally not Osborn, but someone I might have hurt... or maybe just a random dude that I happened to stumble against. Like Uncle Ben's murderer...
— You want to kill me, right? Then go ahead – I didn't meant that for real. It's just a bluff. The right one, I hope – but know that death is never the solution!
— Tell that to the late Norman Osborn! You cut Osborn's head! Now it's time for I to CUT YOURS! – no, it's not! I've did my homework to know that goblins can't fly. Not without their gliders.
— OUCH! – and the Goblin did it's own two, as it seems. Knowing he can manipulate the glider from a certain distance, and hit with everything on my back! Why haven't I noticed the glider behind me? Was I too disturbed by the Goblin's speech?
So, I got hit on the back by that thing, it hurts a lot, I can't trust my Spider-sense, I feel weak, fragile, unable to deliver a single punch. It used to be so easy to squeeze this red fist against the lizards and vultures and rhinos and pig men I have fought. The goblin, however, is someone else. Another bomb is threw, I avoid it, and it explodes. A water tank... black stain and smoke is left behind. Just like in that night. The night where the Goblin... no, he didn't died. His legacy lives on someone else.
— Don't you think this is a more proper battlefield, Spidey? This is between us, isn't it? – he isn't that insane. Unlike the original, this Goblin thinks. Taunts me, in this case – it was too easy to aim at the wrong people, the right weakness of yours... No, I want to go deeper, deep as the buried grave you put an honest man as Osborn in! I just want you, nobody else, am I asking too much?
— Norman Osborn wasn't honest. He was a violent and cruel man!
— SILENCE! – the Goblin seems desperate. He didn't had much effort of throwing that bomb on me. Even with my back hurting, it was easy to avoid. Easy to avoid... I must have avoided it, but who else did? – I speak for the dead.
— I didn't killed him. If you want to know, the Green Goblin that came before you was killed by its own arsenal! It was his fault!
— No, it was not! It was not! – the Goblin cries like a child whimpering in fear, a thing Norman never felt. He blindly keeps throwing bombs at me – you were his killer, I know it! You killed him, you thought about killing, ou contemplated murder! You are guilt, it's your fault, you made him insane before the green globuline, it was not my fault! It was yours! Yours and no one else's!
— Whoa! – my, he's having a meltdown. I must help him out... if I could reach him, at least – I'm not lying. I've told you the truth. Honest.
— You are lying to me! Lies above lies and more lies! – the Goblin is too much desperate. He keeps throwing bombs out the bag. I keep avoiding, but I wonder if anyone else did... They might not run faster as I do, a bomb might have came in inside someone's house by the wind, each one laughs when they explo-
BOOM!
— What!? — Smoke... Spider-sense who warned me in time to hold my breathe, I love you. Not as much as I love Gwen, but kinda.
— What's the matter, Spider-man? Did the gas reached your peanut brain? – and did you knew that I can hold my breathe for too long, Goblin? That won't work at all. He's approaching. My opportunity... – no such man can resist the poisonous Goblin's gas! You are done for!
— Perhaps... if I were not only a man, but the spectacular Spider-Man! – finally, a punch! Yeah, straight on his face! But I really didn't meant to punch him, was that my plan? Can I not rely on my fists at all? – haven't you realized yet?
— No, you've never understood... I'm not insane... Norman was... not me, not me!... – the Goblin mumbles to himself, fallen and wounded, as I come closer of revealing who he really is – no, you can't take me alive... you'd turn me over to authorities, I'd be unmasked in public... the disgrace, oh, the disgrace! It would be too much for me... and my family... Norman's biggest mistake... was that he abandoned his family! The most precious thing he had, other than his life... family is everything. If you lose it, then you lost everything. So, don't come near me! Keep back, Spider-Man!
— Keep calm – I'm afraid he might shoot me. Or in this case, himself – you are not feeling right of the head. You are not the Goblin I knew. I... I can help you. I really didn't meant to punch you like that.
— Yes... you can help me – my Spider-sense is tingling. No more running for today, I say – a pity that I am beyond any help!
— AARGH! – big mistake. I feel like I heard that voice before, and hearing it now, how much has changed. A friendly shake of hands, with a needle in between. Out of his glove...
