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MISADVENTURES IN PARADISE
xv. PETER'S CHOICE

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   BEING POWERLESS WASN'T BONE-CHILLING like Riley was expecting.

   Power was the sun, an unceasing, flaming ball of vitality. Powerlessness should've been the opposite. It should've been a windchill, stripping the skin off Riley's face, turning her red and raw, then blue, then white. Powerlessness should've been the deprivation of everything that made her warm and bright, the corroding skeleton of a girl that once was.

   Instead, she felt... not numb but... hollow. Like something was missing.

   Of course, something was. The one thing that defined her entire existence was gone. If she wasn't trapped in the eye of the hurricane, she would've broken down right there, with Peter 3 gawking at her. She could only imagine what he was thinking. He was the one who had voiced his concerns about Solar conquering Riley first. His anxiety became prophetic against his will. Riley knew that feeling far too well.

   But now wasn't the time to fold. As electricity ravaged the night, Riley insisted that Peter 3 rejoined the fight.

   "What? No! I'm not leaving you—!"

   "I'll live, but they won't if we stall any longer," Riley argued. "You get to Max and tear that Arc Reactor off him. Understand?" Peter's mouth opened and closed, dumbfounded. "Focus, Pete. We gotta finish what we started."

   He hesitated. "Okay... Okay. Stay here. Stay out of trouble. I'll be right back."

   He didn't wait for a response before he swung off, probably because he knew her better than that. Really, he was speaking for his own peace.

   "Riley? Riley, hey, talk to me!" Peter 1 shouted. A bomb of light detonated from above. He grunted as he fought Solar, dodging and weaving. He was pulling his punches. He hated hurting Solar when she looked so much like her.

   "I'm okay!" Riley said. "Are MJ and Ned—?"

   "They're okay! Why is Solar supercharged all of a sudden? I thought the plan was working!"

   "Well—"

   "Don't tell me she took your powers," Roman pleaded.

   "Do you want me to lie for the sake of your feelings?"

   "Wait, WHAT?" Peters 1 and 2 clamored. "What do you mean—?"

   "I have an idea," Roman interrupted. "Swap out with me, Peter! You take Electro, I've got Solar!"

   "Roman, wait—"

   "Sit tight, Ri. I'm on it!"

   She sighed. There wasn't much she could do anyway. She was the most useless person on the team now.

   No, Riley reminded herself, you're powerless, not useless.

   She craned her neck back, suddenly realizing how massive the Statue of Liberty truly was. How was she meant to get back up there? How was she meant to do anything without her powers?

   Maybe the better question was: What would Natasha do?

   Her gaze landed on the wobbly staircase leading to the scaffolding.

   Riley didn't make it up three steps before the scaffolding reverberated. Sparks skirted down, latching onto the metal staircase and flinging Riley backward. Her head ricocheted off the ground as she rolled. Before she could splash into the harbor, a metal claw caught her torso and lifted her into the air.

   "What the hell happened to you?" Dr. Octavius greeted.

   "Mm, just hanging out," Riley groaned. She had no idea how anyone did this shit without powers. "What's up with you?"

   "Thought I could help out. Why aren't you up there?"

   "Lost my powers. Long story."

   "Oh. Are you okay?"

   "What do you think, Otto?"

   The foundation beneath them quaked. Riley and Octavius peered up. Electro repelled the Spider-Men back effortlessly, like bugs.

   "They look like they could use some backup," Octavius mentioned.

   Riley glanced down at the tentacle embracing her. "I have an idea."

   Electricity surged out of Max. Bolts braided to hold Peter 3 in suspension while Max fried him. When the pain was too much to brave, Peter dropped the anti-Electro drainer. Peter 1 was missing, but Peter 2 was still standing. He webbed the drainer and lunged, only to be thwarted by a mechanical tentacle. From the shadows, Octavius emerged, and in his clutches was Riley.

   "P-PETER!" Riley cried. Part of her was acting, but another was genuinely concerned for Peter 3. Plus, Octavius was squeezing her a little too tightly. "PETER!"

   Peter 2 writhed helplessly. "RILEY!"

   "Leave them," Octavius commanded Max. "They're mine."

   "I don't need your help," Max griped. "I got it just fine."

