Hobie scoffed, the chains rattling as he yanked them off himself and tossed them aside. "You keep talking about this 'canon' like it's some law carved in stone. But laws are meant to be broken, bruv."
Up in the rafters, Spider-People whispered amongst themselves.
"Do you think Hobie was right?" one of them murmured.
"Spectacular Spider-Man's been through this already. He's seen what happens when you mess with canon events.." another replied.
"Yeah, but Hobie doesn't care. He's all about breaking the rules."
Spectacular Spider-Man heard the murmurs, but he kept his focus on Hobie. "You think it's just about being a rebel? It's not that simple. People die when you mess with the canon. People you care about. I've lived it. And if you go down that path, you'll live it too."
Hobie gripped his guitar tighter, the defiant spark in his eyes never wavering. "You don't think I know that? I'm not blind to the consequences. But I'm not gonna sit back and let some cosmic script tell me who lives or dies. I'm gonna fight it, even if it means fighting every Spider in this room."
Spectacular Spider-Man sighed, realizing there was no convincing Hobie with words alone. "Then we're gonna settle this the only way we know how."
The two Spider-Men rushed at each other, their movements making the floor tremble. Hobie swung his guitar with powerful force, while Spectacular Spider-Man dodged and countered with the smooth precision of someone who had fought many battles before. They traded punches, web shots, and flips, each trying to prove what it truly meant to be Spider-Man.
With each hit, the battle only grew more intense, but neither of them showed any signs of backing down. In that moment, it was clear to everyone watching: this wasn't just a fight about who was stronger—it was about whose belief could shake the very foundation of what it meant to wear the mask.
............
Michael Wilson, the legendary Spider-Man, stood in the center of the vast chamber, his black suit gleaming under the dim, ambient light. The dark blue spider emblem on his chest pulsed slightly with each breath he took, while his eyes, hidden behind a mask, remained focused and sharp. The atmosphere was tense—Peni Parker stood by his side, her massive SP//dr suit ready for battle. But as the Spider-People closed in, something unexpected began to unfold.
One by one, the Spider-Men surrounding them began to kneel. The sudden shift in demeanor caught Michael off guard. He had been bracing for an all-out fight, but now, confusion mingled with his readiness. He exchanged a bewildered glance with Peni, who seemed equally perplexed.
Michael's stance softened slightly, though he remained vigilant. "What... what's going on?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly in the large, quieting room.
Peni, still inside her mech, shook her head slowly. "Um, I don't know.." she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty as her mech's glowing eyes scanned the crowd.
Then, breaking the silence, one of the Spider-Men stepped forward—a version of Spider-Man from Insomniac's Earth-1048, his suit marked by the iconic white spider emblem. He looked directly at Michael, his expression a mix of respect and contemplation.
"We decided to give up... after what we heard." the Insomniac Spider-Man began, his voice steady but carrying a weight of realization.
Michael narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you mean?" he asked, the tension in the room slowly ebbing away but still present enough to keep him cautious.
The Insomniac Spider-Man took a deep breath before continuing. "Because of your conviction," he said, his tone carrying both admiration and solemnity. "We overheard what you said to Peni, how you reached out to her. It got us thinking."
Michael's posture relaxed a little more as he listened, still processing the change in atmosphere. Peni's SP//dr suit mirrored his actions, its massive form shifting to a less aggressive stance.
The Insomniac Spider-Man turned his head slightly, glancing at the other Spider-People around him, who nodded in agreement. He then looked back at Michael, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and doubt. "We thought... if it was you, perhaps..." He hesitated, searching for the right words. "Perhaps you could change the canon event."
The weight of those words hung in the air, heavy and loaded with meaning. Michael stared at him, the implications slowly sinking in. The idea of defying the canon event—the very thread that bound the multiverse together—was something every Spider-Person knew not to tamper with. But now, faced with this show of faith from so many different versions of Spider-Man, Michael felt the enormity of what they were asking.
Peni, sensing the shift, stepped forward, her SP//dr mech leaning down slightly to meet Michael's gaze. "Michael..." she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and hope.
Michael looked around at the kneeling Spider-Men, the realization of what they were asking him to do sinking in. His mind raced with the possibilities, the risks, the consequences. But deep down, he knew they wouldn't be kneeling if they didn't believe, if they didn't see something in him that they believed was capable of altering fate itself.
