A/N: Please read and review?
Gwen's role in this one is small, but it involves all four Spider heroes at this point.
I had some difficultly with this one, and also had to rewrite several scenes as it wouldn't save, so I'm sorry for the delay. This is also my longest yet, due to all the action.
In the city, on the morning of Friday April 15th, Spider-Man and Shadow-Spider were both swinging through the city, before they landed on a rooftop together.
"I see you're getting better, Shadow." Spider-Man noted.
"Thanks." Shadow-Spider said. "You know, I looked at the Daily Bugle yesterday, and I was amazed by the picture you took, but I hated the title it had."
"Thanks. Guess you'll have to get used to Jameson saying rude stuff about you like me and Ghost." Spider-Man realized.
"Well, if you two can handle it, I can too." Shadow-Spider said.
"Good to know." Spider-Man said.
They both fist bumped each other.
"So, care to tell me why we're here?" Shadow-Spider asked.
"You'll see in a minute, Shadow." Spider-Man assured.
They both remained on the rooftop, Shadow-Spider folding his arms, when a figure landed behind them.
"Well, am I on time, Spider-Man?" came a familiar voice.
Both Spiders turned and saw Spider-Woman standing nearby, her hands on her hips. She was here because Spider-Man had called her for help in training Shadow-Spider for his Venom Blast, as they and Ghost Spider had all giving each other their phone numbers to keep in contact with each other since bringing Trask to justice. In addition, Peter and Gwen also had gotten some more of their hero friends phone numbers after that mess; Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four, Bobby and Kitty from the X-Men, and we're planning to get Angelica's next time they saw her to check on her, in addition to giving them all both of theirs. They also had Tony Stark's, Bruce Banner's and Carol Danvers', which they'd gotten after agreeing to find heroes for the Secret Warriors.
"Spider-Woman? No way?" Shadow-Spider said.
"This the kid you called me about, Spider-Man?" Spider-Woman inquired.
"Yes. Spider-Woman, this is Shadow-Spider." Spider-Man said, pointing from one to the other.
"Nice name." Spider-Woman remarked. "Matches your suit, like Ghost's. So what kind of training does he need that I'm required for?"
"He needs some training in a certain power, and you're the only person I know who has the same power." Spider-Man explained.
"I thought you and Ghost were teaching me, Spidey?" Shadow-Spider recalled.
"We are." Spider-Man assured. "But here's the thing. Your invisibility is something you'll have to learn on your own, since we don't have that."
"Oh." Shadow-Spider said.
"But for your Venom Blast, I figured Spider-Woman here's the best one to teach you, as she has that power too." Spider-Man explained.
"Oh, so that's why you called her." Shadow-Spider realized. "So, when do we start?"
"As soon as we get to the place I've decided, kid." Spider-Woman explained. "I just need a word with Spidey first."
Shadow-Spider nodded and walked off slightly, as the other two approached each other.
"I want to thank you, for these." Spider-Woman said.
She rolled up her sleeves, showing web-shooters, as Spider-Man had given them to her after the meeting in the Avengers Tower a couple of months ago, when they promised to help find heroes for the Secret Warriors.
"Well, I figured it was only fair." Spider-Man reasoned. "I mean, outside that, you're just like me and Ghostie. She even agreed it was fair we all have the same arsenal."
"Well, still, thanks, Pete." Spider-Woman whispered. "And don't worry, I'll look after your friend."
"Thanks." Spider-Man said.
He turned and ran off, leaving his fellow Spiders alone, who turned to each other, as he jumped off the roof and began to swing through the city.
"So, you ready, Shadow-Spider?" Spider-Woman asked.
"Uh, yeah." Shadow-Spider said.
"Right. Follow me?" Spider-Woman asked.
She jumped off the rooftop and gilded off, before she began to web-swing, with Shadow-Spider right behind her.
"Good thing I got the hang of these quickly." Spider-Woman thought. "They'll defiantly come in handy since Peter and Gwen are only reserve members."
They both turned right as they kept on swinging.
Meanwhile, the Hobgoblin was inside a warehouse in his gear, tinkering with his gilder. He'd only been back in the city for about a week, as he'd been all over the country doing various crimes which had caught the Avengers attention, but he'd always managed to escape them.
"This thing got damaged on my last heist down South." he thought. "Could do with some improvements."
He turned and looked at yesterday's issue of the Daily Bugle, which had Peter's picture of the Spider Trio staring at Aleksei. The title on it said 'New Spider menace in town! Who is this Shadow-Spider, and where did he come from?'.
"Especially now there's a new Spider swinging around this city." Hobgoblin thought. "I had hoped that when I returned, I'd be able to deal with those two Web-heads, but now there's a third one, it's not going to be that easy."
He soon finished tinkering with his equipment, then took off his mask and cowl, showing he had brown hair and blue eyes.
"But I will find a way to eliminate them." he assured.
He heard a noise, which sounded like his phone.
"Who could that be?" he wondered.
He walked over to it, as it was on a table, then he picked it up, not recognizing the ID.
"Huh?" he muttered, before putting it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Hello there." came a old voice.
"Who is this?" Hobgoblin asked.
"I am Slivermane." the man replied.
"Silvermane?" Hobgoblin questioned. "The crime lord?"
"Exactly." Silvermane said.
"Well, what do you want; and how did you get this number?" Hobgoblin asked.
"I have my sources, and I know who you are, Jason Macendale." Silvermane said.
Hobgoblin gasped, covering his mouth.
"How do you know who I really am?" he demanded.
"Like I said, I have my sources." Slivermane said.
"Well, what do you want?" Jason asked.
(Elsewhere)
Slivermane sat behind a desk in his office room, with his daughter Alisa stood near him.
"I have a job for you." Slivermane explained. "My regular hitman's busy on another assignment and I can't call him back."
"Hitman? You want me to assassinate someone?" Jason inquired.
"Not just someone, but Wilson Fisk." Slivermane explained.
(Warehouse)
"Wilson Fisk? Why would you want to kill a well known businessman and philanthropist like him for?" Jason inquired curiously.
"Because that's only a cover for who he really is." Slivermane explained. "He's really another crime lord known as the Kingpin, and my arch rival."
Jason's eyes widened with the news.
"Exactly how am I suppose to find him?" he inquired. "I mean, his limo moves all around the city."
