Title:           Untitled 7 (Spider-Shim) ch 3: The great and powerful
Author:          reallyUntitled
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/fYHRDTA3
First Edit:      Sunday 15th of January 2017 03:06:20 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Tuesday 24th of January 2017 10:52:25 AM CDT

chapter 1: http://pastebin.com/P4Mawhsw
chapter 2: http://pastebin.com/pGJV6pUZ
chapter 2 -tl;dr version: http://pastebin.com/UusPhq6y
chapter 3: you are here
 
>Be Anon
>You wake up, leave your bed and make it look orderly again.
>You walk into the bathroom of your dorm room, brush your teeth and look if you need shaving, which, you indeed do.
>A sigh escapes you, as you go for the shaving foam, apply it and start to shave.
>You barely even look at what you're doing but stare yourself in the eyes in the mirror.
>You cut yourself three times, but by the time you wash off the rest of the foam and dry your face the cuts are gone.
>It seems your healing factor is supercharged now.
>Everything sucks so bad right now.
 
>You make your way to your first class and keep lookout for a certain redhead.
>As you spot Sunset a sense of relief washes over you.
>She too looks depressed until her eyes fall on you, and for a moment time stands still.
>Just having eye contact with her again after... not seeing one another for a single day.
>Fuck, you're in way over your head.
>“Excuse me.”
>Someone squeezes by you as you were currently blocking the entrance, which snaps you out of your trance.
>You shake your head and walk up to Sunset.
>Remember, she and everyone and everything from the other reality are time bombs which can tear both universes apart.
>You put your bag down next to the seat, with her still sitting down, only staring at you, her mouth is slightly open.
“Mornin'.”
>Then she suddenly jumps up, knocking her chair over to embrace you.
>She rubs her face in your neck and squeezes the life out of you as if trying to make sure you're real.
>“Anon,” realizing she was using her strength she lets go off you again. “Sorry, I-” she stutters.
“It's okay, I really missed you too,” you tell her as you look into her eyes, but then trail off through the lecture hall, “but we're making a scene.”
>Sunset too looks around, “it appears we do~”, then lets out a small giggle, before taking your hand and pulling you down to sit while she almost falls backwards.
>She forgot that her chair was pushed away, but her reflexes made her catch yourself.
>Some of the observing students share a chuckle, and both you and Sunset tune in.
>After helping her regain her balance and sit down you just stare at one another and smile.
>Then both of your smiles fade, and the reasons for it almost overwhelm you again.
>You need to talk about a lot of shit.
>But what can you talk about right now?
>Sunset seems to search for a topic of conversation just as much as you do.
>“So, uhh... How... are you? Like... right now?”
“Fine... I guess. You?”
>“Yeah, same...”
>Cue awkward pause.
“Let's go somewhere private.”
>“Yes,” Sunset jumps in on the suggestion, “let's...”
 
>Soon later you find yourself on the roof of the school.
“Holy, shitwaffles, Sunset.”
>“I know, right?” She moves over to the edge of the roof to look over the city, “What the fuck's going on.”
“Sunset, I- I don't know how much anyone listens in. Your phone-?”
>“Duh,”
>She empties her pockets and stores her handbag and everything behind a vent.
>You follow her and do the same.
>Seems like both of you were paranoid now...
>The two of you walk to the other end of the roof.
“So... where to begin?”
>Sunset shakes her head, “I have no idea.”
“So... let's get the big things out off the way first.”
>“Some aliens may find the Tesseracts energy and wage war on Earth?” She shrugs and sits down on the floor.
“Nah...” once more you mimic her actions and sit down next to her, “there's a tear in reality and if it's not fixed both could get destroyed.”
>“Okay...” she hugs her knees, “so, how is that fixed?”
>You hesitate.
“Return everything to it's original state and patch the rift.”
>“So...” she takes a deep breath and lets it out once more, clenching onto her knees and facing away from you, “me.”
