Spider-Man: Hero Academia

by Timelord2024

After an encounter with one of the Infinity Stones, Spider-Man finds himself placed in a new world of superheroes. Mysteriously, he becomes enrolled in U.A, a high school created for teaching upcoming heroes. When he discovers the Infinity Stones have become lost In this world, somehow still retaining their power, he must find them before his new friends get caught in the crossfire

48. The Price of Infinity

Peter and Tony arrived back at the sanctum and found Strange and All Might talking to one another. There was a slight tension between Peter and Tony, but it wasn't all bad. Though a lot had been revealed and processed between them, there was a sense of clarity. Tony had been overprotective since his return, while Peter wanted to handle things his own way. In a sense, they both took the same approach to each other when they had their reunion. At least now, they found themselves on the right path.

Following behind Peter and Tony were two other heroes they had gathered on their way there. One was dressed in red, white and blue clothing and a shield on his back matching the colors. The other was a man with long blonde hair dressed in Norse clothing and a helmet with wings; In his hand was a hammer with glyphs in Norse language. They were none other than Thor and Steve Rogers, better known as The God of Thunder and Captain America; two of the best Avengers on the team.

When Peter's eyes met with All Mights, he could see an expression of surprise. It clearly wasn't about his return to the sanctum, or the extra heroes recruited for the mission, rather something much more serious.

"Young Parker," Said All Might, "Can we talk for a moment? Privately?"

Peter nodded awkwardly and moved to the side with him while Tony and the others spoke with Strange. The look on All Might's face was worrying; did something happen while he was gone?

"Strange and I spoke to one another," Said All Might, "He thought that I needed a level head before we proceed. Despite how angry you may be with him, he thought it best regardless."

"Best? What was best?" Peter asked, feeling more worried than ever.

How to go about this, thought All Might? The poor boy had been facing this all alone for so long with close to no one to confide to. Every fight, every conflict, Peter had faced it alone with few exceptions. Talking about this now breaks the status quo Peter had grown accustomed to over these months. He didn't want the boy to be alone anymore; scared and desperate to stay safe while keeping a secret as dire as this.

All Might looked back to Strange for a moment, before facing Peter with determination, "He …he told me things."

"…What things?"

"I know, Peter. I know everything."

That was a phrase he didn't expect to hear, not now or ever from All Might. It could have meant a multitude of things, but considering the situation, only one sufficed, "…Strange told you about …"

"…The multiverse," All Might confirmed, "I didn't believe him at first, but …he showed me things, images in my mind. I thought he drugged me or something, but it was too real."

Peter forced himself not to panic, gulping and keeping his composure. All Might could see this and tried to help him calm down.

"Take it easy, kid. It's ok."

"I …" Peter stuttered, trying to find the words, "I didn't know how to tell you. I wanted to say something for so long but I thought no one would believe me."

"I don't blame you. It's pretty crazy, even with proof. Strange showed me enough though …and I think I finally understand. It explains why there's two of you. One is just your …doppelganger, I think is the word? Knowing what I do now makes so much sense of everything you've done and why. I'm sorry you had to face it all by yourself."

Peter didn't cry as he expected he would, rather he sighed with relief. Another weight had been released from his shoulders, letting him jump just a little higher. All Might knowing his secret, as scary as it was, repaired their relationship as he hoped it would. He never wanted to be All Mights enemy, perhaps now he didn't have to be.

"I kept my secret out of fear," Peter explained, "I feared rejection, people thinking I was crazy. Being trapped on another world isn't in the rulebook of being a superhero. I didn't know what else to do but lie and suffer the consequences for it."

"You don't have to suffer anymore, kid," He put a hand on his shoulder, "I'm on your side. I always have been. It just took me a while to finally realize that."

"What now?" Asked Peter.

"When we get back, I can try vouching for you. Strange says he knows how to clear your name; we'll have to trust that."

Hearing that made Peter rush in for a hug. He was gentle just in case he hurt him while in his weaker form. They laughed as he hugged back. This was something he really needed right now, which was likely why Strange told him in the first place.

Doctor Strange smirked on the other side of the room, making an audible chuckle.

"Still mad at you," Peter called out to Strange, "The day of reckoning will come down on you in a scolding manner."

All Might laughed along with Peter before breaking the hug. Despite the understanding they have found, there was still one more thing to discuss. All Might knew almost everything now, and there was just one more secret that needed to be told before everything could come full circle. The one problem was that this was harder to say than anything else he's kept locked in the burning of his chest.

"…All Might," Peter started, "There's something you should know, before we do this. Something else I mean."

"Of course."

"…I know who Lumina is."

All Might took a moment to process this, before fully addressing it, "Why did you never say anything?"

"It was her word against mine at the time."

"Why is that-?"

"It's Mayume," Peter blurted like ripping off a Band-Aid, "Lumina …Lumina is Mayume Aihara; Overcast."

He didn't want to believe what he was hearing, but found no reason anymore for Peter to lie to him. He took a step back with a hand to his chin, the other hand reaching to hold his arm in place. He looked to be thinking critically, but it was a façade to hide how devastated he was. How could she have been Lumina? She was one of the supporters of letting Peter roam free as a vigilante. Then again, seeing how friendly she was to him as Lumina made that attitude make more sense. Overcast was a hero, and Lumina was a villain; he was supposed to believe now that they're the same person?

"But …She doesn't have a Light Quirk," All Might argued.

"But she does," Peter retorted, "She kept it hidden all these years. For what reason, I couldn't say."

"Why would she do all this? Why would she pretend to be a hero?"

"The opposite, actually. She's masquerading as a villain; she's convinced if she can get the stones, she can revive her family and be a better hero than anyone else."

"Can she?"

"Yes."

All Might blinked curiously, "Why not let her?"

"The stones have corrupted everyone who has ever used them. She will succumb to their power and become more dangerous to the world than helpful. We have to save not only others from her, but her from herself."

To think a fellow hero had been the enemy all this time. Even then, she wasn't all bad as others had thought. All this time, she only wanted to save those she loved from the grips of death beyond life. Who could possibly blame her for that? Everything she's done is motivated by grief, but the world treats her like it's so much more nefarious. Heroes would turn on her in an instant despite all the good she has done.

Peter once told him the hero system was flawed; What if he was right?

"…Damn," said All Might, "She created Lumina because she knew she would be rejected for her actions, her motives ignored for a simplified explanation."

"Now you finally understand what I've been saying?"

"…I believe I do," All Might lowered his arms, "Maybe the hero system does need fixing."

"Can't think of anyone better to do it but you."

Strange whistled at them and they turned around to see the other heroes gathered around a table. It was time, Peter thought, as he and All Might joined them in a circle around a metallic looking sphere. It was the same one Strange had used on All Might without explaining why. Now he could finally get an answer.

"Listen well, for I will only explain this once," Said Doctor Strange, "Using the Sphere of Vitality, I have absorbed some of the residual energy from Toshi's world and pin pointed an exact location. We will open a portal straight to his world, where we will find and retrieve the six Infinity Stones," he looked to Peter, "Tell us about Lumina. What are we up against?"

"She's got two different abilities," Peter started, "Shadow and Light. She can manipulate them both with ease. Her shadows can blind you in a pool of darkness where you can't see, hear or feel. Her light is scorching and powerful. Don't let her blind you or you'll be at a disadvantage. She's got Otto with her too, really dangerous. Four metal arms that are quick and strong."

"Copy that," Said Captain America, "Good to have you back, by the way."

Thor flipped his hammer into the air before catching it, "We shall not let this woman obtain such power under our watch. The stones must be retrieved at all costs."

"Promise me one thing," Peter asked, "We aren't going to kill her. We're saving her from herself before the stones corrupt her like it has everyone else."