Peni, her voice steady yet filled with emotion, broke the silence. "Go, Michael. Protect Miles. We'll handle things here."
Michael looked at Peni, her SP//dr mech towering beside him, and then turned his gaze to the countless Spider-People surrounding them. Each one had faced their own trials, their own canon events, but now they were placing their trust in him. He felt a surge of gratitude and determination.
Nodding, Michael said, "Thank you, Peni. And..." He paused, taking in the faces of the many Spider-People, some familiar, others completely new, but all united in this moment. "Thank you, everyone."
With a final look at the crowd, Michael launched himself into the air. He swung through the vast place, the cheers and words of encouragement from the Spider-People echoing in his ears. As he ascended through the places of the Spider-Verse, he knew he was no longer alone in this fight.
Miles needed him, and he would be there, not just as a fellow Spider-Man, but as his mentor that will change the fate for him.
.................
In the futuristic cityscape of Nueva York on Earth-928, the home of Miguel O'Hara's universe, towering skyscrapers glowed with neon lights, and flying vehicles zipped through the air, creating a chaotic yet vibrant atmosphere. The sky was tinged with hues of deep purple and blue, reflecting the advanced technology that dominated this world. Miles Morales, desperately trying to evade capture, had been webbed on his back and yanked onto the rooftop of a massive, machine-like structure, humming with energy and activity.
As he was pulled up, Miles quickly scanned his surroundings. The rooftop was a labyrinth of metal beams, gears, and spinning turbines, all part of the city's intricate infrastructure. The entire place felt alive, as if it were a giant, breathing entity. It was a disorienting mix of technology and motion, and it made finding a way out even more challenging.
"Who…" Miles began, his voice full of dread as he turned around.
Standing before him was Peter B. Parker, his once easygoing mentor, now with a baby strapped to his chest in a Baby Chest Carrier. The sight of Mayday Parker, Peter's daughter, was both heartwarming and surreal amidst the tension.
"Peter." Miles breathed, a mixture of relief and confusion washing over him.
"No, no. Let me go." Miles insisted, backing away, his mind racing with the fear that Peter B. might be there to capture him too. The distrust and desperation in Miles' eyes were palpable as he scrambled for an escape.
Peter B., seeing Miles' reaction, sighed heavily, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. "It is crazy to run." he said, his voice carrying a note of resignation as he moved closer, trying to keep up with the younger Spider-Man. Despite the chaos, Peter was still the Peter he knew—holding his baby with one hand, trying to navigate this impossible situation with the other.
Miles, crawling towards the wall, shot back, "Running is the least crazy thing going on."
Peter B. held Mayday close, his expression softening as he tried to connect with Miles. "Look, I feel bad." he admitted, hoping to bridge the gap between them.
"Good!" Miles snapped, his voice edged with anger and hurt as he quickened his pace, heading towards the distant location of the Go Home machine.
"But this is just how stuff works," Peter B. called after him, his tone gentle but firm. "You're not gonna win here."
Miles, determined, still pushed forward, the Go Home machine representing his last hope to save his father.
Peter B., knowing he needed to reach Miles on a personal level, tried a different tactic. "Just wait, don't move. Stop moving so fast." he pleaded, struggling to keep up as Miles swung through the obstacles of the rooftop.
"No!" Miles shouted back, refusing to slow down, his mind set on reaching his goal.
Peter B., in a last-ditch effort to appeal to Miles' heart, held up Mayday. "Do you wanna hold my baby?" he asked, the question almost absurd in the middle of their chase.
Miles skidded to a stop, incredulity washing over him as he turned to look at Peter B. "What?"
"Would you just give the baby one squeeze and then we'll talk?" Peter B. suggested, his voice calm and persuasive. He knew it was a bizarre offer, but he also knew the bond they shared might be the only thing that could slow Miles down.
Peter B. met Miles' gaze, his eyes earnest. "I think it's gonna change our vibe. It's very rejuvenating."
Miles, still on edge, shook his head slightly, his resolve unshaken. "I'm plenty juvenated." he shot back, though the absurdity of the situation did manage to break some of the tension.
Despite the chaos, the moment was a reminder of the bond they shared, even in the middle of the most desperate circumstances.
Peter B. Parker's voice softened as he said, "You'll get more so when you go chest-to-chest with this magical child." Baby Mayday chuckled softly, her innocent laughter cutting through the tension, but Miles remained focused, not allowing himself to be swayed.