   "Which of us carries the almighty power of the sun in the palm of his hands?" Octavius retorted. "At long last, I'm in control! Does this spark old memories, Peter? Me and my tentacles, the girl of your dreams choking in my arms?"

   "Dr. Octavius, no!" Peter 2 pleaded. "L-Let her go!"

   Octavius shrugged. "As you wish."

   That wasn't in the script.

   But Octavius needed the spare tentacle, so he flung Riley aside.

   While Octavius administered the drainer to Max, Riley crashed into the construction framework, disrupting a violent chase between Dr. Connors, MJ, and Ned.

   "YES!" Ned cheered.

   Connors roared in Riley's face while she lay there, propped against her elbows. He clawed at her, and she yelped. Blood inked out of her leg. As he pounced, she grabbed the nearest metal pipe and bashed him in the face. He recoiled, and Riley staggered onto her feet.

   "RUN!" Riley screamed.

   "Why aren't you—?" MJ, still carrying the relic, asked.

   "I LOST MY POWERS!"

   "YOU WHAT—?"

   "GO!"

   Wielding the pipe, Riley shoved them ahead of her. They sprinted through the construction site while Connors tailed them. Ned spontaneously waved his hand. A portal opened. Gallons of water jetted out. Riley dove at the last second, leaving Lizard to get knocked down while she contorted herself through the pipes and flipped herself onto another tier.

   She landed ungracefully, her wounded leg buckling. Lizard tried to attack her again, but Peter 1 swung forward and kicked him in the face. Again, again, and again, he hit Connors, progressively getting more enraged. When Riley recovered, she was at Peter's side, bashing Connors with the pipe again.

   "I'M— GOING— TO— PUT— THIS— STUPID— LIZARD— DOWN— I— SWEAR—" Riley grunted between hits.

   When Connors swatted Riley with his tail, Peter threw himself between them.

   "RILEY!" From a higher tier, MJ threw the Lizard cure down.

   Riley caught it, then chucked it toward Peter. As Connors tried to close his jaw around Peter's head, Peter shoved the cure between his teeth and activated it. Green smoke shrouded them. When it passed, Connors was human again.

   "Dr. Connors?" Peter greeted. "Welcome back, sir."

   "I gotta ask," Riley panted. "Is this, like, a Furry thing...?"

   Connors sighed. "We could've all been lizards..."

   "O...kay... Woah!" Riley squeaked as Peter embraced her. She leaned into him to relieve the pressure in her leg, pulling her arms around his neck. "Hey, it's okay. I'm okay. Flint, Max, and Connors are cured, and Octavius is here to help—"

   "Your powers," Peter clipped. "I'm so sorry, Riley."

   "I-It's okay—"

   "It's not okay. This shouldn't have happened—"

   "It's not your fault. I knew the risks of my plan. I don't know what's gonna happen next, but—" Riley lifted her head. "Is that Dr. Weird?"

   Surely enough, Ned had opened another portal. In an attempt to hide the Macchina di Kadavus, he accidentally returned Dr. Strange from the Mirror Dimension. Strange took the relic, teeth clenched. No matter what MJ and Ned said to him, his mind was made. He stepped through a portal to reach the others.

   With Riley in one arm, Peter swung them to the top of the scaffolding. "Strange, wait, we're so close!" he pleaded.

   "Skip it!" Strange barked. "I've been dangling over the Grand Canyon for 12 hours."

   Peter 2 joined them, glaring. "You went to the Grand Canyon?" he demanded.

   "He could've used your help!" Peter 3 scolded.

   "No, no, no, it's okay! Uh, these are my new friends! This is Peter Parker, this is Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Spider-Man," Peter 1 introduced. "They're me's from other universes! Not like Solar! They're here to help!"

   Strange shook his head. "No, no, no. Look, I am really impressed that you've managed to give them all a second chance, kid. But this has to end. Now."

   Before anyone could argue, Riley felt Peter tense against her.

   "CAN THE SPIDER-MAN COME OUT TO PLAY?"

   The Green Goblin swooped down on his glider, a swarm of razor-bat Pumpkin Bombs accompanying him. Foolishly, Riley raised a hand to shield the group. She silently begged her body to do something. Anything. She felt like a little kid again, caught in the rubble, waiting for Natasha to pull her to safety. Please.