Tony nodded, crossing his arms and looking to his friends, "Deals a deal."

Nodding, Peter took out his tattered mask and readied to put it on. Before he could, Tony reached out and stopped him.

"No way you are wearing that fashion crisis on your head," Tony grinned, "Here."

Tony handed to Peter a second mask. It was identical to the one he had, only it wasn't tattered. Looking at it closer, he recognized it as the mask he wore before being lost in the other world, the one he had before the prison. "Where did you get this?" he asked.

"You lost it at the prison. I went back and found it after you disappeared."

Peter smiled and nodded, putting the tattered mask down and slipping the old one over his head. It felt good to wear it again after he had lost it. Having worn the tattered one all day was starting to become bothersome.

"Is everyone ready?" asked Doctor Strange.

All Might nodded, flexing his muscles and finding the strength to initiate his strong form. His muscles grew into his suit and fit it perfectly. A smile as wide as the sky spread across his face, "We shall battle for the fate of not one, but two worlds!"

Tony stared in surprise at All Might's new form, before turning to Cap and asking "Can you do that?" Cap only glared at him.

Strange gestured to Spider-Man and he came forward. Strange held the sphere up to him, "You know the other world better than us," He said, "Put your hand on it, and decide where we need to go."

"…Lumina's warehouse," Said Spider-Man, "I've only been there once, but that's where she operates from. We can ambush her there, but we gotta move quickly."

Everybody gathered in a large circle with Spider-Man in the center with the sphere. When he took it into his hands, the color began to change. First it was purple, then yellow, red, blue, orange and finally green. It alternated between these at a slow pace. In the air mimicked the northern lights in each of these colors. The lights gathered together and chased each other around in a vertical circle until eventually they became one with each other. Just above the table, a portal had formed with endless space inside of it. The lights pulled the air in many directions, all but inside of itself.

"I'll lead the way!" Spider-Man shouted over the raw sound of the portal.

This was it, he thought. It had to end here and now.

…

In the darkness of the warehouse, a portal formed to bring light from another world. The six different colors alternated slowly as the gateway formed just above the ground, stirring up wind in a vertical circular motion. For a moment, nothing had gone in or out. The portal remained content with its existence as it acted as a lamp in the dark. Then, without hesitation, six different heroes leapt through the portal just as it grew larger for their entrance.

Spider-Man was the first to leap through with his hands forward, his fingers on the triggers of his web shooters. All Might came next in a heroic hands-to-hips pose. Captain American and Thor remained behind him, while Doctor Strange and Iron Man were at the side. They jumped into defensive positions, expecting a fight to break out the moment they had landed.

That fight, however, never happened.

The room was all but empty. Tools laid on the table next to them, scattered recklessly about. The lights were off, the only light shining from both the portal and the windows above. A few yards ahead of them was a body on the ground, moving slightly back and forth. Even without his helmet, Spider-Man knew the body belonged to Nightmare. He held his hand up to stop his comrades as he waited for his Spider-Sense to go off. Nightmare was quick, any sudden movements could be bad for them. He had to be careful when dealing with him; this could all be a trap.

Yes, as he waited, his spider-sense remained silent.

Spider-Man dropped his defensive position and began walking toward the body. Iron Man grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop, "What are you doing?" he asked.

"It's ok," Spider-Man answered, "My spider-sense has gone quiet. I think we're safe."

Cap remembered how useful his spider-sense was back at the prison, when he used it to help them avoid incoming fire. If his abilities could predict that, it was trustworthy in his book, "I trust him," Said Cap.

"Make haste," Said Thor, his hammer still above his head, "We know not what threat may lie ahead."

Nodding, Spider-Man approached Nightmares wounded body and kneeled down to check on him. There were mild burns, nothing that wouldn't heal with time. He recognized the wounds of being Lumina's doing. What is Nightmare even doing here? Was he working with her? Was he sent to kill her? The latter seems more likely if she attacked him, "Hey," he said as he shook him awake, "Nightmare."

Getting a closer look, he noticed some interesting details about Nightmares face. His skin wasn't quite the same shade, nor was his hair, but he looked eerily similar to Mayume. In fact, they shared a lot of the same facial features. Crossing that with the sheer fact he was even here, that couldn't have been a coincidence.

Koji finally woke up and blinked the stinging out of his eyes, looking up at Spider-Man. Seeing him actually made him hopeful, but also terrified at the same time, "Mayume," Said Koji, "You have to stop her!"

"How do you know Mayume?" asked Spider-Man.

"My name is Koji, I'm her brother."

Spider-Man did a doubletake to process that. Mayume said her brother's name was Koji Aihara, and he had died a very long time ago. It was shocking to hear him call himself by that name, but the similar features of his face were evidence he was being truthful, "You're her brother? Her dead brother?"

"It's a long story," He said as he sat up, "We don't have time for that right now."

"What are you even doing here?"

"I was working with her to get the stones. I came to my senses but she fought against me! She's out there right now with all the stones!"

"All of them?" Spider-Man didn't want to believe it. If she got the stones from his bag, that meant she had already gotten to Izuku. Hopefully he isn't too badly hurt, but he isn't going to hold his breath, "If Mayume has all the stones, has she already …?"

"No. She said she needed time to think of how to do it."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know, but the look on her face …it worries me. After everyone found out who she was …I don't know. She started losing it."

He had only been gone a few hours, and he had clearly missed a lot. He didn't need to know how her identity had been revealed to the public, only that it was, and it likely caused a lot of problems. He knew how important Mayume's identity was to her. It protected her reputation, one of which was now nonexistent.

The other heroes listened to their conversation, taking in everything at rocket speed as though there would later be a quiz, "Geez," Said Iron Man, "We really did miss a lot."

"A novel's worth," Said Spider-Man, helping Koji to his feet, "Mayume is out there somewhere. She's hesitating with the stones. This may be our only chance; we have to move quickly before it's too late."

"You know the world better. What should we do?"

After ensuring Koji was ok, he turned to face his team of heroes. In seeing them, he froze for a moment. Five professional heroes were awaiting his command. He had never been a leader before, not like this. The only experience he had was during one of All Might's classes, only he was leading students, not professionals. Just a few months ago, big time heroes would have never taken him seriously. Now, here he was, telling them what he needed them to do. They saw him not as a rookie, but as one of them.

So many years he spent looking up to them; Now they were looking toward him.

"Strange," Said Spider-Man, looking to the man of magic, "Can you track the stones?"

"Not well," Said Strange, taking a deep breath as his shoulders moved up and down, "The magic of this world is different. It'll take time to adjust to it. I can say with certain that the stones are in this city, but as for their exact location, I cannot say."

"Alright," Spider-Man nodded, "Strange, Tony, and Thor will take to the skies and search from an eagles eye view. All Might, Cap and I will take to the streets. Split up but don't stray too far in case one of us spots her."

Captain America reached into his belt and pulled out six comm pieces, handing them out to everyone but Koji, "These are long range communication devices. They should work on this world. Any of us spot her, call for help immediately. Peter, what should we be looking for?"

"Blonde, dark skin, either wearing tan clothes with an orange scarf or white and silver armor with gold highlights and shoulder capes. She may have Otto Octavius with her too. He won't be easy to miss-"

"Otto is gone," Said Koji, remembering how angry his sister was after Otto's outburst, "Mayume sent him home after nearly killing that kid."

Peter, knowing coincidence was rare, turned to Koji with worry in his eyes, "What kid?" he asked desperately.

"Uh …green hair? Short? Midoriya was his name I think?"

"Is he ok?!"

"He's not dead, but he got pretty badly hurt."

All Might stepped forward, the smile on his face dwindling, "I should look for him!" he declared.

