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Chapter Nine

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After Ned successfully portaled all of you to Lady Liberty - and wasn't that awesome? - you and the other Peters took the time to set up the different cures around the construction equipment while Peter called the Bugle tip line.

"So how many other superheroes are in this universe?" Tall Peter asked, "Cause I was really the only one in mine."

"Oh, we have a lot here. Superpowers are more normalized I guess."

Nodding seriously, Old Peter asked, "Lots of freak accidents?"

Resisting the urge to laugh, you shook your head, "Only some, really. Um, we have mutants, like me, who were born with their powers. There were some accidents or some science experiments. There are Norse Gods here too."

"Like Odin and Thor type of Norse Gods?"

"Yeah, and I've asked- most of the stories aren't true and they're super sensitive about them so..."

It was then that your Peter swung up to where the three of you were sitting. He sat down next to you, your shoulders brushing. The two of you tended to avoid anything outright romantic while on missions so as not to interfere with your focus, but he also desperately needed the support.

"Wow. God, this is so cool. I always wanted brothers," Tall Peter gushed, looking at the others with a wide grin. You'd grown up as an only child but you considered the X-Men to be older siblings, so you understood where he was coming from, "So you could like make your own web fluid in your body?"

"I'd rather not talk about this."

"No, I don't mean to-"

"Are you teasing me?"

"No, no, no. No, no, no. He's not teasing you. It's just that we can't do that, so naturally we're curious as to how your web situation works. That's all."

"If it's personal, I don't wanna pry. I just think it's cool. "

Older Spider-Man chuckled, "No. I wish I could tell you, but it's like, I don't do it- like I don't- I don't do breathing. Like, breathing just happens."

Your Peter and Tall Peter stared at him in shock, "Like, does it just come out of your wrists, or... does it come out off anywhere else?"

Snorting, you nudged Peter at that, although you were eager to hear the answer as well. You could only imagine what being able to create your own web fluid would mean. You could create your own water but that didn't come from your body it came from the air.

Brow raising, Older Peter responded, "Only the wrists."

"You never had a web block? Cause I run out of webs all the time. I had to make my own lab. And it's a hassle."

"That sounds like a hassle. But I did, actually, as you said that I was like- I had a web block!"

"Why?"

"Existential crisis stuff."

You couldn't help but laugh at that. Every hero went through at least one existential crisis throughout their life. Many times that was the reason they became heroes in the first place. It seemed like similar things happened in other universes as well.

"Yeah, don't get me started on that."

"What are like, some of the craziest villains that you guys have fought?"

"Seems you've met some of them," that tracked. It was definitely a crazy cast of characters you were dealing with, "I fought an alien made out of black goo once."

"No way! We fought an alien, too. On Earth and in space."

"Yeah, it was kind of traumatizing but pretty cool once you think about it."

Tall Peter pouted, "I wanna fight an alien. I'm lame. Like, I fought a Russian guy in a rhinoceros machine."

"Hey, can we rewind it back to the 'I'm lame' part? 'Cause, you are not."

"Aw, thanks. No, yeah. I appreciate it, I'm not saying I'm lame."

"But it's just the self-talk maybe we should, you know. You're Amazing. Just to take it in for a minute. You are amazing."

"I guess I am."

"You are amazing."

"Thank you. I kinda needed to hear that."

Having three Peter's in the same place was chaos and you were here for it. They constantly bounced off of each other, which shouldn't have been surprising considering they were the same person, but it was still incredibly interesting to see. They were all at different points in their lives and had different experiences but at their core, they were entirely Peter Parker.

Shooting up, Peter's grip tightened on the contained spell, "Alright guys, focus up."

Lightning struck in the sky, and it was easy to guess who was the cause of such a strange change in the weather, "What's up, Peter? How do you like the new news? Look, you give it to me, I'm gonna destroy it. But I'll let you live. Don't make me a murderer, Peter."

"Okay, guys. Here it comes."

