Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
I watch Gwen fuss over Peter, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. Renamon remains motionless on the floor, her breathing still shallow, but at least she's stable. "Easy, Gwen. Give him some air."
Peter groans, his eyes fluttering open. "What… what happened?" He grimaces, clutching his side. "Remind me to never pick a fight with a guy who looks like a freakin' Christmas tree ornament on steroids."
Gwen's brow furrows. "You shouldn't joke right now. You're hurt."
"Hey, if I can't laugh at my own near-death experience, what's the point?" Peter retorts, a weak grin tugging at his lips. "Besides, what's life without a little humor?"
I suppress a smile. "Alright, knock it off, you two. You both need to chill for a second." The lighthearted banter helps, a temporary distraction from the heavy atmosphere. "So, you saw him too, huh? Big, green, and seriously ticked off."
"Yeah," Peter replies, wincing as he shifts slightly. "But who was that guy? He was about to deep-fry me. Thanks for saving me back there, Gwen. What was that fox thing?"
Gwen glances at Renamon and gently strokes her fur. "Her name is Renamon. She, um, saved me back there, too."
Time to drop the bomb. "That guy," I say, my voice low and serious, "was Norman Osborn."
The air in the room thickens. Peter's eyes widen in disbelief. "Osborn? No way. You're kidding, right?"
"I wish I were."
Gwen's voice is barely a whisper. "Ethan, are you sure? Mr. Osborn is a brilliant man."
"I'm dead certain. I saw everything," I reply, my gaze unwavering. "He's been experimenting with some crazy stuff, a serum that turned him into that… thing. I saw it with my own eyes." I leave out the part about having seen it all play out in a movie in a past life.
Peter stares at the ceiling, his face a mask of confusion and hurt. "But… Mr. Osborn was… he was like another father to me." His voice cracks, and I can see the pain etched in his features. "He always believed in me, encouraged my science. How could he…?"
This hits Peter hard. Norman was a mentor, an idol, a symbol of everything he aspired to be. To find out that he's a monster, a literal monster, shatters Peter's worldview.
"I don't know, Pete," I say, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But he's gone. Whatever that serum did to him, it twisted him into something unrecognizable. He is dangerous now. You understand that, right?"
Peter turns his gaze to me. His mind appears to be somewhere else.
"Listen," I say, trying to pull him back from the abyss of disillusionment, "before things went sideways at Oscorp, I managed to snag some data on that Goblin Serum. It's incomplete, fragmented, but… maybe you could piece it together. Find a way to reverse it, maybe even cure him."
Peter shakes his head. "Me? Cure him? Ethan, you're asking too much. I'm just a kid. I don't have the first clue how to deal with something like that."
"Don't sell yourself short, Peter." I grip his shoulder tighter. "You're brilliant. You practically breathe science. Osborn saw it, I see it. You can do this, or at least try. And if there is a chance, however slim, we have to take it."
Gwen, ever the supportive friend, chimes in. "Maybe… maybe I can help. I still have some connections at Oscorp. I could try to get you access to some of their equipment, a lab or something."
Peter looks from Gwen to me, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "You'd really do that?"
"Absolutely," Gwen says firmly. "We can't just stand by and let this happen. Besides, I have a feeling there might be more to the story that the news isn't telling us."
Peter sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, okay. I'll try. But I can't promise anything, you know? This isn't like fixing a broken toaster. I can't even guarantee there is a cure."
"I don't need any guarantees, Pete," I tell him, meeting his gaze. "Just knowing you're willing to give it your best shot, that's enough for me. The rest, we'll figure out together."
The focus shifts. I turn to Renamon, still recuperating, and offer a genuine smile. "Hey, Renamon," I say softly, "thanks for protecting Gwen back there. You didn't have to do that."
Her icy blue eyes meet mine, and she offers a slight incline of her head. "It was nothing. She was in danger." Her voice is cool, collected, just like I imagined it would be. She's all about that stoic, disciplined warrior vibe.
Curiosity gets the better of me. "So, how did you end up in our world, anyway? Did you just, like, take a wrong turn at Albuquerque?"
She shakes her head, her expression unreadable. "I do not know. One moment, I was running, fighting, struggling to survive. The next, a gate appeared before me. I passed through, and then… I found myself here."
She makes it sound so simple, so matter-of-fact, but I can tell there's something more to it, something she's not telling us, or maybe doesn't even understand herself. "Running from what, exactly?" I press.
She averts her gaze. "It is not important. What matters is that I am here now."
I raise an eyebrow, but decide not to push. For now. "Well, if you ever want to go back, I can probably swing it. The Digivice can send you back to the Digital World, if that's what you want."
Her head snaps up, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes me take a step back. "No. I cannot return."
The firmness in her voice is absolute.
