Shout Outs: Thanks to MythologyStar for reviewing the story. Thanks to cabrera1234 for reviewing the story. Thanks to Gracetheexplorer for favoring the story.

Responses:

MythologyStar: That made me laugh XD I never really did like MJ's character—I preferred Gwen Stacy's more just because Gwen actually had characterization and we could feel the chemistry between her and Peter. But I do have plans for Michelle in the future so she wouldn't be helpless as MJ ^^

Chapter 16: The Fight to the Finish

Peter froze in his tracks as he stared at the impossible situation. He clenched his teeth but as the Wizard's attack came, Peter gasped as he watched it going towards Iron Man though Iron Man ducked down, allowing the attack to blast at the wall.

He activated his engines, having himself hovering above the ground.

"Spider Man, you deal with Ned. I'll handle the girl."

Nodding, Peter watched as Iron Man flew away but he couldn't help that Tony had just went right into a trap. Trying to shake off the feeling, Peter ran towards the half-crushed building and began to climb the rails that were still supporting the structure. In all honesty, Peter had forgotten what it felt like to be a human again—minus the inhuman strength, agility and the healing. This was as close Peter would ever feel how it was to be a human.

It felt strange.

"Sandman!" Peter shouted as he was trying to face at his direction. "Let him go. It's me you want, not him."

Peter widened his eyes as he saw the humongous fist swaying towards the building. Peter used his hands to cover his head as a shield but the heavy bars still thumped down on them which made Peter hiss from the impact. It was tingling but Peter ignored the feeling that went through his hands and he resumed climbing, finding new alternate routes in order to reach Sandman.

He finally reached to the top of the building where he was able to face Sandman.

"Sandman!" Peter shouted, eyes narrowed. "If you want me, come and get me!"

I've only one chance.

"Today you will die!" Sandman roared, taking his gigantic hand in attempt to strike Peter. He avoided it, earning another shake of the building though Spider Man regained his balance before he made his move by delivering a powerful punch upwards, having Sandman stumbled backwards but in doing so, he let go of Ned which made fall down.

"NED!"

Acting quickly, Peter jumped from his spot, doing a free fall and he hoped that he would make it on time.

It would be so much easier if he had his web shooters…and plus, it would've been nice if Tony could've brought some new ones while he was 'absent'.

If this was Peter's punishment for whatever he did, then he supposed he deserved it although this was brutal.

"I'm coming, Ned!" Peter exclaimed as he set his eyes on his falling friend.

"Catch me!"

"Hang on!"

"To what?"

Please make it. Please make it. Peter repeated over and over. He would be devastated if anything had happens to his friend…or friends since he kind of considered Michelle to be a part of their group since she started to hang out with them more often.

Peter felt himself falling even faster and he extended his arms out, straining them to reach Ned out.

Just a bit closer…

At last, Peter caught Ned as he wrapped his hands around his waist.

"I've got you!"

"But who's got you?"

Peter narrowed his eyes as he saw the ground coming closer.

"I've got myself!"

And then, Peter twisted his body around so that he was sideways and when the ground was closer, Peter landed on his feet though he slid back a few until he halted.

"I'm not doing that again," Ned breathed as he got off Peter, being slightly wobbly. "So if you'll excuse me, I'll just sit on the floor and hang tight."

"Right," Peter grinned as an idea came to mind. During the small sky diving, Peter noticed something that could potentially help him. "I've got an idea—though it wouldn't be strong as my web powers but it would be similar."

"Right…right…you do your stuff."

With that in mind, Peter raced towards the spot to where he saw something shiny. All this time he had spent scanning around the site, he had never once thought to use it as a temporary web shooter. He supposed he got too distracted with what's been going on around here. He grabbed a roll of copper wire before returning back to the field.

Now, it was going to be a fair fight.

Ned stared at his friend with a strange look.

"You're going to fight the Sandman with a roll of copper wire?"

Peter grinned. "Nope. This is my substitute for my web shooters!" he called out.

"You're crazy!"

Alright, let's test this out.

Peter swung the rope like a lasso before he latched it on the wrecked building. He grinned when it worked then he landed on top of the rail. However, he realized that he would have to unroll the ending each time he got to the top as they wouldn't automatically unlatched themselves. Nevertheless, Peter could fight Sandman at an even heights.

Rail after rail, Spider Man got to the top of the demolished structure and then he began to swing his rope again. However, the Sandman saw him and he performed his attack which made Peter have his eyes go wide at the new trick.

"Holy—"

Instead of his usual element, the Sandman had his arm turn into glass and Peter stared at it with a stun look.

"Well, that's a new trick," Peter commented.

"You'll die!" Sandman roared as he sliced through the rails.

Gasping, Peter used the wire that got latched onto the bar and swung forward though he forced himself to let go due to having too much chaos. He grunted as he fell down to the rail but he got up, quickly rushing towards the wire to unlatch it.

"You lied to me!" he roared, having Peter jump from one bar to another.

"I said I'll do something about it," Peter shouted as he knew what the Sandman was referring to it. "I would've been able to do it if you and your partner didn't decide to have me go on a constant run. Listen to me, Marko. You're still a good person, I can feel it. You don't have to go down this path—there's always a way but only if you choose to believe in yourself. You can change who you are—you can start over."

For a brief moment, the Sandman paused as he registered what the young hero was saying but grief and vengeance consumed him.

"NO!" he bellowed. "I will not listen to you! You betrayed me!"

"I wh—"

"You were working with the police!"

Peter stared at him, temporarily forgetting that Marko was still striking. However, at the last minute, Peter managed to perform a flip but Marko managed to make a slice across his back, ripping his suit which made Peter hiss upon the impact.