Spider-Man raised his hand to the team, taking a moment to think and consider the new information. Izuku's involvement was all his fault. He never wanted him to get hurt like this, not because of him. After everything he put him and his friends through, this was a mess only he could clean up, "No. You're the fastest of us, All Might. You need to stick to the streets and find Mayume. I'll find Izuku and make sure he's ok."

"But-"

"Please, trust me. We don't have a lot of time."

Izuku was only on the path to be a hero because of All Might. He passed on his powers to him because he believed that he could be a better hero than he ever was, and exceed all his capabilities and accomplishments. Any danger he finds himself in, no matter the origin, is his fault alone. Still, considering the little time they have, and Peter's stubborn nature, there was no arguing with him. He had to trust he could protect Izuku and keep him from any further harm, "Very well," All Might agreed, "promise you'll alert me once you find him."

"I promise," Spider-Man nodded, "Get moving, and stay in contact!"

The team of heroes dispersed out the main door quickly. It still felt strange to command a team of high-class heroes, but nothing these last few months have been normal, anyway.

Spider-Man spotted Nightmares helmet on the table of tools and grabbed it, handing it over to Koji without hesitation, "Come on," He said, "I want you to help me find Izuku."

"…Are you sure?" Koji questioned, "I tried to kill you …I'm a villain. A killer. I almost killed Izuku myself."

Spider-Man paused, looking between Koji and the helmet before taking off his own mask and looking him in the eyes, "You didn't kill him, though, right?"

"…No."

"I don't know your story; I don't know what you've been through. I do know that you're not the villain that I once thought you were. If I have learned anything these last few months, it's that no one—not even a villain—is beyond redemption."

"Even me…?"

"Especially you," Putting his mask back on, Spider-Man held his hand out toward Koji, "Take my hand, and you start your path to being better."

Seeing his hand reminded him so much of All For One. For a moment, he felt he was back in that room, and All For One was offering him power. This time, however, he was being offered something far more powerful than a quirk. He was being given a second chance. This time, he could change the ending to his story.

Putting his helmet on, he firmly took Spider-Man's hand.

"Let's find Izuku," Said Spider-Man.

…

One look at their phones, and everyone was set into a panic.

In the time between classes, students of U.A had taken a look at their phones to update their messages and look at the news. What they found had shattered their perspective of the world. Every news outlet was broadcasting the same thing; The reveal of Lumina. Within the day, everyone knew the truth behind her deception; everyone knew that Lumina was really Overcast. Even as they school day came to a close, it was the only thing anyone could talk about.

Outside the building, many of Peter friends had gathered to read the articles in full. Momo read it off her phone while Mina peered over her shoulder. They knew little about Overcast beyond when they met at the arcade, but it was still shocking none the less. Kyoka and Itsuka shared a phone in their hands to read it. While Kyoka Jiro wasn't familiar enough with her, Kendo was. She knew her from the trial, mainly, and from what Peter had said about her. To think someone that they were supposed to trust was the villain all this time. Did Peter know is was her? If not, what must he be thinking right now?

On the topic of Peter, she hadn't seen him since his fight with All Might, from which they bad both disappeared. She had been worrying over him for the entire school day, having to sit with it through every class and suffer inside as everyone else did. No one's heart was in it today, not even Bakugo. Stubborn as he was, deep down, he too was worried.

Uraraka Ochaco, rather than read the article about Overcast, was too busy trying to text Izuku. He hadn't answered her texts or calls. She first started worrying when he didn't come to school Now, after seeing him in that video about Overcast, where he was saved by a hero, she worried something happened to him. Was he hurt? Worse? Why wasn't he answering her? She should have called him straight in the morning rather than wait until she was at school. He could be hurt or worse and she couldn't do anything.

"I thought she was a hero …" Asked Mina as she peered over Momo's shoulder as they read the article about Lumina.

"We've been wrong about people before …" Momo said quietly.

"Not about Peter," Mina stated firmly.

"How can you stay so sure of him?" Momo put down the phone and asked her, "Everything the news has said and you still don't accept it?"

"Because I know him. I thought you did too."

Momo said nothing further. She did believe him a hero, but her guilt over her outburst when last they met was overrunning her mind. She didn't know what else to do with that guilt but translate it somewhere else. Perhaps pointing fingers at Peter wasn't the best way to go about it.

"Peter will stop her," Said Mina, "I'm sure of it."

Itsuka Kendo was unable to look at the article anymore, and pushed the phone back into Kyoka's hands being that it was hers to own. Kyoka quickly stuffed the phone back into her pocket after shutting it off. Clearly this was hitting Kendo harder than most others.

"Peter should have seen this by now," Said Kendo, "I haven't seen him since his fight with All Might this morning."

"All Might didn't show up to teach class, either," Said Kyoka, "The fight should have ended by this point, and no one has seen anything of them. I'm worried …"

Kendo's own phone had started vibrating in her pocket, far too rapidly to be a phone call. As she pulled it out, she saw there was a boatload of messages from one Izuku Midoriya. Each one was his desperate plea for her to call him as soon as possible. He sounded scared, and the monotone interpretation of texting made it all the more serious.

"Excuse me," Said Itsuka as she stepped away from Kyoka, calling her friend and holding the phone up to her ear. The second he picked up, he jumped into a flurry of panic.

"Kendo!" Izuku shouted, "Something terrible happened!"

"Slow down, Izuku," She tried to calm him, "Take a deep breath."

"There's no time for that! Peter gave me his bag which had two of the infinity stones with it! Lumina found me and stole the bag!"

"She has the stones?"

"We gotta find Peter and do something! Have you heard anything from him?"

"I was hoping you had! No one has seen him or All Might since this morning."

Hearing All Mights name wasn't easy for Izuku right now. The man was still his idol and mentor, but right now there was bad blood between them. After he had agreed to hunt down Peter despite being told and even believing he was a hero, Izuku had a hard time thinking about him. His personal feelings aside, right now there were bigger things to worry about.

"Izuku, where are you right now?" Kendo asked.

"Not far from the crime scene where Lumina was. I had to hide and get away from the reporters."

"Ok, look, just stay there and wait for me. I'm coming to get you, then we'll figure out what to do. Trust me, ok?"

Considering what they were dealing with, Izuku felt Kendo was one of the few he could trust right now, "Ok, I'll be hiding in an alleyway just a block south from the area."

"Stay safe," She said as she hung up and stuffed the phone away. She turned to Kyoka quickly and said, "I need to get going. I'll text you later," And took off down the road. Izuku might be hurt, Peter and All Might are nowhere to be seen, and the stones are in the hands of Mayume. She had a sneaking feeling that things were about to go bad. Really bad.

…

A portal opened atop a roof and Mayume stepped out of it, planting her feet on its surface as the portal behind her vanished. The city was lively below her, still talking about all that had happened that day. Everyone had their own theories to suggest, but the police and heroes only accepted one; Mayume was a villain who needed to be stopped. No one tried to understand that she was doing what was best for them, for all of them.

She was going to prevent early death for everyone in the city, maybe everyone on earth. No one would have to suffer like she had. Her family will breath the air again as they deserve to, and live out their lives the way they choose. Only they will decide when it ends.

Suffering, from this point, can become optional.

Why did everyone fight her on this? Was it not the job of a hero to end the suffering of innocents? Is it not her responsibility to do all in her power to save the lives of those who don't deserve to die? Shouldn't everyone have a second chance at life? This is everything she was taught about being a hero. Yet, when she finds the ultimate way to achieve this goal, everyone brands her a villain. She's thought long and hard as to why, and finally she has an answer.

"They don't want anything to change," She said aloud.