“And, like, the other Twilight and Starlight.”
>“Yeah, duh.”
“As well as those books that allow communication.”
>“Mhm...”
>There was another long silence.
>“Twilight said that it became easier to open the portal, and with my own knowledge on these matters it's probably because the fabric of reality is getting weaker.”
“That's... not a good sign.”
>“Not in that context, no.”
>There was so much to say to this, yet so little that can actually come to mind.
“Sunset, I-”
>“We need to break up.”
>You bite your lip.
>“I mean, how petty would we have to be put the two of us above an entire universe.”
“Two universes, actually... one for each.”
>She lets out a laugh.
>A sick and desperate laugh.
>Only then she faces you again.
>A disgusted expression doesn't suit her, but seeing it turn sad breaks your heart as well.
>“What if I want to be that petty?”
>And again she almost lunges at you to take you into an embrace.
>It was less forceful this time, she barely even uses any force at all.
>She's weak, drained of any motivation.
>She just needs to be told that everything will be okay.
>And you'd give anything if you could be the person to tell her this and actually mean it.
>So you just use all force you have to press her onto you, to hold her and gently pat her head while she cries.
>As opposed to comforting her you can only tell her something that sends her crying even more violently.
“Then you wouldn't be the girl I fell for.”
>You find yourself in the cheapest of all tragedies: forbidden love.
>And it was only when you taste the salt on your lips that you realize tears were streaming down your face as well.
 
>“Starlight's gone.”
>Those were the first words after she calmed down again.
>“She used the distraction, but Twilight under mind control and escaped.”
>You're not sure what to say, the only thing entering your mind was...
“This realities Twilight?”
>She nods, and continues, “Equestrian Starlight then was trying to be all selfless and took the others place to be transported back into prison.”
“Fuck.”
>“Yeah, just for Spitfire to save face, she's despicable.”
>This makes you frown, but you don't go in on it.
“She'll see reason and has to send her back, there is nothing about saving face on that.”
>“Yeah, no shit,” Sunset wipes away her tears, “but it'll be harder... How do you even know about this cataclysm?”
“My mom is from the future and your counterpart's an alien, they know about what the tesseract is and more weird stuff. So is Chrysalis, by the way. Oh, and your high school principal was an alien too.”
>Sunset has her mouth open for a while before she shrugs, “yeah, naturally. Did you say 'mom'?”
“Treehugger. She- uhh... We are not actually related but... like I was- the fuck... Okay. I was grown in a lap to have the same powers as her. She singelhandedly destroyed Hydra twenty years ago and took me in. We grew closer through lots of exposition.”
>Sunset only nods.
“So, that kinda updates you on me.”
>Can you tell her the rest too?
>Would she understand through simple being slapped in the face with facts how you've come to be in Hydra now?
>Or how you're going to steal the Tesseract from the Wonderbolts.
>Would she relay that information to Spitfire?
>She kept the secret of being Spider-Woman from the public, and you know she has not been on the Wonderbolts' roster as of a week ago, but you haven't checked today.
>You bite your lip.
>Is that how Treehugger feels?
>All you want is to protect Sunset, even if it's from information she might like to have.
>Sunset stands up.
>“I know what I have to do now,” she says gloomy.
“Sunset?”
>You go after her as she takes her belongings again.
“Sunset, what are you going to do?”
>“I've learned that sometimes ignorance IS bliss.”
>She clasps on her webshooters while remaining in her otherwise casual wear.
>Her mask stays in hand as she turns to you one more time.
>“Anon,” she leans in and gives you a kiss on the cheek, “farewell.”
>Then she dashes off to the edge of the roof.
“Sunset!”
>You try shouting after her, but she doesn't hear you.
>Well, she probably does hear, however, she chooses to ignore you.
>And you understand.
>The two of you don't work out.
>Any additional second you spend together just means suffering.
>You turn around even before she was out of view, and begin to go down into the building again.