(Office building)
"Well, that'll be easy." Silvermane assured. "I have from a reliable source, that in about 1 hour, he will be attending an event in Lower Manhattan, near City Hall."
"Really?" Jason said. "How much are you paying me for this?"
"If you succeed, you'll get half a million for your troubles." Silvermane explained.
(Warehouse)
Jason's eyes lit up, for that was more than he'd been making since Halloween on his heists over the country.
"Okay, you've got a deal." he said. "I just need to finish tuning my gear first."
"Fair enough. The event will last over an hour, so if you can't get him on the way in, get him on the way out." Silvermane said.
"Understood." Jason said, before he hung up.
He turned to his gear and approached it.
"Well, that's something I never expected." he thought. "If any of those Spider freaks show up to save Fisk, they'll unknowingly save a criminal crime lord."
(Office building)
Slivermane put the phone down, then turned to Alisa.
"You heard from your brother?" he asked.
"Yes, father. Joseph will be here in a few days." Alisa assured.
"Good." Slivermane said. "When the Kingpin is out of the way, I will rule the crime of this city, with you, Joseph and Tombstone at my side."
He laughed evilly, as Alisa smirked and folded her arms.
A little later, Peter was at the rally taking place in Lower Manhattan, outside the City Hall building, approaching a large crowd outside. He was there as for the big event and announcement the Mayor was giving out, and Jameson had assigned him to.
"This must be a big event." he thought.
He looked amongst the crowd, seeing Harry and Mary Jane were among the people there, while Mr. Osborn and the Kingpin were among those standing near the building. He made his way towards his friends, spotting other reporters and photographers in the crowd as he did, including Mr. Corazon and Ned Leeds.
"Hey, guys." Peter said.
Harry and Mary Jane both turned to him.
"Peter?" Mary Jane said. "Let me guess, the Daily Bugle?"
"Bingo." Peter said. "Jameson said something about a big announcement."
"He's right, Peter." a familiar voice said.
The three teens turned and saw Ned approaching them all.
"Something the Mayor has to say, apparently." he said.
"That explains all the News Press." Harry realized, looking around. "My Dad told me something was happening, but not this big."
"Who are you?" Ned asked curiously.
"Uh, Ned, this is Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson, two of my friends." Peter explained. "Guys, this is Ned Leeds, he works with me at the Bugle."
"Nice to meet you." Harry said, sticking out his hand.
Ned shook it, then he shook Mary Jane's hand, before turning back to Harry.
"Osborn? You're not related to Norman Osborn?" Ned inquired.
"He's my father." Harry replied.
"Oh, I see." Ned said. "You're here to support him, I presume?"
"Bingo." Harry said. "He told me the Mayor's announcement today is important. Since it's the holidays, I thought I'd be here for support."
"Well, I'm sure he apricates it." Ned said.
"Thanks." Harry said.
"Hey, where's Gwen?" Mary Jane asked. "I thought she'd be here to give you support, Pete?"
"Oh, she told me she's doing some stuff with Anya and Gloria." Peter explained, which wasn't a lie as Gwen had told him and Miles last night.
"Oh, I see." Mary Jane said. "Well, I hope she sees this on TV. It's gonna be all over the News."
"I figured by all the reporters and cameramen around." Peter said.
The four of them all moved through the crowd to get to the front, where Mr. Corazon stood, who didn't notice them. They all looked up at Kingpin, Norman and the others, just as the city's Mayor, an African bald man called Eric Adams, came out of City Hall. Several photographers - including Peter - began snapping pictures of the Mayor, as he stepped towards a podium, with the people behind him sitting down in a chair on either side of him, Kingpin and Norman both on his left.
Unknown to any of them, Hobgoblin was on top of a rooftop nearby, looking down at the scene.
"Prefect." he thought, rubbing his hands. "All I have to do, is wait till Fisk gets up to the podium."
The Mayor cleared his throat, as everyone looked at him.
"Good evening, people of New York." he said. "Now, as most of you know, we are all here to announce the grand opening of a new building, which will be open after Easter in Long Island City."
Several people clapped, including Harry, Mary Jane, and the people behind the Mayor on the stand, while Peter and other photographers snapped pictures.
"Now, may I present the man who helped make this building possible, the well known businessman and philanthropist, Wilson Fisk." the Mayor said.
He moved away from the podium as Kingpin approached it, as everyone else clapped, expect Peter and the photographers.
"Thank you, thank you everyone." Kingpin said, waving at the crowd. "My new company will be called Fisktronics, and it is being built to help create technology to help out the world. Now, are they're any questions?"
Several people put up their hands, including Mr. Corazon and Ned, but Kingpin pointed at an Asian woman.
"Yes?" he said.
"Whitney Chang, WJBP News." the woman said, stepping forward. "Would you mind telling us about Fisktronics, Mr. Fisk?"
Kingpin moved to the podium and cleared his throat.
"Gladly." he said. "As I said, it is being built to help create technology to help the world, and hopefully also to help aid people around the world."
Ned, Mr. Corazon and other reporters held up their hands, then Kingpin pointed at Ned.
"Ned Leeds, Daily Bugle, who will be running the company, Mr. Fisk?" Ned asked. "I mean, you're a pretty busy man."
"That is a fair question." Kingpin said. "My son Richard will be running it for me when he returns from Europe, which is why I haven't opened it up yet."
Hobgoblin began to fly his gilder down towards the scene, just as Kingpin moved away from the podium.
"Furthermore, my son will be making sure that when it's open..." Kingpin continued, as Peter felt his Spider-Sense tingle.
"Huh?" he muttered.
He turned and aimed his camera up at Hobgoblin, zooming it in, seeing it was defiantly him.
"...that it is probably used for that manner, and not for evil means." Kingpin finished.
"Hobgoblin? He hasn't been seen since Halloween!" Peter thought. "What's he doing here?"
He snapped a picture up at Hobgoblin, seeing him move towards Kingpin.
"Looks like I'll be able to get him here and now." Hobgoblin thought.
He rummaged into his pouch and took out a ray-blaster he'd created himself.
"This should do it." he thought.
He aimed at Kingpin and prepared to fire, as Peter began to run towards him.
"Pete, what are you doing?" Harry yelled.
"Look out!" Peter yelled.
"Huh?" several people muttered.
Hobgoblin fired his blaster at Kingpin, who looked up, just as Peter dived and pushed him out of the way, missing the blast just in time.