The three Peter's swung off, preparing for the fight - because if one villain was here, the others would be quick to follow. Peter swung you up to the top of the construction where he tossed the contained spell through the portal Ned had opened.

"Go ahead and close it, Ned," you called out, keeping watch while he did that. Only, there were still sparks lighting up the area when he swung his hand in another circle, "Ned?"

"It's not closing! I've never closed one before, I've just opened them!" Ned began to panic.

"Okay, I'm just gonna stay here and guard the two of you while you try to figure it out, alright? Try to relax, everything is going to be fine," you stretched out your hands and kept a keen eye on the confrontation between the Spider-Men and Max.

"Just FYI, Lizard-guy is here too!" Tall Peter called out a warning, " Guys, comm check, hello. I need Max's cure."

"Yeah. I'm on it."

"Peter! I need the Lizard cure."

The construction shook and you looked down to see a giant sand hand holding your Peter in a tight grip. Right, that was something you could easily deal with. Pointing your hand at the water beneath you, you pulled up as much as you could and cut the connection between the hand and the main body. The sand you touched quickly turned to mud and fell apart, and Peter was thankfully freed.

While the three of them seemed to struggle at first, they eventually found their rhythm after a quick team meeting and began to cure the villains one by one. The first one taken care of was Marco, and that was a great relief since he could adjust his size so drastically.

A low growl pulled your attention away from the fight. Doctor Connors was climbing up the equipment, his sights set on the contained spell.

"Ned, MJ, get back!" You warned, gathering water around you just as Connors pounced. He was definitely a heavy hitter, easily throwing you through the portal and onto a table in the lab.

Groaning, you pushed yourself back to your feet and immediately jumped back into the action. When Connors was reaching out for MJ you froze his hand, the weight stunning him and temporarily causing him to drop. However, with little concern for his own health, he slammed his frozen hand against the nearest pole and began his pursuit again.

"Where's the cure for Connors?" You called into the comm.

"You're right above it! What are Ned and MJ doing here?"

"They were having trouble with the portal. I knew I should have just pushed us over the water," breaking through the wooden panels, you dropped down a level and quickly located the cure for Connors.

Leaping back up, you propelled yourself onto Connors' back with a quick burst of water and released the gas, jumping back off when he began to struggle and shrink. Assured that the cure had worked, you returned your attention to Ned and MJ's safety.

"You!" Doctor Strange pointed an accusatory finger in your direction, "Your boyfriend had me trapped in the mirror realm for hours!"

"Sorry Doctor Strange, but we don't have a lot of time to get into that right now!" You called back, "Our plan is working! They're being cured."

Strange observed the battlefield in shock. Clearly, he didn't believe that the two of you could actually do it, and for a good amount of time, you didn't believe it either. But with three Peters at your side, the task was now easy.

"Well shit," Doctor Strange muttered, "There were five, how many are down?"

"All of them, it looks like. All of them except Green Goblin. But we can track him down easily now. Hey Peter!"

When Peter caught sight of Strange he paled at the force of his glare, "I've been dangling over the Grand Canyon for twelve hours!"

"I know. I- I'm sorry about that, sir. I mean..."

"You went to the Grand Canyon? He could've used your help."

Motioning to the two Peter's, you introduced them, "This is Peter Parker and Peter Parker, both Spider-Men. The broken spell brought more than just villains here, Strange."

"This is the wizard that I was telling you about," Peter introduced Strange in return.

"Look, I am really impressed that you managed to give them all a second chance, kid. But this has to end, now."

"Can the Spider-Man come out to play?"

Heart dropping, you spun around as Green Goblin released several bombs in your direction. You froze and threw one while the Spider-Men and Doc Ock dealt with the others.

"Strange, no!"

Boom!

The breath left your lungs as you were thrown back toward the water from the force of the explosion and the spell containment breaking. You were heading straight for the water.

For a moment, just a moment, you were facing Mysterio. He had just made you face your worst fears and had sent you to your death outside the building. You were going to break bones and crack your skull open, and then they were going to throw you in the river to drown.