   To her surprise, the faintest violet forcefield flickered around them for only one second before it vanished.

   The bombs detonated. Peter yanked Riley aside. The other Peters dodged. Octavius's tentacles crushed the Pumpkin Bombs approaching Strange. While they were distracted, Goblin snatched the relic out of Strange's grasp. He tried to flee, but Octavius's tentacles grabbed the glider, holding it in place. Strange conjured a golden whip and reclaimed the box. Sensing his failure, Goblin spun his glider and slashed Octavius's tentacle with its blade, severing it. Then, he disappeared into the clouds.

   But he didn't leave without a trick up his sleeve. The three Peters tensed. Riley followed their eyes.

   A Pumpkin Bomb was lodged inside the relic.

   The explosion knocked everyone back. Finally, the statue began to crumble.

   Lady Liberty's shield dipped halfway down. Debris and splintered panels plummeted around them. Riley tried to shield her and Peter, only for them to get swept into the air. Peter fired a web, but a force wedged them apart. It was invisible to Peter, but what Riley usually saw clearly was faint... a mere glimmer of light.

   Two forcefields cut between them. One scooped Peter and catapulted him in the opposite direction. He tried to swing back, but Goblin collided with Peter, dragging him away. Meanwhile, the second forcefield dragged Riley to the sky.

   Solar.

   It was suddenly apparent to Riley that she wasn't entirely powerless. She'd almost summoned a forcefield, one that she could see. Barely, but still. She saw it.

   Maybe the sun was still inside her.

   Riley squeezed her eyes shut. "Phase through the forcefield," she commanded herself. She'd done it before, countless times. "Just for one second. Come on, Riley. Come on, Valor—!"

   She dropped through the forcefield with a sharp gasp.

   She rolled onto the scaffolding, where she found MJ and Ned struggling to keep their footing. MJ held out a hand for Riley, but the panel beneath them snapped. Screaming, the three plunged through the wreckage.

   Riley twisted herself and grabbed onto the nearest pipe. It swung forward, but it remained secured to the scaffolding. As she hung onto the pipe with one hand, she caught Ned with the other. But Ned wasn't fast enough to catch MJ. MJ's screams echoed below them.

   "MJ!" Riley cried.

   "GOTCHA!" Roman yelled. He teleported through the raining rubble and caught MJ. In a blink, they were gone.

   "OHHH MY GOD! HOLY SHIT!" Ned shrieked as he and Riley dangled together. "RILEY! DO NOT LET GO!"

   "THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, NED!" Riley screamed. "THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE!"

   Her muscles burned, fibers threatening to tear. Without the extent of her powers, she was depending on pure physical strength. She couldn't hold them forever.

   Before she could slip, Roman grabbed them. Their feet hit the ground safely.

   "Everyone alive?" Although Roman was breathing heavily and battered with soot and dark blue blood, he glanced between them worriedly.

   "Y-Yeah," Ned huffed.

   "Yeah. T-Thanks, Rome," MJ said.

   Roman nodded, then turned to Riley. They spoke together.

   "I don't think I'm completely powerless!" she burst while he exclaimed, "You're not completely powerless!"

   "Wait," Riley said. "How do you know that?"

   "Think about it. As far as we know, it's impossible to cure you. Like Bruce and his Gamma Rays. Once something's entwined into your DNA, it can't be removed. I don't know science, but I do know that," Roman said. "Solar didn't take your powers. She dampened them by absorbing as much as she could. She charged herself up at your expense. The sun still burns inside you."

   They didn't have time to discuss it. Riley trusted him. "What's your plan?"

   "I've been trying to read her soul. Easier said than done. I can't do it when she's invisible," Roman explained. "I need you to keep her busy until I've read her soul enough. Then, I can possess her while you take your powers back."

   "You're sure that'll work?"

   "Probably?"

   "You sound confident."

   "What else do we have to lose?"

   A wave of magical energy suddenly flared through New York.

   The runes that were once contained in the relic shook the Statue of Liberty, pulverizing what remained of the scaffolding. Roman held MJ steady while the statue's shield smashed onto the ground, then rolled into the harbor.

   Golden rings spiraled outward. The sky shattered. Glowing, purple cracks chipped away at reality. If Riley squinted, she could see Strange hovering above Lady Liberty's torch, his crimson cape flapping, as he sealed the interdimensional portals. Every time he sealed one, another opened.

