The Hobgoblin
Note: Gwen will be playing the hero for this chapter as Peter won't be playing as Spider-Man for this one. This story will introduce the Hobgoblin and will reveal the identity of this version. This will also introduce Sha Shan Nguyen as a new love interest for Flash Thompson.
At midnight at Oscorp, a guard is patrolling the storage area where all the prototypes are being kept. He kept patrolling until he surprised by an unknown individual who injected a needle into his neck as the guard is passing out. With the guard unconscious he proceeded towards the storage area.
He enters it and finds a lot of prototype weapons. He found the handheld high explosive bombs as he took a large amount of it. He found a prototype flaming sword that produces flames along the blade. He found the real prize, the glider as well as the flight suit required to wear it.
"There you are."
Another guard came walking and spotted his fellow guard unconscious on the ground. He ran up and checks on him still unconscious.
"Hey, are you alright? Wake up!"
He tries to wake him up but he is still drugged. He then heard noises coming from the storage area. He approaches the door with his hand on the holster. He got surprised by someone who is wearing the flight suit riding the glider which just got stolen. He flies out of the hall then burst out the window. He continues to flies out on the glider.
The next day, Peter woke up on the couch as he already left the apartment that used to be rented to his old girlfriend Mary Jane Watson who is currently now in California to pursue her acting career and filming the new Black Widow movie she's staring in. He got up and sees Betty Brant in the kitchen making coffee. He's been staying at Betty's place as he is now still looking for a new apartment to rent. He does his best to hide his suit and web shooters from Betty while temporarily staying.
"Here." Betty hands a cup of coffee to Peter.
"Thank you. I appreciate that you're letting me stay these past few days." Peter drank hi s coffee.
"That's what friends are for. You're still thinking about Mary Jane?" Betty wonders.
"Yeah... it's been almost a month since she left. By the way, have you seen Ned recently?" Peter said.
"No, he still hasn't gotten over that issue about you and me sleeping together." Betty said.
"Betty I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that before." Peter said.
"Peter, you're not the only one to blame, I was also involved in what happened between us." Betty said.
"I shouldn't have kissed you that day, I wasn't thinking straight." Peter said.
Peter is reminded of the day that he bonded with the symbiote. He first saw Betty in a towel and became attracted to her since the symbiote heighten his emotions. He kissed Betty and they've slept together that day.
"Peter... it wasn't your fault that we've slept together. Truth is, I've always had a crush on you since we've met. You were always the nicest guy as well as the most attractive. I've always wanted more than to be your friend." Betty said.
"Betty... I had no idea that you felt that way for me. I guess that I slept with you because at some level I've found you attractive too." Peter smiled.
"Really?" Betty blushed.
"Yeah... really." Peter said.
Betty smiled that Peter found her attractive too.
"I should get going, got some apartment hunting to do." Peter got up from the seat. "Thanks for the coffee."
"Anytime." Betty said.
Unknown to them, an unknown individual is watching them far away.
Peter left the apartment building still dressed in his casual clothing. He is now on the hunt to find a new place to occupy since he couldn't afford the highly priced apartment that his ex-girlfriend used to rent.
"Okay, now is the time to find a new place to call my own. I don't mind sharing with Betty but since she's a reporter, she'll figure out that Peter Parker and Spider-Man is the same person, not to mention that we've had quite a history together in the bedroom. I can't go back to Harry since he's been busy bringing in company to party. I guess that its finally time that I get a place of my own, very quiet and private." Peter said in his thoughts.
Peter's phone rang as he pulled it out of his pocket and sees that Gwen Stacy is calling, he answered it.
"Hey Gwen, anything happening?" Peter wondered.
"No, I was wonder if you're available for lunch." Gwen said.
"Oh... I thought that you were calling me because something is wrong and there's danger." Peter replied.
"Come on, not everything I do is always about sling from building to building taking down bad guys. I still have a live you know." Gwen said.
"Of course, Gwen Stacy always has a life. Well, I'm still searching for new apartments since I can't afford the rent of my old girlfriend's apartment, too pricey. I might be available later at noon, we could go have a burger at Stan's diner or we could go to that Korean restaurant that you like where they got those delicious meatballs you like." Peter said.
"Mmm... sounds tempting... is this like a date or something?" Gwen said.