"I never worked with the police! If it makes you any better, they're still chasing me…Well, I think. I never betrayed you. I was merely telling them to stop shooting at you. Marko, please listen to me. Think of the good—not the bad. Think about your daughter. You still have a family."

Peter groaned as he slumped back against the beam, holding his wound.

"Just…just do the right thing…"

The Sandman let out a breath as he stared at the vigilante. Perhaps…he was right. Maybe he could start over. It worked for a short while but then the Sandman went back to his other state.

"NO! You're just saying that. Tonight, I'll have my vengeance. Tonight is where you'll die with your grave written in your blood!"

Crap…

However, Peter stared at the glass hand and with a thought in his mind, Peter ran off, jumping off the bar and then he headed towards the glass, smashing it so that fragments fell, tinkling down to the ground…

Just as he did that, a sudden explosion was heard which made Peter turn around and looked up at the sky.

"Iron Man!"

Even though the explosion worried him, it made Peter be anxious even more when he realized that Michelle still wasn't on the ground.

"MICHELLE!"

The Wizard crashed down to the ground, startling Ned. He stared wide eyes at the fiend who looked beaten up pretty badly but nevertheless, Ned scrambled backwards, suddenly looking fearful as he stared at the brute who laughed.

"Scared, are we?" he sneered.

"Stay away from me," his voice quavered.

The brute laughed nastily before his expression grew dark and cold which unnerved Ned. He continued to crawl backwards until he couldn't and he realized that he was trapped.

"Now, you're going to belong to me…" he replied sadistically as he stared into Ned's eyes.

Having no control over himself, Ned felt himself lost and he succumbed to the Wizard's control. Wittman grinned, seeing that the boy was brainwashed. He could be the key to finally finish off Spider Man. If Spider Man didn't care for this boy so much, this boy would've been dead already.

"Now Ned…" the Wizard spoke. "Who do you hate the most?" he grinned as he circled around him.

"Spider…Man…" Ned spoke in a trance.

"Good and what do you want to do to him?" the Wizard asked as he leaned closer to Ned.

"Kill him…"

All of a sudden, Peter crashed down heavily upon the ground; his rope falling out of his hand and the fall gained the two's attention. Spider Man groaned, struggling to get up though this made the Wizard grin.

"Well, well…look what we got here."

"Wizard…" Peter seethed.

"Being in pain, are we?"

"What do you want?"

He grinned cruelly. "Oh nothing much. I just merely want to see where you're loyalties lie. After all," he smirked as he placed his hand on Ned's shoulder. "You can't save everyone, can you?"

Peter widened his eyes as he glared at the enemy. "What have you done to him?!"

"Oh nothing much," his grin grew wider. "I just made Ned here decide which side to be on and well…you can figure out the rest."

Peter stared at his friend but the more he did, the more he couldn't help but to think that there was something off about him. It was there, in his eyes, that threw Peter off.

"You're controlling him!" Peter exclaimed, angered.

"Oh did I? I can't seem to recall…" he chuckled sadistically. "Alright then. It's your turn, my puppet."

Peter suddenly feared for his friend's life. He didn't want to hurt him. No, not at all. He took a step back as Ned was heading towards him, getting ready in a fighting stance.

"Ned…Ned. Snap out of it! You don't want to do this—I know you. Ned! Wake up!" Peter shouted in a desperate tone that made the Wizard grin cruelly.

"He can't hear you. He only listens to my command…"

Ned stared at the ground, seeing a shiny material and he bent down to pick it up in order to use it as a weapon. Peter realized that it was a glass from the Sandman's arm where Spider Man had smashed it.

Damn it, Peter cursed as he didn't think this through.

Drawing a breath, Peter dodged the oncoming attacks while also holding back as he didn't want to hurt his friend.

"Ned…if you can hear me, snap out of it. You're my friend. It's me…" Peter ducked down to avoid the attack. "Peter…Ned…please…"

"I…I have…no…friends…"

"Yes you do!" Peter cried out. "Listen: whatever the Wizard's telling you, those are all lies. They're not real. The only lies that are real are the ones where you choose to believe. You can take control over yourself—you're no one's puppet."

Eyes narrowed, Ned performed a side sweep which made Peter fall down to the ground. Peter knew he could've dodged it but he didn't. If this was the only way to make Ned go back to his original form, then so be it. Peter doesn't want to lose a friend by his own hand.

"Ned, if you think this is the way, then do it."

The Wizard gleamed with madness as he finally saw that he would be able to finally kill the vigilante for once and for all.

"DO IT!" the Wizard screamed as he noticed the small paused that came from Ned. "Do it, boy! He's your enemy! He lies!"

"It's up to you. Whatever you choose, it'll be based on you and you alone…" Peter replied.

"FINE! IF YOU WON'T DO IT THEN I'LL! YOU'RE USELESS!" the Wizard roared with fury. "I'LL END YOUR LIFE! STARTING WITH YOUR FRIEND!"

At his command, Ned changed the direction of his hand and aimed it at himself.

"NO, NED!" Peter screamed.

Instinctively, Peter jumped on his feet and he rushed towards his friend. Before Ned could take the hit, Peter wrapped himself around him only to have himself get struck by the glass-like dagger…

Author's Note: Ahh geez…just when things are starting to get lighter, it goes darker… :3 mannn but we only have two more chapters to go! Gah, I can't believe we're almost done this story—and it's thanks to you! My loyal supporters! Thank you! Oh and I've done research on Sandman and the Wizard—yes, Sandman can actually create glass due to the Wizard teaching him and yes for the Wizard being able to brainwash people. He has an ID machine where he can brainwash people and take over their minds. What happens next? Find out?