Chapter 8: Catalysts
Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter! This one was really fun to create, especially with the two new OC villains I introduced. I also want to thank Cloud4012 and Kival737101 for letting me use their OC characters. I don't own anything except my own OC. Anyway, sit back, relax, review, and enjoy!
At the Midtown High Fall Formal, Harry's limo pulled up, and Harry, Flash, Randy, Sally, Glory, and Liz stepped out.
"Thanks for the ride, Harry," Glory said with a smile.
"My chauffeur is at our beck and call," Harry replied smoothly.
"Don't forget to vote for King and Queen of the ball!" called a girl at the voting booth nearby.
The group headed over to vote, each of them grabbing a ballot.
"Who are you voting for, Glory?" Harry asked.
"Duh, me and Liz, obviously. Who else is worthy?" Flash chimed in with a grin.
"I think we all know the answer to that, don't we, Rand?" Sally nudged.
"As far as I'm concerned, Osborn can have it. His limo, his after-party… Dude rules," Randy said, to Sally's annoyance.
"We're going to Le Hissyfitte, best restaurant in town. My treat," Harry added, making them all smile.
"Osborn, you're the man!" Flash declared, high-fiving Harry.
"You know it!" Harry responded confidently.
Inside the venue, they spotted Gwen and Eddie, both dressed to impress.
"Hey, Harry, did you just get here?" Gwen called out, but Harry and his group walked right past them.
"Let's get a picture to capture this moment," Harry suggested, posing with his friends.
"Not cool," Eddie muttered as he watched them walk away.
"That bowtie must block the blood flow to his ears… and his brain," Gwen quipped, just as Jake and Mia walked over to join them.
"Hey, Gwen, Eddie," Jake greeted with a smile. "Everyone's looking pretty sharp tonight."
"Thanks, Jake! You two look amazing," Gwen said, giving them an approving nod.
"Ready to hit the dance floor?" Mia asked, excitement in her eyes.
"Let's make this night unforgettable," Jake said with a grin, and the group headed into the ballroom, ready to enjoy the night.
As they posed for the picture, Harry was trying to butter them all up by telling them about the restaurant.
"What the? I don't believe it." Flash said in disbelief.
"It's true gold dust," Harry assures.
But they weren't talking about the food, they saw Jaden walking in with MJ.
Intro Music: Spectacular Spider-Men* Theme Song
Living on the edge
Fighting crime, spinning webs
Swinging from the highest ledge
He can leap above our heads*
Spider-Man swings gracefully through the cityscape at sunset, dodging obstacles and performing daring flips.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Villains on the rise
And the city's victimized
Looking up with no surprise
Arriving in the speed of time*
Shadow Spider (Jake) swings in from the shadows, landing next to Spider-Man. They exchange a quick nod before jumping into action against a group of armed thugs.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular*
The two Spider-Men work in perfect harmony: Spider-Man uses his web-shooters to immobilize criminals while Shadow Spider performs high-speed acrobatics, taking down enemies with precision.*
Crawling through the night
Facing evil in his might
He's a hero in our eyes
See the headlights every time*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider patrol the city at night, moving stealthily across rooftops. They spot a car chase below and spring into action, webbing up the fleeing criminals.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Making villains fall
Webbing rivals to a halt
Racing up and down the walls
Bringing justice to us all*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider face off against a formidable villain on top of a skyscraper. They use their combined skills to defeat the villain and restore peace.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider stand side by side on a rooftop, overlooking the city as the sun sets. They watch as the city lights flicker to life.*
Meanwhile, at the Daily Bugle, a man with black hair streaked with gray tips and a mustache was getting ready for the night. This was J. Jonah Jameson.
"Miss Brant! This stupid bowtie is defective! I want a new one around my neck in four seconds!" Jameson barked as Betty Brant stepped in to help him tie it. His employees gathered around, looking on.
"Come on, Mr. Jameson! An investigation into the identities of Spider-Man and Shadow Spider—let's uncover the guys behind the masks," Ned said eagerly.
"And what if it's Joe Schmoe? You want to make them out to be just regular guys, and no one wants to see a regular guy!" Jameson grumbled.
"Depends on what that guy does." A voice interjected as a young man in a blue suit adorned with medals entered the room. It was John Jameson, and Jonah's face lit up.
"John! Come give your old man a hug," Jameson said, embracing his son.
"Joseph Robertson, still keeping my dad in line?" John asked, smiling at the Bugle's editor.
"I try," Joseph replied with a grin.
"Betty Brant, Ned Lee, this is my son. John's going up in the Space Shuttle next week, so I'm taking him out for one last night on the town… or planet," Jameson said proudly.
"You sure you want to go up into space? Especially after the United Heroes fought off that alien invasion a while those years ago before disbanding ?" Ned asked.
"Aliens? Please! No brain-sucker is getting my son. Let's go, John," Jameson replied, leading his son out.
As they left, Joseph turned to Ned. "Hey, about that Spider-Man and Shadow Spider exposé… run with it. Let's see where it leads," he said, making Ned grin with excitement.
Back at the dance, Jaden was introducing MJ to everyone.
"So that's the girl Jaden was talking about. She seems nice," Jake said, noticing MJ, while Mia shot him a look.
"Yeah, I'm glad Jaden managed to come with someone," Mia said.
"Yeah, but… I kinda hoped if he came, it'd be with me," Gwen admitted, frowning and regretting not asking him sooner.
"How does a guy like Cooper land a girl like that?" Flash muttered.
"Jaden cleans up pretty well," Glory noted, and Liz seemed to be eyeing him as well.
"You know, it's not just the food. The view from the private room is amazing, too," Harry said.
"Easy, Osborn. Remember we've got a big game coming up—we can't spend all our time at fancy restaurants," Flash reminded him.