It's clear to her now that the government loved the existence of villains. The death and destruction they bring gives superheroes their jobs, and money rolls into the government's wallets. The moment people started using their powers to do good, they saw opportunity and made profit of them. They never cared about saving people, they only cared about making a mint off of heroes. Now, they live in a world, where villains have to exist or the entire economy would collapse. No wonder her parents died that day; if they had lived, it would have upset their precious system. Death brings sympathy, sympathy breeds heroes, and heroes make money.

Money was everything to them, but not to her.

"I'll make everything change," She said, standing straight and watching the city below her. With her power, they were all below her.

…

Above the skies, three new heroes had been flying about, scanning the scenery below. Some of the local Pro Heroes question who they were and why they were here, but they never often answered beyond a quick response. They weren't hurting anyone, so there was no call for panic, but there was still suspicion. The city was large and there was too much ground to cover even for three heroes of another world.

"Anything yet?" Iron Man spoke through the comms.

"Nothing," Said Doctor Strange.

"No sign of the enemy!" Exclaimed Thor, "Rogers?"

"Streets are clear," Said Cap, "Lots of suspicious heroes, though."

"Keep at it. She's gotta be here somewhere. With her identity revealed, she can't hide for very long. She'll slip up eventually."

Closer to the ground, Spider-Man swung through the city with one hand and carried Nightmare with the other. Koji used to believe swinging wasn't that different from flight, but this experience was proof of how wrong that really was. Swinging was nothing like flying; there was so much more risk-reward to the technique, shots of adrenaline with each toss through the air. The average man couldn't stomach It for long. Thankfully, neither of them were average.

"I'm sorry my sister is doing this!" Nightmare shouted over the wind.

"Don't be!" Spider-Man shouted back, "I don't blame her! She lost her family, as did you! It's not only the event itself, but also the aftermath! Sitting alone with the event in your head will drive you into a seriously dark place! The self-torment she must have gone through is unimaginable!"

"You've definitely changed, haven't you?"

"No one is beyond redemption, Koji! Not even you! Why don't you tell me how it is you're even alive?"

As they swung, Koji explained everything to him. He explained how he was found badly injured after the attack and brought to All For One; how he was kept isolated for months at a time and trained in self-defense, given a quirk, and conditioned into being a killer. He told him he left All For One after his defeat by All Might, but couldn't rid himself of those habits he had developed. Only after reuniting with his sister could he reconnect with the humanity he lost.

"We're going to save her," Said Spider-Man, "before the stones corrupt her like everyone else."

"Everyone else?"

"An alien named Thanos once wanted to use them to wipe out half the universe just so he could impress Lady Death, who is basically the Grim Reaper. Norman Osborn—The Green Goblin—he wanted the stones to bend reality to his will. Revive his wife, make his son love him again, and so on. After that it was Tombstone who wanted to use the mind stone to make people addicted to his drugs."

"But they all wanted bad things, not like Mayume."

"They all sought the same thing in the end; perfection. It's unachievable, so when you have the power to do anything-"

"Perfection becomes the ultimate goal, of which you never reach."

"Exactly. It'll destroy her, and make her do things she would have never thought of before."

Nightmare sighed, holding on tighter to Spider-Man, "I've done things I never thought I would have too."

"We all have," Spider-Man retorted, "The point of life is to define it for yourself, not let others define it for you. You had no choice in becoming who you are now, but you can choose who you become next. You can be better than your previous self and be proud of it."

"You think so?"

"I do. We'll save your sister, then we'll save you, Koji Aihara."

His kindness and compassion were welcoming after years of torment. He honestly felt bad for trying to kill him at the sports festival. Had he known the kind of person he was, perhaps he wouldn't have taken the job. Most heroes he knows don't fit the bill, but Peter truly inhabits the best qualities of a hero.

They arrived at the crime scene blocked off by barricades and yellow tape. A destroyed mailbox, cracked walls and severed metal arms littered the section of the street. It was everything Koji had described when they encountered Izuku. It was covered at every angle with police and reporters, both of which questioned everyone they could find. Spider-Man chose to stay at roof-level to avoid any unwanted attention. To the public, both Koji and himself were still wanted criminals.

"Ok," Spider-Man said as he put Nightmare down, "This is where Izuku was last seen."

"He could be long gone by now," Said Nightmare.

"Maybe …maybe not. I gave Izuku the stones to look after them. If I was him, and they were just stolen from me …I'd want to figure out a plan of attack. He's always one to think of strategies. Considering what we're up against though, he wouldn't do it alone. He'd want some help— some backup— but no one else knows about the multiverse except …Itsuka Kendo."

"Who?"

"She's my …my uh …" He became slightly flustered, "She's a girl who also knows about the stones and the multiverse. With me on the run, she's probably the only one he can talk to. She'd be getting out of school by now, so he would probably have called her. With all this public attention, he wouldn't risk moving out into the open, he's too smart for that. No… she would come here."

"So, Midoriya is still here."

"Hiding somewhere and waiting for Kendo."

"Are you sure?"

"He used to be my roommate. I'm sure."

Assuming the radius of the street where the battle was held, there were only so many places that he could hide. A few alleyways in the immediate area, but they also connected to other areas. He wouldn't go too far; those connected alleys only go so far from one another. He had to still be here, he just had to be.

Looking down at the streets, he spotted something else instead; someone else.

Arriving at the crime scene was Itsuka Kendo, still dressed in her school uniform. The destruction of the street where the battle of villains took place gave her worry. She knew Izuku has been right in the middle of that conflict. What if he was more hurt than he let on? He sounded fine on the phone, physically anyway, but anyone can hide that with ease.

It had only been a few hours since he last saw her, back when he fought All Might. Even still, he missed her greatly. After everything he went through, all he wanted was to run into her arms and hold her, never letting go. Now, though, just for a moment longer, he needed to focus. His theory was right; she was here to find Izuku. If they did call, then she likely knew where he was. All he needed to do was follow her.

"That her?" Nightmare asked, looking down at the orange-haired girl.

"That's her; Itsuka Kendo," He answered.

Nightmare took a closer look, smiling under his mask as he eyed how intently Peter was looking at her, "Is she your girlfriend?"

Spider-Man turned red under his crimson mask, trying to hide a blush Nightmare couldn't even see under the cloth, "It's complicated! We haven't- It's not official- I mean I like her and she likes me but a lot has happened and we haven't really had time—can we just focus please?!"

Koji couldn't help but laugh at his awkward rant. Despite all his heroic qualities, it's not easy to forget that he was still a kid.

Itsuka roamed the area while trying to remain as discreet as possible. She knew exactly where to go because Izuku had texted her where he would be. Retracing his steps from after his rescue by Miruko, she walked just a block south of the area and found the first alley on her right. According to the green haired hero, this is where he ran to and stayed when he called for help. Making sure none of the police or reporters followed her, she went inside and looked around. There was a large trash can and bags of garbage. It was connected to a few different alleys like a maze; no wonder he chose this one to hide in.

She didn't have to go too far in, however, as Izuku was hiding behind the massive trash can. He looked bruised and battered from the fight, cowering not only in fear, but in shame and disappointment. Itsuka immediately rushed to his side and looked him over, "Are you ok, Midoriya?"

Izuku didn't answer right away; he was too busy trying to fight off his tears. He had tried to accept his failure, but found it hard to see it as reality. Now, interacting with someone, talking about it, it finally became real, and that hurt more than anything, "I screwed up," He said, "I let Peter down and now Mayume has the stones!"

"Midoriya-"

"I was supposed to protect them and I failed! What kind of hero am I?!"

"Midoriya, no!" She commanded, "You are not a failure. You did everything you could to protect the stones. You're only one person against three villains. None of what happened was your fault."