"Whoa!" several people gasped.
"AHH!" several girls screamed.
Harry gasped as Mary Jane held her mouth open, as several of the people with cameras either recorded or snapped pictures of Peter's actions.
"What?" Hobgoblin scowled. "Meddling kid!"
Norman looked up and gasped, as he found the gilder familiar.
"What... Is that...?" he thought.
Hobgoblin laughed as he circled over the area, as several people ran off.
"AHH!" they screamed.
The Mayor looked at Hobgoblin, as his bodyguards came towards him.
"Mr. Mayor, we've gotta get outta here." one said, as the other nodded.
"Alright." the Mayor said.
His bodyguards began escorting him away, as Harry turned to Mary Jane, who was looking around.
"MJ, come on!" Harry said, grabbing her arm.
"But where's Peter?" Mary Jane asked frantically.
Harry looked around as people ran off past them, before he looked at the podium, seeing no sign of Peter anywhere, as he'd escaped to change into Spider-Man.
"He must've already left." Harry said. "Probably hiding to get pictures or something. Come on!"
Mary Jane looked unconvinced as Harry led her away, not sure if Peter was okay.
"Where are you, tiger?" she thought frantically.
Kingpin moved towards Norman, who kept his eyes on Hobgoblin, who kept circling over the area.
"Why does that look familiar to me?" Norman thought.
"Norman, are you okay?" Kingpin asked kindly.
"Uh, yeah." Norman said, snapping out of his trance.
He turned to Kingpin, surprised by having called him by his first name, as he got up.
Hobgoblin moved his gilder down slightly and stared at them both, who stared at him.
"Who... Who are you?" Norman asked, getting up.
"The Hobgoblin, Osborn!" Hobgoblin snarled. "And I should thank you, I guess. It's your gilder after all."
Norman gasped as Kingpin turned to him.
"What... What are you talking about?" Norman asked frantically.
"I'm surprised you don't already know!" Hobgoblin spat, taking a pumpkin bomb out of his pouch.
He threw it at the two men, who both dived in different directions, before it hit and exploded on the ground.
"AHH!" they moaned.
They both hit the ground on their chests, as Hobgoblin turned to Kingpin.
"Now to finish this." he thought.
Norman turned around and shook his head, seeing Hobgoblin moving towards Kingpin, who turned around and stared at him.
"Ah!" he gasped.
"It's time for you to die, Fisk!" Hobgoblin laughed, extending the blades from the end of his gilder.
"We'll see about that!" a voice yelled.
Everyone turned and saw Spider-Man swinging towards Hobgoblin, before he kicked him with both feet.
"Oh!" he moaned.
Spider-Man dived past him, landing on the roof of the White House, as Hobgoblin wobbled on his gilder.
"You?" Hobgoblin snarled, glaring at him.
"Well, nice to see you again, Hobie." Spider-Man joked. "Haven't seen you since Halloween. Where've you been?"
"None of your business, web-head!" Hobgoblin roared. "And stay outta this!"
"You really think I'd do that, after what you're doing here?" Spider-Man smirked.
He shot webs from both his hands, which both hit the bottom of the gilder.
"Nice try, web-head!" Hobgoblin snarled.
He turned his gilder away and began to fly off, pulling Spider-Man with him.
"Whoa!" he yelped.
He kept hold of his webs as Hobgoblin flew off, with everyone on the ground looking up at them.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I'm hoping Spider-Man wins for once." Kingpin thought.
Spider-Man kept hold of the webs as Hobgoblin turned to him.
"Get off, wall-crawler!" he yelled. "Doesn't that web of yours dissolve?"
"Yes, but in an hour, not a few minutes." Spider-Man teased. "So sorry, Hobie."
Hobgoblin growled before he aimed and fired his blaster at Spider-Man, making him yelp and let go of the webs, making him miss.
"Drat!" Hobgoblin growled.
He looked around, seeing no sign of Spider-Man, who seemed to have vanished, when he was actually hiding behind a building, waiting for him to come by.
"Come on, Hobie? Make my day." he thought.
Hobgoblin moved along on his gilder while looking around.
"Ah! Fisk must've escaped by now. I should have just shot him and Osborn instead of taunting them!" he growled.
He turned around as he kept looking, when Spider-Man jumped out and came at him from behind.
"Surprise!" he joked.
Hobgoblin turned around and fired his blaster at him, but missed him by inches, before Spider-Man kicked him with both feet.
"AH!" he moaned, wobbling.
He turned slightly as Spider-Man landed on the gilder, then Spider-Man grabbed his forearms, grappling with him.
"Let go of me, you web-head!" Hobgoblin snarled.
"Sorry, no can do." Spider-Man joked. "And by the way, this is dangerous."
He snatched the blaster out of Hobgoblin's hands and threw it away.
"HEY!" Hobgoblin roared.
He punched Spider-Man's chest hard, sending him flying off the gilder and onto a rooftop.
"Oh!" he moaned, rolling along it.
He stopped on his chest, then looked up, as Hobgoblin threw three pumpkin bombs at him, which all exploded near him.
"AHHH!" he yelled, as he went flying across the rooftop.
He hit it on his chest as Hobgoblin glared at him.
"I'll never get Fisk now." Hobgoblin thought. "I better get outta here."
Spider-Man lifted his head up and rubbed it, turning to Hobgoblin.
"You've won this round, web-head!" Hobgoblin growled. "But I'll be back, and you'll pay for ruining everything!"
He turned his gilder around and shot it away quickly as Spider-Man got up, preventing him from tossing a Spider-Tracer on it.
"Oh, man! His gilder's gotten a boost since Halloween! Why didn't I notice that before?" Spider-Man groaned. "I better get back and check on Harry and MJ."
He turned and jumped off the rooftop, then began to swing back to City Hall.
A little later, Peter met up with Harry and Mary Jane, as Kingpin and Norman met up with him. Because of Hobgoblin's attack, the entire event had been postponed till tomorrow, as many people and reporters hadn't returned, including Mr. Corazon.
"Who was that boy who saved my life?" Kingpin asked.
"Peter Parker. He's my son's best friend." Norman explained.
"Parker? The same one who takes the Spiders pictures for the Bugle?" Kingpin inquired.
"Yep." Norman answered.