"He's right. We need everyone ready and on deck, so enjoy tonight while we can," Randy added, making Harry a little nervous.
"I don't get it! Geeks like Cooper don't end up with girls like that… like us," Sally said, quickly correcting herself. "She must've lost a bet or something."
"A bet. Of course," Flash realized with a smirk.
"Mary Jane, meet my friends: Gwen, Eddie, Jake, and Mia," Jaden introduced them.
"What's up?" Jake greeted her with a smile.
"Hi! Jaden's told me a lot about you guys," Mary Jane replied warmly.
"So, uh, Mary Jane, how did you and Jaden… you know?" Gwen asked curiously.
"Well, don't laugh, but our moms kind of set us up," MJ admitted with a bit of a cringe.
"Wait—you're the girl he was talking about?" Gwen asked, surprised.
"Yeah. Don't be hard on Tiger; he was just being nice and wanted us to give this a shot," MJ explained.
Hearing this, Gwen felt a little better.
"I'm gonna introduce her to Harry. You guys have fun," Jaden said.
"Oh, we will," Mia said with a smile, while Eddie narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Mary Jane Watson, meet Flash, Liz, Randy, Sally, Glory, and my best friend, Harry," Jaden introduced. "They're… popular."
"Ah, the in-crowd," MJ observed.
"Exactly," Sally said, giving her a glare.
"So, Cooper, you actually got yourself a date. You weren't joking earlier. I guess you won the bet, huh?" Flash smirked, moving closer.
"What did you bet?" MJ asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Loser dresses up as a cheerleader for Halloween," Jaden explained with a grin.
"When did you make this bet?" MJ asked, intrigued.
"A few hours after I asked you out," Jaden admitted with a shrug.
"Wait, what?" Flash paused, realizing he'd been played.
"Well, big guy, I hope you've got the legs for a skirt," MJ giggled.
"You set me up," Flash muttered, finally catching on.
"Hey, not my fault you didn't believe me," Jaden smirked.
"Come on, Tiger, let's have some fun," MJ said, pulling him away, leaving Flash grumbling in frustration.
Nearby, Harry tried to make conversation with Glory. "Uh, shall we?" he asked hopefully.
"Maybe when everyone has a little less to prove," Glory replied, raising an eyebrow at Flash.
"Yeah… less to prove," Harry echoed. "Want some punch?"
"Please," Glory nodded with a small smile.
As Jaden and MJ were about to head to the dance floor, Jaden glanced over and noticed Kenny approaching Glory with a flower in hand.
"Oh no… Harry," Jaden murmured, sensing trouble.
"Look, Glory, I know I was a jerk, but… give me one more chance, please?" Kenny asked, holding out the flower.
"Oh, Kenny…" Glory looked touched.
Harry, watching nearby, crushed his cup in frustration, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Meanwhile, Jake and Mia, who had noticed the interaction, exchanged a glance. "Hey, Mia, I'll be right back. No one treats my friend like that," Jake said, turning invisible as he slipped away
"Be careful, Jake," Mia said, watching him go with a look of concern.
Back with Jaden, he turned to MJ. "I'm sorry—I need a minute," he said, stepping away.
"Where are you going?" MJ asked, confused.
"To do something really stupid," Jaden replied before heading toward Glory and Kenny. "Hey, sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to you. Like, right now." Grabbing Glory's hand, Jaden led her into the hallway.
"What the hell, Cooper?" Kenny growled.
"Jaden?" Harry said, looking bewildered.
Once they reached the hallway, Jaden let go of Glory's hand.
"Hey, what was that about?" Glory asked, looking annoyed.
"Look, I'm sorry for dragging you out here, and I know this isn't any of my business, but please… don't do this to Harry," Jaden said earnestly. "Before you make any decisions about Kenny, just wait until the dance is over. Give Harry a chance."
"What?" Glory asked, surprised by his tone.
"I've known Harry for years. He's a great guy. Sure, he's acting a little braggy tonight, but that's just because he's nervous. He's been talking about coming here with you all day. I've never seen him this excited before," Jaden explained.
"Really?" Glory softened a bit, looking thoughtful.
"Look, I'm not asking you to choose Harry over Kenny or anything. But you came to this dance with Harry. At least give him tonight," Jaden said gently.
"You really care about your friend, huh?" Glory observed. "Ever since he joined the team, he's barely hung out with you."
"Yeah, well, that's the thing about friends—you're there for them, no matter what," Jaden replied with a small smile.
"I guess I can give Harry until the end of the dance," Glory said, smiling. "He must be a good guy if he has a friend willing to go this far for him."
"You won't regret it," Jaden assured her.
As they made their way back to the dance, Jaden silently hoped that Harry would realize he had a true chance with Glory—and that he wouldn't let it slip away. Jake, who had been watching from the shadows, gave Jaden a thumbs-up as he reappeared, making Jaden smile as they both returned to the dance.
Meanwhile, Jake slipped back into visibility and rejoined Mia, who gave him a curious look.
"So, did you handle it?" Mia asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jake nodded, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Kenny wasn't following Glory back onto the dance floor. "Yeah, Jaden stepped in just in time. I think Glory's giving Harry another shot tonight. He better make it count."
Mia smiled approvingly. "Good. Harry deserves a real chance, and it sounds like Jaden gave her some solid advice."
Jake chuckled. "Jaden's good at stuff like that. He's always looking out for his friends." He glanced over to where Jaden was chatting with MJ, both of them laughing as they headed onto the dance floor. "Guess he's finally having a good time too."
Meanwhile, at OSCORP, Otto Octavius made his way through the lab.
"Hello?" he called, looking around after hearing a noise. "Is someone there?"
He turned and jumped, startled by his own reflection.