   Riley watched in horror. He couldn't hold them forever. The multiverses were collapsing.

   "If my light is an amplifier, I can help Strange." Determined, Riley added to Roman, "Let's go."

   As it turned out, Solar had taken her fight to the heavens. She hovered on a forcefield while Roman had teleported back and forth at rapid speeds to evade her attacks. It took so much out of him, yet there he was, doing it all over again for Riley.

   Solar was admiring the crumbling universe when Riley lunged at her. Solar's forcefield was just large enough for them to tumble without dropping onto the ground.

   It was even stranger seeing Solar like this, tanned and glorious. Like every other fight, Solar wore her wounds with pride, the same way Riley did. Injuries were proof of survival.

   "I thought you'd taken the coward's way out when you slipped away from me back there." Solar shoved Riley onto her back and pressed her foot against her stomach. "Thought my hero was a quitter after all."

   "Yeah, well, my hero name's Valor," Riley wheezed. "That'd be terrible for my branding."

   While Roman sifted through her soul, Riley had to keep Solar busy. Solar wouldn't hide from Riley. Not now. Not when Solar still felt the need to prove herself.

   "I don't understand." Solar's smile wilted. "You look so... so golden."

   "Are you seriously complimenting me while trying to kill me—?"

   "You aren't gray," Solar clarified. She raised her hands. Though Riley's light had revitalized her, her fingertips were still stained gray. Solar's body wasn't meant to carry this much power

   "I could give you the scientific reasoning, but I'm sorta here for my powers, so if you don't mind—"

   Solar kicked Riley in the ribs.

   Riley whined. "God, you really love that move, don't you? Let me guess, you skip arm day a lot—"

   Riley whipped aside to dodge a sunblast, then swept her uninjured leg under Solar. She stumbled and fired, but Riley tackled her just in time. They rolled off the forcefield and started to plummet, but Solar caught them. Solar lit her hands and burned Riley's arms. Crying out, Riley shoved Solar onto her back, then hammered her fists into Solar's face. Once. Twice. Thrice. Sunbeams chucked Riley off the forcefield again. Roman teleported, and just like that, Riley was back in the fight.

   Riley did everything Natasha would, treating her body as a weapon rather than a vulnerable vessel, like backhanding Solar, then using her forearms as a shield. Every burst of light revealed Solar's face to be even bloodier and more mangled than before. Her nose was smashed, her jaw almost dislocated, ribs shattered. Riley did everything she could to match Solar's strength. It was the toughest fight of her life.

   But somehow, a powerless Riley was still a perfect match for an overpowered Solar.

   That being said, it wasn't an easy battle.

   Riley focused on staying close and forcing skin contact. Absorbing even a drop of sunlight was better than nothing. To reinforce this, Riley pressed the button that removed her suit, leaving her in her everyday clothes. It hurt like hell enduring Solar's sunlight, but no matter how much Solar burned Riley's bare skin, she kept fighting.

   Solar blasted Riley's injured leg. Riley wailed and tripped off the forcefield yet again. This time, Roman wasn't the one to rescue her. Peter 2 webbed Riley's hand, flinging her back up. Gritting her teeth, Riley kicked Solar square in the face. Now that the others were safe and sound, Peters 2 and 3 swung into battle.

   "Why are you still fighting me!?" Solar shouted. "It's over! I win!"

   "No," Riley argued. "You can take my face, my name, my goddamn powers, but you're still dying."

   "I don't care," Solar said. "If other people can summon this power in a lab, I'll do the same. I'll live forever!"

   "You and I both know you aren't smart enough to do that, Riley," Peter 2 declared. "By the time you manage to learn the basics, it'll be too late. You'll start dying all over again."

   "I know you want to live, but this isn't the way!" Peter 3 chimed. "Hurting the people who just want to help you will only hurt yourself even more. Trust me, I would know."

   "What happens when you can't find another remedy?" Riley challenged. "You're doing this for nothing!"

   "For me! I'm doing this for me! Because I'm the only person that has my back. Me," Solar yelled. "Despite your noble efforts, I'm still standing. I'm a survivor. And I did it on my own, without you godforsaken heroes!"

