jenscott: Yeah Marvel really do like to make clones don't they? Yeah I need the time to finish off things and I need to take a break from this world.
Doza: I have a LOT of stories that need my attention and X23 was the last of the clones that will be in this fic.
Sean Malloy-1: No they will NOT adopt Sofia, and that would be giving away the surprise for her name. I work on my fics in order so right after I work on this I work on that other one.
Silver Warrior: Well that sucks, hope it's all better by now. Yeah I finally got the name but I hope you don't mind me giving her a new name.
BlazeStryker: Normally maybe but he knows the Parkers well enough to give it a shot.
Danrilor: Thanks I really wanted to put some great emotional scenes in the last chapter, although I can see your point but then again all those people are related in some way to the ones they were following in the footsteps of, plus they tend to go their own way at times. I'm thinking of doing a little spin-off fic that focuses on Ben and Danielle.
Lady Suneidesis: I went back and tried to fix the last chapter but apparently you don't get is that I do the best that I can and I only know of one person I can use but he's way too busy for it.
The Uncanny R-Man: I don't think she came off as broody you must have read it wrong. I don't plan on Wanda coming into this at all. True since I learned of Rachel's past and X23's was similar I thought I had to reference that.
Lvmj: Sarah is one of the names other authors have used for her myself included.
Aaron: Yeah I wanted to blend her NYX and mini-series together and like I said in an author's note in the last chapter I'm giving her a new name. Glad you liked the Rachel/Kurt bit and I think Peter and MJ can really help her in life.
Sithicus: Yeah I like X23 a lot, and I'm glad you really like this story. Glad you like where I'm going with the villains and yes Kurt and Rachel are interesting in each other as is Logan and Ororo. I didn't like that Gwen/Norman thing and yes the Ezekiel thing did already go down. You'll see how the new family life with X-23 and the Parkers go.
Thanks to: Spyder616, El Varon, qwerty, GothikStrawberry, ldypebsaby
THE NEW TEACHER
CHAPTER 44: EVIL RISES
In a darkened abandoned church on the alter was the body of the former Hobgoblin, Jason Philip Macendale was on it only now his cold, pale and slightly decomposed body. It was now also in a Hobgoblin uniform only slightly modified. Osborn himself as per request of their ally, who he and Roderick Kingsley were losing patience with, had also upgraded his cybernetics.
Shadow Spider as it called himself, had been making archaic designs in what looked like blood around the altar and the jewel they had stolen was in a stand of some kind near the body. Both goblins were keeping their distance as their alley muttered in some type of language as he drew. They wanted to give him enough space to do whatever it was that he wanted but also so the stench of Jason's body didn't bother them as much.
"This better not take too long, I've had just about enough of this 'alliance' as I'm willing to take," Hobgoblin sneered.
Norman was losing patience as well. He really didn't like working with Roderick and if this didn't work out then he planned on not only dealing with him but also with this Shadow Spider as well. Soon they saw him lift the hood of his cloak and his dark skin and red veined head as he lifted his arms and started to shout out some ancient words. They both watched in silence as the red crystal they took started to glow a blood red and started to pulse.
They saw the blood drawings start to glow as well as the chanting picked up pace. There seemed to be a strange heat start to build up and both goblins could see the air up front start to shimmer from a heat that they didn't know where it was coming from. Then the blood actually burst into flames and rose up high into the air as the walls of fire now blocked their view up front. They heard the chanting over the roar of the flames but then the flames took on unnatural black and purple colors as he receded to only a foot high. There was also a new individual there as well, he was tall red skinned with a cape.
"Who the devil is that?" Hobgoblin demanded.
Norman just smirked under his Green Goblin mask, "I think you just answered your own question."
Shadow Spider bowed at the new arrival, "Lord Mephisto, I have called you forth for your ssssservices and your help."
The demon looked down at the creature before him and smiled, "Well a Spider-Wraith, I thought you all died out?"