"You don't get to have a heartfelt conversation with me." Miles said firmly, his emotions held tightly in check. He began to walk away, determined to keep moving forward, but Peter B. wasn't ready to give up.
With a quick swing, Peter B. appeared in front of Miles, blocking his path. "Just hold the baby, we'll see what happens!" he urged, a hint of desperation in his voice.
Miles shrugged it off, brushing past Peter B., intent on his mission. But then, Peter B.'s next words made him pause.
"You're one of the reasons I had her, okay?" Peter B. shouted after him.
Miles stopped and looked back, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his eyes.
Peter B.'s expression was serious, almost pleading. "You... and Michael. You both were the reason I had her," he said, his voice full of emotion. "Michael taught me how to be a good man... and you taught me that having a child can also be good."
Miles listened in silence, his heart heavy with conflicting feelings.
Peter B. continued, his voice cracking slightly. "And I thought that if I did a decent job raising her, then there was a chance she was gonna turn out like you."
Miles turned away, looking at the path ahead, but Peter B.'s words lingered in the air. Peter B. watched him, his emotions laid bare. "And that got me excited because you are a wonderful person."
As he looked at Miles' back, Peter B.'s feelings were a jumble of love, regret, and hope. "And I like being around you.." he added, his voice filled with sincerity.
Miles finally responded, his voice tinged with hurt and disappointment. "Then why didn't you come see me?"
Peter B. faltered, the guilt heavy in his chest. "Bec…" He stopped, struggling to find the right words. "I couldn't."
Miles turned to face him, his eyes filled with the pain of betrayal. "I wanted to be with you guys so badly. But this thing…" He gestured around them, his voice growing more intense as he locked eyes with Peter B. "Isn't what I thought it was."
Peter B. could only stand there, the weight of his choices pressing down on him as he realized how deeply he had hurt someone he cared about. Miles' words cut deep, and Peter B. knew that no amount of apologies or explanations could fully mend the rift between them.
Peter B paused, his expression softening as he gathered his thoughts. "Look, bad things are gonna happen. It makes us who we are." he said, his voice gentle but firm. He knew what Miles was trying to do—save his father—and he wanted to prepare him for the possibility that things might not go as planned.
Peter B continued, "But good things happen too, you know?" He reached out and patted Miles on the shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.
Miles looked up at him, his eyes searching for reassurance.
Peter B smiled, "Like you happened." He then glanced down at his daughter, Mayday, who was strapped to his chest in her baby carrier. "And she happened."
Suddenly, Mayday reached out and grabbed onto Miles, pulling herself into his arms. Miles fumbled, caught off guard by the baby's sudden move. "Hey, I don't…" he stammered, awkwardly holding her.
Peter B chuckled, shaking his head. "And you are so bad at holding a baby."
As they shared a brief moment of levity, Peter B's watch suddenly beeped. A voice came through, saying, "We got your location, Peter."
Miles and Peter B exchanged looks, realization dawning on both of them.
Peter B quickly tried to explain, his voice tinged with panic. "Wait, wait. No, no! You do not have my location. Over."
But the watch continued, "Send everyone."
Peter B turned to Miles, desperation in his eyes. "No, no, no, Miles, I didn't know. I promise you."
Miles, understanding that it wasn't Peter B's fault but also knowing that he had no time to waste, looked at his friend with a mix of regret and determination. He needed to keep moving.
"I have to go." Miles said, pulling away.
Peter B reached out, trying to catch up with him. "Please, man, let's talk about this."
Miles glanced back at him, a small, sad smile playing on his lips. "We did." In a swift motion, Miles used his webbing to trap Peter B, wrapping him and Mayday securely.
Peter B sighed, his voice tinged with resignation. "Good talk."
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of dozens of Spider-People approaching filled the air. Miguel O'Hara, Jessica Drew, and Gwen Stacy were at the forefront, their expressions focused and determined.
Gwen's eyes were filled with concern as she saw Miles, wanting desperately to protect him from what was coming. Miguel, on the other hand, was relentless. "Get him!" he commanded, his voice cold and unwavering.
"Miles…" Peter B called out, still trapped.
But Miles didn't look back. He took off running again, swinging through the futuristic cityscape of Nueva York, determined to reach the Go Home Machine before it was too late. The chase was on, and Miles knew that every second counted. He had to keep moving, had to keep fighting in order to save his father, no matter the odds stacked against him.
To be continue