Erma © Outcast Comix/Brandon J. Santiago

Spider-Man © Marvel Comics/Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Deep within in the Undercity where the Rat People dwelled,
Sidney sat with her father within their home, and silently ate lunch together.

Delapore eventually looked at his daughter. "how was school today, Sidney?"

"it was..Okay." replied Sidney.

"You appear to be in better spirits than prior days." continued the Rat Man.

Sidney looked at her father. "well..I did make a new friend at school."

"I see." spoke Delapore, as he sipped a drink. "Human?"

"yes..he is new in town." said Sidney.

"Does he know, then?"

Sidney knew what her father was referring to. "yes..and, he already thinks you're cool."

Delapore raised a brow. "HE?"

"yeah..His name is Percy." said Sidney. "he...(deep sigh) he saved my life."

Delapore's ears twitched. "saved?..What Happened?!"

Sidney groaned as she continued speaking. "I..was almost hit by a truck this morning."

"WHAT!?" Delapore was fully alarmed.

"It was my fault." said Sidney. "I was distracted, and wasn't paying attention.
But, Percy, he..he put himself in danger, and saved me."

Delapore leaned in closer. "I thought I taught you better than that, Sidney.
You know our ways: We must ALWAYS be alert no matter what. It only takes ONE mistake to-"

"I know!..i'm sorry, dad." spoke Sidney, sadly.

Delapore frowned..then, he hugged his daughter. "it is thankful that your mother sent someone to watch over you today."

Sidney half smiled (wondering if her mother's spirit really had a hand in Percy saving her.)

"I'm sorry, dad..I will be more careful next time."

Delapore looked down at Sidney, and caressed her chin. "I believe you."

As the two parted, Sidney looked at her father again. "dad?"

"yes, Sidney?"

Sidney paused..and, then spoke: "c-can my new friend come visit me more?"

Delapore looked at Sidney. "you mean..come HERE?"

Sidney nodded.

"Sidney..you know how our people feel about outsiders."

"But, he's my friend..AND, he saved my life!" retorted Sidney. "d-doesn't that count for something?"

Delapore paused, considering his daughters words. "It's still risky..our people won't like it."

Sidney looked down..and, then glared. "did they like it when Grandfather let my mother, and her people down among us?"

Delapore eyed Sidney. "Sidney.."

"Well, DID THEY?!" exclaimed Sidney.

Delapore breathed out sharply. "no..they didn't."

Sidney looked up at her father. "I'm not asking to bring my whole class down here..just ONE person."

Delapore fell silent as he looked down at his daughter.

finally, the rat breathed out sharply. "you truly have your mother's spirit..
(deep sigh) very well..I will talk with the elders, and negotiate safe passage for your friend."

"OH, FATHER, THANK YOU!" exclaimed Sidney, as she leapt up and hugged Delapore.

"I cannot make you any promises.." continued Delapore, setting Sidney down.
"If I cannot sway the elders, then you may have to find some other way to spend more time with him."

Sidney looked up at her father. "like..visiting him at HIS home?"

Delapore scowled at Sidney..which was all the answer she needed.

"I'll..just go to my room, now." said Sidney, as she sat up and walked away.

Delapore breathed out deeply, grasping his snout stressfully.
His daughter wasn't even thirteen yet, and already she showed an interest in boys.

He wished his wife was still alive..he wasn't sure if he could deal with this on his own.

"oh, Monique..what would YOU do?"

Delapore closed his eyes, and TRIED to think back to when his wife was still alive.
He saw her..Her beautiful face, and gentle smile.

He remembered her kind heart..how she saw good in everything.
she took nothing at face value, finding purity in what most would find ugly.

Delapore then opened his eyes..and smiled.

He knew what his wife would want him to do.

[Meanwhile..]

It took some time, but Percy eventually reached the Brandon Santiago Bridge.
He ran along the massive suspension cables holding it up, until he reached it's highest tower.