"But-"

She wiped his tears, moving his face to focus on her, "It's going to be ok. We're gonna find Peter, and we're going to stop Overcast before it's too late."

Izuku couldn't understand how she was staying so positive. Then, he took a closer look at the expression on her face. She was just as terrified as he was. They both knew what the stones could do in the wrong hands and that scared them to the bone. Despite that overwhelming fear, she chose to remain strong in the face of danger. That's what a hero was suppose to do, and she was inhabiting that mindset perfectly.

Spider-Man, who had been watching them from above, leapt down and landed in his classic position. He startled them into a defensive position, from which he raised his hands in surrender and used one to remove his mask, "Don't shoot! It's me!"

Seeing him, Itsuka dropped her defenses and ran into his arms as he stood. All of her worries and fears immediately washed away as their arms wrapped around each other. The tears she was holding back finally released and rolled down her cheek, "Thank God!" She said, "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Kendo!" he said while laughing, before gesturing to Izuku, "Get in here, make this a group hug!"

He hesitated, still thinking about his failure to protect the stones. He thought, for a moment, that he didn't deserve to feel reunited. That fear was dwindled when Peter temporarily broke his hug with Kendo to pull Izuku into the fray. The three remained close with their arms wrapped around one another, sighs of relief all around.

"It's good to see my favorite other world-ers again," said Peter, "That's right, I have favorite other world-ers. And yes, that's a word now."

In the heat of all the worries and stakes, being in that hug gave him hope. His friend, his romantic partner yet-to-be, in his arms and sharing their warmth; there was a sense of safety not felt in a long time. It made him want to drop everything and just be with them, forget all they were facing and focus on here and now. Unfortunately, that was not a luxury they have earned, not yet.

"Peter …" They broke the hug but still remained close as Kendo spoke first, "Overcast …she's…"

"I know," Said Peter, "She has the stones, too."

Izuku twiddled his fingers, refusing to look him in the eye, "I'm sorry, Peter. I should have protected the stones like you wanted."

"No," Said Peter, putting both hands on his shoulders, "I should never have put you in that position, Midoriya. You bought as much time for me as you could. I don't blame you one bit, ok?"

Smiling, Izuku nodded and hugged his friend once more.

After breaking the hug, Peter turned his body to face them both equally, "Ok, let me get you up to speed. Mayume has the stones, and we need to get them back. Some heroes from my world are here to back us up."

"Strange got through?" Asked Kendo.

"Not exactly, but same results. We tried finding her at her base but Nightmare was there instead and told us everything."

"Wait, as in the assassin from the sports festival?"

"Turns out he's her brother who everyone thought was dead. He was working with her but bailed at the last minute. We can trust him; my spider-sense hasn't gone off just yet around him."

Kendo hadn't interacted with Nightmare very much, even at the sports festival. She only knew that he tried to kill Peter on orders from Tombstone. How Peter felt he was able to trust him was a mystery. Despite that, she trusted Peter, so she would have to trust Nightmare too.

"How do we find her?" Asked Izuku.

"We're covering every inch of the city. She's gotta still be here."

"Let us help you!"

"Guys-"

"Peter," Kendo took him by the hand, "We're in this together, remember?"

He had to admit that they worked well together all those other times, even when he tried to push them away. He cared for them, for both of them, and he didn't want them getting hurt. What he always forgot was that they wanted to be heroes too. They had powers just like him; they were anything but defenseless. His Parker Pride needed to take a backseat for this. Besides, he did want to work with them; he wanted to trust them.

"…Ok," Said Peter as he put his mask back on, "Can I borrow one of your phones?"

Izuku was the first to offer, pulling out his phone and handing it to him. Peter quickly stuffed it into the pocket of his costume.

"Kendo," said Peter, "Stay with Izuku. If you find Mayume, call his phone, and I'll come swinging."

"Please don't lose and/or break my phone," Begged Izuku, "I don't think my mom can afford me another one."

"I promise, I promise. Stay safe, both of you," Said Peter before swinging away.

Kendo took off her school jacket and wrapping it around her waist, "Come on, Midoriya!"

The two aspiring heroes ran back into the streets with only a single cause on their minds.

…

All Might in his strong form stood atop the tallest building he could find and looked over the city he swore to protect. It hadn't been long since his fight with Peter, so he likely couldn't retain this form for very long. They needed to find her before he was rendered useless to them. The thought of Lumina being Overcast still got to him. They hadn't spoken often, but she seems like someone who really cares about people. She even suggested All Might back off from hunting Spider-Man, someone who was against her. A true villain would have taken advantage of the moment, but she didn't.

There's good inside her; that must be what Peter see's.

"Got anything, All Might?" Asked the voice of Captain America through his earpiece.

"Nothing," Answered All Might, "Will we know if she uses the stones?"

"Doctor Strange says they give off a specific energy reading. If she uses them again, we'll definitely know."

To think these stones could corrupt a hero as admirable as Overcast was fascinating as it was terrifying. Every good thing she ever did was undone all in a single day because of her pursuit for these powerful gems. He had only the faintest of ideas what they were capable, and he was worried to see what they could do together, "What happened to the last person who wielded the stones?"

"It was an alien named Thanos. He was on a mission from Lady Death to wipe out half of all life in the universe. He actually succeeded until we found a way to reverse what he did. He was corrupted by the power just like everyone else. Its like these things have minds of their own, possessing their wielder and changing them."

"Where did they come from?"

"They say they were created as a result of the big bang, each controlling a piece of the universe. Apparently, they've been around forever. I know how crazy it sounds, but you get used to it."

"After learning about the multiverse, that's actually easier to digest than I thought."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a small jet engine. Iron Man landed on the roof of the building with a clank, approaching the number one hero with stealth thrown out the window. Though he couldn't see his face, All Might could tell how irritated Tony was.

"No sign of her yet," Said Iron Man, his voice projected through a microphone, coming out more robotic sounding, "We should have found her by now. Where could she be hiding? You can't exactly keep an Infinity Gauntlet below radar forever."

"She's bound to slip up, so keep your chin high," All Might exclaimed.

"How can you stay so cheery?" Iron Man asked, noticing the large grin plastered to his face, "How can you keep smiling with what we're up against?"

This was a question he trained himself to answer. It's the same question he asked his own mentor when he was under her teaching, back when he was just starting out as a hero. He was taught by the previous holder of One for All, and she always had the same motto when it came to being a hero, a motto he lived by ever since her passing.

"The people need someone to rely on," Said All Might, "I want to be the pillar that gives people hope. If I have to save someone, that probably means they've gone through something terrifying. Real heroes don't just save lives, they save a person's heart too. No matter how scared you are, you should smile to show that things will be ok. In this world," He turned his head to look at Tony, "The ones always smiling are the ones who are the strongest."

All Might was likely as big a hero as Iron Man was, yet he sounded lime Peter. Even with his reputation as massive as it is, All Might has never forgotten his true purpose. He protects the little guy, not just by saving their life, but their heart too; That must be what Peter meant when he wanted to save Mayume. He didn't just want to stop her, he wanted to save her from herself. That was the piece Tony was missing.

It isn't about the life, its about who owns that life.

"I …" Tony began slowly, "I've spent so much time in my lab. I built this armor not only to save my own life, but to escape a kidnapping. I've …I've only ever done the big fights. Taking down missiles, stopping nuclear wars from happening, saving the world from destruction. My victories are based on the amount of lives I saved. Peter made me realize …I don't know a single name of anyone I saved. Now, there's this …what's the word?"

"Guilt?"

"…Yeah, guilt. There's this guilt that I can't shake away. What do you do to get rid of it?"

"The most important part to being a hero is being as human as you can be. When you're an Iron Man, or a Spider-Man, that's difficult to see. We have to remind everyone we started the same way as them; flesh and blood."