“Farewell, Sunset.”
 
>Be Sunset.
>You feel light headed.
>You're swinging through New Yoke in your casual wear.
>Well, except for the mask.
>But your identity is the last thing you're worrying about right now.
>Not that it would matter anymore, you're not going to see another sunrise in this reality.
>For a moment the thought of just revealing yourself crosses your mind.
>Just to mess with people, and maybe make Synergy's life complicated.
>But you're not that petty.
>You don't like her, you're not even sure why, but you have no reason to be mean to her.
>You sigh as you land in front of the Wonderbolt Tower.
>People looking around, staring at you slightly as you walk in.
>The building wasn't very busy, only two receptionists waiting, and four security guards, two on either side of the doors, and two on the hallway leading further in.
>What surprises you is that the two at the door simply let you enter.
>They look after you, sure, but they seem bored.
>Yeah, just some superhero checking in.
>You approach one of the receptionists.
“I need to talk to Spitfire.”
>She smiles and nods slowly.
>“Yes...”
>You frown.
>Does she have a severe case of monday-morning syndrome?
>As she struggles to type on her computer you look off to the second receptionist, nodding to yours.
>But...
>That one seems to be just as much out of it.
>Your eyes go to the security guards who just lull around.
>Fuck.
“What's going on?”
>Your receptionist looks up again, “Spitfire is not in the building.”
“No! You're drugged! Or... or something.”
>She slowly shakes her head, “no, we are not allowed to take drugs, we- hmm...” she takes a breath, “we have to give a sense of professionalism.”
>Oh, the irony.
“But you're still here? Like mentally? Okay, ahh...” you try to think of something, “who was the last person to come in here?”
>“Miss Sparkle was here last, she was with a hooded woman.”
>So Starlight had been with her, which also explains the state of mind of the receptionist.
>She presses her eyes together and slightly shakes her head as if she's fighting the mind control.
“Yes, fight it!”
>“Fight?” She seems to go back to being dull, “what do you mean?”
>As much as it pains you to leave her like this you need to hurry.
“Where did they go?”
>“Oh, I assume to the morgue. Miss Sparkles badge had been deactivated because she's deceased, that's why I had to give her back her rights, and then some new ones.”
>You almost wanted to dash off at this point, but caught yourself before you left.
“You don't think you can give me a visitors badge with access to the morgue, do you?”
 
>Be semi-casual Spider-Woman.
>The only parts of your costume you're donning were still your mask and the web-shooters.
>You're running through the basement of the Wonderbolt Tower of New York, right underneath the hospital wing portion.
>The security guards disregard for you running in the halls was uncanny.
>You're past the washrooms and use the keycard to unlock the door to that particular hallway and enter.
>The reason why Twilight and Starlight would break in here eludes you.
>Only if Twilight...
>No, you don't see that happen.
>Just halfway down the corridor you already see Starlight.
>This... doesn't quite make sense.
>She's bend over, leaning against the wall.
>As you come closer you see she looks sick.
>“You'd be, hehe...” she lets out a bit of laughter, but gont interrupted by herself having to control not throwing up, “you'd not whom I had expected to come... Sunset, right?”
“Yes...”
>Starlight doesn't seem like she would attack you, and your spider-sense doesn't alert you to danger either.
“Twilight?”
>“In there,” she rights herself up, “right now... I'm not the danger.”
>You clench your jaw.
>If she's not the danger...
>You look to the door to 'Morgue NY01', take a breath and move to open it.
>Again, your trusty spider-sense lays torment so you guess there was no ambush.
>“There's like... a tube of something next to the door. Rub some on your upper lip.”
>You look back to Starlight.
“Thanks... I guess.”
>“And, you know, I'll be gone when you two are done.”
“No, you'll come with, you're going to fix her.”
>“That's not my influence on her right now, she's gone mad all on her own.” Her expression tells you she was not fond of it either. “Which kinda made her easier to influence, but then harder to handle, she's your problem now.”
