So in this chapter, I'm going to be introducing my version of Madame Web, who will be more closer to her comic-book counterpart and not like the version Sony created in the Madame Web movie that I've heard is terrible. Enjoy!

Episode 119: The Lair of Madame Web!

"But wait a minute!" Peter Quill interjected while Gwen Stacy was coming out of her dressing room. "Nick Fury said Doctor Strange and Thor went missing after Thor's siblings tried to summon Surtur not too long ago. So we might not be able to get the Time Stone Badge."

Hearing that made Peter Parker's spirits dampen.

"Maybe Doctor Strange will be back by the time we get to Kamar-Taj," Peter said optimistically.

"And if Doctor Strange was smart enough, he probably assigned someone to run the Kamar-Taj Realm in his place," added MJ.

"I hope you two are right," Quill said. "Because I'd hate to go all the way up to that freezing village for nothing."

"Well, it won't be nothing for me and MJ," Gwen pointed out. "Because Pepper Potts is currently up at Kamar-Taj judging the next Marémon Lovers competition."

"Right," MJ agreed.

"And since I didn't win this contest, your secret is safe with me," Gwen said to MJ as she walked away with Greengob and Gwespin in tow.

"What secret?" Peter asked MJ.

"It's nothing important," MJ insisted. "Now let's get to Kamar-Taj already!"

After leaving the amphitheater, Peter and MJ went to a nearby Marémon Shop to restock their supplies for the journey before leaving Sokovia City. They caught up to Gwen and Quill near the fork in the forest with one leading up into the mountains and the other going around them.

"Getting a sense of déjà vu here," Quill commented.

"Only this time, Steve Rogers isn't with us," Gwen said irritably. "Maybe we should just go around these mountains and take another path up to Kamar-Taj from Baxter City. That way, we won't potentially run into any Team HYDRA guys."

"But it'll take longer to get to Kamar-Taj that way," Peter argued.

"I agree with Peter," MJ said. "And besides, we were able to handle Team HYDRA when they invaded Professor Xavier's school."

"Yeah, but that was only because the X-Men conveniently showed up," Quill said. "Without them or Steve, I'm not too confident in our chances against HYDRA."

"Fine, then you two can go the roundabout way while Peter and I will take the more direct path," MJ said, locking arms with Peter. "I bet we'll reach Kamar-Taj first!"

"Is that a bet?" Quill said, looking interested.

"Sure," MJ agreed. "If Peter and I make it first, you have to treat us to Kamar-Taj's famous hot springs. But if you and Gwen get there first, we'll treat you to the hot springs."

"Deal!" Gwen agreed. "I've always wanted to try their hot springs."

"Aren't there a lot of naked people at that place?" Quill remembered.

"There's a section of the springs that kids can go to where they require bathing suits," Gwen said. "So it'll be fine."

Thus the four went their separate ways with Quill and Gwen heading down the paved path that went around the mountains west of Sokovia City while MJ and Peter went the other way.

"Hey, MJ," Peter said. "I think we're lost."

Several hours had passed since he and MJ had been traveling along the dirt path up to the mountains. They had just found the plateau where Kraven the Hunter had attacked them a week ago, but the path had disappeared under a thick lair of snow that coated the whole area.

"It must have snowed since we were last here," MJ guessed. "Let's make camp and try to figure out where to go tomorrow."

"No way!" Peter objected. "I'm not staying."

"You can't let your fear of Kraven get to you!" argued MJ. "He's got SHIELD after him, remember? So he's probably nowhere near this place."

"I hope you're right…."

"And if anything dangerous comes near us, your Spider-Tingle will let us know."

Peter gave MJ a confused look. "Spider-Tingle?"

"That thing you do that senses danger, like Spidermin's Spidey-Sense?"

"But I don't know how to control it, MJ. It just…happens."

"I'm sure with practice, you can hone it."

A bunch of shapes suddenly moved in the snow toward Peter and MJ. Spidermin immediately noticed and threw a Stun Web toward the shapes. However, the shapes suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind Spidermin surrounding MJ and Peter.

"Gwespins!" MJ realized upon seeing multiple copies of the white-and-purple insect Marémon that Gwen had. "I've never heard of them attacking in groups."

"Neither have I," Peter said.

Before Spidermin could react, the group of Gwespins shot electric webbing from their mouths forming a large web that covered Peter and MJ. They were instantly electrocuted and passed out from the shock to their nervous systems.

Then sometime later, Peter woke up. His body ached all over, and felt the blood rushing to his head. But as he got his bearings, he realized he was hanging upside-down in a large web.

"How did I get here?" Peter wondered before immediately remembering what happened. "MJ!"

Peter strained his neck to find his friend. He found MJ hanging in a web that was identical to his nearby. But unlike him, she was completely unconscious.

"Wake up, MJ!" Peter cried.

She didn't stir, implying she heard nothing.

"You need to get up!" Peter insisted. "I think the Gwespins who attacked brought us to their home and are going to eat us!"

"Pipe down, Peter Parker!" shouted an elderly female voice. "You'll disturb my Marémon."

Looking around, Peter tried locating where the voice came from. "Who are you?"

A light suddenly turned on, making Peter realize he and MJ were in a large cave with water dripping from the ceiling. On a raised platform in the cave was an old woman with dark shades sitting in an elaborate chair with mechanical webs holding the chair in place.

"You may call me Madame Web," the old woman said. "And I have been watching you for a long time, Mister Parker."

"How do you know my name?" Peter demanded. "I've never met you before."

"I know a great deal of things, Mister Parker, even though I am blind and paralyzed from the waist down," Madame Web continued. "When you became a Mutant after being bitten by your Spidermin to save you from Veneo's parasitic influence, I had a vision that you would encounter a great danger in Kamar-Taj that will tear apart our world and kill anyone who stands in its way. So I had my Gwespins capture you and your female friend to keep you safe for the time-being."

To be continued…