The boy leapt inside the interior of the tower..which had a modest living area,
as well as a ceiling that was covered in thick cobwebs that glimmered in the dull light.

Percy pulled his hood down, and walked around the large interior.

"MOM?!" spoke Percy, "MOM, I'M HOME!"

From high up, hidden among the thick cobwebs..six shiny eyes opened up.
they appeared to 'glow' within the darkness..and they all looked down at Percy.

the slender, shadowy figure slowly descended down..

a fuzzy brown, feminine figure with six arms, (with each hand bearing talon-like fingers)
curved spikes protruding down her cheeks, a bulbous abdomen, and wearing black clothing.

Percy looked up as the Anthropoid Spider creature loomed over him.
It lowered down from a web line..it's frightening face inches from his own.

the She-Spider grinned..it's sharp fangs glistening against the light.
she then reached out with it's three fingered hand...and, proceeded to caress Percy's cheek gently.

"how was school today, sweetheart?" asked Maven, as she lowered to the floor.

Percy smiled. "Better than I thought it might be, mom..I even made a new friend."

the spider woman smiled at her son. "how wonderful..I'm so happy for you, baby."

Percy smiled..he then hugged his mother's slender legs.
Maven then knelt down, and hugged the boy with all six of her arms.

"there's that wonderful smile..I missed it." said Maven.

"sorry, mom..I'm sorry I've felt so down lately." spoke Percy.
"but, today..Today I've learned to count my blessings where I can find them."

Maven smiled as she ruffled Percy's hair. "See?, I knew moving here was a good idea."

Percy nodded. "I think it was, too."

Maven then pulled up one of Percy's sleeves..revealing some kind of metal wristband
with a long, curved prong hidden underneath his fingerless glove.

"How did your web shooters perform?, were there any problems?" asked Maven.

"It did okay, mom." said Percy.

"hmm..down one cartridge already." mused Maven, as she further inspected the device. "we'll need to work on that."

Percy looked up at his mother. "Mom?"

"yes, dear?"

"How long will I need to keep using these things?" asked Percy. "Am I ever going to create my own webs like you do?"

Maven looked at Percy with soft eyes. "I am sure you will, sweetie..SOMEDAY.
But, until then..you NEED to keep using your father's invention."

Percy sighed sadly. While he was glad to use something that his father made before his death,
he hated that he NEEDED to use artificial webbing, despite himself being part spider.

It made him feel unworthy to be his mother's son.

"okay..go watch some TV, sweetie." spoke Maven. "I'll fix you something to ea-"

((*RIIIIINNNGG!*))

Maven looked over to a phone laying on a nearby table.
As it continued to ring and vibrate, the Spider shot a web-line and yanked it into her hand.

"Miss Muffet Bakery. How may I help you?" spoke Maven. "I see..Oh, my yes. I can handle an order that big.."

Maven drew out a notebook using her other hands, and began writing.

"Fifty Donuts..cream filled. Yes, I've got it..and, Ten Plain. Yes.
to be delivered..at the 13th Precinct. Oh, of course. No Contact is our policy

Ten Minutes, or it's free. I promise. Okay..Bye."

Maven sighed as she looked to Percy. "sorry, honey..You may have to wait a bit. Business."

"It's okay, mom." said Percy. "I'm not that hungry, anyway."

Maven smiled, and then knelt down and gave Percy a kiss on his head.
She then walked over to the kitchen, and began making her large batch of donuts.

"SO.." began Maven, speaking loudly. "Tell me about this new friend of yours.."

"Oh.."spoke Percy, feeling awkward. "well..she's a girl for one."

"Oh, how NICE." spoke Maven. "You ask her on a date, yet?"

"MOM!"

"(light chuckle) only joking, baby..go on, what's her name?"

Percy tugged at his shirt. "Ss-Sidney..and, I think she's like me."

Maven stopped working to look at her son. "like you?..How is she like you?"

"well..she told me her mother was human (and, is..gone.)" explained Percy.
"but, her dad is some kind of Rat Man, I guess. So, she is kinda like me: part human."