Iron Man kneeled over the edge and looked down on the city. He had only ever seen it as a battlefield for all his wars. Now, he couldn't stop thinking about the lives living in it. Not just how many, but the singular identities of them all, "How can you possibly care for that many people at once?"

"The best you can," Answered All Might, "That's all any of us can hope to do."

Tony smiled under his helmet, "I can see why Peter likes you."

"The feeling is mutual. He's so young, yet, he understands the most vital parts of being a hero. In reality, it's him who inspires me."

"Yeah …me too."

…

It was a strange but welcoming feeling that Spider-Man felt as he swung. Knowing that Kendo and Midoriya were out there watching his back was something he wasn't used to. He had always taken the solo route as a hero, never making the assumption he'd have backup. Now, he had a whole team of heroes; beyond that, he had his friends. The two people he trusted most on this world, who knew his secrets and guarded his weaknesses. All he wanted was to protect them, but now he needed to let them protect him.

"Hey, web-head!"

To his right as he swung, a woman was soaring next to him. It was the rabbit hero, Miruko, leaping off the ground to give herself momentum in the air. She angled her jumps to remain aloft for as long as possible while confiding with the arachnid. The look on her face was stern and focused, somewhat angry in the eyebrows. For a moment, he thought she was going to kick him out of the sky, but a lack of a spider-sense told him otherwise.

"What's up, doc?" Spider-Man joked.

"You swing by here often?" She asked, making another leap to keep height with him.

"That your attempt at flirting?"

"Don't flatter yourself, wall-crawler."

She came to a full landing on the street, cracking the surface on impact. Spider-Man tugged on his web to fling himself downward, sticking to the wall of a nearby building close to the ground, keeping balanced with Miruko's standing height. She approached him with her hands on her hips, her stern look remaining on her face.

"Thought All Might would have caught you by now."

"He wishes," Spider-Man smirked under the mask.

"Slippery little bug, aren't you?" she smirked as well.

"You here to arrest me?"

"Not this time, kid."

"Then I assume you're looking for Lumina."

Miruko's smirk faded back into anger, "Yeah …I was there when her mask came off."

"How are you holding up?"

"…She was my friend," She admitted, "I thought I knew her, I thought I could trust her. She lied to me all this time and I fell for it."

"It's more complicated than that," he tried to explain, "She wanted the stones to bring her family back to life, then it evolved into something more. She thinks she can be a better hero than anyone else will all that power. The stones are corrupting every good part of her until there's nothing left."

"Then we need to stop her."

"We need to save her," Spider-Man held out his hand, "And I can't do it alone."

Perhaps once upon a time, she would immediately turn down any offer of an alliance. Now, though, she was hesitating. This wasn't some supervillain with a world-conquering agenda; this was Mayume, her friend. If there was even a chance of getting through her thick skull and saving her, shouldn't she do everything in her power to do just that?

Finally making up her mind, she shook Spider-Mans hand, "Ok, deal, Spider-Man."

Spider-Man leapt down from the wall, still shaking her hand, "Peter. Peter Parker."

She smiled at the gesture, feeling need to do the same, "Rumi Usagiyama."

Their heartfelt moment was quickly interrupted by the sound of sirens wailing from a short distance. Every corner of the street was quickly flooded with police cars; officers jumped from their vehicles and pulled out their guns. The combined sirens were too much for his ears, and he had to quickly cover them. It was worse for Rumi, who's ears were a bit more sensitive.

Detective Naomasa stepped out of his vehicle and pulled out a megaphone, a gun in his other hand, "Peter Parker! Don't move! We have you completely surrounded!"

"God damn it!" Spider-Man shouted, "Detective! We don't have time for this!"

"I said don't move!"

The officers reloaded their guns and aimed right at the spider symbol on his chest as though it was a target. Just as they had it in their line of sight, though, Miruko stepped in the way, doing her best to keep him guarded from the gunfire.

"Miruko!" Detective Naomasa, shouted, "Step out of the way!"

"After you cut the bullshit!" She shouted back, "We have bigger problems on our hands!"

"We have a warrant out for Parkers arrest! Do not aid and abet him!"

Spider-Man turned to Miruko with a hidden expression of worry, "If you stay, they'll brand you a criminal too."

"Once upon a time, every hero was a criminal," She stated, "Now they pay us to do what they can't. They're just mad they can't profit off someone like you," She stepped forward, shouting to every officer in the area, "Listen up, kids in blue! Mayume Aihara has a powerful weapon in her possession! Like it or not, we need Spider-Mans help to stop her! If you don't want some really bad crap to go down, then put down your guns and lower your testosterone levels for one god damn hour! I can personally vouch for the kid!"

No one moved, but they considered her words carefully This was coming from a pro hero, after all, the people they were meant to give the utmost respect to. However, with how another Pro went rogue just earlier that day, the idea of another one wasn't far off.

One decision made, and they were ready to damn her in an instant.

"They won't listen to me," Miruko stated.

"it's ok," Spider-Man said, "I know someone they will listen to," He put a hand to his ear where the ear-piece was stored in his mask, and pressed the button to speak, "All Might, I need your help. Can you get to the corner of Kohei and Horikoshi street?"

A loud rumbling sounded in the distance far above their heads like a sonic boom. A shadow overtook the area for only a second before the greatest hero himself landed with a cloud of dust. The wind exploded from his body and rushed over everyone like a small hurricane before subsiding. Revealed standing there in his signature pose was All Might, the symbol of peace and greatest hero of all time. Every officer lowered their guns the second he arrived, feeling safer with him dealing with the issue.

"All Might!" Naomasa shouted to him, "Where did you go? We thought you disappeared!"

"Listen up, everyone!" All Might pointed to the sky, "I know your orders are to capture young Parker! I am here to vouch for him! He is not the villain you all think he is!"

Everyone looked at him with confused looks, even Naomasa. Though he knew Parker not to be a villain, he wondered just where All Might was going with this.

"I, too, was mistaken with him," Continued All Might, "There's no time to explain everything right now, but I can assure you, Spider-Man is a hero, and we need his help to stop Overcast before she hurts someone! I understand how scared you are right now. A hero has gone rogue, another becomes a vigilante! There are no good ways to go about our job when we face the grey area, but we must listen to our hearts! If even the smallest part of you believes he is a hero, I beg you to lower your weapons."

Somehow, it was different hearing it come from All Might. Ever since he started his career, everything he has ever said or done has been for the sake of the people. He had never lied to them, never strayed from the path of justice, and never let anyone down before. If he of all people believed that Peter was a hero through and through, then his was a voice they could trust."

Finally, they all lowered their weapons as requested by the number one pro. Naomasa couldn't help but sigh in relief.

All Might quickly turned to face Miruko and Spider-Man, "Are you alright?" he asked.

Miruko was slightly pissed that they listened to him rather than her, hoping it had nothing to do with her race or gender. Still, she was happy he got through to him none the less, "We're ok," She said.

"Thanks, All Might," said Spider-Man, "Have you found Mayume yet?"

"Not yet, but we're keeping an eye out."

Naomasa exited the barricade of vehicles and approached the trio of heroes, specifically aiming his sights on Spider-Man with a heavy heart, "Kid …I'm sorry. Truth it, I never wanted to hunt you."

"I figured as much."

"I hope you have a damn good excuse for everything, otherwise the chief won't accept this truce for long."

"We have a friend," All Might said, "Mister Strange-"

"Doctor," Corrected Spider-Man.

"-Doctor Strange can explain everything to you. He assures that it will clear up everything."