"Hmm? I guess Mr. Jameson gives him other assignments as well, and this must've been one of them." Kingpin deduced.
"Well, wouldn't be the first time." Norman said. "Harry's told me he's had to cover other events, including the opening of FEAST."
"I see." Kingpin said. "Since he's a friend of your son's, I'd like to meet him and thank him for saving me back there?"
"Sure, but let's wait till he's alone." Norman said.
Kingpin nodded.
Mary Jane stood between her boyfriend and brother-from-another-mother, who both faced each other.
"Pete, where'd you go?" Harry asked. "You had us worried."
Peter sighed and held up his camera, showing him and Mary Jane some pictures he'd taken with his camera, of his fight with Hobgoblin near City Hall.
"I had to get a better angle." he explained. "I couldn't from in the crowd."
His friends both looked at the pictures.
"Well, pretty impressive, tiger." Mary Jane remarked. "But next time, tell us okay?"
"Sure." Peter said, scratching the back of his head.
Harry scrolled through the pictures on the camera, before he got to one of a close up of Hobgoblin.
"He's definitely that same creep who ruined Halloween for us." he said, looking at it closely.
"Yeah." Mary Jane agreed.
Peter looked at Harry, who seemed slightly shocked.
"You okay, Harry?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's just...now that I can see it clearly, that gilder looks familiar." Harry said.
"Harry, Spider-Man told me that Hobgoblin creep uses the same equipment as the Green Goblin." Peter explained. "That guy who attacked the Unity Day Festival last year."
Harry looked at him, as Mary Jane touched his shoulder.
"You know, there's something I think I need to tell you two." Harry said.
"What's that?" Peter asked.
"Well, that gilder was apparently part of the project my Dad was working on, before it was stolen by the Green Goblin." Harry explained.
"It was?" Mary Jane inquired.
"Yeah. I don't know how that creep got hold of it though, since it vanished with that Green Goblin." Harry said.
"Why didn't you tell me this on Halloween?" Mary Jane asked.
"I didn't recognize it as the same design back then." Harry answered honestly. "I didn't get a good look, unlike today, since he wasn't seen since."
"I wonder why he attacked Mr. Fisk for?" Peter said. "I mean, he seemed to be going for him over everyone else here."
"Someone must've hired him." Harry deduced. "The questions is who and why."
"Hmm?" Peter muttered, putting his hand to his chin.
He began to think about why Hobgoblin would want to kill Wilson Fisk, as he didn't know he was the Kingpin.
"It's a pity nobody knows who that creep really is." Mary Jane said. "That would really help out the Spider Trio and the Police."
"It would." Peter agreed. "Harry, do you have any ideas, since the gilder came from Oscorp?"
Harry looked at him, as Mary Jane touched his shoulder.
"Harry, if you know something, maybe you should say so." she said.
"Well, a man who worked at Oscorp got fired for snooping around prior to Halloween, when the Hobgoblin attacked." Harry explained. "I didn't think of it before, since he hasn't been seen since, but now he's back..."
"You think it might be him?" Peter inquired.
"Yes." Harry said. "Dad told me his name's Rodrick Kingsley, and he hasn't been seen much since."
"You got a picture?" Peter asked.
"No, and neither does Dad." Harry said, shaking his head.
Peter turned away slightly, as his friends looked at him.
"I better call Gwen and Miles and have them help me find Hobgoblin." he thought. "If he tries to go for Fisk again, or anyone for that matter, we need to find him."
"You okay, Pete?" Mary Jane asked.
"Yeah. Uh, you guys mind if I make a call?" Peter asked.
"No, go ahead." Harry said.
Peter smiled, then he turned and walked off as he took out his phone, then he dialled Gwen's number and put it to his ear. He waited for about ten seconds, before Gwen answered him.
"Hi, Pete. What's up?" she said.
"Gwen, have you been watching the News?" Peter asked, as he stopped.
"Well, no, actually." Gwen replied. "There's no TV's where I am right now. Why?"
"Hobgoblin's back." Peter explained. "He attacked City Hall during the Mayor's announcement."
"What?" Gwen gasped. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, but he got away." Peter said. "Can you meet me at the Lower East Side of the city?"
"Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can." Gwen promised. "Love you."
"Love you too." Peter whispered.
He hung up and put his phone down, then was about to dial Miles' number, as Kingpin and Norman came towards him.
"Peter, are you okay?" Norman asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Mr. Osborn." Peter assured.
"Good to know. I take it you've heard of Wilson Fisk here?" Norman assumed, motioning to Kingpin.
"Yes, I have." Peter said. "Some of things you do for the city is amazing and generous."
"Why, thank you. And also, thank you for saving me back there." Kingpin said. "I hope there's a way I'll be able to repay you. I'm a man who never forgets a debt."
"Well... I'm not sure, Mr. Fisk." Peter said. "I've got a lot to do right now."
"I understand, being a teenager in High School and all that." Kingpin said. "Still, I hope someday I can pay you back for saving me."
Peter smiled as Kingpin and Norman both walked off, then he looked at his phone.
"That was close. Better call Miles." he thought, dialling his number. "I hope Jessica's taught him enough today."
Meanwhile, Spider-Woman and Shadow-Spider were in an abandoned warehouse at the Docks, have been training in there for over two hours now. They both turned to each other, then Shadow-Spider approached Spider-Woman.
"So, you know the basics with the Venom Blast?" she asked.
"Yeah. Concentrate when you wanna do it, then either touch your opponent, or if not, aim your hands and shoot it at them." Shadow-Spider said.
"Correct, but be cautious." Spider-Woman advised. "Keep it up for too long, or send a very powerful blast could kill someone, and your fellow Spiders have a none-kill code."
"Right." Shadow-Spider understood. "How will I know?"
"It takes practice." Spider-Woman explained. "It might be better if you just use that power on objects for now."
"Right." Shadow-Spider nodded. "I've only used it twice in battle, once on a robot, the other on a Mutant rhino, which only knocked him out."
"Well, glad to know that." Spider-Woman said.
Shadow-Spider smiled and picked up two water bottles from the floor, then handed one to her.
"You know, you and Ghost have something in common." Spider-Woman said.
"We do?" Shadow-Spider asked, drinking some water from his.
"Yeah...if of course, you wanted to call yourself Spider-Man when getting your powers?" Spider-Woman inquired.