"We are just two single friends having lunch together, does that count as a date?" Peter said.
Peter's spider senses is tingling as dangers is nearby.
"Spider sense is tingling." Peter said.
"What's going on?" Gwen wondered.
Peter looks up in the air and sees a guy flying around in a hi tech aerial platform dressed in a battle suit wearing a mask that resembles a demon of some kind.
"There's this guy in a Halloween suit flying towards me." Peter said.
"Where are you?" Gwen asked.
"I'm just outside of Betty's apartment building, please hurry." Peter said.
"I'm on my way." Gwen said.
Peter hangs up as he runs away along with everyone else in the area as they saw the creep on the glider flying in closer and laughing.
Hobgoblin cackles and laughs. " Hello Peter Parker, I've come for you."
Hobgoblin throws some bombs on the ground as it blows up anything close to it, including the car. Peter was able to avoid all the blast as the Hobgoblin flies past him as Peter sees a new villain is targeting him, but doesn't know why. He kept running trying to dodge the Hobgoblin, buying time for Ghost-Spider to come to the rescue.
"You were lucky, but you won't after this next run!" Hobgoblin smiled.
Peter sees the Hobgoblin is turning around and flying back towards him. The Hobgoblin tosses back more bombs at Peter as many more cars are being blown up with a number of people getting hurt. One of the bombs landed near Peter and blasted him away as he hits against a car. He was injured but lucky to be alive thanks to his physiology. The Hobgoblin hovers close to him and sees Peter all injured and vulnerable.
"Who... who are you?" Peter wonders.
"I'm glad that you asked, allow me to introduce myself. I am the Hobgoblin and I have come for you Peter Parker." Hobgoblin introduced himself.
"Why me?" Peter asked.
"Well... to kill you." Hobgoblin said.
Hobgoblin pulls out his flaming sword out of his sheath as Peter sees the flaming running along the blade.
"Say goodbye Peter Parker." Hobgoblin holds his sword.
Peter watches as he's about to be killed by a new villain, Unfortunately Ghost-Spider arrived in time and kicked Hobgoblin off the glider. Hobgoblin gets up and sees Ghost-Spider has stopped him from killing Peter.
"You!" Hobgoblin yelled.
"That's right, me... the one and only Ghost-Spider." Ghost-Spider introduced herself.
"You ruined my chance to kill Parker!" Hobgoblin said in anger.
Ghost-Spider shot off webbing at Hobgoblin but he uses his flaming sword to burn off the webbing. He activates the remote function of the glider as he could control it at will thanks to the interface of the suit.
Ghost-Spider's senses went off as she turned around and sees the glider behind her and fires off rounds at her, she manages to dodge ever bullet fired at her using her acrobatics and reflexes. Hobgoblin summons the glider toward him as he jumps onto it and faces Ghost-Spider.
"What do you want with Peter Parker?" Ghost-Spider asked.
"It's personal. So step aside or get put down." Hobgoblin said.
"Can't do that." Ghost-Spider said.
Hobgoblin is about fight off Ghost-Spider until he hears sirens and helicopter coming in closer, he'll be outmatched very soon.
"You're lucky, till next time!" Hobgoblin said.
The glider fires off a smoke bomb at the ground as Ghost-Spider is blinded by the smoke. Hobgoblin took the advantage and made a tactical retreat. The smoke is clearing as Ghost-Spider watches Hobgoblin flying away from the scene. She wanted to chase after him but she decides to check up on Peter who is injured from the attack.
"Peter! Are you okay?" Ghost-Spider asked.
"Yeah, just bruised." Peter said injured.
"Who was that?" Ghost-Spider said.
"He said that he calls himself the Hobgoblin." Peter said.
"Any idea why he's targeting you?" Ghost-Spider said.
"No idea. I've never even heard of this Hobgoblin." Peter said.
Peter and Ghost-Spider sees the squad cars, fire trucks, and ambulances coming in. A lot of innocent people got injured in the attack, Peter couldn't figure out why he's being targeted by this new enemy. He sees innocent people got hurt because the Hobgoblin wanted to kill him.
Sometime later in the hospital, Peter is being tended by the doctor and nurse as she wraps bandages around his injured waist.