   "You can't spend your life fleeing what little time you have left. That's not living. That's dying. You're not surviving. You're losing," Peter 2 said. "And the worst part? You'll die alone. You'll be right back where you started all over again. That's what you're doing to yourself, Riley. Is isolation any way to live?"

   "You can hurt any one of us. Me. Peter. Roman. Our friends. But the difference is, there will always be someone left to avenge us," Riley added. "They'll come after you one by one. They'll chase you into whatever hole you dig yourself into. But you? You keep going down this path, and you'll have no one. This power may make us omnipotent, but people like us, we're weaker alone."

   Solar's lips quivered into a sad smile. "I don't care. I have to finish what I started."

   She stretched out her arm, but nothing happened. Her eyes glossed over, and she froze.

   "Fucking finally," Roman grumbled. "Thank the stars she talks so much."

   Riley tried to walk forward, but her leg buckled again. The Peters were quick to catch her. Together, they brought her to Solar. Riley wasn't sure how to go about reclaiming her powers, but once they released her, she knew what to do. Riley latched onto Solar and threw her arms around her in a hug.

   White light bloomed around them. It oozed from Solar and coursed into Riley. That unusual yet hypnotic glow coated Valor's skin once again. It fueled and warmed her. It cushioned her aching muscles and filled the hollow space in her chest. When dawn kissed the horizon, the transition was complete.

   Still, Riley didn't let Solar go, even as she lowered the forcefield that carried the group. She didn't let go, even when Roman released Solar's soul. She didn't let go, no matter how much Solar writhed and thrashed. Riley hugged her until finally, Solar burst into tears and hugged her back.

   "It's okay." Riley caressed her hair. "It's over."

   "It's over?" Solar whimpered.

   "Nothing can hurt you anymore. Not even yourself."

   Solar sniffled. "Why are you doing this? Being nice to me. Helping me. I-I've done unspeakable things. You should've killed—"

   "I don't know," Riley confessed. "Because you're me. Because we never asked for this life. Because I know this power forced us to become someone maybe we were never supposed to be. Because we had no choice but to fight to stay alive, even when the universe didn't want us to." She wiped Solar's tears. "I think if I was a little older when I got my powers, I would've turned out just like you."

   "The sun calls to you," Solar argued. "You're different."

   "It calls to you, too. But your calling is different than mine," Riley said. "These powers are the reason I'm the person I am today. They're the reason my life looks the way it does now. But if I got them at a different time... I don't know. I would've been as stubborn and hopeless as you."

   "Does it make me a worse person if I say that makes me feel a little better?"

   Behind them, Peter 2 said, "No. It makes you human."

   "Human," Solar repeated with a little smile. "I... don't hate that. Are you sure your plan worked?"

   Riley raised Solar's hands. Her skin was tan again. No gray in sight. Perfectly normal.

   "I took as much as I could," Riley explained. "But when the sun chooses you, it stays with you forever."

   Solar's face fell. "W-What if this happens again? What if I lose my sanity all over again?"

   "Then, you try to do better," Peter 2 said.

   "Just try not to isolate yourself again," Riley added. "Maybe find a Peter Parker. He's somehow the cure every time I need it."

   Solar's gaze drifted toward Peter 2. "Thank you for not giving up on me, even when I didn't deserve it." She sighed. "I don't know what's going to happen to me when I go back. I'm not sure I can live knowing what I've done."

   "Everyone deserves a second chance. I've known assassins and criminals who managed to rise from hell. You can do it, too. But you have to try," Riley counseled. "It doesn't get easier, but you become stronger from everything you endure. The people you surround yourself with help in different ways. The first step is letting them in."

   "How can you be so sure I'm capable of coming back from the worst?"

   "Because you're me. I do it all the time."

   Solar laughed, and Peter 2 closed his eyes, remembering a time when nothing else mattered. Just her laugh.

   As the morning sky blushed, the sun cocooned Riley and mended her aching bones. Warmth crept between the cracks, closing her skin and leaving behind fresh scars. From now on, Riley would remember to cherish this feeling every day for the rest of her life. She was grateful for a body that fought its hardest to nourish and protect her.