"Well, I knew that was out when I first got bitten, so no." Shadow-Spider assured.
"Oh, well, you're different then." Spider-Woman said. "Ghost told me she wanted to call herself Spider-Woman when she first got her powers, but due to me already using it, she couldn't."
"Really?" Shadow-Spider asked, surprised. "Whoa."
Spider-Woman nodded. "What's your name by the way, kid?" she asked.
"Uh..." Shadow-Spider said.
"I know Peter and Gwen, kid." Spider-Woman assured. "Peter told you the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men know who they are, right?"
"Oh, yeah, he did." Shadow-Spider nodded. "So, you know?"
"I'm an Avenger, and I was the first hero to find out about Peter, when we teamed-up to take down Chameleon." Spider-Woman explained, remembering that day fondly. "This was before Gwen got her powers."
"Oh, right. Well, it's Miles Morales, Ms." Shadow-Spider said.
"Jessica Drew." Spider-Woman said.
They both shook hands, before a phone rang.
"Huh?" she muttered.
Shadow-Spider touched the side of his mask, as it was his built in one, like Peter's and Gwen's.
"Yes?" he said.
"Miles, how's your training going?" came Peter's voice.
"Well, Spider-Woman's taught me quite a bit." Shadow-Spider admitted.
"Good. Look, I need your help." Spider-Man explained. "Someone Ghost and I know is back, and we'll need help finding him."
"Okay. Where do you want me to meet?" Shadow-Spider asked.
"Meet me somewhere in Lower East Side. I've already told Ghost and she'll meet us there." Spider-Man explained.
"Okay. I'm on my way." Shadow-Spider said.
He lowered his hand, then lowered his mask.
"I gotta go." he said. "Spider-Man needs help."
He turned to leave, when Spider-Woman grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait?" she said. "Do you mind if I tag along? The Avengers are away on assignment right now, and I could do with some fun."
"Okay." Shadow-Spider said. "Come on."
They both jumped up to the ceiling, then crawled out of a skylight window and onto the rooftop, then they jumped off it. They gilded towards the city, as the buildings were slightly out of range for their web-shooters, then once in range, began to web-swing through the city together.
A little later, Hobgoblin was in his warehouse, with his mask off, sitting at a table.
"Ah! That stupid wall-crawler!" he thought angrily. "How'd he get there so fast? I thought Ghost Spider was the faster out of those web-heads!"
He slammed his fist into the table in anger, before he turned to his gilder.
"He must've just been in the area at the time." he deduced, facepalming himself. "I just got unlucky with the timing."
His phone rang, making him take it out from a bag on the table, then he put it to his ear.
"Yeah." he said.
"I just saw the News report, Macendale, and you failed me!" came Slivermane's voice, angrily. "That kid whoever he is saved Fisk's life!"
"I didn't see that coming." Jason swore. "That kid had a camera with him, so he might've seen me coming from a distance."
"Oh, is that all?" Silverman snarled.
"He was in the front of the crowd." Jason recalled. "And he pushed Fisk aside as he approached the podium!"
"You should've waited until he was leaving, you fool!" Silvermane growled.
"I may have messed up here, but give me another chance." Jason said. "I only really failed in the end when Spider-Man showed up."
Silvermane didn't answer right away, making Jason look at his phone.
"Alright." Silvermane sighed. "Kingpin will be at a visiting a warehouse at the docks at 7pm this afternoon. Intercept him on the way over."
"I'll handle it, and I will get him this time." Jason promised.
He hung up and put his phone away.
"You can count on it. I know what his limo looks like as well, so that will help." he thought.
He put his mask on and approached his gilder, then got onto it, before he shot it up and out of an open skylight above him.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man was swinging through the Lower East Side of the city, on his way to meet his fellow Spiders. He turned left down a street, then saw Shadow-Spider and Spider-Woman on a rooftop, which he gilded down towards, landing near them.
"Spidey, good to see you." Shadow-Spider said.
"Likewise, Shadow." Spider-Man said, shaking his hand, before turning to Spider-Woman. "How's he been doing?"
"Miles has been doing well, Peter." Spider-Woman assured. "I figured it was fair to tell him, since we're all Spiders. And I think he's earned it."
"Uh, right." Spider-Man said. "So, why are you here?"
"Thought you might need an extra hand." Spider-Woman explained. "With the Avengers away right now, I didn't want to get bored."
"Okay." Spider-Man said. "Let's just wait till Ghost arrives."
They all looked around and waited for a few minutes, before they heard a familiar voice.
"You got room for one more here?" it asked, jokingly.
The three Spiders turned to see Ghost Spider diving down towards them all, before she landed crouched down near them.
"Nice landing." Shadow-Spider remarked.
"Thanks, Shadow." Ghost Spider said, as she approached the others. "Surprised to see you here, Jess?"
"Thought you'd like some help, since I've been training Shadow all day." Spider-Woman said. "So, why'd you call us here, Spider-Man?"
"Right, well, as you know Ghost, Hobgoblin's back." Spider-Man began.
"Yeah, but why's he here?" Ghost Spider asked. "I mean, what was he doing?"
"He attacked City Hall when the Mayor was making an announcement." Spider-Man explained. "Mr. Osborn and Mr. Fisk were nearly killed by him."
"What?" Ghost Spider gasped, touching his shoulder. "Are they okay?"
"Don't worry, they're fine." Spider-Man assured. "But here's the thing, he seemed to want to kill them and only them."
"Sounds like someone must've hired him to assassinate them, or at least one of them." Spider-Woman deduced. "Did he seem more interested in one more than the other?"
"Well, yeah. He seemed to want Fisk more than Osborn." Spider-Man recalled, folding his arms. "Why though, I'm not sure."
"So, maybe he was only after Fisk." Spider-Woman suggested.
"Yeah, it's possible." Shadow-Spider agreed. "Did he try again?"
"No. After I showed up to stop him, I shot webs at his gilder, but then he flew off with me." Spider-Man explained. "After a scuffle, he decided to retreat."
"Must've thought it was too dangerous to try again." Ghost Spider said.
"I don't know." Spider-Man said. "He said he'll be back, meaning he'll try again at a different location."
"So, what you're saying is, we have to find him before he strikes again?" Shadow-Spider inquired.
"Yes." Spider-Man said. "So, you guys with me."
"You know it, Spidey." Ghost Spider teased, punching his arm.