"I am the lasssst."
"Ah I see," Then he looked at the Blood Stone as it was sometimes called and smirked. "Ah…I see you have a bargaining chip."
"Yessss, I know that on the Earth you can't touch it. But if it issss given then you can."
The demon nodded his head, "Yes with it I can increase the powers of my domain, and that's always a good thing. So what is it you need of me?"
The Spider-Wraith smiled as he could with mandibles on his face. "I need of two in your realm to deal with a problem."
He looked over at the body on the alter, "I can see one of which you'll need," It was true since that human had once made a deal for power and he gave him the power of a demon and a face to match. But the human freed himself from that but the demon had taken offence to that. In fact that creature was also in his domain. Then he got a wide grin on his face and seeing the two mortals in the back he put it all together.
"So I see…I see what you have planned."
The cloaked wraith nodded, "As I knew you would."
"Very well then, give me the stone and you shall have your two." Shadow Spider took the red stone and gave it to the demon lord. He smiled and then looked at the body as his hand that was free started to glow. The body took on an unholy red light and a portal opened up, it was will with fiery light and screams could be heard from is as a fireball that stretched across the air hit the body but didn't burn it.
There was a loud gasping sound as the once deceased Jason Macendale once more took a breath of air as he returned to the land of the living. There was one more of these fireballs as it hit the ground and exploded into flames. As they receded a demonic looking yellow skinned Hobgoblin was there only this was Demogoblin. It had once been the essence that Jason held within him before he expelled the demonic force from his body.
"Well then, our transaction is finished, good luck I know you'll need it," He smiled at Shadow Spider knowing full well that he was on borrowed time and he disappeared back to his dark realm as the fire died down.
Jason looked around, the last thing he remembered was being shot by the original Hobgoblin then he looked around and saw Demogoblin and the demon saw him. "YOU!" They both shouted out and Jason reached for a razor bat but didn't have one.
"SSSTOP!" Shadow Spider leaped between the two very quickly. "I did not call you both back from beyond to fight."
"You?" Hobgoblin said with a sneer on his mask, "We did some of the work too you know."
When Jason saw the other Goblin there he lost it, "You son of a-! You shot me and killed me!"
"And I would do it again in a heartbeat you pretender," Roderick said back getting a pumpkin bomb ready. At the moment he didn't really care how much work went into this he just wanted to kill him again if he was proving difficult.
"THAT ISSSS ENOUGH!" They all turned to the cloaked figure, "You can all tare each other apart AFTER we destroy that who we all have in common."
"Speak now creature and tell me why I should listen to a sinner like yourself?" The demon goblin snarled at him, he could sense the darkness in this creature.
"Frissst, I sssummoned you and your previoussss hossst from death, ssssso you both own me." Both newly resurrected goblins stood silent as they thought about that. It was true they both owed him one so they both figured they would at least hear him out. He also didn't have much time left, he needed Spider-Man's blood soon or else he would die. It was the way of his kind and he needed a certain blood in his system or else he would eventually fade away to nothing. He could already feel his strength failing him and this pointless arguing was getting him nowhere. He couldn't handle Spider-Man in his current state and he needed to overwhelm him, hence this 'alliance' as such as it was.
"So what do you want with all of us exactly?" Jason asked him
Norman signed and rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe he was that dense. "Take a look around an tell me the one person that we've all fought and failed to defeat and or kill." It took the two a moment but then they both registered a moment of clarity and both nodded their heads as they now were prepared to fully hear out what they had in mind for their common foe.
-Parker Apartment-
The girl still only known as X23 or just X for the moment had been spending the last few days with the Parkers and it was just fine with her. After that disaster at the mansion Peter had stayed behind and Mary Jane had taken her shopping for new clothes since she only had the one pair. It was nice to have new clothing for a change and she got rid of her old ones, she didn't want them around since they were just a constant reminder of what happened to her before she came to live with them.