   As Riley healed, Solar hugged Peter 2, apologizing profusely while he assured her that he was just glad she was alive, and Peter 3 wondered to the others if all versions of Riley gave incredible motivational speeches. Meanwhile, Roman began to shut down. He stumbled forward, but MJ grabbed him.

   "Sorry," Roman said. "Tired."

   "It's okay." MJ smiled at him. "I got ya."

   Maybe it was the exhaustion overriding his judgment, but Roman didn't reply. Adrenaline jolted him one last time as he cupped MJ's face and kissed her.

   "Whaaat?" Ned gasped. "It's about time!"

   "Sorry," Roman said when he pulled away. "I don't know why I did that—"

   "I do," MJ shyly said. "I like you, too."

   Roman grinned. "Was it the badass superhero save that sealed the deal for you?"

   "In your dreams, Star-Boy," MJ said, and they kissed again.

   At first, Riley smiled. Then, she realized someone was missing.

   That was when she heard it, the sound of fighting.

   The group rushed toward the railing around the statue. Below, on Lady Liberty's shield, Peter 1 was fighting the Green Goblin. Maybe fighting wasn't the proper word for it.

   Beating. Peter was beating the shit out of Osborn.

   Riley had never seen him fight like that before. His evasions were shaky. He trembled all over, but not from fear or pain. Every step, every twist and flip, every web slung was charged with heat. Every strike was deliberately lethal. The blood slathering his face couldn't compete with the red in his eyes.

   Osborn seemed borderline invulnerable to pain, grinning madly. That just encouraged Peter to sharpen his hits. He slammed his fist into him again and again, a barrage of brutal blows that became harder and harder, angrier and angrier. She could almost hear his voice in her head with each hit.

   This one is for May. And this one. And this one.

   Even when Osborn had finally had enough, Peter wasn't finished. He reached for the Goblin glider and raised it with the blade pointing outward. Riley's heart sank. Peter was going to kill Norman.

   By the time Riley stepped forward, she was too late. Peter brought the glider down with a rageful shout.

   Peter 2 suddenly leaped between them and held the glider in place. Peter 1 pushed against him, but Peter 2 wouldn't let go. He didn't scold his younger counterpart. He didn't yell or glower. He didn't speak at all, only looking up at the boy with understanding, compassion, plea.

  Don't do this, he seemed to say. It won't take the pain away.

   Gradually, his sincerity cooled Peter down. He dropped the glider.

   As if on cue, Osborn drew a blade and plunged it into Peter 2's back. The oldest Spider-Man collapsed.

   "She was there... because of you," Goblin laughed, standing again. "I may have struck the blow, but you? You are the one that killed her."

   As he cackled, Peter 3 chucked the Goblin anti-serum. Peter 1 caught it. With a final shout, he stabbed it into Osborn's neck. Osborn dropped to his knees, his wide grin fading. Free of his alternate personality at long last, confusion and clarity crept onto Norman.

   "Peter?" Norman glanced down at the oldest Peter, mortified. Tears soaked his weary eyes. "What have I done?"

   Just when it seemed to finally be over, Ned gasped and pointed up at the sky. The cracks in reality were worsening, growing faster than before. Strange struggled to contain them. It looked like people were fighting to slip through. More people from other universes that knew Peter as Spider-Man. More villains. More enemies to fight and cure. There was no end to this.

   Peter 1 was the first to move. He urgently swung to assist Strange. Then, Solar started to climb over the railing. Riley grabbed her in a forcefield, and they flew down together.

   Because, of course, the world was ending, and Riley was still more concerned about Peter Parker than anything else.

   "Christ, Parker." Solar kneeled beside Peter 2. "You can't die when the fight's already over. That ruins the momentum of the whole story!"

   "Don't worry. Not the first time I've been stabbed," Peter 2 chuckled, only to wince.

   Riley placed a hand on his back. "Come on, sit up. Let's get some pressure on that. There you go."

   "Shouldn't you be up there with Peter?" Peter 3 asked.

   "I wanted to make sure Peter was okay first," Riley said. "I'm sure my Peter will help Strange come up with a good enough plan to fix all of this. There's no way he can screw it up twice, right?"

   Peter 3 nodded. "I, uh, can't stop thinking about what you said back there. I think I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna tell my Riley I'm Spider-Man."

   Solar smiled. "Good luck. You're gonna need it."