"Same here." Shadow-Spider said.
"You can count me in." Spider-Woman said.
"Right. Let's find Hobgoblin before he causes more trouble, guys." Spider-Man said.
The others nodded, then all four Spiders all jumped off the rooftop and began to swing off together, splitting up as they passed by several buildings.
Later, outside a warehouse, Kingpin got out of a limo and straightened up his suit, while on the phone to Hammerhead.
"I'm at the warehouse." Kingpin said. "Did you see the News about the Hobgoblin returning?"
"Yeah. Smythe and I saw it on the News. I can't believe that creep's back!" Hammerhead said.
"Neither can I." Kingpin said. "I'm thankful that Parker kid saved me just in time, before Spider-Man showed up and made Hobgoblin run off."
"Parker? That name sounds familiar?" Hammerhead muttered.
"Spider-Man's photographer for the Bugle." Kingpin explained. "Guess he gets other assignments other than that."
"Oh, right." Hammerhead said. "Still, why'd Hobgoblin go after you? Last time he attacked you, it was a coincidence and wanted Spider-Man and Ghost Spider distracted."
"I don't know." Kingpin said. "It might've been Osborn he was after, as he was there too, so was the Mayor."
"Osborn?" Hammerhead questioned.
"Yeah. And I noticed that gilder he rode is the same one flown by the Green Goblin." Kingpin explained. "That gilder was Osborn's creation. He must be someone dear old Norman made mad and wants revenge. The two of us were together almost the entire time he was there."
"Hmm? Right." Hammerhead said. "Still, it might be better if you had protection just in case."
"I'll be fine." Kingpin assured. "I'll only be here for half-an-hour at most before I leave."
"Okay, but be cautious, Boss." Hammerhead advised.
"I will." Kingpin assured.
He hung up and put away his phone, before he entered the warehouse, closing the door behind him as he did, which was full of crates filled with weapons.
"Time to see how much is in here for my Empire." he thought.
A little later, Hobgoblin stood on his gilder near the warehouse, looking down at it.
"Prefect. You won't get away this time, Kingpin." he thought.
He waited for ten minutes, before Kingpin finally came back out of the warehouse.
"Finally. You sure took your time." Hobgoblin frowned.
Kingpin closed and locked the door of the warehouse.
"Well, that takes care of that." he thought. "Time to get back to the tower."
He turned around and walked towards his limo, when a pumpkin bomb landed near it, as the driver got out of it.
"Huh?" Kingpin gasped.
"What the?" the driver gasped.
The bomb exploded, destroying the limo, sending both men flying away, Kingpin hitting the road nearby on his back, the size of his body creating a pothole in it, while the driver ended up crashing into a wall hard, breaking both his legs as he did.
"AHH!" he moaned painfully.
Kingpin sat up and shook his head, when Hobgoblin came down towards him.
"Well, well, well, we meet again, Fisk." he spat.
"You!" Kingpin growled, getting to his feet. "Why are you here?"
"Since I never got to tell you last time, you're the one I've been after, Kingpin." Hobgoblin smirked.
Kingpin gasped. "How do you know that?" he demanded.
"My employer told me all about you and what you really are." Hobgoblin smirked. "Imagine how the city would react, finding out one of its most beloved citizens was really a crime lord?"
Kingpin glared at him.
"I take it your employer knows about me?" he inquired.
"Oh, yes." Hobgoblin said, moving towards him.
He grabbed Kingpin by the shirt of his suit, pulling him towards him.
"You and I are going for a little ride." Hobgoblin smirked.
He lifted Kingpin up with surprisingly strength, then flew his gilder up and raced it off while holding him.
"Hey! Let me go!" Kingpin demanded.
Hobgoblin laughed and looked at him, just as Spider-Man showed up on a rooftop nearby.
"Guys, I've found Hobgoblin, and he's got Fisk." Spider-Man said, touching the side of his mask. "Meet me at my location."
"Understood." Ghost Spider said.
"Right." Shadow-Spider said.
"You got it." Spider-Woman said.
Spider-Man jumped off the rooftop and swung after Hobgoblin, who didn't see him, just as Fisk turned slightly.
"Spider-Man!" he thought. "Save by the web-head twice in one day? Just my luck. Good thing he doesn't know who I really am."
He turned to Hobgoblin and grinned.
"What are you grinning about?" Hobgoblin asked, turning to him.
"You've got someone behind you." Kingpin smirked.
Hobgoblin turned his head around, before he saw Spider-Man swinging down towards him.
"Surprise, Hobie." he joked.
He kicked Hobgoblin with both his feet, knocking him and Kingpin off his gilder.
"AHH!" they yelled.
Spider-Man gilded down on his web-wings to Kingpin, before he grabbed the back of his suit with his left hand, then shot a web with his right. He swung off and put Kingpin down on his feet, then landed near him.
"Mr. Fisk, you okay?" he asked.
"Yes, I am." Kingpin assured. "Thank you, Spider-Man."
Spider-Man turned and ran down the street slightly, seeing Hobgoblin jump onto his gilder and flew it over to him.
"You should've stayed out of this wall-crawler!" Hobgoblin snarled.
"And why would I do that?" Spider-Man smirked, jumping onto a lamppost, perching on it. "You're attacking an innocent and beloved man in the city! Not to mention last Halloween, you practically ruined a street fair for your own amusement."
"I know more about Fisk than you do, Spider-Man." Hobgoblin spat. "And last time we met, I managed to beat you easily. You really think you can take me alone?"
He laughed as Spider-Man stared at him, when Ghost Spider, Spider-Woman and Shadow-Spider all landed on the wall behind the lamppost.
"Who said he's alone?!" Ghost Spider roared.
Spider-Man turned around and saw his fellow Spiders, before he turned back and stood up, seeing Hobgoblin looked shocked.
"What?" he gasped. "Four of you?"
"I take it you don't know me then?" Spider-Woman smirked. "Spider-Woman of the Avengers. I just happened to be in the neighbourhood, and thought I'd help out my fellow Spiders."
"So you're the Hobgoblin?" Shadow-Spider inquired, looking at him. "Whoa. You're uglier than I thought."
"Is that a complement?" Hobgoblin growled.
"Guess it is." Shadow-Spider teased.
"Well, either way, you're not stopping me from my task!" Hobgoblin roared.
