Erma © Outcast Comix/Brandon J. Santiago
Spider-Man © Marvel Comics/Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
At the 'Royal Palace' of the Rat King, Delapore (which fittingly enough was within what had once been a Town Hall.)
Percy sat next to Sidney at a table across from Delapore.
"I hope you two saved room in your bellies for dinner." spoke Delapore.
"I am still hungry." said Sidney. "What about you, Percy?"
Percy moved in his seat a little. "kinda."
Delapore nodded as he stood up, and walked away for a moment.
*it's odd..* began Percy, whispering.
*even knowing your dad was a Rat, I still wasn't expecting this.*
*don't feel intimidated.* spoke Sidney, also whispering.
*dad may appear tough, but he very kindhearted once you get to know him.*
Percy remained silent. his mind wandering a bit.
Delapore soon returned with plates of food. Percy was a little surprised at how appetizing it all looked.
"eat up." spoke Delapore, as he began to eat some bread.
As Sidney and Percy ate their food, Delapore looked at Percy. "So, Percy. Tell me about yourself."
Percy looked at the Rat King. "I'm..not sure what to say."
"Sidney claimed you and her share similarities..yet, she wouldn't tell me anything more." continued Delapore.
Percy looked at Sidney..who gestured over to a photo hanging on a wall.
darting his eyes, Percy saw it was a modest wedding photo.
..one of a younger Delapore, and a dark skinned woman with dark frizzy hair.
Percy easily deduced what Sidney was wordlessly telling him.
"my father died when I was very young." spoke Percy, sadly. "I'm..living alone with my mother."
Delapore's ears drooped a little. "I'm..very sorry to hear that."
Percy looked down, silently contemplating.
"there..is more." spoke Percy, his voice shaky.
Sidney grimaced, unsure where this conversation might go.
"my..My father, he..He was human." confessed Percy.
This got Delapore's attention. "HE..was human? (pause) and your mother?"
"not human." replied Percy. "she's..kinda like You, sir.
We live in shadows, away from human eyes..and, for very good reason."
Percy paused..his eyes growing moist as he recalled a memory he tried so hard not to.
"Some humans will only see me, and my mom as monsters." continued Percy.
"Dad didn't. He tried to protect us from the real monsters..and, That's how we lost him."
Both Delapore and Sidney looked shocked after hearing this.
Percy just wiped his eyes, not wishing to make a scene any more than he already did.
"I am sorry to hear that, young man..I truly am." spoke Delapore.
Sidney gently touched Percy's shoulder, looking at him with soft eyes.
"I've always dreaded the worst if humans ever discovered our colony." continued Delapore.
"I take no joy in knowing that my fears were well founded..I had hoped to be proven wrong."
"Not all humans are bad." spoke Sidney, trying to lighten the mood.
"Mom wasn't bad. Percy's dad wasn't bad. and, my friends are human, too!"
Delapore nodded. "yes, that is also true..but, too many hateful humans outnumber the few peaceful ones."
Sidney frowned at this..as did Percy. Delapore then looked at Percy.
"So, if you are half human like my daughter..I presume this isn't your true form."
Percy grew tense at this. "n-no..it isn't."
"You do not need to hide who you are, son." spoke Delapore, kindly. "you can change back."
Percy's body trembled. "I'd..r-rather not. I..d-don't want to disturb anyone."
"percy..you know I'm not scared of you." said Sidney. "and, dad won't judge you..right, dad?"
"of course not." spoke Delapore, in the warmest voice he could.
"It doesn't matter what you are, Percy. you already proved yourself to me..I trust you."
Percy looked at the Rat King..then, back to Sidney.
he paused, took a deep breath..and, then proceeded to let go of his human form.
Delapore watched with astonishment as the boy's two eyes slowly became four.
Fangs slowly formed from his teeth, and an extra pair of arms grew out from his sides.
Percy finally looked at Delapore..who stared in silence.
"you..Your mother is of the Spider Guild?!" spoke Delapore.
It was Percy (and, Sidney's) turn to be stunned. "the what?"
Delapore stood up. "follow me..there is something I must show you."
As the Rat King walked off, Sidney and Percy got up and followed him.
Delapore led the two kids a long since emptied Wine Cellar.
Having lit a torch, Delapore showed Sidney and Percy aged tapestries that adorned the walls.
The tapestries bore ancient artwork that looked medieval in style.
and, it came to no surprise that they all featured images of humanoid rats upon them.
..apparently, these tapestries depicted the Rat Colonies history.
However, Delapore soon stopped at one Tapestry..one that stunned Percy to silence.
"it..it can't be." spoke Percy, all four of his eye wide.
Sidney's mouth gaped at the tapestry that depicted her Rat People...AND, Spider People.
(in fact, the tapestry showed a Rat King shaking hands with what appeared to be a Spider Queen.)
"My people have lived for hundreds of years.." spoke Delapore.
"with our history dating back to the fabled Dark Ages. a time of Knights, and Witches.
Our people survived and endured through the centuries..though, NOT without our allies."
"Rat People..and, Ss-Spider People?!" spoke Sidney, still stunned.