"You're lucky that nothing broke Mr. Parker. I'm surprised given that you were close to the blast and survived the impact."
"Yeah well, I'm surprising more resilient than I look." Peter smiled.
Peter sees May, Gwen, and Betty coming in to check on him, they see that he got injured in the incident.
"Peter... so glad that you're alright." May said worried.
"May... I'm fine, I promise." Peter said.
Peter got up and puts on his shirt.
"How is he doctor?" May asked.
"He's doing fine, nothing broken. Though I recommend that he gets some rest."
"Thank you doctor." Peter said.
"Of course, I'll leave you guys alone. I'll go work on your release, excuse me."
The doctor left the room until they all heard the noise coming in from the hallway, a voice they all recognized.
"Where is he?! I demand to see Peter Parker!" Jameson came in and see Peter, Jameson came with Robbie Robertson.
"Hey Jameson." Peter smiled.
"Oh thank god that you're alright." Jameson said.
"Yeah, I was lucky, Ghost-Spider arrived in time to save me." Peter said.
"So Spider-Man decided to have a break while you got attacked, typical." Jameson said.
Everyone in the room then sees Captain George Stacy and Lieutenant Yuri Watanabe here at the door.
"Mr. Parker." George Stacy said.
"Captain Stacy, what brings you here?" Peter said.
"Well.. you of course. You want to tell us what happened out there?" George Stacy asked.
"Okay... I was walking outside the apartment of Betty Brant where I was crashing for a few nights since I got evicted." Peter said.
"It's true, I gave him a place to stay. We had coffee then he left later until I heard the noise outside." Betty said.
"Okay... did you get a good look of the assailant who attacked you?" George Stacy said.
"Yeah, he was dressed in a orange cloak wearing a mask that resembles a goblin of some sorts, he was flying on some kind of device. He said that he calls himself the Hobgoblin." Peter describes.
"The Hobgoblin?" Robbie said.
"That's right." Peter said.
"Any idea why he's targeting you? Any motive you can think of?" George Stacy said.
"Honestly I'm just as clueless as you are, Captain Stacy. I never even seen or hear of him before in my life." Peter said.
"Okay, we'll look into it. In the meantime, you'll be under police protection until this matter is resolved." George Stacy said.
"I appreciate it but that's not necessary. I have work and a life." Peter said.
"Right now you're both a victim and a witness, so you're not staying out there while this guy is targeting you. I'll have some officers stay with you for the time being." George Stacy said.
"Don't worry, Parker will comply with the police. Will you?" Jameson turns to Peter.
Peter sigh. "Fine."
"Very well, where are you gonna stay until then?" George Stacy asked.
"He can stay at my place until then." Betty said.
"Alright, we'll have two squad car watching your place." George Stacy said.
"Thank you." Betty said.
"Excuse us. Take care Mr. Parker." George Stacy said.
"Thanks Captain Stacy." Peter said.
George Stacy and Yuri Watanabe left the room as Peter is now under police protection.
"By the way Peter, did you say that the man calls himself the Hobgoblin?" Robbie asked.
"Yeah.. why? Does it sound familiar?" Peter said.
"It does, back then when I was a reporter I've done a story on a criminal who dons a mask and calls himself the Hobgoblin. He robbed banks back then and inspires fear in his enemies." Robbie said.
"Any ideas on who this man is?" Peter said.
"Back then, he was identified as Roderick Kingsley, career criminal with a rap sheet that stretch since he was eighteen years old." Robbie said.
"So this Kingsley guy is the one who attacked me." Peter said.
"Can't be, he's in prison. He's been doing several life sentences for the past twenty years. Whoever this guy is must be someone new who decided to don the mask." Robbie said.
"I see." Peter said.
"Come on Robbie, we need to get back to the Bugle and warn the public about this new menace." Jameson turns to Betty. "Brant, you'll stay close to Parker until this whole thing is over, understood?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of Peter." Betty said.
"Stay safe son." Jameson said to Peter.
"Thanks, I'll be fine." Peter smiled.
Jameson and Robbie left the room to return to the Daily Bugle to alert the public about this new villain.
"I'm gonna go see if you're all clear to leave." Betty said.
"Thanks Betty." Peter said.
Betty left the room, leaving Peter, Gwen, and May alone to talk. Gwen went to see if it's clear.