>Twilight mad...
>You're conflicted between storming in to help Twilight, and getting Starlight to cooperate.
>“I just want to be free now, I'm not gonna make trouble, okay? You'll not hear of me again.”
“No, you have powers, you can use them to help others. If you just stand idly by while bad stuff happens you're just as guilty.”
>Her eyes dart to the side, actually considering your words.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
>“Do you have that from a fortune cookie or something?”
“You're coming with me.”
>As you grab for her your spider-sense goes off for the first time today.
>You lose touch with the ground as she lifts you up magically.
>Writhing like a fish out of water you have no more control over your body.
>Well, you can move, but without anything touching the ground you can't propel yourself in any direction.
>“Melee versus magic, there's no-”
>You web her mouth, and yank her head forward to your fist.
>She immediately drops you and goes down herself.
“Pride cometh before the-”, you change from a mocking shakespearean tone to ghetto, “in yo face, bitch.”
>Starlight however doesn't respond anymore, you knocked her clean out.
>Whatever, you don't have time for this.
>You turn to the morgue again.
>Twilight...
>You open the door and walk in.
 
>The odor of death and disinfectant blows against you as you pass the threshold.
>Holy.. fuck, that's bad.
>You see two people, colors clearly make them Twilight, and someone in a lab suit.
>But your eyes look for the tube Starlight talk about.
>Some smell neutralizing thingy.
>“Spider-Woman, what an odd guest.”
>Just as your hand takes a hold of the salve you hear her voice.
>Twilight's... not Twilight...
>Her hair was much darker, she's sprouting wings.
>However, her eyes don't have that faint aura and atop her head was no mockery of a unicorn's horn  like she had last time.
“Twilight...”
>You say her name slowly and calmly, you use the same caution as you approach her.
>The smell was not forgotten, but there are more important things at hand.
>“Nonono, I'm not Twilight,” she shakes her head, almost as if being amused, “this here's Twilight.”
>She takes a step aside to reveal her own corpse.
>And seeing that wipes your mind clear.
>It's unreal.
>“Why don't you come closer?”
>You hear /Twilight/ speak, and obey without thinking.
>Your feet simply carry you towards the body.
>It was cut open, her organs were visible.
>Everything looks so neat and clean.
>“Check her cecum. She has had her vermiform appendix removed.”
>You don't register the words /she/ says properly, but they weren't meant for you anyway.
>The doctor, whoever he was seems to nod and goes to move through the bodies guts quickly and shows of the part, and confirms “the appendix has indeed been removed.”
>“Further proof that on this here table lies Twilight Sparkle,” /she/ turns to you, “Spider-Woman...”
>You can only guess she's deliberately not calling you by your name, so you remove your mask.
“My name is Sunset, you know that...” you hesitate, “Twilight.”
>“Nonono, I'm not. I'm just confirming her death.”
>Clones, that's the only option you can come up with.
>Spitfire must have cloned Twilight.
“No... You're Twilight Sparkle, and I'm your friend.”
>“Spider-Woman, you were my enemy the first time we've met, even before you donned this mask. You and her, you even gave me a name.”
>Midnight.
“No, you're my friend Twilight Sparkle, you hear me?”
>There's hesitance in her, before shouting “that's not the name you gave me!”
“You're my friend!”
>“I'm your arch nemesis!”
“You're my friend.”
>You say once more, but softer as you take her in an embrace.
>Her body quivers in the grasp.
“You're my friend, okay? We're gonna get through this- whatever this is.”
>Your spider-sense goes of, warning you to retreat from her, but you only hang onto her tighter.
>A wave of magic pushes onto you.
>“Say the name you gave me!”
>A maelstrom of magic whirls throughout the room with her in the center.
“Twilight Sparkle!”
>You don't let go and hold onto her, even when scalpels flew around and cut you up.