Naomasa nodded, accepting whatever excuse he could get to call off the hunt, "I'll radio any local pro heroes and let them know Parker is off the arrest quota for now. So, what do we do about Overcast? What are we up against?"

"She has the Infinity Stones," Said Spider-Man, "All six of them with a modified Gauntlet. It's less what she'll do now and more what she may do later. The stones have a history of corrupting their users. If we don't stop her now, she may turn into something horrible, something no one will be able to stop. Just one snap, and we'd all be gone. Those stones will make her into a god."

"Alright," Said Naomasa, pulling out his radio, "I'll tell everyone that. We'll need as many people on the look as possible."

The detective strolled away to call on the radio, alerting any nearby pros of the situation. Police officers started getting back into their vehicles and driving off to join the search.

"…I want to save her," Said Miruko, watching the sky as her hair flowed in the gentle breeze, "I wasn't there for her when she needed me. She asked for my help and I put it off. I should have realized that day she wasn't asking for a hero's help, she was asking for a friend."

"What are you talking about?"

"She once needed my help with criminals and I turned her down because I thought heroes should fight on their own. I still believe a hero's own strength is important, but it wasn't about that. She's my friend and I said no when she needed me. Maybe if I was there for her …if she felt she could talk to me …"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Spider-Man put a hand gently on her arm, "This is not your fault. I may not agree with your beliefs, but at least I understand them. Mayumes path is a result of years of inner torment over her family's death. She's desperate and hurting. Maybe you weren't there for her before, but you can be there for her now."

Miruko smiled at him, a glimmer in her eyes. There really was more to this kid than she thought. Since when were kids getting so wise, she thought?

The borrowed phone in his pocket began to ring loudly, and Spider-Man quickly pulled it out and answered, "Hello? Kendo?"

"Yeah, it's me," Answered Itsuka.

"Did you find Mayume?"

…

"Yeah," Said Kendo, looking upward, "And she's staring right at us."

Both Izuku and Itsuka stood at street level, looking upward at the figure on the roof. Mayume Aihara, the former hero known as Overcast, stared down at them with a menacing glare. She didn't care if they knew where she was, in fact, she wanted them to know. She wanted everyone to come here and see what she was going to do. Kendo and Midoriya didn't dare make a move on her in the fear of her using the stones against them. They knew but a taste of their power, and they weren't interested in the full course.

After reciting the address to Spider-Man, he and the other heroes began gathering at the area. The closest Pro Heroes were the first to arrive with the police, circling the block and ensuring she didn't escape; not that it mattered with her ability to teleport, a power they didn't realize she had. The only reason the pros hadn't moved in yet was because they were on orders not to. This was a delicate situation; one wrong move, and they were toast.

Spider-Man and his team arrived soon after along with Miruko and Detective Naomasa. As Spider-Man swung down, Kendo quickly embraced him tightly, as though he was dust that would blow away. IT had only been less than an hour since she saw him, but the fear of what may happen next got to her. She barely knew what the stones could do and was afraid to find out. Someone she knew and even trusted as a hero was holding a weapon of endless power. Who wouldn't be scared?

"It's going to be ok, Itsuka," Said Spider-Man, holding her tightly, "We're gonna take care of this," he parted the hug but kept his hands on her arms, "Where's Mayume?"

"She went inside," Said Izuku as he approached them, "In one of the apartments."

Miruko looked up at the building with a defeated sigh, broadcasting her thoughts to the group, "This is her apartment. Of course she would come home."

Spider-Man had only been here once before, when Mayume rescued him from the police and other pro heroes. This was where he discovered her secret, her betrayal of his trust. It began here, so now it had to end here.

"Cutie?"

Spider-Man turned to his right just in time to see two Pro heroes standing there. One was Mt. Lady, who couldn't believe her eyes when she saw him. Weeks of no sightings and finally here he was, alive and well after all her worrying. It was like seeing her child come back from college after barely a phone call. The other hero standing with her was Kamui Woods. He too got the call to back off of Spider-Man, but he was still skeptical as he gave him a glare of disapproval. He was still a vigilante, still a criminal in his eyes.

Mt. Lady didn't hesitate to come in for a quick hug, confirming this was in fact the wall-crawler she saved from the Rhino all that time ago, "It's good to see you're ok," She said as she broke the hug, "I was so happy when we got the call about you."

"It better be legit," Scolded Kamui Woods, "You've caused a lot of problems lately, kid."

"Give it a rest!" Mt. Lady shouted, "He's on our side, buddy! Just accept it already! Sheesh!"

Spider-Man patted her shoulder with a reassuring smile hidden under his mask, "I'm ok, Mt. Lady. It's good to see you too."

As Spider-Man looked around, he saw other heroes begin to arrive at the scene. Some of them didn't mind his presence, having received the command not to pursue him. Others felt cheated out of an easy capture and arrest, still believing him to be a criminal. Some of those people legitimately thought he was a cold-hearted villain simply because they were asked to capture him. Endeavor was among those type of people, feeling ready to burn him alive at the next possible opportunity.

Iron Man and the others, All Might and Nightmare included, arrived on standby like everyone else. They remained at ground level as Tony scanned the building for possible weaknesses and exit plans. Though he knew that with the space stone, monitoring exits meant nothing. Thor and Cap were eager to get to work, but Strange made sure to keep them in line and wait for orders from mission leader.

That was not a title Peter was used to.

Izuku looked to All Might who arrived with his hands on his hips. The smile he kept stuck to his face carefully faded when he saw Izuku standing there with Peter. The last time they saw each other, it wasn't on the best of terms. Letting down his apprentice was a sin he needed to pay for, even if the words hurt too much to say.

Izuku approached him and was the first to speak, "All Might …"

"I'm sorry, young Midoriya," All Might quickly got out, "I never should have hunted Parker. I didn't know what he was up against, the kind of evil he faced and why. But I do now."

"What do you mean …you mean you know about-?"

"Everything, young Midoriya. I know everything," He kneeled down with a hand on the young boys shoulder, "And I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

A quick and powerful hug was all the response the symbol of peace needed. Of course he would forgive him; one hiccup wasn't going to ruin years of admiration, not with him. Izuku was just waiting for the chance to be proven wrong, to show All Might wasn't like everyone else. Gratefully, he was right.

"Ok, Pete," Iron Man said, walking closer to Spider-Man, "What's the plan? You know her best; whatever's gotta happen, we'll follow you."

Spider-Man looked between the heroes and the building, his fists clenched tightly. This could go badly if not done right; before any of this starts, he had to give her a choice, "I'm going to go up and talk to her."

"Talk to her?" Asked Miruko, "You sure, kid? What if she hurts you?"

"I have to give her a chance, just one chance. If something happens—if a fight breaks out—then move in to help me. We take her down, but not out, and get that glove away from her. She's easier to handle without it. Catch her of guard, that's how we'll beat her if we have no choice but to fight."

"…Go save her, kid," Said Iron Man, "We'll be ready to back you up."

"Peter," Nightmare spoke up, "Please …you gotta save her, no matter what."

Itsuka came up to him for another hug before opting to hold his arms instead, "Peter …what if something goes wrong."

Peter removed his mask enough for her to see his face, smiling warmly to reassure her, "I'll come back, ok? I promise."

"But what if-"

"Itsuka," He put a hand to her cheek, "Trust me."

She stared into his endless brown eyes, looking for any sort of fault in his words of which there were none. It took her so long to gain his trust and convince him she could fight at his side. Now, though, she needed to learn to do the same. She needed to trust in the boy she gave her heart to, no matter what happens, "…Ok," She said softly, "Got get 'em, tiger."

He nodded and pulled his mask over his face, he gave the heroes one last look before swinging up toward Mayume's apartment, ready to face her once more.