"Okay, we're alone to talk." Gwen said.
"Good, now to figure out who this new Hobgoblin is." Peter said.
"Are you sure that you've never heard of him?" May said.
"Honestly, I never even heard of this Hobgoblin until now. I honestly don't know why he's targeting me." Peter said.
"Do you think that this new guy might know that you're Spider-Man?" Gwen said.
"I hope not, but then again I am the only photographer that takes pictures of Spider-Man. This attack could've been a message to him." Peter said.
"Well we need to find him before he attacks again." Gwen said.
"Good idea, except that I can't go out as Spider-Man while Peter Parker is being watched by the NYPD. Like it or not, I'm gonna have to sit out on this one." Peter said.
"Then it's up to me to find this new Hobgoblin. I'll have to go all Nancy Drew for this." Gwen said.
"This guy is dangerous Gwen." Peter said.
"Hey, I'm used to danger. Beside someone needs to save you again this time. Trust me." Gwen said.
"I do trust you Gwen... Okay, looks like it's up to you to save the day." Peter said.
"Thanks." Gwen smiled.
"Please be careful." Peter said.
"I will." Gwen said.
Peter will have trust that Gwen will be able to stop this new villain since he won't be able to go out as Spider-Man. He knows that Gwen is more capable of taking care of herself in battle. She saved his life more times than he could count.
Meanwhile Peter and Betty returned to the apartment after they left the hospital. Two squad cars are parked outside to watch out for the Hobgoblin though Peter has doubts that will be enough to stop him.
"Okay, we're here. How are you feeling?" Betty said.
"A little better. Thank you for helping me." Peter said.
"That's what friends are for. Don't worry, there are squad cars outside watching." Betty said.
"I don't think that's enough to stop this guy. I think that I shouldn't be here. This guy came after me and hurt a lot of people. I don't want any bad to happen to you Betty." Peter is worried.
"Right now I'm more worried about you Peter. This guy tried to kill you, I don't think that he'll stop coming for you. By the way, you said that he flew on some kind of device." Betty said.
"Yeah, it looked like he was standing on something with wings and it had guns on it, it looked pretty hi tech." Peter said.
The way Peter described this tech sounds like something she seen before. Peter could see that Betty got shocked by what he said. It reminded her of the glider that she and Ned saw at Oscorp months ago.
"What is it Betty?" Peter said.
"Can I show you something?" Betty said.
"Sure." Peter said.
Betty pulls out her phone and got a video recording of her time at Oscorp.
"Did it look like this?" Betty said.
Betty shows a videos of Oscorp where the glider is being demonstrated, Peter recognized it as the device that the Hobgoblin used in his attack against him.
"Yeah... it looked exactly like that. What is it?" Peter said.
"It's called a glider, me and Ned witnessed a demonstration during our tour at Oscorp months ago." Betty said.
"So this glider is from Oscorp?" Peter said.
"Correct, though I don't know why it's being used to commit crimes against you." Betty said.
"I don't get it either, I'm best friends with Harry Osborn, Norman Osborn's son. I don't think that Norman or Harry has anything to do with this incident." Peter said.
Betty pulled out her phone and checks Oscorp on the internet and found an online article about a recent break in at Oscorp last night.
"According to this, there was a break in last nigh at Oscorp, the prototype glider and a number of experimental weapons has been stolen." Betty explained.
"So we know where the glider came from, but we still don't know why he's after me now." Peter is clueless.
Meanwhile at Ryker's prison, Ghost-Spider manage to sneak around the prison security as she wanted to find one person here. The security here is pretty tight ever since that prison break that happen months ago. She looked window to window until she reach the right window, she found the right prisoner Roderick Kingsley, the original Hobgoblin.
"Roderick Kingsley!" Ghost-Spider called out.
The man turned around and sees Ghost-Spider outsider the window bars.
"Do I know you?" Roderick Kingsley asked.
"Probably not since you've been here for twenty years. I'm here because I need your help in finding someone." Ghost-Spider said.
"I don't know how I can help you since I've been here all these past years." Roderick Kingsley said.
"I'm looking for the Hobgoblin, the one who has taken your mantle." Ghost-Spider said.