>“SAY MY NAME!”
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”
>And then there was silence.
>You need a few moments to realize you're on the floor on the opposed wall of the morgue.
>Nothing happens for a long time until you decide to stand up and walk over to the table where...
>You shake your head.
>Both the dead Twilight and Midnight were gone.
>And the doctor /she/ had made perform her autopsy lays dead on the floor, a scalpel had hit his throat.
>This was no accident either, the cut was long and precise, as opposed to the cuts on you.
>Which means she let you live...
>Which also means that she's a murderer now.
>Your best friend is dead, there's no shaking that.
>And the other being?
>She's still Twilight.
>You've seen her.
>She's been with you and Rarity when you cut your hair, you talked, she's Twilight.
>You can still save-
>...
>No, you are going back to Equestria.
>You are not going to be the one to help her, you're not even going to be in the same reality as her.
“FUCK!”
>You shout and slam your fist onto the stainless steel table.
>Your spider-sense doesn't even go off.
>You are not in danger.
>Right now you appreciate the pain, as you continue to form the table until it was no longer cold but had heated up from the transforming process.
>You're not crying this time around.
>There may be no more tears left which you could give.
>The act of destroying the table didn't make you feel anything.
>Your head seems to have shut down, simply to keep you sane.
>You clench a fist again as you walk out the morgue, discarding your new, but now broken, web-shooters.
>Both your hands must be broken, and you can not move your pinkies without pain, but they'll heal within the day, you've broken your hands before.
>The morgues door flies out of it's hinges as you deliver a kick to it.
“Starlight?!”
>She's still unconscious and you pick her up by her throat, which seems to rile her awake.
>Only gasping noises escape her as you slam her against the wall.
>You remain like that for a while before you drop her again.
>You are not a killer, and while she carries a chunk of the blame.
>The other one was...
“Spitfire.”
>“Wh-” Starlight struggles to breath, “what?”
>You take her hand and begin to move out, back to the entrance, dragging Starlight behind yourself.
“You – Starlight – You are going t take responsibility for your actions.”
>“That's not- that's not my fault.”
“BUT YOU WILL HELP FIX IT!”
>Without even looking back you know what expression she must have.
>“I-I...”
“Because if you don't, you'll meet not Twilight's but my alter ego demon form. And I'm pissed at you right now.”
 
>Be Anon
“I hope you're not interrupting anything right now.”
>Sombra gives a dismissive wave and gestures you to sit, his other hand still holding the phone, “As usual I agree with your decision, I was merely pointing out the fact that you have once again taken one without consulting me or the council first.”
>You take the seat he points to and try not to listen in.
>“However, I have a meeting now, I'll back up your reasons for the council, because they don't usually see that easily to it,” he continues, “yes, see you tonight.”
>He hangs up and you bite your lip.
>It sounded almost like a marital dispute, but you know he wasn't married, and he mentioned a council.
>“Spitfire,” he explains then, “She has had some artifact moved from the Triskelion, we studied for a while now.”
“Okay,” you nod, unsure as to why he shares what seem to be classified.
>“A lot of people can't handle Spitfire, but as with everyone, you just need to know what makes her tick.”
>What makes Spitfire tick...
“And what would that be?”
>Sombra folds his hands and asks, “what do you know about her?”
>Good question.
>You never really were one to try and figure out people, machines are more your thing.
“She hides her Argentinian accent.”
>Sombra smiles, “and what does that tell you?”
“She's... not the type of person who wants to conform... I don't know.”
>“Maybe her reasons are the opposite. Maybe she's a rebel.”
“A rebel?” you laugh out. “her?”
>“Well, where does one acquire an accent?”
“Her family...?”
>Sombra nods, “quite the daddy issues. He-” then shakes his head, “No that's not my place to tell.”
“Daddy issues...” you repeat.
>You haven't interacted with her enough to be able to back up such a claim, but you take Sombra's expertise on her.