   "W-Wait, why good luck?" Peter 3 asked. "You think it's not gonna go well?"

   Riley shrugged. "She might not believe you. I know I wouldn't."

   The four laughed.

   When Roman called for Riley, her gut twisted. She wasn't sure why. Everyone was cured. The sun was shining again. Strange was going to fix the universe from impending collapse. Everything was going to be okay.

   Riley turned to the group one last time. "If I don't see you guys before you leave... I just wanna say, I'm really glad we got to meet."

   "Me too," Peter 2 weakly said. "I'd say I owe you my life, but I'm sort of dying right now, so I'm not sure if you still want it."

   Peter 3 laughed. "It's not every day you get a second chance. You gotta remember to savor it."

   "Definitely," Solar said. "Thank you for everything. Until another day, Riles."

   Riley smiled. "Until another day."

   When she reunited with Roman, he was staring up at Peter in the distance. His eyes darkened as he obsessively read his soul.

   "What's wrong?" MJ asked Roman.

   "I'm... not sure." Roman watched Peter leap down and embrace the Peters one last time.

   When Peter swung toward them, MJ and Ned tackled him in a hug first. They mumbled relieved nothings over one another. Riley's chest tightened. She couldn't comprehend why. She couldn't read souls, but she could read Roman like a book. Something was off.

   Peter broke out of the embrace. "Hey, what's wrong?" He grabbed Riley's face, running a gloved hand over her cheek. The morning sun warmed his brown eyes, revealing the adoration in his gaze. "It's okay. I'm right here. I'm here."

   Riley deflated, leaning into his touch. "I'm so glad this is over. Are you okay?"

   "Are you bleeding?"

   Riley wiped her hands on her soiled jeans. "Actually, this is Peter 2's blood," she laughed. "I got my powers back. Solar's gonna be okay. I feel great, I think."

   Peter laughed, and Riley felt like Peter 2, wishing she could listen to it forever.

   "You think?" he teased.

   "My brain's still rattling," Riley admitted. "I know it's been a terrible week, but I'm really, really proud of you, Pete." She kissed the heel of his hand. "Did you and Strange figure out how to fix everything?"

   Peter tucked her hair behind her ear. "Yeah."

   "Peter..." Roman said knowingly.

   "You..." Peter hesitated. "You're all about to forget who I am."

   "What?" Ned asked.

   "Forget who you are?" MJ stammered. "What are you talking about?"

   Riley looked up at the sky. "Peter, what did you do?"

   Peter gently pulled her chin back down, forcing her to meet his gaze. "It's okay. I'm gonna come and find you, and I'll explain everything."

   "Peter, this isn't the way," Roman said. "You can't do this to yourself."

   "I'll make you remember me," Peter promised.

   "You'll be alone!"

   "I won't because I'll make sure you remember. It'll be like none of this ever happened. Okay?"

   "But what if that doesn't work?" MJ panicked. "What if that doesn't work? What if we can't remember? I-I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna do that."

   "Peter." It was all Riley could say. Her throat closed up. "Peter, what did you do?"

   "I promise this is the best solution—" Peter tried.

   "I can fix this." Riley's voice broke. "I can come up with a plan. I just need a minute—"

   "Riley—"

   "Don't," Riley clipped. "W-What— What about Ned? And MJ and Rome? What about Tony? H-He'll be crushed! A-And Morgan, and... What about...? What about...?" She gasped a shallow breath. "Fuck, Peter, what about me? Us? What about you? You'll be all alone."

   "There's nothing we can do," Peter choked. "But it'll be okay."

   "You promise?" Ned weakly asked.

   "Yeah. I promise." Peter struggled to remain composed as he and Ned did their secret handshake, ending it in a hug. He sniffled. "I'll come find you. Okay?"

   "I-I know you will," Ned cried.

   MJ let her tears fall freely. "You better. If you don't, I'm just gonna figure it out. I've done it before. I can do it again." As she and Peter hugged, she added, "I really hate magic."

   "Yeah, me too." Peter turned to Roman and extended a hand.

   Roman hardly glanced at it before dragging him into a bear hug. "You should know I'm actually pretty fond of you, Parker. And I'm trusting that you know what you're doing."