"Mmm, interesting... so I have a fan who is now wearing my mask. Say that I could help you, what's in it for me?" Roderick Kingsley wonders.
"You're kidding?" Ghost-Spider said.
"Do I look like the type who just like to help anyone for nothing? If you want my help, then get me out of here and I might point the way towards this new Hobgoblin." Roderick Kingsley said.
"You're a convicted criminal serving life sentences, there is no way I'm getting you out of here." Ghost-Spider said.
"Then we're done here." Roderick Kingsley said.
Roderick Kingsley turns away as Ghost-Spider doesn't want to negotiate with him. She left the prison as she swings away, she'll have to find another way to find this new Hobgoblin.
At the VA in New York City, Flash Thompson is with fellow veterans talking. He's still dealing with the horrors he saw over there in Symkaria.
"Hello everyone, my name is Flash Thompson." Flash introduced himself.
"Hi Flash." Everyone in the group said in unison.
"It's been a month since I return home after my tour from Symkaria ended. I still get nightmares about that time I got captured. All I can remember is that this guy who I served along side with. He was a father of a boy who was recently born. He talked about getting back home and seeing his girlfriend and holding his son for the first time. I've kept asking myself why him, why not me? Why am I still alive, what's my purpose now since I'm home?" Flash said.
"So what do you do now?"
"Right now I'm figuring out what to do with my life. Most times I've hang around my old high school friends like Harry Osborn and Peter Parker. Just last week we all went to the garden and watched Knicks game. My friend Peter had to leave during the second half of the game while Harry is dating someone new. Being with them kinda takes me back to highschool when we all had fun." Flash smiled.
"That's good... having friends around is very helpful. Anyone else want to share something?"
"I do." Sha Shan speaks.
Flash looks at a Vietnamese American woman about the same age as he is black hair and brown eyes. He's surprised that there is an attractive woman here who served in the military.
"I'm new around here, my name is Sha Shan Nguyen and I served as a medic in the army. I've just returned back from my relief mission in Latveria." Sha Shan introduced herself.
Flash kept watching Sha Shan as he felt attracted to her, listening to her talking. He started to find her interesting.
Gwen Stacy later arrived at Sally Avril's home as she's still dressed in her costume.
"How did it go?" Sally asked.
"Not well, he had some demands and I refused to comply. So I have nothing to go on." Gwen said.
"I might have something." Sally said.
"Please... enlighten me." Gwen said.
"When I was researching old articles about Kingsley and the Hobgoblin, I found out that he's go an accomplice in ever one of his crimes." Sally explained.
"Does he have a name?" Gwen wondered.
"Yeah, Jason Macendale Jr., he was arrest as the same time as Roderick Kingsley did." Sally said.
"So he's in jail too, that's nothing to go on." Gwen said.
"Maybe not, according to the article Macendale testified against Kingsley in exchange for a lighter sentence. This gets better, he was release two months ago, still on probation." Sally said.
"Good work, get me an address on Mr. Macendale. Let's see what he has to say." Gwen said.
Sally writes down the address for Gwen to find Jason Macendale. Hopefully he could be this new Hobgoblin.
Meanwhile at the VA, every is finished for the day as they left and stack up chairs. Flash sees Sha Shan about to leave as he finished put the chair away and follows after her. He caught up to her as she walks out of the street, she sees him walking next to him.
"Can I help you?" Sha Shan said.
"Don't think that we've properly met, I'm Flash Thompson." Flash introduced himself.
"I know, I was there. Sha Shan Nguyen, now if you're done I've got to get home." Sha Shan said.
"Well I was wonder if you like, we could get some grub or maybe a drink." Flash offered.
"Not interested." Sha Shan said.
"Hey wait." Flash grabbed her shoulder.
Sha Shan stopped as Flash has his hand on her shoulder.
"Let go of me." Sha Shan said.
"I'm sorry, I just want to get to know you better." Flash said.
"Last chance." Sha Shan said.
"Don't need to get aggressive, I'm just trying to be friendly here." Flash said.
Sha Shan grabbed his hand off her shoulder and pulls him and flips him down on the ground hard. Flash felt the pain as he landed on the ground and looked up to see that a woman got the best of her.
"Oww!" Flash said in pain.
"I warned you." Sha Shan smiled.