He shot his gilder away towards Kingpin, as the Spiders turned to him.
"Together!" Spider-Man yelled.
All four Spiders shot webs at Hobgoblin, all but Spider-Man's hitting the gilder, his hitting his cape.
"Huh?" he gasped, turning around. "Oh, no you don't!"
He boosted his gilder away, pulling all four Spiders off the wall or lamppost.
"AHH!" they all yelped.
Spider-Man looked at the others.
"You guys keep hold of your webs!" he yelled. "I'll check on Fisk!"
"Go!" Ghost Spider yelled.
Spider-Man let go off his web and landed near Kingpin, as his fellow Spiders kept hold of their webs.
"Mr. Fisk, are you alright?" Spider-Man asked, turning to him.
"Yes, I'm fine." Kingpin assured. "I just hope my driver's okay."
"Mr. Fisk, call an ambulance for your driver and then get outta here." Spider-Man said. "We can handle this."
"Right." Kingpin said. "Again, thank you, web-head."
He turned and ran off down the street, hiding a smirk from them all as he did, as Spider-Man jumped up and began to swing after the others.
"I never thought I'd say that." Kingpin thought. "Whoever hired Hobgoblin is so gonna pay."
Nearby, Hobgoblin kept flying his gilder away, before Shadow-Spider's web snapped.
"AHH!" he yelled.
"Shadow!" Ghost Spider cried.
She grabbed his hand with her right, before her left slipped from her web.
"AHH!" she yelped.
Spider-Woman let go of her own web and gilded down towards them both. She then shot webs from both her hands, which created a web net between two lampposts in the city, which her fellow Spiders landed on.
"Ah!" they moaned.
They both sat up as Spider-Woman landed on them.
"You two alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, we're fine." Ghost Spider assured, shaking her head.
"I've been better." Shadow-Spider replied.
They Spider-Senses tingled, making them all look around, seeing Hobgoblin flying towards them.
"Time for you three to die!" he roared, holding a Pumpkin bomb.
He threw it at them all as they gasped.
"Move!" Spider-Woman roared.
All three Spiders jumped and swung off before the bomb hit the web, which destroyed it. They all swung off slightly, then landed together in the street, staring at him as he turned around.
"Ha! Nice try." Shadow-Spider scoffed.
"You don't wanna go there!" Hobgoblin roared.
He turned his gilder around and extended the blades from it, shocking Ghost Spider.
"Guys, be careful!" she warned, remembering them from Green Goblin's gilder. "Those blades are dangerous!"
"Right." Spider-Woman understood.
She jumped up and gilded over towards Hobgoblin, powering up her Venom Blast, when he threw a Razorbat from his pouch at her.
"Whoa!" she yelped.
She lowered herself to avoid them, then was forced to crash into the ground to avoid the blades from the gilder.
"Oh!" she moaned, rolling along it. "Well, that didn't go as planned."
Hobgoblin threw more Razorbats from his pouch at the other two, making them both jump and swing off to avoid them. Ghost Spider turned around and gilded backwards on her web-wings as they circled around after her, then shot web-balls repeatedly from her shooters, hitting them all one at a time.
"Phew, that was close." she sighed.
She turned and saw Shadow-Spider had landed on Hobgoblin's gilder and was grappling with him.
"Better help him out." she thought.
She shot down towards them both on her web-wings, as Shadow-Spider powered up his Venom Blast.
"Just like Jessica taught you." he thought.
He lowered his hand to touch the gilder, but Hobgoblin kicked his shin, knocking him slightly, then he kicked his chest, sending him flying into Ghost Spider.
"AHH!" they moaned, crashing into each other.
They both hit and rolled along the ground towards Spider-Woman, who sat up slightly and looked at them.
"You two okay?" she asked.
Her fellow Spiders nodded painfully, when Spider-Man came swinging towards them all.
"Get him, Spidey!" Ghost Spider cheered.
Spider-Man swung over his fellow Spiders, then tried to kick Hobgoblin with both feet, but missed as he dodged.
"Not this time you don't!" he snarled.
He made to grab Spider-Man's leg, but missed by inches, before he take and throw a Razorbat out of his pouch, which hit and snapped his web-line in half.
"Huh?" Spider-Man gasped.
He turned around and shot another web at Hobgoblin, but he rose his gilder up, making him miss.
"Okay, not good!" he gasped.
He spread his wings out and began to glide towards the ground, before he hit it and skidded along it on his chest.
"OH!" he moaned, before he stopped.
He turned around and pulled himself up, as his fellow Spiders gathered around him.
"You okay?" Shadow-Spider asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Shadow." Spider-Man assured.
"You won't be for long, wall-crawler!" Hobgoblin roared. "None of you will!"
All four Spiders looked up at him as he held a Pumpkin Bomb.
"Time for you all to pay!" he roared, throwing it at them all.
"Scatter!" Spider-Man yelled.
His warning came too late however, as the bomb hit the ground and knocked them all away by the shockwave as they tried to move.
"AHHH!" they moaned.
Spider-Man hit the ground on his chest, with two holes in each arm, a big one on his left knee, and a smaller one in his lip area. Ghost Spider hit the roof of a car and rolled over it, with a hole in each other, her belly area, and part of her hood.
"Oh!" she moaned.
Shadow-Spider had a hole in his left eye area, as well as his left arm, chest and leg. Spider-Woman had two small holes in her belly, as well as two in each of her legs, and one near her left breast area, showing part of a sports bra underneath.
Hobgoblin laughed as they all lifted their heads up and looked at him, when they all heard Police sirens.
"Oh, drat! Not now! You web-heads will pay for ruining my chances tonight!" he vowed. "Soon, the city will be rid of the Kingpin forever!"
He turned and flew his gilder off as the four Spiders all kept looking at him.
"Oh, he's getting away!" Shadow-Spider complained.
"And he's too fast for us, even for me!" Ghost Spider cried, as she was the fastest of the four of them.
"Looks like we've lost him then." Spider-Woman said.
"You're right." Spider-Man said. "Come on, let's get outta here."
They all pulled themselves up, then jumped up and began to swing off away from the scene, just as four Cop cars showed up and pulled over.
A little later, all four Spiders stood together on a rooftop, all thinking about what Hobgoblin had said.
"I wonder what he was talking about?" Spider-Man said.
