Everyone was on edge, some leaned so far in their seats that they had to catch themselves before they hit the ground in a graceful faceplant.
Peter Parker: Oh, my God. I'm dead.
The tension in the room broke and light laughter filled the air.
Stephen Strange: You're not dead. You've just been separated from your physical form.
Peter Parker: My physical... What?!
[When Strange reaches out to retrieve the box from Peter's grip, the arm suddenly moves upwards]
"Yes, Pete!" could be heard being shouted out by several people.
Stephen Strange: [confused] How are you doing that?
[He tries to grab the device again, but Peter's arm moves downward]
Peter Parker: I have no idea.
"Of course he doesn't" muttered Tony, earning him yet another slap to the back of the head from Pepper, causing him to mutter a quiet and quick; "Sorry dear,"
[Stephen reaches out, again and again, but the arm keeps going up and down.]
Stephen Strange: [under- and overreaching] You should not... be able... to... DO THAT!
"He's getting angry," snickered Sam, causing Bucky to laugh, and Strange to send them a glare that would have sent the bravest men running as fast as possible in the opposite direction.
Peter Parker: (looking at his hands) This feels amazing.
[While Strange is dealing with the moving arm, Parker air swims towards his body. When his astral form reconnects with his body, it flings back onto the pavement behind him. Peter quickly gets back up]
"Clever," muttered Bruce, while Strange looked offended.
Peter Parker: That might be one of the coolest things that's ever happened to me, but don't ever do that again.
This caused another wave of fond laughter to ripple through the assembled heroes.
[He proceeds to swing away, with Strange immediately sending his cloak in pursuit. The cape reaches Parker a few blocks later and grabs him mid-air, holding him in place.]
Peter Parker: Hey! Get off of me!
[Strange reaches them soon enough. The cape lets go of Spider-Man, flinging him away, and as he flies aimlessly, Strange opens the gateway to the Mirror Dimension. Peter hits the gate and starts falling in an opposite direction, as reality around him warps beyond recognition. Strange follows him and tries to trap him as they both travel through a mall. The environment warps, twists and duplicates, but Peter is able to evade it all. As soon as he enters open space, he is caught by surprise and hit by Strange's combo attack. Then a random train hits him. The Machina de Kadavus falls on top. Just as Stephen is about to intercept it, Peter webs it back to himself, jumping on top of the train. Stephen sighs. Peter jumps on top of the floating vehicle]
Peter Parker: What is this place?
Stephen Strange: The Mirror Dimension... where I'm in control.
"Not cool, Strange," muttered Tony, who was secretly worried for his son-not-son.
[Strange casts another spell. The New York skyline is turned upside down, while the ground level turns into the Grand Canyon, slowly covering up the remaining buildings. The train floats through it all at top speed]
Peter Parker: Strange, stop! Can we please just talk about this?
Stephen Strange: Parker, don't you realize that in the multiverse, there are an infinite number of people who know Peter Parker is Spider-Man? (pointing at the box) And if that spell gets loose, they're all coming here!
Peter Parker: Look, I know. I get it. But we can't just send them home to die.
Stephen Strange: It's their fate. You can't change that any more than you can change who they are.
Many people glared at the stoney face of Strange. Did he not care about their sacrifices?
Peter Parker: But what if we could? What if we can change their fate?
[Stephen manipulates the dimension again. The train multiplies and the copies form a cylindrical structure]
Peter Parker: Whoa, what are you doing?
[Peter is slowly being turned upside down]
Peter Parker: I'm not giving you the... (falling off) Whoa!
[Strange creates a portal loop, making Peter fall endlessly as the Cloak of Levitation springs into action once again, fighting Peter for the artifact. The young web-slinger stops himself from falling by webbing himself to the cape.]
Peter Parker: (wrestling) Give me that back!
"Of course, he's talking to the cape" muttered Strange, pinching the bridge of his nose.
[Intent on ending the skirmish as soon as possible, the Sorcerer Supreme pulls out a whip and tries to pull the artifact and the cloak to him. With Peter not letting go of the webbing, the portal loop folds in on itself and shatters the Mirror Dimension, sending everything flying in chaos. Strange and his cloak dive after the Machina de Kadavus, while Peter takes a while to land on a relatively stable piece of land and notices some familiar structures around himself.]
Peter Parker: (looking around) Wait a minute, is that an Archimedean spiral? The Mirror Dimension is just geometry? You're great at geometry. You can do geometry. [starts webbing objects together] Square the radius, divided by pi, and plot points along the curve...
"He's using Math to defeat you," Clint wheezed out, cackling at the sorcerer's expense.
[Meanwhile, Stephen has gotten a hold of the artifact.]
Stephen Strange: It's over, Parker. I'll come pick you up when it's done.
[Using his Sling Ring, he opens a portal back to the dungeon]
Peter Parker: [finishing his geometric trap] Hey, Strange. You know what's cooler than magic?
[Strange briefly looks around in confusion as the Archimedean spiral closes around the Sorcerer Supreme, who yells out as he is completely immobilized in the spider's web. Spider-Man sinks down next to the portal.]