Maven fell silent at this. "I see..interesting."

"Yeah.." spoke Percy. "and, since everyone at school knows what she is..maybe I could-"

"NO." said Maven, sternly.

"But-"

Maven leaped from the kitchen area, to where Percy was in one bound.
She then knelt down to her son, and looked at him with soft, yet firm eyes.

"percy..I am happy you found a friend who might understand you." began Maven.
"but, you can't tell *anyone* what you really are. You DIDN'T, did you?"

"n-no, I didn't." said Percy. "but, I don't understand: If They know about Sidney,
and accept her for what she is, then why can't I tell them what I am?..or, at least Sidney?"

Maven sighed. "it isn't the same, son..SOME humans may dislike rodents.
but, nearly all humans DESPISE Arachnids like you and me."

"dad didn't." said Percy.

"I did say: "Nearly." retorted Maven. "but, it isn't worth the risk.
You are my son..my only child. I will not gamble your life based on hope."

Percy looked away. wondering if he really should tell his mother about how actually first met Sidney in the first place.

"but..But, I really do think it would be different." argued Percy.
"this place..my school. I feel like I can truly belong with them."

Maven looked down at Percy. "If you really believe that..then, why are you still in your human form?"

Percy froze at this.

"In fact, why don't you Go to school tomorrow, and show them what you really are." continued Maven.

"..and, THEN tell me they will accept you."

Percy paused for a moment. He then parted from his mother, and approached a nearby full body mirror.

For a moment..he considered changing into his true form..

..but, he hesitated. and, ultimately decided against it.

"you're right..i'm sorry." said Percy, sadly.

Maven walked over to Percy, and hugged him. "I'm sorry too, baby.." spoke the Spider.
"I wish we didn't have to hide..But, that is the way things are."

Maven then leaned forward to Percy's ear. "and..I know about the truck, PERCIVAL."

Percy froze, shocked and a little worried. "m-mom, I'm sorry, I-"

"barring the fact you could've been killed..SOMEONE might've seen you." spoke Maven, sternly.
"(deep sigh) but..you will just do it again no matter how much I scold you."

Percy sighed. "I'm sorry, mom..but, I can't look the other way when people need help."

Maven frowned, sadness on her face. "yes..I know. Which is why I made you this."

Percy turned around as his mother took something out from a bag.
He looked at a large envelope with a bow stuck to it.

written on the envelope was: [TO: PERCY. LOVE, MOM.]

Percy took the envelope, and opened it.

he then pulled out..a red, mouthless ski-mask with welding goggles sewn into the eyes.

"I know you won't stop using your powers to help people, that you CAN'T stop." began Maven.
"So, I want you to put my mind at ease and wear that mask whenever you do..Deal?"

Percy looked at the mask..and, then back to his mother. "I will..I promise."

Maven smiled, and embraced Percy in the ultimate hug.

..though, as she did, she shed a tear from one of her eyes.

[End of Part Three]

[Author Notes]

and, with THIS chapter I reveal why this interpretation of Spider-Man is so different.

Rather than being a normal human bitten by a spider,
Percy Palmer is like Sidney (and, Erma): a half human, whose mother is a Spider Creature.

AND, let's address the Spider on the Web, here..

Maven (whose name is a fusion of Mavis and Raven) was based on Muffet from Undertale.
given she is a female, humanoid spider who owns a bakery.

(so, I suppose Undertale/Muffet fans will get something out of this story, too.)

I also wrote in the classic Web Shooters in a way that is more unique.
Being half spider, Percy SHOULD spin his own webs..but, for some reason he can't.

So, he has to use artificial webbing via web shooters until he does.

(this will payoff later in the story, I promise.)

Also, the mask that Maven wants Percy to wear is pretty much the same
homemade mask that was featured in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

(I'm not doing the full costume just yet.)

Yes, I still have no idea what the name of Sidney's mother was.
So, "Monique" will be her name until Mr. Santiago says otherwise.