Delapore nodded. "The Spider Guild were a society similar to our Rat Colony.
Creatures that lived in the shadows, and surviving the worst that mankind could throw at them.
It wasn't long before our peoples met."
Percy approached the Tapestry, and stared at it.
the Spider People depicted on the cloth indeed looked very much like his mother.
Percy then noted odd symbols over the heads of the Rat King and Spider Queen.
One resembled a Rat's face. while the other was a vague image of a Spider.
..The Spider Crest looked VERY familiar.
Percy immediately reached into his hoodie..and, pulled out a golden medallion around his neck.
He took it off, and examined the symbol engraved upon it.
..it was the very same Spider Symbol depicted upon the tapestry.
"they..They really WERE my people." spoke Percy, awestruck.
"..there was a time when we were at war. Rivals fighting to survive." continued Delapore.
"but, one of my ancestors decided we would have better chances at survival if we became allies.
It was difficult. SOME never truly let go of their old rivalries.
but, for a time our respected people were at peace with one another.
We provided for them a sanctuary within our underground tunnels.
And, THEY in turn gifted us with clothing, medicine and "foresight."
Percy stared long and hard at the tapestry. he then put his medallion back on, and tucked it away.
"if we were so close..then, What Happened?" asked Percy.
"Mom never mentioned anything about being friends with Rat People."
Delapore looked down at Percy. "It all happened years ago..before you, and Sidney were born.
I was just a child, no older than you are now when I overheard my father's meeting with the THEN Spider Queen."
Percy and Sidney looked up to Delapore as he told his story.
"a new threat had revealed itself..one that was specifically targeting the Spider Guild.
The Spider Queen intended to withdraw from the Rat Colony, to face this new threat on their own.
My father objected, swearing to stand with her people.
the Spider Queen KNEW this. Which is why she withdrew from us,
as she warned that many of us would die if we fought alongside them."
Sidney and Percy's mouths gaped open in shock. "wa-what was this th-threat?" asked Percy.
Delapore sighed. "i don't know..If my father knew, he never told me.
All I do know was that it was an 'unnatural' enemy that preyed upon the Spider People."
Percy swallowed hard, feeling genuinely scared.
(Afterall, he had been taught since birth that Spiders were Predators. Hunters.
so, what manner of creature could be so fearsome that it could make a Spider PREY?!)
"When..we didn't hear back from the Spider Guild." continued Delapore.
"my father feared the worst had happened." Delapore looked to Percy (who looked very distressed.)
"But..you being half spider means they survived whatever was hunting them. How many are left?"
Percy looked at Delapore..his eyes moist. "i..I don't..kn-know."
Percy wiped more tears from his eyes, his body shaking.
Delapore then rushed over, knelt down and gave Percy a hug.
"hey-hey, shhh..it's okay." spoke the Rat King. "I'm sorry for upsetting you."
Percy breathed out sharply. "it's..oh-okay. i'm..I'm okay."
"Are you SURE?" inquired Delapore.
Percy nodded. "yes."
Delapore reluctantly released Percy, and stood back up.
Sidney then walked over, and held two of Percy's shaking hands.
Percy breathed out again. "until recently..I had no idea there even was a Spider Guild." began Percy.
"Even when my dad was alive, my mom was the only 'Spider Person' that I knew of.
As far as I know..me and mom are the ONLY Spiders left in the world. I don't know of any others."
Delapore frowned. "I see..I am sorry to hear that."
Percy looked very distressed. "what if..What If whatever killed them all is STILL out there!?
I-I thought it was only humans that mother was hiding us from, b-but what if it's-"
Percy began to hyperventilate. "am..AM I NEXT!?"
Sidney grasped onto Percy as she tried to calm him down.
"Calm Down, Percy!..It's OKAY." spoke Sidney.
"I am sure that whatever was hunting your people is long gone by now."
Percy looked at Sidney. "r-really?"
"It is possible." spoke Delapore. "If they (whoever THEY are)
believe that they wiped out your people entirely..Then they may have moved on."
Percy looked down. He felt a little better..but, not a whole lot.
Delapore then knelt down again, and looked at Percy in the eye.
"BUT..if something DOES come for you. then, you have my word we will protect you."
Percy looked up at the Rat King. "you would do that for me?"
Delapore smiled. "the alliance may be old..BUT, it still stands.
You have already protected my daughter. so, I am honor bound to do the same."
Percy looked down, feeling very uncertain.
Sidney then walked up, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Percy looked at his friend..who gave him a warm, comforting smile.
..and, for a moment. Percy felt assurance.
[End of Part Seven]
[Author Notes]
With this chapter, I wanted to write out my own lore/mythology regarding the "Spider People"
that closely tied into the (still) vague history regarding the Rat People.
And, I will confess..I borrowed the name and symbol featured from the mobile game: Marvel: Realm of Champions.
(in which "The Spider-Guild" are playable faction based on Spider-Man and the Spider-Verse.)
I also thought the idea of a Rat King having an alliance with a Spider Queen to be perfect.
While I am leaving what happened to Percy's people a mystery.
hardcore Spider-Man fans may already have some idea on why they aren't around anymore.