"Yeah; who is this Kingpin?" Shadow-Spider questioned. "And how's Mr. Fisk connected to him?"
"You have any clue, Spider-Woman?" Ghost Spider asked.
"No, I don't." Spider-Woman said. "I mean, I've heard of the name but that's it."
"Well, who is he?" Spider-Man asked.
"Some sort of crime lord in the city, who runs one of the biggest crime empires." Spider-Woman explained. "I think he might be partly responsible for all the crimes you two have been fighting the past year."
Spider-Man and Ghost Spider both turned to each other, as Shadow-Spider turned to them both.
"No offence, Shadow." Spider-Woman added.
"Hey, I understand. I'm still new at this while they've been at this for over a year now." Shadow-Spider assured.
"Is that all you know, Jess?" Ghost Spider asked.
"Yes. No one at SHIELD knows who Kingpin really is." Spider-Woman assured. "He could be the person you least suspect for all I know. I guess Hobgoblin was tipped off on it being Fisk by someone else who believes that."
"Right. Thanks for the info, Jess." Spider-Man said.
"So, what do we do, Spidey?" Shadow-Spider asked. "I mean, he got away."
"There's nothing we can do for now." Spider-Man sighed. "We'll just have to wait till he returns, 'cause I know he will. He's not the first villain Gwen and I have encountered to return later."
"He's right." Ghost Spider said. "We've faced several foes before more than once, including ones who break out of prison."
"Right." Shadow-Spider understood. "We'll just have to wait then."
"Yeah." Spider-Man agreed. "Look, I think we might need a new name. I mean, the Spider Trio isn't gonna work if Jessica's with us."
"He's right." Spider-Woman agreed. "If I team-up with you regularly, it's not gonna work."
"True. Not to mention, if more Spider-themed heroes show up, it'll be weird." Ghost Spider agreed. "We need a name that we can't change."
"Well, how about the Web-Warriors." Shadow-Spider suggested.
The others all turned to him.
"What?" he asked.
"You know, that's not too bad." Spider-Man said.
"Yeah, I love it." Ghost Spider teased. "So, Web-Warriors it is, eh, Pete?"
She put her hand out, then Spider-Man put hers on top of it.
"Agreed." he said.
Shadow-Spider put his hand on top of his, then Spider-Woman did the same.
"Jess?" Spider-Man said.
"You know it, Pete." Spider-Woman said. "I'll be the Web-Warriors representative to the Avengers, and I'll also try to persuade the media you're not menaces Jameson thinks you are."
"Thanks, Jess." Spider-Man said. "So, Web-Warriors... I'll work on the Battle Cry."
"Right." Ghost Spider teased.
They all pulled their hands away and looked amongst each other.
"Well, I better get home." Ghost Spider said. "It is getting late after all."
"Same here." Shadow-Spider said.
"Okay. You guys go on. I need to talk to Jess a little longer." Spider-Man said.
Ghost Spider lifted her mask up to her nose and kissed her boyfriend's mask, before lowering it.
"See ya, web-head." she said.
"Same here." Spider-Man said.
Ghost Spider and Shadow-Spider ran along the rooftop, then jumped off it and swung off together, as Spider-Man and Spider-Woman stared at each other.
"So, has Miles gotten the hang of his Venom Blast?" Spider-Man asked.
"Sort of." Spider-Woman replied. "He'll need more time and training, but I think I'll be able to help him completely."
"Well, look, meet him and train him as much as you can?" Spider-Man asked. "Once school restarts, he'll have less time."
"I'll meet up with him every Saturday until I'm sure of it." Spider-Woman explained. "I already told him this before you met up with us, Pete."
"Thanks, Jess." Spider-Man said, touching her shoulder.
Spider-Woman smiled and hugged him, surprising him.
"Whoa!" he yelped.
Spider-Woman pulled away from him.
"Sorry, it's just that... since we're all Spiders, I feel like we have a kindred connection, all four of us, even though I've just met Miles." she explained. "Like I said, we'll all Web-Warriors."
"I know what you mean, Jess." Spider-Man understood. "Out of all the Avengers, you're the one Gwen and I trust the most, and not just because we're Spiders."
Spider-Woman laughed at his joke, before she hugged him again, with him returning it this time, like they were siblings. They both then pulled apart and smiled at each other.
"Well, goodbye for now, Peter." Spider-Woman said.
"Same here, Jess." Spider-Man said.
They both turned and jumped off the rooftop, and swung off towards their homes.
The next morning, Hobgoblin - out of costume - woke up in an apartment's bedroom, wearing nothing but his underwear.
"Way to go, Jason." he thought, annoyed. "You failed to kill Kingpin twice in one day! Silvermane will never pay you now!"
He got out of his bed, picking up his phone as he did, and walked over towards the window. He looked out of it and at the city, when the phone rang, making him put it to his ear.
"Yes?" he said.
"You failed me, Macendale!" Silvermane roared.
"It's the Spiders fault!" Jason argued. "They even had Spider-Woman helping them out. I was lucky to avoid getting arrested thanks to them! They also acted like Fisk wasn't even the Kingpin!"
"No excuses!" Slivermane snapped, ignoring him. "I promised you money to kill Fisk and you failed to deliver! Our arrangement is off!"
"But give me another chance?" Jason pleaded. "I won't fail again! Tell me where his base is?"
"No!" Silverman spat. "You've had your chances! Kingpin will know someone hired him, most likely me! So forget it! I don't even know where his headquarters is anyway!"
He hung up, making Jason lower his phone.
"You web-heads! I'll get you for this!" he swore.
He turned and threw his phone onto his bed.
"I swear, you've robbed me of a lot of money by saving that crime lord!" he snarled. "Although, since they didn't seem to know Fisk being the Kingpin, it would make sense. They'd probably do the same to any crime lord if they don't know who they really are. Next time, I'll gladly expose them to the web-heads, make them go after them instead of me."
He walked off towards the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
"That'll defiantly ruin people like Fisk in the eyes of the people." he thought, before he laughed evilly.
A/N: Hobgoblin's real identity is Jason Macendale, the one from the 90s animated series. The other names here are alias he's used over his years as a criminal, while in the comics and different media, they're other characters who've worn the suit.
Whitney Chang is a character from the Amazing Spider-Man video games.
Eric Adams is the current Mayor of New York in real life. The comics have been known to use real politicians occasionally.