"Look at yourself, Otto. You're afraid of your own shadow. Next, you'll be seeing gremlins in the machines or little green men," he muttered. Just then, he heard another noise and turned to see a figure with green skin, a goblin-like mask, and purple armor riding a high-tech glider.
"Oh no! The glider—that's Mr. Osborn's Tech-Flight glider!" Otto panicked, but the man only laughed maniacally before flying out the window.
In a sketchy part of town, three criminals were inside an apartment building, struggling to open a safe.
"All I'm saying is, I could've cracked it open there," one thug grumbled, jamming a crowbar into the safe.
"Cops would've cracked you open first. Cops or Spider-Man—and Shadow Spider," the second thug replied. "Look, Hammerhead is waiting. The Big Man wants his cut. Forget the crowbar and just blow it up."
"I oughta blow you up," the first thug retorted. Just then, the door was blown down, and the green-skinned figure floated in on his glider.
"Did someone mention explosives?" he asked with a wicked grin.
"Get the freak!" the first thug ordered, but the goblin-like figure took down two of the crooks with ease. "Uh, I mean—get the freak anything he wants."
"What I want is your undying loyalty—or the dying kind," the Green Goblin declared. "The Green Goblin is nothing if not flexible."
He placed a small bomb on the safe, blowing the lid open to reveal stacks of cash inside.
"We appreciate the help, but we work for the Big Man. If we switch loyalties, we might as well put the toe tags on ourselves," the second thug said.
"I'm good with knots too. And as for the Big Man—his party's over." The Green Goblin smirked, taking out a bomb shaped like a pumpkin. Suddenly, a blue portal opened up, and two figures stepped out.
One wore a black-and-white costume with a black spider symbol, a hood, and dark tendrils on his back—this was Mask. The other wore a long trench coat and a hat, his face obscured.
"Who are these freaks?" one thug muttered, just as a dark tendril lashed out, ripping the gun from his hand and smashing it against the wall.
"I'm not here for you guys. I'm here to make a deal with Goblin," Mask said with an evil grin. "My friend here doesn't say much, but he gets the job done. We'll help you take down the Big Man—or send a message. Doesn't really matter to us."
Mask exchanged a sinister glance with the Green Goblin as their alliance began to take shape.
Across town at Tombstone's building, a grand party was in full swing, with a band playing and numerous guests mingling, including Jameson and his son.
"As many of you know, I'm L. Thompson Lincoln. Thank you for coming to support the Lincoln Dynamic Youth Center," Tombstone said, as the crowd applauded.
"Some party, eh, Johnny boy?" Jameson smiled.
"It's great, Pop, but honestly, I was hoping for a night with just you, me, and a rare steak," John admitted.
Seeing his son's lack of enthusiasm, Jameson chuckled.
"Then come on—Lincoln's got enough of the Bugle's money. We can be at Luigi's in 88 seconds," Jameson said, heading to the elevator. As the doors opened, a thug in a pumpkin mask stepped out.
"Sorry, elevator's closed," he said, aiming a gun at them.
From the stairway, two more goons in pumpkin masks entered.
"Stairs too," one added.
"Of course, you could try a window," he sneered just as the Goblin flew in through the window, startling everyone with a cackling laugh as he approached Tombstone.
"Hello, good evening. I am the Green Goblin, and I'm looking for the Big Man," he announced.
"Sir, I don't know who you are—" Tombstone began.
"Of course you don't. That's the whole point of the mask, genius," Goblin mocked. "But I know who you are, crime king. So step down, or I start sharing secrets."
"You're making a big mistake. Security, this man is obviously troubled. Take care of him," Tombstone ordered.
Several goons stepped forward, brandishing tasers to protect their boss.
"Still hiding behind an army of thugs, huh?" Goblin taunted.
As they fired at him, a figure in a trench coat suddenly dropped down, webbing up the tasers, pulling them from the thugs' hands, and throwing them back. The tasers ended up shocking the goons instead. Goblin, laughing maniacally, remained unaffected while the goons collapsed.
Flying around on his glider, Goblin swung up onto the chandelier.
"He swings through the air, dishing out fear—this daring Goblin on the big chandelier!" Goblin sang mockingly.
Seeing an opportunity, John elbowed a nearby goon, grabbing his gun.
"Dad, we need to get everyone—" Before he could finish, the trench-coated figure shot a web, pulling the gun from John's grip, making him wince in pain.
"Johnny!" Jameson gasped, holding his son close.
"Now, now, stay put—or else," Goblin threatened, jumping back onto his glider.
"There's no need to threaten my guests," Tombstone said coolly.
"Oh, there is if I want witnesses, Big Man," Goblin sneered.
"You okay, Johnny?" Jameson asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, Pops," John assured him.
Taking out an earpiece, Jameson discreetly called his office.
Back at the dance, as Jaden and MJ danced, he suddenly heard a ringing.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone, only to see it was silent. Checking his other pocket, Jaden pulled out another phone and saw a police alert.
Cringing, Jaden held up his phone to MJ, indicating he had to take the call. Smiling, she gestured for him to go ahead.
Stepping outside, Jaden opened the alert to see Jameson's call being patched through.
"Some maniac is attacking the charity event. Get your butts over here now!" Jameson shouted, making Jaden wince.
"Suddenly, I'm glad I didn't take that job working for him," Jaden muttered, putting his phone away.
Meanwhile, MJ made her way to the snack table, where she saw Glory and Kenny talking.
"Sorry, Kenny, but I need a little time to figure things out," Glory said.
"But a few minutes ago, you were so happy," Kenny replied, looking confused.
"Yeah, I'm happy you apologized, but I came here with Harry today. You're just gonna have to wait," Glory said, walking away, leaving Kenny in the corner, alone and puzzled.
"Did you just turn down a football player?" MJ asked, walking over.
"Temporarily. So what do you think of Midtown High?" Glory asked.