"Why not?" I ask, genuinely curious. "I mean, no offense, but this world is kinda messed up right now. Giant green guys, skull-masked lunatics… maybe your home is a little less crazy?"
She hesitates, her gaze drifting to the floor. "There is… a war. A great conflict that consumes everything."
Her words are ominous, laced with a sense of impending doom. "A war?" Gwen asks, her voice barely audible. "Between who?"
Renamon looks up, her eyes filled with a sorrow that belies her stoic demeanor. "The Royal Knights and the Seven Great Demon Lords."
Peter and Gwen exchange confused glances. I guess comic book characters don't know about Digimon lore.
"Royal Knights? Demon Lords?" Peter repeats, scrunching up his face in confusion. "Are these, like, Digimon factions or something?"
Gwen's eyes widen slightly. "I've never heard of them. I thought Digimon were just… digital creatures, not part of some kind of cosmic war."
Renamon takes a deep breath, steeling herself. "The Royal Knights are a group of holy warrior Digimon, guardians of the Digital World. They uphold justice and maintain balance." Her tone carries a hint of reverence, as if speaking of legends.
"And the Demon Lords?" I ask, already bracing myself for the answer.
"The Seven Great Demon Lords are beings of immense power," Renamon replies, her voice darkening. "They represent the seven deadly sins and seek to corrupt and dominate all that is good. They are chaos incarnate."
"So, why the war?" I ask, wanting to get the core of this conflict. "What do they want?"
Renamon's eyes harden. "The Demon Lords desire to conquer the Digital World. They want to erase all order and replace it with endless suffering."
Damn. This is way bigger than I initially thought. A full-scale war between holy knights and demon lords? This isn't just about rogue Digimon popping up in New York anymore. This is some world-ending, multiversal threat kind of stuff.
"Is that why Digimon are appearing here?" I blurt out, the question hanging heavy in the air. "Is this war spilling over into our world?"
Renamon pauses, her expression thoughtful. "It is possible. The barriers between worlds are weakening. The Demon Lords are cunning. They may be seeking to expand their influence beyond the Digital World."
This is bad, real bad. If the Demon Lords are trying to bleed into this world, then every Shadowstone, every corrupted Digimon, is a foothold, a beachhead in their invasion. And I'm just one dude with a couple of evolved cats and a weird motorcycle.
But then, I look at Peter, who is going to be Spider-Man, and Gwen, who may become Spider-Gwen. Maybe, just maybe, I'm not alone in this fight. But this is going to be more than I ever bargained for.
I sigh, the weight of Renamon's words pressing down on me. What can I do against seven beings embodying the deadliest sins? I need to be stronger, far stronger than I am now. Every stat point, every Digi-Modify card, every training session – it all counts.
"Hey, Renamon," I say, turning back to the fox Digimon. "You can't just wander around alone. You got anywhere to stay?" I hate the thought of her trying to survive on the streets. "Look, if you need a place, you're welcome at the Digi-Home. It's safe, got food, all that jazz."
She hesitates, her gaze flicking towards Gwen, a silent conversation passing between them.
"Actually," Gwen pipes up, her voice soft but firm, "maybe Renamon could stay with me? I mean, if she wants to. We seem to have a connection, right, Renamon?"
"You would allow me to stay with you?" Renamon asks, her tone almost disbelieving.
Gwen smiles warmly. "Of course. I have plenty of room. It would be nice to have a roommate."
I'm torn. On one hand, the Digi-Home is practically Fort Knox, a secure digital fortress. But on the other, I see the budding bond between Gwen and Renamon. "Well, the Digi-Home is pretty secure. It has a healing station, a dojo, and stuff."
Ultimately, the choice isn't mine. I look at Renamon and Gwen, and I can see it in their eyes. That unspoken connection, something deeper than just a shared brush with danger. "Alright," I say, trying to sound casual. "Looks like you two have already made up your minds. Just… be careful, okay? Both of you."
Peter suddenly shifts, a reminder that he also exists in this scene. "Shoot, I gotta bounce. Aunt May and Uncle Ben are probably worried sick. I told them I'd be home hours ago." He shoots me a grateful look. "Thanks for… everything, Ethan. I'll see you guys at school, I guess."
I nod. "Yeah, see ya, Pete."
Time for me to head out, too. As I turn towards the door, I catch one last glimpse of Gwen and Renamon. Gwen offers a reassuring smile and Renamon nods back. The world just got bigger.
Looks like a new team-up is in the works. This is going to be interesting.
As I step out of the apartment and into the night, I recall what the Ancient One told me about other Chosen Children. Beings of destiny, destined to stand against the darkness.
Could Gwen be one of them? With her bravery, her kindness, and now, her connection to Renamon… It's a distinct possibility. Only time will tell.
***
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