Sha Shan walked away as Flash look at her and sees that she's not like every woman he's ever known.
"Damn... I think that I'm love." Flash smiled.
Flash is amazed that she can take care of herself, he sensed that she known martial arts given that he's twice her size and she took him down with ease.
A man is walking down the street carrying a bag as he enters his apartment building. Later he enters his rented room as he sat down and pulls out a box of cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey.
"Hello Jason." Ghost-Spider said.
Jason Macendale turned around and sees Ghost-Spider is here in his home.
"Who the hell are you?" Jason Macendale said.
"I'm Ghost-Spider and I've been waiting for you Hobgoblin." Ghost-Spider said.
"Hobgoblin?" Jason Macendale is confused. "Wait, you think that I'm the new Hobgoblin who's been terrorizing this city."
"I know that you and Roderick Kingsley were partners in crime. So you decided to take up his mantle, I'm I right?" Ghost-Spider said.
"Kingsley? I hated him, because of him I was sentences to prison, he blamed me for the mess we were in. I couldn't stand prison so I cut a deal in exchange for a lighter sentence." Jason Macendale explained.
"If you're not the new Hobgoblin, then who is?" Ghost-Spider said.
"I don't know, I've cut ties with Kingsley after I've testified against him in trial." Jason Macendale said.
"Was there anyone he was close with?" Ghost-Spider said.
"Yeah, there was this woman he was always crazy for. I don't know her name or if they're still together after he went to prison, but that was twenty years ago." Jason Macendale said.
Jason Macendale went over to his closet and pulled out a box. He hands it to Ghost-Spider.
"Here, this was all Kingsley's personal belonging's that he left behind. Take it, I don't need it." Jason Macendale said.
"Thanks." Ghost-Spider said.
Ghost-Spider takes the box that belonged to Roderick Kingsley, she hopes that there are clues that could lead her to this Hobgoblin. She left the apartment with Kingsley's belongings.
Later she returned to Sally's house as she and Sally are looking through Kingsley's stuff in hopes to find something that could point the way.
"So this is it? An old box full of stuff?" Sally said.
"It's all we got, we got nothing else to go on." Gwen said.
Sally digs through the box and found some pictures, one of them is a picture of a baby boy.
"Check this out." Sally said.
"Cute baby, but why doesn't Kingsley have this." Gwen said.
"Who knows?" Sally said.
Sally found another photo of a younger Kingsley with a woman who looked pregnant.
"I found a photo of a woman, she looks pregnant." Sally said.
Gwen looked at the photo of the woman as well as the baby photo, she put the clues together.
"I think I know why Kingsley has this photo... I think that this baby is Kingsley's son." Gwen said.
"No way." Sally said.
"Since this photo is more than twenty years old, he probably be in his early twenties as an adult." Gwen said.
"Makes sense. Does the photo have a name?" Sally said.
Gwen looked at the picture then she turns it around and found writing in the back of the picture. she found the name of Kingsley's son and is shocked to find out.
"What is it?" Sally said.
"I know who the new Hobgoblin is. I have to go. Peter could be in danger." Gwen got up.
She puts on her mask as she swings out the window. She swings as fast as she can before it's too late.
At night as Peter is still at Betty Brant's place and still under police protection as he can't go out as Spider-Man.
"Here." Betty hands him a bottle of water.
"Thanks." Peter grabbed it.
"How are you holding up?" Betty asked.
"I'm doing alright considering there's a maniac out there targeting me." Peter smiled.
"How do you do it?" Betty said.
"Do what?" Peter said.
"Remain calm. Last month we were Symkaria and got attacked by enemy soldiers. Then some maniac tries to kill you and you still remain calm like you're not afraid of anything." Betty said.
Betty is wondering why Peter can still remain calm due to everything that's been happening. Peter couldn't exactly tell her about his other life as Spider-Man, he's came close to death too many times and always manages to work through it.
Peter's phone began to rang, he picked it up as it's Gwen who's calling, he answered it.
"Hey Gwen." Peter said.
"Peter... the Hobgoblin is..." Gwen said.
There was an explosion at the windows as the Hobgoblin came in bursting on the glider. Peter and Betty sees the Hobgoblin is here in person. Peter's phone is on the ground with Gwen still on the line.