"Seems like my old school. Basic brain pit," MJ shrugged.
"Well, we also have the top theater magnet in the state," Glory pointed out.
"Theater, huh?" MJ said thoughtfully.
Nearby, Jaden looked over at Jake and Mia before walking over and tapping Jake on the shoulder.
"What's up?" Jake asked.
"Trouble. Any chance I can ask you to keep an eye on things here?" Jaden whispered to him.
Jake glanced at Mia, then back to Jaden.
"I'm coming with you," Jake said firmly.
"No, wait, you can't do that. What about Mia?" Jaden asked, surprised.
"With great power comes great responsibility, right?" Jake replied.
"Yeah…" Jaden said, nodding as Jake turned back to Mia.
"I have to go help Jay with something important. Do you mind staying back here? I'm really sorry," Jake said.
"Go ahead, Jake. Do what you need to do. But be safe, okay? Plus, when you come back, I'm saving you a dance," Mia replied, smiling warmly.
Jake quickly kissed her on the cheek, making her blush. "You're the best," he said before he and Jaden ran off.
"Wait… did I just kiss her on the cheek?" Jake stammered, blushing heavily as Jaden laughed.
Jaden smiled before walking over to MJ. "Listen, I'm sorry, but my boss just called me. He needs me to help with something important, and if I don't, I might get fired."
"Well, don't let me hold you up. Just hurry back, Jaden—you owe me one more dance," MJ said, smiling.
"Really? Oh man, thanks, MJ. I promise I'll be back as soon as I can," Jaden said, running out, with Jake following close behind him.
A moment later, Gwen walked over to Mia.
"What happened?" Gwen asked.
"Work. Sounded important," Mia said with a slight sigh.
Back at the charity event, Tombstone and the Goblin were staring each other down.
"What do you want?" Tombstone asked.
"Oh, so the whole 'wanting to destroy you and take over your empire' thing wasn't clear? Darn," Goblin pouted.
"Uh, excuse me." Looking up, everyone saw Spider-Man and Shadow Spider standing by the hole Goblin had made. "So, is this party invite-only, or can we just drop in?"
"Yeah, because I haven't eaten anything all day, and I see you guys have pizza bagels," Shadow Spider added.
"Spider-Man and Shadow Spider?" Tombstone, Goblin, and Jameson said, surprised.
"What's this? Your latest project turned rogue on you?" Spider-Man asked Tombstone.
"Yeah, and who's the guy in the trench coat? He's looking at me weird," Shadow Spider added.
"I have no idea who these two are, but they're not my employees," Tombstone said.
"Well, either way, I'm gonna kick his butt like he is one of yours," Spider-Man said.
"Yeah, I've got plans tonight, so I really don't have time for this," Shadow Spider said.
"Hello! I'm right here. You're both so rude," Goblin snapped.
"Hey, don't get me wrong, pal. I don't mind if you mess with Tombstone, but don't drag innocent people into this. It sends mixed signals," Spider-Man said with a shrug.
"Yeah, and all the good folks here paid good money to be here, and you're really making a scene," Shadow Spider added.
"Hmm, that is quite a puzzle," Goblin said, floating up to meet them. "But the Green Goblin has a solution. You two and I join forces. Consider what we could accomplish together. We could rule New York!" He laughed.
"Wow, I'd settle for just Manhattan, but I'm gonna have to say no. I already have a team in mind, and you're too psychotic to be a part of it," Spider-Man replied.
"Yeah, I'm out too. I'm more of a Bronx guy anyway," Shadow Spider said.
"Oh well, your loss of life!" Goblin shouted, pointing his fingers at Spider-Man and Shadow Spider. He fired at them, forcing them to jump down.
Firing multiple webs, Spider-Man tried to trap Goblin, but the villain flew around, dodging every shot.
Goblin fired at Spider-Man, but Shadow Spider shot webs back just as fast.
Grabbing a table with his web, Spider-Man threw it at Goblin, who swatted it away.
Using the moment, Goblin rammed into Spider-Man, sending him flying through a new hole in the window.
"Hey!" Shadow Spider yelled, swinging in to attack Goblin, but the trench-coated figure leaped in, kicking Shadow Spider to the floor. Just before the figure could land on top of him, Shadow Spider rolled out of the way and got back on his feet.
"What's your problem?" Shadow Spider asked as the trench-coated figure stood in front of him.
As he plummeted toward the ground, Spider-Man fired a web and swung back into the room.
"Okay, where's that rude green dude?" Spider-Man asked, looking around.
"Present and accounted for," Goblin sneered. "And now that you have your partner, I want to introduce mine." At that moment, the trench-coated figure removed his coat, revealing a man with a spider's head, four eyes, sharp claws, and talons, along with spider-like legs protruding from his back. It was Man-Spider.
"Ladies and gentlemen, spiders of all ages, I present to you… Man-Spider!" Goblin cackled, pulling out a pumpkin bomb.
Spider-Man barely dodged the bomb as it exploded, then leaped onto the railing.
"Man, you give spiders a bad name," Shadow Spider said as Man-Spider charged at him, swinging his spider-like legs. Shadow Spider's senses flared, and he quickly jumped over Man-Spider, shooting multiple webs. But Man-Spider grabbed the webs, yanking Shadow Spider in and punching him, sending him crashing into a wall.
Goblin took out more gadgets, each with sharp edges.
"Geez, if you worked for Santa, you'd be so fired," Spider-Man said, dodging the gadgets.
Leaping down onto a table, Spider-Man flung dishes and a chocolate cake at Goblin.
Goblin dodged the silverware, and the cake landed on Jameson.
"Spider-Man!" Jameson snapped.
"Oh, man, sorry! But, you know, we should really talk about those articles you've written about me," Spider-Man said, realizing who he hit.