"I got you! I got you," Older Peter assured you, holding you close and pulling you out of your flashback, "You good?"

"Fine, fine," you assured, standing on shaky legs, "Look out!"

Older Peter swung the two of you out of the way of the fallen shield, which rolled halfway into the bay. So much for the new additions to the Statue of Liberty. While he was swinging you around he also grabbed hold of Connors when he began to fall as well.

"You can let me go now," you called up, and he did so without hesitation.

Allowing yourself to drop most of the way, you caught yourself before you hit the ground and landed softly, rushing over to a shell-shocked Ned and MJ. The two of them seemed relatively unharmed, and that was all you could have asked for.

"Are you guys okay?" You asked.

"Yeah, we're okay," MJ assured, a new cut across her forehead, it was bleeding a lot but head wounds normally did.

"MJ! Ned!" Peter called from his place on the fallen shield.

"We're okay!" MJ swung her arms so he could find you, "We're good!"

Green Goblin was on the shield as well. You hurried over to the other Peter's, face pinched with worry. The murderous intent on Peter's face was clear, he wanted to kill Green Goblin more than anything at that moment. The other Peter's made to step forward but you held your arm out to stop them.

"Give him a minute," you implored. Whatever this was, this rage, Peter needed to work through it before anyone intervened. You were the same way after Thanos, self-destructing but also just processing what happened. Peter intervened when it got back, but he also allowed you time. You would now return the favor.

The sky was tearing itself apart, and it would have been cool if it also wasn't terrifying. The multiverse was tearing itself apart, and based on the fact that nothing Strange did seem to make a difference, you weren't sure if there was a solution.

Finally, you lifted your arm and allowed Older Peter to rush forward when Peter picked up Green Goblin's hoverboard. Peter wasn't a killer, and he never would be. He'd had ample time to work through his anger and seek revenge for May's injuries. Now it was time for one of the few people who truly understood him to step in. As much as you wanted to say it was you and to comfort him with soft words, you knew deep down that the Peters next to you were the better choice. You would not be selfish in this matter.

Before Peter could deliver the final blow, Older Peter jumped in front of the board and grabbed it, protecting Green Goblin. Peter made several attempts to overpower him, but they were futile. Eventually, he grew tired and threw the board aside.

Green Goblin, in thanks, stabbed Older Peter in the side. It was a non-fatal wound, and you wondered if Norman had some say in the strike.

"She was there, because of you. I may have struck the blow, but you killed her."

"You're wrong," you took the cure from Tall Peter's hand and tossed it to Peter as he spoke, "She's alive because I'm not alone. Not like you."

Peter stabbed the needle into Norman's neck with no care for how it would feel, releasing the cure. Norman fell to his knees and you watched as the Green Goblin left him for good.

"Peter? What have I done?"

With that over, you hurried over and knelt down next to Older Peter, splashing water over his side to speed up the healing process. He and Tall Peter looked at you with wide eyes.

"Superpowers," you smiled, helping Older Peter to his feet, "I can't cure it entirely without taking on the wound myself."

"It's alright, I've been stabbed before," Older Peter looked up at the sky when it crackled, "Is that happening? Or am I going crazy from the dimensional travel?"

"I gotta go, (Y/n) stay here, please. I know the cure worked, I just," Peter glanced at Norman with weary eyes and you immediately understood.

"Okay. Go save the multiverse."

Peter spoke to Doctor Strange for a couple of minutes, and it was impossible to hear from that distance but you could make out their faces. It wasn't good. Then Peter said something and Doctor Strange's face fell even more. What? You needed to know. Whatever was going on you should be a part of-

"What is this place?"

The in-between. The words on the document that you were born from. No imagery, no flowery text, just you and me. I can't even begin to imagine how this looks to you right now, and I'm not such a control freak that I'll create a space just for this moment. What you see is the truth.

"I don't understand. Why am I here?"