   Somehow, Peter knew he was talking about something else. Something that Peter wasn't saying. A decision he was still coming to terms with that the others didn't know about.

   "It took you long enough," Peter joked, despite how Roman's words made his tears fall faster.

   "RILEY!" Strange barked from above. "I NEED YOU UP HERE!"

   Riley stepped back. "No, no, no—"

   "It's okay—" Peter tried.

   "Y-You can't ask me to help him. You can't do this to me," Riley begged. "You can't ask me to help make everyone forget you."

   Peter thumbed away her tears. "I know it's scary. I don't wanna do this either. But we're running out of time."

   "You have to come back to me, Peter."

   "You know I wouldn't leave you behind."

   "No, you know me. I won't take you seriously. You know I won't. You have to keep trying," Riley pleaded. "You can't give up on me."

   "I would never, Riles." He pressed his forehead against hers, his tears dripping onto her. "All of this will be over before you know it."

   Riley sniffled. "I'll wait for you."

   "You won't have any idea I exist."

   "I'll wait for you," Riley said again with enough conviction to shatter gravity. "On every rooftop. At every minuscule crime scene. Every day. I'll wait for you until I remember what I'm waiting for. I promise."

   "I believe you," he said before bringing their lips together. He kissed her like the skies were crashing around them, and the sun was burning out, and all he could do now was spend his last breaths on her while they waited for the end. Because in a lot of ways, the end was near. Peter Parker would soon cease to exist.

   Every time one of them tried to pull away, they ended up stealing another kiss. Just one more. Just one more. Just one more. That was all they needed. One more second to be together. One more second before Peter would spend the remainder of his days craving her touch.

   "STARK!" Strange called again.

   "You have to go," Peter whispered.

   "I know," Riley whimpered. "I can't believe you're breaking up with me after I helped save the world for you. Again."

   Peter lightly laughed. How she could find humor in any situation, he didn't know. He just knew he would miss it.

   "We're not breaking up. It'll always be you."

   "RILEY!" Strange yelled. "WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!"

   Riley tried to say goodbye, but Peter kissed her one last time. "I love you, too."

   She took him in, trying to memorize his face all over again. It didn't matter. She would forget soon enough.

   Riley flew to Strange and bridged her light with his magic. The sky swelled with runes, which glittered brighter as Valor amplified Strange's spell. Riley begged herself to remember his name.

   Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter.

   Below, their multiversal guests disappeared. Max. Octavius. Osborn. Flint. Connors. Solar.

   Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter.

   Peters 1 and 2 vanished.

   Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter.

   The cracks in reality smoothed over.

   Peter cast one last gaze at his friends, then Riley in the sky.

   Riley watched as he swung away.

   Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. P—

   Gold light showered over the dawning world, and Riley's mind suddenly cleared. She rubbed her eyes and nose with her hand and looked around, puzzled. Why was she crying? In public?

   "Is that it?" Riley wondered. "Are we done?"

   "Yeah," Strange said. "It's over."

   Except neither of them could remember what they were doing or what that meant.

   It was a haze. Something about the multiverse. Or maybe a spell. Something about... There was... Roman was there. So were MJ and Ned. But there was something... Something about Spider-Man? Or... Maybe... Maybe it was...

   Riley was sure she was trying to remember something just a second ago, but...

   Oh, well.

   It probably wasn't important anyway.

○ ○ ○

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

The next chapter is an intermission, much like the one I did in AIB between Infinity War and Endgame. It's important! DON'T SKIP IT!!!

I just wanna say:

I really hope you guys enjoyed Solar as an "antagonist"/"villain"! My intention was to make her complex but also relevant within the NWH plot. She challenged Riley intensely throughout this act, but it made her grow a lot. I know some of you wanted her and Tom!Peter to interact more, but narratively, it made more sense to me that Tobey!Peter was the one who knocked some sense into her in the end (alongside Riley). It was also really important to me that Andrew!Peter was there because everything he says/hears Riley say changes his mindset entirely, which is why he decides to tell his Riley the truth about his identity.

(I'm not sure if I'll ever write it, and I also have no idea what Kang Dynasty or Secret Wars are about, but I like to imagine Solar will return as a variant that teams up with our heroes someday. I love an anti-hero!)

That's all. Congrats if you read this whole chapter. It's 6.2k words long lol <3