In this chapter I'm briefly mentioning Silas Thorne, a minor antagonist in the Spider-Man Clone Saga, though the outcome of his encounter with the Scarlet Spider is slightly different here than it was in the comics. Otherwise, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!

Episode 44: Forgiveness for Past Crimes!

"What was that all about?" MJ said to Ben once they were all back at the Mercury Rising Hotel in a different room from the one Peter and his friends were in before. "You told us before the La Vie City Police came into Don Fortunato's office that you sent an anonymous message to them before you entered the Fortunato Casino in case you and Thor ran into trouble, but didn't show any gratitude to Officer Brian, who basically apologized on behalf of the La Vie City Police."

"Because one officer's apology isn't enough to make up for what the police didn't do for La Vie City," Ben said. "That's why I became the vigilante Scarlet Spider, so people like Cassandra and her daughter don't have to suffer."

A knock at the hotel room door interrupted MJ's response. Thor answered the door, and it turned out to be Cassandra with her daughter Abby clinging to her side.

"Sorry to interrupt, but my daughter has a request," Cassandra said and pushed Abby forward.

"Um, Peter, may I see your Shadusk?" Abby said.

"Sure," Peter said nervously and summoned the Shadusk Cassie.

When Cassie saw Abby, she attempted to flee into one of the shadowy corners of the room. But Abby grabbed her and hugged her tightly.

"Please forgive me, Cassie," Abby said as tears rolled down her face. "I didn't know you were the same Marémon that I had. My mom explained that you died, and came back as a Shadusk. So I'm sorry for being scared when you hugged me."

Cassie hesitated, and then she turned around and wrapped Abby in a blanket of darkness.

"If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me," Cassandra said as she stepped forward. "Cassie died so Abby could live, but it wasn't right for me to take the life of my daughter's beloved Marémon."

"No, it wasn't," Ben said. "Are you willing to accept the consequences of your actions?"

"Yes," Cassandra nodded with tears in her eyes. "So, Abby, would you like to go on a trip?"

"A trip?" Abby looked up from Cassie's embrace. "To where?"

"To your uncle Silas Thorne's Forbidden City hotel," Cassandra replied.

Abby didn't seem too happy. "But I thought you hated him after he tried to steal from our hotel."

"Yes, I did hate him. But after the Scarlet Spider put him in jail the year before, he says he's decided to reform. And my bodyguard Slate will accompany you to make sure Silas doesn't try to pull anything."

"But won't you be coming with me too?"

"I have to go on a trip of my own, Abby, to make up for the bad things I did."

"How long will you be gone?"

"One or two years, depending on if I can get a good lawyer."


The next morning, Peter, MJ, and Thor met up with Ben, Cassandra, and Abby in the hotel lobby. Outside, a limo was parked where an intimidating-looking bald man stood. Peter guessed the bald man was Slate, but he didn't say anything as Abby embraced her mother tightly. She then walked over to Peter and looked down at Cassie, who stood in Peter's shadow.

"As much as I would like to take you with me, the Forbidden City Hotel doesn't allow Marémon," Abby said tearfully to Cassie. "So I want you to stay with Peter and take good care of him, okay?"

Cassie made a distorted hum as she nodded and embraced Abby one last time.

"And besides, I've got Slate to protect me," Abby added.

"That's right," Cassandra said, glancing at Ben. "And of course, the Scarlet Spider will always help those who are in trouble in this town."

"He sure will," Ben nodded.

Then Abby hugged her mother again and walked out the front door to meet Slate at the limo, which she got into. Once the limo drove away, Ben walked over to Cassandra.

"Ready to go to the police station?" Ben asked.

"Yes, I'm ready," Cassandra replied, holding a suitcase in her hand. She then looked at Peter, MJ, and Thor. "I wish safe travels for you three, and thank you for freeing this hotel from the Rose's tyranny."

"It was nothing," Thor bragged. "We deal with criminals all the time!"

"Not true," MJ argued. "All we do is meddle in other people's businesses, and it just happens to involve criminals."

"But still, we appreciate your kindness," Peter said. "And for letting us stay the night for free while refunding our hotel bill."

"I thought it was the least I could do to show my gratitude," Cassandra said and glanced at Cassie. "And I hope you can forgive me for what I did to you in your previous life."

In response, Cassie looked astray.

Cassandra then walked with Ben out the door, while MJ, Peter, and Thor followed. Then just as Ben waved a taxi down, he threw something at Peter. Catching the item, Peter saw it was a red spider-shaped communicator.

"You can use that to call me in case of trouble," Ben said to Peter. "But seeing how you and your friends ended up saving me, maybe I should contact you instead."

Peter laughed a little. "Yeah, but I don't have any sort of communicator to give you."

"Just send me your phone-number through the communicator, and I can use my own communicator to call you," Ben replied. "Maybe the next time we meet, you'll already be a Marémon Hero."

"I hope so," Peter said.

Ben saluted to Peter, then he and Cassandra got into the taxi, which drove away.

"Okay, in the future, we are not staying in La Vie City for any length of time," MJ said. "Now we have to make up for lost time if we hope to get to Sokovia City and find out what's going on there with the anomaly that might be related to the Scarlet Witch."

"We didn't loose that much time, though," Thor said. "All we have to do is take the train out of La Vie City, which will take us to Sokovia City in less than a day."

"But if Sokovia City is blocked off, the train may not be running and it will take us at least three days to get through the valley between La Vie and Sokovia City," MJ complained.

"Let's just see what the situation is when we get to the train station, okay?" Peter said, coming between Thor and MJ.

"Fine," MJ grumbled as she flagged down another taxi.

To be continued…