"Look out!" John shouted.
Turning around, Spider-Man saw Green Goblin flying toward him.
Spider-Man did a backflip, narrowly dodging the attack.
Goblin threw a gadget at him, slicing the logo on Spider-Man's suit.
"Hey! If you're not gonna respect me, at least respect the suit, you Elf on the Shelf reject! Now, stand down," Spider-Man ordered.
"Sorry, but the Green Goblin doesn't take orders from insects. He swats them into oblivion!"
"Get your facts right, Gobby! Spiders are arachnids, not insects," Spider-Man retorted as Goblin hurled another bomb at him.
Grabbing a tray lid, Spider-Man smacked it into the air, causing it to explode mid-flight.
"Man, I hope MJ and the others are having a better night than us," he thought.
Glancing over, Spider-Man saw Shadow Spider delivering a venom blast to Man-Spider, who shook it off and shot his own web, swinging a whole table at Shadow Spider. He narrowly avoided it with a backflip, but as he landed, Man-Spider punched him, sending Shadow Spider rolling across the ground.
"Okay, this is tougher than I thought," Shadow Spider muttered, getting back on his feet.
Back at the dance, everyone was gathered around to see who would be the King and Queen.
"Alright, students the votes are for the King and Queen of the ball. Your King is…Flash Thompson."
"That's my man," Kenny said as he and Randy high-fived said jock before he made his way onto the stage.
"And your queen is…uh "Red Haired girl who came with Jaden Cooper?" Is that right?" He read.
Much to everyone's shock, Mary Jane made her way on stage.
Needless to say, Liz and Sally were not thrilled about this.
"Well this is unexpected," Mia said.
"I know it sounds petty but seeing Jaden's date crowned alongside Flash makes me smile," Gwen admits looking at Eddy.
"Still I would think after Jaden's little stunt with Glory he'd have gotten a few votes," Eddy said looking around. "Hey speaking of any word on him or Harry?"
Pausing both girls shook their heads.
"Well wherever they are they better hurry back," Eddy said.
At the other party, the fight between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin was getting messy.
As Spider-Man fired a web to try and catch him, Goblin threw his gadgets, slicing through the web and knocking Spider-Man into a food table.
"May I see your invitation, Spider-Man? Otherwise, I'll have to ask you to leave," Goblin sneered.
"Leave now? But I haven't even gotten dessert yet!" Spider-Man replied, getting up.
Goblin cackled as he flew in, hurling pumpkin stars. Spider-Man dodged them, landing behind him on his glider.
"Ooh, did you want a ride? Keep our guests comfy, boys. I'll be back in a New York minute," Goblin laughed as he and Spider-Man shot out the window.
"Spider-Man!" Shadow Spider yelled, about to shoot a web and follow, but Man-Spider grabbed his foot and threw him against a table.
"All right, ugly. You want to go? Let's go!" Shadow Spider said, charging up a venom punch. but Man-Spider caught it, punching him back. Shadow Spider flipped and landed smoothly, shooting webs into Man-Spider's face before running in to punch him in the gut and finishing with a roundhouse kick to the face.
Man-Spider wiped off the webbing, then used the spider legs on his back to attack. Shadow Spider dodged each leg, barely managing to avoid them.
Shadow Spider and Man-Spider locked eyes, the intensity radiating through the room. Man-Spider let out a bone-chilling screech and lunged forward, his four spider-like limbs striking at Shadow Spider like spears. Shadow Spider rolled out of the way, feeling the air slice where he'd been just moments before.
"Oh, come on, buddy!" Shadow Spider taunted, backflipping over one of Man-Spider's clawed swings. "I know you're all legs, but keep your arms to yourself!"
Man-Spider screeched louder, his clawed limbs whirring like jagged gears as he charged again. Shadow Spider leapt high, rebounding off a pillar, then shot a web straight into Man-Spider's face, covering his extra eyes.
"Hey, buddy, ever heard of *minding your own web business*?" he joked, landing a solid kick to Man-Spider's chest, sending him stumbling backward. Man-Spider clawed the webs from his face, his eyes narrowing as he recovered.
Without wasting a second, Shadow Spider dashed forward, winding up a venom punch and slamming it into Man-Spider's gut. The impact sent a shockwave through the room as Man-Spider's screech reverberated, and he staggered backward, swinging wildly. Shadow Spider dodged each strike with a series of acrobatic flips, spinning around him like a whirlwind.
"Whoa, getting a little *touchy, aren't we?" Shadow Spider quipped as he narrowly evaded a swipe. "I didn't know I was your *type*!"
Man-Spider growled, launching himself up the wall and clinging there, before scurrying around the room at breakneck speed, his limbs creating deep scratches across the walls. Shadow Spider, not missing a beat, fired webs to slow him down, but Man-Spider snapped them away, shrieking in frustration.
"Guess someone skipped leg day!" Shadow Spider laughed, then fired two more webs at the ceiling. He swung forward, gaining momentum, and at the peak of his swing, he let go, landing a brutal double kick square to Man-Spider's face. Man-Spider reeled, his screech turning into an enraged howl as he tumbled to the ground, disoriented.
As Man-Spider rose, Shadow Spider somersaulted over him, landing behind his foe, and prepared for a final strike. He charged up his venom blast, letting it crackle in his fist as he closed in.
"Here's a little *shock* therapy!" Shadow Spider shouted, slamming the venom blast into Man-Spider's back. The energy surged through him, causing Man-Spider to spasm, his limbs jerking uncontrollably. With a final, high-pitched shriek, Man-Spider fell to the floor, defeated.
Shadow Spider, panting, looked down at his opponent with a smirk. "Whew, you really put up a fight, ugly. But don't worry—I hear there's an opening in the *creature feature* business."
Man-Spider gave one last, defeated groan before going silent.