So far she had to spend her nights on the couch but it was a nice comfortable one so that was good. So far she considered her life a lot better now with them. They were really nice couple and she was enjoying herself for the first time since…ever really.
She spent most of the day at the apartment with MJ as they talked and she took her out into the city on errands. But she also had to work so X had the place to herself but she easily got bored sometimes so she went to the roof and did a few training exercises to loosen up.
Then one day they had told her someone named May how was a relative of Peter's was coming over to keep her company since Peter and MJ had to work that morning. She was okay with it and after they had left she had answered the door to see a kind faced elderly woman with pure white hair. She wasn't sure how to behave around her but it turned out that she was easy to be with. There was this gently kindness to her and she seemed such a great person. She even learned how to cook her first meal with her help and she guessed this was how Peter learned to cook too.
They all actually sat down to dinner that day and for the first time X23 wondered if this was what it was like to be in a family. It was a foreign concept for her to tray an grasp but the feeling of being part of something of more then just her gave her this warm feeling on the inside that she had never felt before. It was nice.
She changed her clothing in the bathroom her new sleepwear was with cotton pants but she kept the shirt MJ had given her. It was just comfortable to her and she knew that she might not be able to stay so she wanted to keep it as a reminder. She figured that she would have to go to Xavier's at one point since public schooling was out of the question.
She went to bed trying not to think about that and just tried to enjoy the time she had with them.
In the bedroom MJ was laying on her bed thinking about things as well. She really enjoyed having someone else around and to be fair to just herself maybe it was her maternal side kicking in but she really liked having her around. Also maybe it was because they had lost their own child in birth and maybe in some strange way it was like they had another chance at parenting. And she had to admit the young girl needed parents.
Peter came back in after brushing his teeth and slipped into the bed with her. "Peter can we talk?"
He turned to face his wife, "Sure thing what's up?"
"It's about her." Peter nodded his head truth was he had been thinking about her as well. She didn't really have anywhere to go but Xavier's was the best place for her to get any kind of education but then again after what happened he wanted to keep an eye on her too.
"I was thinking…would it be possible for her to stay with us I mean permanently."
Peter looked at his wife a little surprised. "You sure about that? I mean this place is hardly big enough."
"I was thinking we could move into a bigger place. With your new job we can afford to now, and besides I like her and she needs a stable home life."
"We hardly have a stable life MJ," Peter smirked and earned a light hearted smack on his arm from his wife. "But I know what you mean and Logan didn't seem too happy the last time she was around so maybe until she gets used to a more normal life she could stay with us."
She kissed him once and smiled, "That's good and besides I think Aunt May likes her."
"Yeah but she likes everyone." He said with smile. "So…I guess we better start looking for a bigger place." She hugged her husband tightly and smiled.
The next day Peter was getting ready for class and came in as MJ was just finishing asking X23 what she thought of staying with them in a bigger place. At first she was surprised but she didn't mind that at all. "I…I would like that a lot." She smiled to them and it was a real one, not a small smile but a big one.
"Glad to hear it," the red head said as she looked through the paper, "I guess we can start looking for new places."
Peter took a piece of toast, "Maybe closer to the edge of the city nearer Xavier's so it's not so long a drive. Besides the traffic in this town is murder."
MJ gave her husband an odd look with a raised eyebrow, "Peter…when's the last time you drove at all?"
Living in New York a busy metropolitan city with heavy traffic in certain areas, add that to all the web swinging he did over the years he never got around to actually getting a car, and neither had MJ really. "Okay…that's a good point, but still closer will cut down on the travel time at least."
"Well good luck at work tiger and don't let those drooling ogling girls keep you distracted." She teased.
Peter sighed and hung his head while X23 gave him a raised eyebrow, "Look it's not that bad."
"So those three identical sisters are still all over you or Spider-Man?" His wife said with a grin, she loved teasing him about this but she knew that Peter was hers and nothing could come between them.