Peter Parker: Math.
Stephen Strange: Don't do this.
[He then webs the Sling Ring from Stephen's hand]
Stephen Strange: [annoyed] Ow.
More laughter spread through the crowd, each wave harder than the last.
Peter Parker: I'm sorry, sir, but...
[He jumps through the portal, back to the Sanctum's dungeon]
Peter Parker: ...I have to try.
[After a brief look at Strange's disbelieving face, the portal closes, trapping the Sorcerer Supreme in the Mirror Dimension]
"He just left you," cackled Clint, causing people to eye-roll while trying (and failing) to hold in their laughter.
Ned Leeds: Dude, what happened?
Peter Parker: I just had a fight with Doctor Strange and I totally won!
Ned Leeds: What?
Peter Parker: Look, and I stole his ring thing.
[Ned takes it from him and puts it on]
Peter Parker: I was swinging through the city, and then I went through this... (takes off his mask) massive mirror thing, and then I was back...
MJ: Where is he? Where is he?
"Thank you," muttered Strange, face slightly pink with embarrassment.
Peter Parker: He's trapped, but... I'm not sure for how long.
Otto Octavius: (disbelieving) You could've just left us to die. Why didn't you?
MJ: Because that's not who he is.
"Very true," said Tony proudly, puffing out his chest with pride.
Peter Parker: I think I can help you guys. If I can fix what happened to you, then when you go back, things will be different and you might not die fighting Spider-Man.
Max Dillon: What do you mean, "fix us"?
Peter Parker: Look, our technology is advanced...
Norman Osborn: I can help you. (smiling) You know, I'm something of a scientist myself. (nodding to Doc Ock) Octavius knows what I can do.
Otto Octavius: Fix? You mean like a dog? I refuse.
"He's just trying to help, stop being ungrateful,"
Peter Parker: I can't promise you guys anything, but at least this way, you actually get to go home and have a chance. A second chance. I mean, come on. Isn't that worth trying?
Curt Connors: Trust me, Peter... When you try to fix people, there are always consequences.
Peter Parker: I mean, you don't have to come. I also didn't know that you could talk.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, several chuckles filled the air.
[The Lizard growls in disapproval]
Peter Parker: But if you stay here... you're gonna have to deal with the wizard.
Curt Connors: Ah, so, we go along, or die. Not much of a choice, is it?
Flint Marko: I just wanna go home.
Many people felt their hearts break a little at that statement.
Max Dillon: Well, I myself don't wanna be killed, especially by a guy dressed like Dungeons & Dragons, so... what's your plan?
Laughter rang out again.
Peter Parker: I have it all under control.
[He calls Ned and MJ for a little timeout.]
Peter Parker: (holding up the Machina) What are we gonna do about this thing?
MJ: Well, we need to find somewhere safe for it, right?
Ned Leeds: Yeah. Yes. Yes.
Peter Parker: You got to take it.
MJ: Wait, what?
Peter Parker: If something bad happens, I'll text you, and then you just push this, and then it's all over, and they'll all be gone.
MJ: We're going with you. We're not gonna leave you.
Many of the heroes were impressed. They liked this MJ.
Peter Parker: You can't come with me. It's too dangerous. You guys have already done enough.
Ned Leeds: Peter, we're in this together.
Peter Parker: I know we're in this together, Ned, but I can't do this if I know that you're in danger. Okay? So for me, MJ, please just take this. Please.
Many heroes were proud of the size of Peter's heart. When they got back, they were going to make sure none of this will ever happen.
MJ: Fine.
Peter Parker: Thank you.
MJ: But Peter, I swear, if I don't hear from you, I'm pressing the button.
Peter Parker: Sure.
MJ: Okay. [to all the villains] And I will do it!
[Norman nods in approval]
Max Dillon: Yeah, we all believe you, Michelle.
Curt Connors: [amused, disbelieving] No way that's his girlfriend, no way.
Peter Parker: She'll do it.
Ned Leeds: Absolutely. She will.
"She's like a mini you, Nat," Clint said, before ducking behind his seat from the force of the glare sent his way by the infamous Black Widow.
Peter Parker: Okay.
[He bids his friends farewell.]
Peter Parker: See you later.
Ned Leeds: Be safe.
Peter Parker: You too.
[After doing their overly elaborate high-five, a few sparkles spring from Ned's palm]
Ned Leeds: Whoa. Okay.
Strange's eyes widened a little, just a fraction.
[Ned leaves. MJ kisses Peter.]
MJ: Be careful, okay?
Peter Parker: Yeah. You too.
[He watches her leave as well, then turns to the villains]
Peter Parker: So, uh... Who's coming with me?
[Osborn seems to have made up his mind. He glances at Octavius, who in turn glances at Parker with annoyance, but also reluctant acceptance.]
Max Dillon: Well, I'm in. But, if this goes sideways... I'mma fry you from the inside out.
Many of the heroes were concerned, could Peter really trust them?
-------------
A/N
Hey guys!
I'm so sorry this took so long to update, I was really busy.
Anyway, I hope you like the new chapter.
Enjoy!
- Skywalker out!