Shadow Spider dusted himself off, glancing around the wreckage left behind. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go catch up with a certain goblin." He fired a web to the ceiling and swung out of the room, leaving behind the aftermath of his epic showdown.
"Okay, Gobby, who the hell taught you how to fly?" Spider-Man shouted, clinging desperately as Green Goblin's glider zigzagged through the night sky.
"Yeah, this feels more like a roller coaster than a fight!" Shadow Spider added, swinging alongside them.
With a wicked grin, Goblin suddenly veered, knocking Spider-Man off the glider. Shadow Spider shot a web to catch his friend, but Goblin tossed a pumpkin bomb between them, forcing them apart.
"Hey, watch it! Some of us have *plans* after this!" Shadow Spider shouted, flipping to safety.
Spider-Man fired a web to swing to safety, but as he tried to fire another, nothing came out. "*Perfect timing*" he muttered to himself before reaching for a fresh web canister on his belt. Reloading quickly, he glanced at Shadow Spider, who gave him a thumbs-up.
"At least this time I came prepared," Spider-Man said with a smirk. But just as he secured his line, Goblin swooped down, slamming into him.
"You know the old saying—if you can't join 'em, beat 'em!" Goblin sneered, launching pumpkin bombs in their direction.
"How're you gonna beat us if you can't even hit us?" Spider-Man quipped, dodging the explosions as he swung through a nearby construction site.
Shadow Spider grinned, swinging high above. "And here I thought you were aiming for the *bad guys!*"
Goblin growled, "Practice makes perfect!" and shot after them, dodging girders and steel beams.
"Personally, I'd rather not make this a *thing*" Spider-Man said, looping around a crane before landing a well-aimed kick to Goblin's chest.
The Goblin tumbled backward, but he recovered quickly, directing his glider straight through the nearest building, smashing glass and sending debris flying. He emerged unscathed on the other side, cackling.
"Wow, I hate to admit it, but that was kind of impressive," Spider-Man muttered.
"Think that's impressive?" Goblin sneered, clicking a button to reveal a glinting blade on the front of his glider. He zeroed in on Shadow Spider, who was scaling a wall nearby.
"Incoming, Shadow!" Spider-Man shouted.
At the last second, Shadow Spider leapt off the wall, somersaulting over Goblin and shooting a web straight into his face. "Sorry, Gobby, your flight's been canceled!"
Goblin screeched as Spider-Man and Shadow Spider yanked him down together, firing multiple webs that wrapped around him. But Goblin only laughed harder, his cackle echoing through the night.
"I fail to see what's so funny," Spider-Man said, tightening the webs.
"Just the little fire-and-brimstone pumpkin I left back at the party," Goblin jeered. "In a few minutes, the crème de la crème of New York will be painting the ballroom red!"
Shadow Spider's eyes widened. "Oh, that's definitely not on the menu tonight."
Without a moment's hesitation, the two heroes released Goblin, shooting webs back toward the party.
"Last one there owes me pizza!" Shadow Spider yelled as they swung full-speed back to the scene.
Firing a web, Spider-Man swung back to the party as fast as he could, with Shadow Spider swinging in right behind him.
At the party, the thugs had their weapons pointed at the crowd.
"What do we do?" one of the goons asked nervously.
"Hold things down until the Goblin gets back," the other replied.
"Bad news on that front," Spider-Man said, landing gracefully in the middle of the room. "Goblin left you all a parting gift—a bomb. So unless you want to be here when it goes off, I suggest clearing the room. Now."
Shadow Spider flipped down beside him. "You heard him. Move it, or you'll be toast!"
The thugs hesitated, then raised their weapons to fire. But before they could get a shot off, Spider-Man and Shadow Spider fired webs, yanking the guns right out of their hands.
"That includes you guys," Shadow Spider said, crossing his arms. "Trust us, you don't want to stick around."
"We work for the Goblin," one of the thugs said defiantly.
"Every last fragment of you?" Spider-Man countered. "Because when that bomb goes off, you're all just as dead as the rest of us."
"He's bluffing," one of them muttered, but his voice wavered.
"Is that a risk you're willing to take?" a deep voice interrupted from the back of the room. Tombstone stepped forward, smirking. "Especially when you've already made so many."
That was enough for the thugs, who bolted for the stairs.
"Everyone to the stairs! Move!" John Jameson shouted, guiding people toward the exit. The crowd followed in a mad rush.
As John and his father, J. Jonah Jameson, were the last to run out, Spider-Man looked around the room, considering.
"Okay, if I were an evil pumpkin bomb, where would I be?" he muttered, tossing tablecloths aside and flipping over tables in a hurried search.
Beside him, Shadow Spider shrugged. "Knowing Goblin, probably somewhere dramatic. This guy loves a spectacle."
At that moment, Tombstone was also searching the room.
"What are you still doing here?" Spider-Man asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"My party, my mess," Tombstone replied coolly.
Meanwhile, John stopped on the stairs, a memory flashing through his mind of when Goblin had been on the chandelier.
"The chandelier!" John realized, turning back.
"John, don't! We can still get out of here and grab that steak!" Jameson called, trying to pull him back.
"Spider-Man! Chandelier!" John shouted, pointing upward.
"Thanks! Now get out of here!" Spider-Man replied, springing up toward the chandelier. Shadow Spider followed close behind, prepared for whatever was up there.
Inside the chandelier, the pumpkin bomb's blinking light was speeding up—it was seconds from detonation.
"Shadow, time to play hot potato!" Spider-Man said, firing two webs around the bomb.
"Go long!" Shadow Spider quipped, helping Spider-Man sling the bomb out of the window just as it exploded outside in a fiery blaze.
The two heroes landed back inside, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Phew. Just under the wire," Spider-Man said, wiping his brow. Tombstone, standing in the shadows, began to clap slowly.