>“She comes from a line of 'super'-heroes, you must know. Her grandfather was a Howling Commander, serving with Captain America, before he chased Nazis to Argentine. And his father before him fought in the Occult War.”
>Huh...
“So she needs to live up to a legacy?”
>“Quite the legacy, indeed. Her being a workaholic would be to put it mildly.”
>You think for a moment
“Why would you tell me that?”
>He shrugs, “maybe to ease you into talking about secret things, maybe to show I trust you.”
“But those are not your secrets, they are hers, “ you state, “you don't trust.”
>He chuckles, “oh, not one bit,” shaking his head in amusement, “but I know you're smart, and I trust you will make a choice that is in your favor.”
“So how would me joining the hextopus-club be in my favor?”
>He smiles, “oh, but we are the Wonderbolts, Mr. West. We fight Hydra, of course.”
>His words are underlined with generous gesticulations.
>You pull your chair closer to his desk and lean forward.
“So tell me about the Utopia Project.”
>His features fall a bit.
>“Oh, Utopia. How tragic it always eludes our grasp.”
>You notice he likes to start his sentences with 'oh', it's getting almost annoying.
“So? What is it about?”
>“Have you noticed you like to start your sentences with 'so' a lot?”
>You open your mouth to respond but take a moment.
“So what?”
>You share a smile and he dismisses it with a shake of his head.
>“I assume you're familiar with the Matrix trilogy?”
>You frown.
“As far from utopia as you can get.”
>“Indeed,” Sombra nods once more, “but let's delve into the story for a bit. Science fiction is always so helpful when it comes to making metaphors.”
“Okay... I've seen the movies, it's been a while though.”
>“I'm sure you remember the important bits,” he takes a breath, “The first matrix has been created as an Utopia, as a garden Eden for humans to thrive in, but it didn't work out. More iterations have been made until – was it the sixth matrix? – one was designed after the world around 2000.”
>You try to access that memory and easily recall this part of the second movie where the architect talked to Neo.
>Why do you remember that so vividly?
“Yeah?”
>“Humans... strive for conflict, but for some people even Y2K wasn't enough. They needed to be out, in a much more hostile world. Something that really challenges them...” he makes a small pause, “now imagine you're the architect, what would you do?”
>Think evil.
“Outside the system they'd put my creation at risk. Are you trying to railroad me into saying 'for the greater good' or 'the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few'?”
>“Nono, you want them to be happy, not kill them.”
“Let them out and do as they please?” you laugh and shake your head, “only I wouldn't be able to use them as batteries anymore, so let them stay...”
>You furrow your eyebrows and stop mid sentence.
“I... would...” the words come out slowly at first, “create a second matrix. Let them think they escaped.”
>You look up to Sombra again who smiles.
“Okay, metaphor's over, what's the Utopia project?”
>“Neo was able to use his powers outside the matrix in the third movie.”
“I said the metaphor's over now.”
>“Yes, and I'd like you to think about it, I want to see what solution you may propose. How would you change the world for the better?”
>You look down.
>It was actually something you are wondering about.
>But the matrix... huh.
>Give people fake conflict where nobody really dies?
>No, that's not it.
>For the greater good.
“Try and control every conflict there is? How would you plan to do that?”
>“We have named the answer to this question the Utopia Project. The name is by far the thing we have thought out the least,” he chuckles, “but you should go back to your courses, we don't want to inhibit your education, Mr. West.”
>Sombra shoo's you away with a hand gesture, and while you're still in thought you obey and stand up.
“Just 'Anon's fine, Professor.”
>“Anon then,” he gives you a friendly smile which you return, “now go and let people tell you things you already know.”
 
chapter 1: http://pastebin.com/P4Mawhsw
chapter 2: http://pastebin.com/pGJV6pUZ
chapter 2 -tl;dr version: http://pastebin.com/UusPhq6y
chapter 3: you are here