"Peter?... Peter?!" Gwen said.
Hobgoblin laughs and cackles. "Sorry... hope you don't mind me crashing your place."
"Hobgoblin... Why are you here?" Peter said.
"Why I'm here for you of course." Hobgoblin said.
"Do what you want with me, but leave Betty alone. She has nothing to do with this." Peter said.
"Wrong! She has everything to do with this!" Hobgoblin said.
"What?!" Betty is confused.
"What's the matter? Couldn't figure it out with your instincts? Well... allow me to show you." Hobgoblin said.
Hobgoblin pulled off his mask and surprised both Peter and Betty as they see his face. The new Hobgoblin is Ned Leeds, Betty's ex-boyfriend.
"Ned? You're the Hobgoblin?" Betty said.
"That's right, it's me." Ned Leeds said.
"Why?" Betty said.
"Because it's my legacy, my inheritance." Ned Leeds said.
Flashback
Five Years Ago
At Ryker's Prison, Eighteen year old Ned Leeds came to see Roderick Kingsley to want some answers. The guards brought out Kingsley as he sees his visitor is someone he doesn't recognized. A wall of glass separates them as they use the phone to speak to one another.
"Who are you?" Roderick Kingsley asked.
"My name is Edward Leeds, everyone calls me Ned." Ned Leeds said.
"Leeds? Any relations to Carla Leeds?" Roderick Kingsley said.
"She's my mother." Ned Leeds said.
"Ah yes, Carla my old flame. So you're her son." Roderick Kingsley said.
"You and my mother were together? Are you..." Ned Leeds said.
"That's right my boy... I am your father." Roderick Kingsley said.
Roderick Kingsley revealed the truth to Ned Leeds that he and his mother were lovers and that he is Ned Leed's biological father.
"My father is Roderick Kingsley, the original Hobgoblin." Ned Leeds said.
"Like father like son." Peter said.
"Correct, I had everything, a normal job, a great girlfriend. Everything was fine until you came along, came between me and Betty." Ned Leeds said.
"What Betty and me had was in the past. You didn't have to take it so personally." Peter said.
"Too late, it became personal when you humiliated me in front of everyone that day. Remember when you punched in the face? I swore that I was going to make you pay. So I broke into Oscorp and took what I needed to exact my revenge against you." Ned then puts the mask back on and becomes the Hobgoblin again. "Now it's time to finish this."
The glider pulls out the blades as Hobgoblin aims at Peter with the intention to kill. Peter isn't fearing for his life as he's willing to die to protect Betty until Betty got in front of Peter to protect.
"So you want to die with him? So be it? You both deserve each other." Hobgoblin said.
The glider charges in to kill Peter and Betty until Ghost-Spider arrived in time to kick Hobgoblin off the glider. The Glider went off course and crashed into the wall, Peter and Betty were lucky that it missed.
Hobgoblin got up and sees Ghost-Spider again and ruined another chance to kill Peter Parker.
"You again!" Hobgoblin yelled.
"Hope you don't mind me crashing this party?" Ghost-Spider said.
"You interfered for the last time. This time, I'll shall kill you." Hobgoblin said.
"Bring it." Ghost-Spider said.
Hobgoblin summons the glider and jumps onto it and flies out as Ghost-Spider webs up and hangs on. The Hobgoblin looks back and see Ghost-Spider is still hanging on.
"Welcome to the Hobgoblin Express, allow me to show what I've got to offer." Hobgoblin said.
He flies down closer to the building as Ghost-Spider is still hanging on to the web attached to the glider. He got in closer as Ghost-Spider lets go and the Hobgoblin flies up. He turns around and began to fire off some rounds at her, Ghost-Spider does some back flips and dodges the bullets.
"Stay still!" Hobgoblin said.
Hobgoblin stopped firing off rounds as his glider pulls out it's blades as he flies towards Ghost-Spider.
"Got to time this right." Ghost-Spider said.
Hobgoblin and the glider is flying in closer to Ghost-Spider as she readies herself for an attack. She runs towards him until she jumped up above the glider and does a flying side kick and kicked him off the glider. He fell off as the glider lost control and crashed itself into an air conditioner on the roof, it got wrecked.
"Now you don't have your fancy toy." Ghost-Spider said.