"You know," Spider-Man said dryly, "getting applause from you isn't as nice as I thought it'd be."
"Perhaps not, but someone should point out that I offered you a handsome salary to do exactly what you just did for free," Tombstone said with a smirk. "That, my young heroic friends, is what adults call *irony*."
Shadow Spider snorted. "Irony or not, we didn't do it for you. We did it for the people held hostage here. You were just unlucky enough to be in the crowd."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Tombstone said with a sly smile, turning and walking away.
Outside, Jameson was already on the phone, barking excitedly to his editor at the Bugle.
"Robbie, have I got a headline for you! My son saves New York City!" he exclaimed.
"Uh, Dad, they're gonna do an investigation," John muttered, looking nervous. "They might…y'know…scrub me from the mission."
Jameson grumbled. "Fine. Scratch that headline. Give the credit…to Spider-Man and shadow spider ." He sighed heavily, as though the words pained him. "To Spider-Man and shadow spider , confound it!"
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider swung away from the party, but as they scanned the skyline, they noticed the Goblin was already gone, his restraints cut loose.
"This day just keeps getting worse and worse," Spider-Man groaned.
"Hey, look on the bright side," Shadow Spider said. "At least J. Jonah Jameson finally had to give you some credit!"
Spider-Man chuckled. "True, but something tells me it'll be back to 'menace' by tomorrow."
They exchanged a grin before swinging off into the city, ready for whatever came next.
Back at Midtown High, Harry panted heavily in the bathroom as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beaker labeled OSCORP: GOBLIN GREEN.
After chugging the contents, he made his way out, only to find Glory waiting by the door.
"G-Glory?" Harry said, surprised.
"There you are, Harry," Glory said, walking up to him. "I've been looking all over for you. What happened?"
"I, uh, just needed some time alone. Where's Kenny? I thought you two got back together," Harry asked.
"Hmm, we almost did," Glory replied. "But then a friend of yours made me realize that maybe I should give you a chance to prove yourself. What do you say we get you cleaned up and go to that after-party?" she suggested.
"R-Really?" Harry smiled.
"Yeah, but maybe somewhere small. You don't need to go big and flashy to impress me, Harry," Glory said.
"Well, I know a nice little restaurant. It's not the best in town, but they have good desserts," Harry offered.
"Sounds good to me," Glory said as they walked out.
As they did, Glory reached out and took Harry's hand.
"So, uh, which friend of mine talked to you?" Harry asked.
"I'll tell you when we get there," Glory smiled.
Down the hall, they didn't notice Jaden rushing past them.
Panting, Jaden looked toward the dance floor and saw it was almost over—MJ was already dancing with someone else.
"Aw, man. So much for a fun night," Jaden groaned.
"Hey, why so down?" MJ asked, walking up to him. "I saved the last dance for you."
"Really?" Jaden smiled.
"You earned it—especially after what you did," MJ said, taking his hand and pulling him onto the floor.
"Uh, did what exactly?" Jaden asked nervously.
"Glory told us what you did for Harry. You really are something else, Jaden," MJ said.
"I, uh, I do what I can," Jaden smiled.
As a slow song began to play, Jaden and MJ danced to it.
Even with all the troubles of the day, he made it through—and even managed to have a little fun.
Meanwhile, Jake was running through the halls of Midtown High, calling out for Mia.
"Mia? Mia?" Jake called, until he noticed a note in his locker.
"Meet me on the roof," he read aloud.
Without hesitation, he shot a web out of the nearest window and swung up to the school roof. When he arrived, he found Mia standing there.
"What are you doing up here?" Jake asked.
"I just wanted to get away from everything for a bit. Besides, don't you owe me a dance?" Mia said, smirking as Jake blushed.
"I... I really don't know how to dance," Jake admitted.
"Oh, really? The great Shadow spider , big hero, doesn't know how to dance?" Mia teased, laughing.
"Hey, it's not my fault!" Jake protested, blushing even harder.
"Don't worry; let me teach you," Mia said, smiling as she turned on some music on her phone.
Can I Have This Dance
As the first notes of the song filled the cool night air, Mia took Jake's hand, her fingers warm and steady in his. She gave him a soft, reassuring smile and began to sway, pulling him gently into the rhythm of the music.
Then, with a soft and melodic voice, Mia started singing the first verse:
"Take my hand, take a breath… Pull me close and take one step…"
Her voice was barely louder than a whisper, but it carried all the warmth and sincerity that Jake adored about her. She moved closer, guiding him into the dance with a gentle, fluid motion. Jake watched her, momentarily captivated, then realized he was supposed to be dancing. He stumbled a bit, making her chuckle, and he couldn't help but smile back, feeling his nerves start to ease.
As Mia kept singing, her voice grew stronger:
"Keep your eyes locked on mine… And let the music be your guide…"
Encouraged by her gaze, Jake took a deep breath and began to relax into the moment. Just as they reached the end of the first verse, he gathered his courage and joined her for the second:
"Won't you promise me… that you'll never forget…"
His voice was a little shaky at first, but he held her gaze and gained confidence with every word. He noticed Mia's smile widen as their voices blended together, and it gave him a warm thrill that eased his nerves even more.
"We'll keep dancing… wherever we go next…"
As the music swelled, they moved in sync, swaying under the soft glow of the rooftop lights. Jake found himself easing into the dance, his steps growing smoother. Mia didn't let go of his hand, guiding him through the steps as they sang together, their voices harmonizing with the song:
"It's like catching lightning… the chances of finding someone like you…"
They sang the words softly, as if the lyrics were written just for them. With every beat, Jake grew more confident, his movements more fluid. He took a gentle step forward, leading Mia into a turn, and she laughed in delight as he guided her smoothly back into his arms.