As he came through the window, he was greeted with a familiar sight. Her apartment was the same as when he last saw it. The living room was small, with used furniture decorating the floor and walls. One window was broken in the corner, but otherwise it was fairly nice. Standing in the kitchen was Mayume herself, looking down into the sink. The stones on the gauntlet glowed and lit up the kitchen but not much else. She looked to have been shaking; was it out of anger or fear?

"…Mayume," Spoke Spider-Man, stepping closer as he reached the middle of the living room.

"Don't!" She shouted with a growl, refusing to turn around and look at him, "Don't come closer …please."

"I know you're hurting, Mayume, I understand."

"You would, wouldn't you? You've lost your family too, all to unforeseen events."

"…I have. My parents, my Uncle, now my Aunt will be gone soon too. I've lost more than I can bare. I understand why you're doing this. Can we just …talk?"

Mayume finally turned around, a look of pain in her eyes. She faced him, but refused to move any closer, or allow him to reduce the gap between them. She knew that above anything else, he was here for the gauntlet. He had to be, why else would he bring an entire army.

"I've told you what the stones will do," Said Spider-Man, "They'll destroy the best part of you. I want to save you from them."

"There's no saving me," Said Mayume, "Everyone thinks I'm a villain and they won't change their minds."

"We can help them understand, together," Peter kept calm, not wanting to escalate the situation too soon, "I know you're a good person. I know everything you've done is out of good intent. You're hurting, and you want the pain to stop. I get that more than anyone."

"…You said you'll lose your aunt soon. Is that why you were at the hospital?"

Thinking of the hospital reminded him of his aunt in that bed. He wanted to cry about it, but other than staining his mask, he didn't want to show her how hopeless he felt about it. He needed to stay strong to show Mayume everything was ok, "Yes …I could have used the stones to save her, but I knew she wouldn't want me to."

"…Yeah. Koji …he used the soul stone to contact our family, and they told him they don't want to come back."

If Peter ever had the chance to see Uncle Ben again, he'd listen to every word he'd say. Yet, Mayume didn't seem like she has the closure he'd expect, "So why still do it?"

"Because it not about what they want!" She shouted, "I've always done what they wanted! What about what I want?! Why can't I be happy too?!"

"It's not a hero's job to be happy," He said calmly, making her doubletake at his words, "Our job is to ensure the safety of others, not ourselves. Our losses define who we become. Remove those losses, and we remove ourselves. You can't defy death forever. Its tragic when someone dies before their time, but if we corrected every one of those deaths, what would that do to us? Would death mean anything anymore? Life has no meaning without death. Part of that meaning is that we can't always choose our time."

Mayume blinked, her pupils tightening with rage as she clenched the fist of the gauntlet, "You know what, Parker …?" A tear shed from her eye, "I'm so sick of your 'I know what's best' act."

"I don't know what's best-"

"They stop acting like it! I'm tired of the losses and the torment! I've made too many sacrifices to back out now!"

"Please-"

"No!"

"Mayume!"

"I said no!"

Her body glowed the six colors of infinity, powered by the stones as they fueled her body, mind and soul, "I …I am Mayume Aihara. I am Overcast, and I am Lumina. I have dedicated my life to protecting others from the grips of the reaper. Finally, I have a way to protect everyone, and you can be damn sure I'm gonna take it. I don't care what happens to me, I don't care what it may do to me. I have given up everything to make this happen, and I don't want to back down now! Not to anyone, and especially not to you! You're the one person who understands, yet you stand in my way! If I have to take you down, I will!"

There was no reasoning with her. No words could be said that he hasn't already spoken before. She was determined to go through with this no matter what. She didn't care what happened to her, whether she was destroyed or not. As much as he hoped she would come willingly, it didn't seem like that was an option anymore.

He gave her one chance; his conscious was clear.

"…Ok," Said Spider-Man, "So this ends with a fight, then?"

"…I guess so," Said Mayume, "Whatever happens-"

"I know … I'm sorry too."

She paused, as though the last remaining piece of her doubt was fighting back with everything it had. The grip of her fist loosened only for a moment as she imagined his expression under the mask. That same expression, though, it what made her remember there was no other way, not for her. He wouldn't side with her; he wouldn't step out of the way. She had to make him move.

No matter how much she cared for him, she had to hurt him.

She was the first to act as she lifted her gauntlet and shot an energy wave from the power stone, which sent him flying out through the wall. The heroes below saw him crash through and begin plummeting toward the ground before he shot a web for the wall. The web tightened and slowed his decent until he stuck to the wall with his adhesive abilities. Mayume, using her Light quirk, flew out of the building and up onto the roof, where she stared down the heroes below her. This was their cue, they thought.

"For Asgard!" shouted Thor as he swung his hammer and flew upward toward her. He channeled lightning into the hammer and brought it straight down aimed for her body. She quickly blocked it with the Gauntlet effortlessly, and blasted him aside with a single swing of her arm. He went crashing through several buildings, creating a large cloud of dust from each of them.

Iron Man carried Captain America up onto the roof and dropped him down before he attempted a blast from his Arc reactor. She created a shield of energy just in front of her that bounced it back at his armor, sending him crashing into the street. In that moment, Cap threw his Star-spangled shield at her with great force. She had almost no time to react as it came an inch from her face.

Then, it stopped.

The time stone began glowing and reacting with the gauntlet as the area around her froze. The shield slowly started going in reverse, returning to Caps arm as he moved backwards with it. When the stone stopped reacting, Cap threw his shield as though it was the first time, only now Mayume was able to hit it aside and ruin its boomerang effect just before she knocked Cap off the roof.

The patriotic soldier went flying toward the pavement. Before his speed could reach full velocity, Miruko used her great speed to catch him and bounce off the wall of the building, coming to a skidding stop on the pavement before putting him down.

"Everyone, attack!" Shouted a hero in the crowd.

Each of the heroes who gathered to the area made their way up the building using their quirks, aiming their abilities at the former friend. No one held anything back as they charged for her, including All Might. Even with his blinding speed, bringing him closer than the others, he was unable to stop her as she released a powerful wave of energy that froze them all in place before flinging them all in the opposite direction. Everyone went crashing in random spots, causing horrible destruction to the streets. Mt. Lady, who had grown to her maximum size, needed to quickly shrink herself just as she crashed onto the roof of a car.

"Mayume, stop!" Spider-Man shouted, still recovering on the side of the building.

She didn't listen to him as she floated high above the roof and looked down on everyone. Even the number one hero was useless against her might now. It was time, she thought; time to set things into motion before she had to hurt them further. She allowed herself to float effortlessly several stories above the building, her powers amplified by the power stone. Rage overtook her; Rage and passion.

"You all know why you're really here!" She shouted down loud enough for them to hear, "You're being paid to capture a 'former hero'. I bet my capture would make you all look so good, wouldn't it? Or, maybe you'll hold back long enough so your victory looks all the more heroic. Attitudes like that are what got my family brutally murdered! My brother spent 14 years in isolation, turned into a killer he never wanted to become! The system is flawed, and it's time it ended once and for all!"

Everyone slowly began to recover, but no one was strong enough to move yet, All Might especially. He felt his strong form beginning to weaken; any sudden movements and he would lose all his strength.

"I know what plagues the world now!" Mayume continued, "Everyone thinks their powers make them gods. The death toll has gone up even with the efforts of the symbol of peace. The world was safer before the introduction of powers. They're what drove a wedge in my family, its what got them killed! So that's what needs to go!"

Spider-Man shot two webs at the top of the building, pulling backwards as far as he could before launching himself at her, "Mayume! No!"

"I'm going to create a better world! A world without heroes! Without villains!" She raised her left arm, pressing her middle finger against her thumb, "A world without quirks!"

Snap