"That's okay, I still got other tricks up my sleeve." Hobgoblin said.
He pulled out some bombs and tossed it at Ghost-Spider as she dodges the incoming blast. He kept tossing them until he realized that he's out of bombs.
"What's the matter? Out of ammo?" Ghost-Spider said.
Hobgoblin pulls out his flaming sword and swings it at Ghost-Spider, but she proven to be too fast as she dodges every swing. She grabbed the wrist and disarmed his sword. She jumps up and wraps her legs around his neck and flips him down. She then finishes off with a punch to the face, knocking him out cold. She removed his mask and sees the face of Ned Leeds as she suspected.
Ghost-Spider stands up and defeated the Hobgoblin. She looked down on the streets as she spotted Peter on the ground. He smiled as he is happy that Ghost-Spider saved him and Betty from Ned Leeds.
Sometime later as the police and the fire department showed up and sees that the apartment building is a wreck. Peter and Betty are outside as they witnessed Ned Leeds in his Hobgoblin costume being taken into police custody. Betty is still in shock that the man she loved is a criminal.
"How? How could he do this to me?" Betty cried.
Peter hugs her as Betty is crying.
"I'm sorry Betty, I'm so sorry." Peter said.
Ned Leeds took one last look at Peter and Betty as he realized that he has lost everything. He got placed into the back of the car.
The next day, the Daily Bugle is running a front page about one of their own employees being a criminal. The front page is title 'Hobgoblin/Ned Leeds is in custody'.
"How could I not see it, one of my employee is a menace?" Jameson said.
"Yeah, I don't get that either." Peter said.
"Robbie, run it." Jameson said.
"I'm on it." Robbie said.
"By the way Parker, how is Betty?" Jameson said.
"Still processing everything, can't image what's it like to find out that the person you love is a villain." Peter said.
"Go check on her, she'll need you." Jameson said.
"Yeah." Peter said.
Peter walked out of the office as he went to see Betty and Glory packing up her stuff from her desk.
"Betty, what are you doing?" Peter said.
"I'm quitting." Betty said.
"Quitting? But why? You worked hard to get where you are." Peter said.
"I know, but this and what happened in the past year, it's too much for me. I need to start over and figure out what to do with my life, something that doesn't involve supervillains." Betty said.
"I wished that you didn't have to go... but I understand. Any idea where you're moving?" Peter said.
"Philadelphia, I'm going to be staying with my family for a while, after that we'll see what's next." Betty said.
"Sounds like a plan. I'm really gonna miss you." Peter said.
"I'll miss you too... the one good thing I've got to experience in this life is you. You were a great friend." Betty said.
"I'll always be your friend, thank you for being in my life." Peter said.
"I pray that one day you'll find someone. You deserve that, just make sure that she's isn't a super villain." Betty smiled.
"I'll keep that in mind... Goodbye Betty." Peter smiled.
Betty gave Peter a kiss on his cheek.
"Goodbye Peter, I'll never forget you. Remember, chin up, okay." Betty said.
Peter smiled as Betty walked away with Glory with her stuff as she left the Daily Bugle. Peter is gonna miss Betty, she was a special woman who's been a friend as well a lover at one time.
Sometime later, Peter and Gwen are at a restaurant having their lunch date at the Korean place that serves meatballs. Peter is amazed by the taste of it.
"Wow, this is so good. It was a great idea coming here." Peter smiled.
"Yeah, told you that they were good. So how is the apartment hunt going considering that Betty's place got wrecked?" Gwen said.
"Still haven't found a place, but the good news is that now that the Hobgoblin is in prison. I'm no longer in police protection, so now I'm free to enjoy my life." Peter smiled.
"Good, everyone is expecting to see Spider-Man very soon again. So where are you going to be staying?" Gwen said.
"For now, I've moved back into my home in Queens. It feels great being with Aunt May again. By the way, thank you Gwen for saving my life again. You really are amazing." Peter said.
"Well I learned from the best." Gwen hold up her glass of soda. "Cheers."
Peter held up his glass. "Cheers."
Peter and Gwen are enjoying their date as friends as Peter is now enjoying his freedom without any protection or anyone targeting Peter Parker. It's all thanks to Gwen Stacy who saved the day, she's the hero.
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