"Well…I think they have set their sites on Ben." This caused MJ to burst out laughing thinking of him having to deal with that now. Unfortunately it was short lived as Peter suddenly tackled her and X23. She was about to ask what was his problem when there was a sudden explosion.
There was a slight ringing sound in their ears from the blast X23 was on her feet just as fast as Peter, there were several small fires starting to burn and there was also a huge hole in the wall to the outside. Peter helped his wife up and seeing that she was okay and only shaken he sighed. Then there was that laughter that he knew so well as the Green Goblin came into view in the hole on his glider.
"Well I didn't expect you to have company Parker but still it's nice to see you again. Hello MJ how's the baby? Oh that's right I nearly forgot." He smirked evilly at her and not only did it turn her stomach she felt a deep-rooted hatred for that monster that she guessed rivaled Peter's. "Might as well give the young one a little introduction so here ya go girly!" He threw several razor bats at X23 but she skillfully dodged most of them but took on to her arm and side. It hurt but it was mild and she had healed from worse.
Norman was a bit surprised by how she handled that, "Huh…small, agile and fast. Well if I didn't know any better I would think she was related to you Peter. But let's say we go out and play again? Or do I need to 'encourage' you to? Oh well might as well do what's fun."
Another pumpkin bomb was launch as Peter shielded his wife feeling the heat on their backs as the place was filling up with flames fast. Peter saw X and knew that he had to get Norman out of here or others would be hurt, "X get MJ out of here. Look after her!"
"I can help!" She said helping MJ up who was holding a hand to the side of her head, a piece of shrapnel skinned her head leaving a small cut.
Peter looked at the young girl in her eyes, "You are, trust me." She took a moment and nodded helping MJ to the door through the rising smoke as Peter raced to the bedroom to get a few things. He lost his case with the false bottom with one of his costumes and needed a quick change. Luckily after years it didn't take long for him to do that and from the bedroom window he jumped out looking for Norman.
The Green Goblin smiled seeing poor predicable Peter jump out. He knew getting him riled up like this was the way to go. The plan involved luring him to a place where the others were waiting for him and since he was the only one that knew Peter was Spider-Man he had told the others that he could lure him out to them. Of course they had questioned that but he didn't answer. If they knew who he was sure it would make his life a living hell. But then again he wanted to the be one to deal the killing blow and if every crook and villain knew then it wouldn't be long until Parker was dead but not by his hands.
"Hey over here!" He shouted out, "Let's play tag and you're it!" He laughed at him flying away.
Peter was more then pissed he was livid. Osborn had done enough to him as it was, all the deaths and pain he had given him and now here he is nearly killing his wife and the young girl that they took into their lives. This was too far and he had had enough of him, he was going to beat him down and hope that whatever prison he was sent to he never saw daylight for a very, very long time.
Peter chased down Norman avoiding bombs and razor bats along the way but he felt like something was off, sure he'd done this fight and chase with a few goblins over the years but something just kept nagging at him but he couldn't put his finger on it. Then when he dodged behind a billboard he swung over it and landed on the roof top and looked around.
He was nowhere in sight, "Damn it! Come on out Goblin!"
"As you wish Spider-Man!" Came a voice and if it wasn't for his spider sense he wouldn't have sensed the bomb before it was thrown.
Peter looked over his shoulder but instead of a certain Green Goblin it was Hobgoblin. "Oh this is just what I need. What you and Greeny decided to team up?"
"More then just us," Hobgoblin smirked and Peter saw two figured he never thought he would see again. Demogoblin, who had been crushed to death, and the other Hobgoblin. He knew him from the cybernetics he still had on only his mask was now gray instead of like the other one he once wore.
"You've got to be kidding me." Peter muttered to himself seeing all four Goblins over him surrounding him. Just when he thought this day couldn't get any worse this happens. 'I get the feeling that I'm not going to make it into work today.' Was the last thought in his mind before all hell broke loose on that rooftop that day.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 45: THE GOBLIN GANG ATTACK