"It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do…" they sang in perfect harmony, their voices becoming more intertwined with each verse.
As the song continued, Jake surprised himself by leading Mia into a slow spin. The movements came naturally now, as though he'd been dancing his whole life. They fell back into step together, close enough that he could see the spark of happiness in her eyes. In that moment, all of Jake's earlier awkwardness was gone, replaced by a confidence that felt as new as it was thrilling.
"Take my hand, I'll take the lead… And every turn will be safe with me…"
His voice was steady now, carrying a strength that hadn't been there at the start. With every word, every step, he felt himself fully present in the moment. Mia followed his lead with ease, her eyes never leaving his. Her expression held a mixture of surprise and admiration that made Jake's heart pound in his chest.
"Don't be afraid, afraid to fall… You know I'll catch you through it all…"
They moved together, perfectly in sync, almost like the music was created just for them. Mia's hand tightened slightly in his, and Jake smiled, his gaze softening as he sang, "Even a thousand miles… can't keep us apart."
He felt as though the world had faded around them, leaving only the two of them on this rooftop, their voices filling the air as they danced beneath the starlit sky.
As the final chorus approached, they sang together, their voices strong and full of emotion:
"It's like catching lightning, the chances of finding someone like you…"
Their steps slowed, their voices blending in harmony as they sang the last few lines, "So can I have this dance? Can I have this dance?"
As the final notes played, they stood close, their breathing synchronized as they gazed at each other. Without a word, Mia took a small step forward, her eyes never leaving his. Jake's hand gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing against her skin as he leaned in, and, for a perfect, quiet moment, they shared a kiss that held all the words they couldn't say.
When they finally pulled back, Mia's cheeks were flushed, and a shy smile tugged at her lips. Jake's heart raced as he searched for something to say, but she beat him to it, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"I guess you're a fast learner, after all, shadow spider ."
Jake laughed softly, squeezing her hand. "I had a great teacher."
They stayed on the rooftop a little longer, laughing and talking under the stars, both silently wishing this moment could last forever.
Meanwhile, in Titanium City, a man walked through a quiet cemetery. He had brown skin, stood tall with black hair and brown eyes, and wore a dark suit. This was Zeke Andrew, also known as Blackbird.
He stopped at the grave of his parents, Jason and Zoe Andrew. Placing flowers gently by the headstone, Zeke let out a heavy sigh.
"Sorry I haven't visited in a while. I've taken on another one—a little different from the others. I don't know if you'd like him, but the kid's got heart, that's for sure. We make a good team... though he's still got a long way to go."
"Master Zeke."
Zeke turned to see an older man, Bernard, standing by the car, waiting patiently. "Time to go."
Zeke nodded, turning back to his parents' grave with a faint smile. "I'll come back sooner next time," he promised quietly.
As he returned to the car, they began the drive back to the mansion.
"So, Bernard, what's on my schedule for today?" Zeke asked.
"You'll need to prepare for the board meeting coming up," Bernard replied. "Not to mention, there's a meeting with the mafia tomorrow evening, both of which will require a good deal of rest."
They entered the Bird Nest, Zeke's high-tech base, where they found Molly and Dylan standing in front of the large computer screen, analyzing some data.
"Hey, what are you kids doing up? You should be in bed," Zeke said as he entered the room.
"Yeah, we know, Dad, but we wanted to show you something," Dylan replied, eyes bright with excitement.
"We think you might be interested in these two," Molly added, pointing at the screen. "We met them while we were saving Titanium City while you were out, and I think you'll want to know more about them."
"That's only because you have a crush on one of them," Dylan teased, causing Molly to blush.
"Shut up, Dylan!" Molly snapped, though her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. Dylan just chuckled in response.
"So, tell me about them," Zeke said, looking at the screen with growing curiosity.
"Their names are Jaden Cooper and Jake Evans, though most know them as Spider-Man and Shadow Spider," Molly explained.
"Just like you and Bluebird used to be—the dynamic duo. Meet the Web Warriors," Dylan said, a hint of admiration in his voice as Zeke studied the profiles on the computer screen.
Zeke's eyes scanned the screen, intrigued by the profiles of the young heroes. He took a moment before speaking, his tone thoughtful. "Spider-Man and Shadow Spider, huh? They're impressive for their age. They remind me of... well, the early days with Bluebird."
"Right?" Dylan said, his excitement barely contained. "They're out there every night, just like you used to be. And they've already taken down some pretty big threats."
Molly nodded, her enthusiasm shining through. "They're not just skilled fighters—they have heart. They're willing to risk everything to keep people safe."
Zeke looked at his kids, a hint of pride in his gaze. "You two did a good job connecting with them. Building relationships with allies in this line of work is... not always easy. And it's important."
Dylan grinned. "You mean like how you built a 'relationship' with Bluebird?" he teased, raising an eyebrow.
Zeke smirked, folding his arms. "Something like that," he replied, brushing off the implication. "But allies aren't just assets in a fight. They're people who remind you of what you're fighting for."
Molly looked at him earnestly. "Dad, we know it's dangerous, but having friends out there—having each other—it's worth it. And these guys… they could be allies we can trust."
Zeke nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Alright, I'll look into them. But you both need to promise me something."
They both looked at him, expectant.
"Stay cautious," Zeke said, his voice firm. "Be smart about who you trust and remember that allies can become targets too."
The siblings exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.
"Good," Zeke said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "Now, seriously, it's late. Off to bed with both of you."
"Fine, fine," Dylan laughed, grabbing Molly's arm. "C'mon, let's leave the old man to his 'research.'"
Molly rolled her eyes but smiled. "Night, Dad."
As they left the room, Zeke watched the profiles of Spider-Man and Shadow Spider on the screen. He couldn't help but wonder about these new heroes who were following in his footsteps—and what kind of legacy they would create.