— I can't believe you fell for it, idiot! – yes, I did... what a fool... head... my head... messing up with... I... I... have... to... – is the poison shattereing with your equilibrium? Sorry, I'll have to kill you from inside, it's from where your true strenght comes from, isn't it?
— Poison... I...
— No, the poison won't actually kill you, as much as I wanted. Whatever, I'll have the pleasure of doing that myself! With these very hands... – I... think... can't... right... Goblin – it's fun to play the Green Goblin! To be this giant, this tall! Never that I have felt so big and strong, that's how Norman too must have felt. So do you, I presume! You two were very much alike.
— Uh... I... move... not...
— You know what, Spidey!?... You had the hard job. it's too hard to be a good hero. But the killer? His part is easy. Admit, you felt tempted to do so. Well, I do not! And now I'm gonna kill you! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!...
From a darkness to another...
— ...Got him! I got Spider-man! It feels so good. So good knowing that I got him for you, father! – the Goblin yells, triumphant – enough about masks! This is a battle between men! Osborn, and... and... Parker? Peter Parker!?
The Goblin doesn't shed of a smile anymore. He's shocked by seeing a familiar face at the moment.
— No. It can't be. You, of all people... YOU!? No. This... this doesn't feel right. Parker... why? I wish my enemy had a face, but this...
Harry Osborn kneels before his unmasked friend. He attemps to weep, to show some sort of emotion, but something prevents him to.
— ...That's my boy! Now it's the perfect time to finish what I've started!
— I won, father – Harry tells to himself, but nobody answers. He's paralyzed, shocked by the truth.
— ...You won? Do you call this by victory? – he never answered me like that, thought Harry, Father never cared much – do you call yourself an Osborn!? Come on, Harry! Do it!...
— No! I can't. I... I can't! – Harry yells at the figure. The revelation, as it seems, was too much.
— Why, Harry... Always turned off from reality, from the opportunites in front of you... – not as much as hearing his deceased father mistreat him like this – Harry, Harry! Are you listening to me? Are you listening to what I'm saying!?
— I am, father!
— Don't raise your voice against me, brat! – Harry pretends to ignore this voice. The feel of being grabbed by its neck, staring at its father figure...
— But father! Peter... he's is my best friend.
— He's the man who killed me. More man than you – Norman Osborn... He cared more for Peter. He never listened to me. He abandoned me, and after having such thoughts, Harry sheds of tears – look at you, Harry. Whining and whimpering. You'd do the same thing as a kid when I tried to put some sense in your head, begging me to leave you alone! But guess what? I'm not leaving you alone this time! Grown up and be a man at once!
— Had not been for the bombs, I wouldn't have defeated my best... friend? No! he ain't my friend! He's the reason of my suffering! My family's suffering! – with a pumpkin bomb in hand, Harry prepares to... to... – I... I can't. Leave me alone!
The figure leaves... for now. Soon he'll be back to haunt me, thought Harry, who had a million thoughts in head. He looks at Peter, and pretends it's all fake and illusion. For a moment, he wished everything that happened didn't, just a bad dream. He bleeds, feel pain, feels the liquid coming out his eyes... enough suffering for a bad dream, not enough for a harsh reality. Harry stares at the Green Goblin's mask, somehow mocking him with its soulless grim. How many times father looked at me with disapproval? He thinks, and everytime he does, it's painful. The only times he cared about me, and he looks ugly, yells at me. Was Norman Osborn a good man at all? He was an awful person, Harry reflects, but he never reaches a proper conclusion.
Norman Osborn was a horrible man, but still my dad.
Harry can't bare it, but he can't kill Peter. Of all people, it had to be Peter Parker from school. The one who dated Liz Allan, who's now dating Gwen Stacy, I love Gwen too, thought Harry... Gwen and Liz have nothing to do with this! He yells with himself. It's just me and Peter, no one's going to get hurt more than I do!
No! I won't make the same mistake as you, daddy! I won't forget my family! Confused, the Goblin leaves, knowing for sure that Peter Parker ain't his friend, or a mere human.