When the spell broke the multiverse, it brought those who knew of Peter Parker to your universe. You were a part of that spell, however, you don't have anyone who knows of you except for me and those who read my- your story. But I can't be brought to you, so you were brought to me. You exist in this universe alone because I created you. Your powers, your love, your suffering, it was born through my mind.

"So everything... everything that I've been through has been decided by you? My thoughts aren't mine. My actions aren't mine. My life is just a fun little hobby to you?"

Oh no, of course not! You have helped me through so much, (Y/n). You have touched so many people and you don't even know. There have been times when in your creation I found myself becoming lost in you. You are real to me.

"It's not enough."

I know.

"I'm going to lose Peter. He's the only one that has to be affected by the spell since he's the only one within the multiverse. Strange said so. I'm going to forget him. He'll have nothing left."

No, you won't. I have allowed many things to happen to you. Terrible things. But I will not allow this.

"How can you stop it? Me forgetting Peter?"

By writing you the happy ending you so desperately desire. You are a Lone Being, (Y/n). You are mine, and I will take care of you. You will remember because I allow it, but the others will need help.

"Who can help them remember without shattering the multiverse again?"

A Nexus Being. Jean Grey or Wanda Maximoff can bring their memories back without affecting the stability of the multiverse. Both are powerful enough to do so, and Wanda desperately needs someone who cares about her. Either one will be able to assist in the recovery of your loved ones' memories.

"I don't understand, not completely, but I guess that's the point of all this, isn't it?"

It's not your job to understand the inner workings of my mind and the logic behind my decisions, but it's my job to know yours. Do not tell the others the truth of your existence, their reality and mine will not be able to handle such a thing. The spell has begun and it's time for you to return. Goodbye, (Y/n).

"(Y/n)! Hey! Where did you go there? You just spaced out," Tall Peter was shaking your shoulders.

"I need to go," you pushed his hand away and rushed over to where Peter was hugging MJ and Ned, "Peter!"

He turned to you with tears in his eyes, and as soon as you were in reach he was squeezing the life out of you, "I can fix this, but everyone is going to forget about Peter Parker. I don't want you to forget me."

Your sides were beginning to hurt and you wondered if in his distress, his control on his superstrength was slipping. You wouldn't hold it against him, but if you broke any ribs you were going to be upset.

"I'm not, Peter. The spell isn't going to work on me," Peter gave you a confused look, "I can't explain why, but it's because I'm a Lone Being. It's not going to work on me because I'm not technically a part of the multiverse."

"Oh, oh thank god," Peter whispered, clutching you even tighter, pressing a kiss to your temple, "I can't lose you too."

"Come home with me, Peter," you brushed your thumb over his cheek, "Let me take care of you."

Peter nodded, "Okay. I don't know how we're going to explain me to your parents, though."

"They'll remember Spider-Man, just not Peter Parker. Besides, I think I know how to make the people close to you remember you again. Ned, MJ," you caught the pair's attention and hugged them as well, "This is only going to be temporary, I swear it."

"We trust you."

"Yeah, with our lives, and with Peter's now. We'll see you soon," MJ gave one of her rare, small smiles.

Stepping onto the water, you took Peter's hand and guided the four of you back to shore. The spell was spreading now, you could feel it wash over you. Before Ned and MJ could fully recover, you took Peter's hand and quickly led him away. He got the hint and wrapped his arm around your waist, swinging the two of you to your apartment.

"(Y/n) you still have to deal with what happened with Beck and I'm sorry- I wanted to fix all this and instead I messed it up and it's fine for me now because no one remembers me but-"

"Peter, it's okay," you soothed, "I'll talk to Matt again and see what I can do, and maybe Shuri. She might be able to prove the video is fake. Even if she can't, I have you, and my family, and our friends, and a media scandal won't stop me from being a hero. The Avengers had plenty and they did fine."

"You're really good at rationalizing things."

The two of you landed on shore. Peter wrapped his arm around your waist and shot off a web. Off you went, away from the site of the battle, away from Doctor Strange, and away from your friends. You would have to explain everything to them later, on the way to the mansion.

This would not be the end of Peter Parker, you swore it.