C442 Spider-Man (Patreon)
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With Dormammu defeated and Peter’s army of time clones disappearing into the ether, Peter stood alone in the Dark Dimension. He took a deep breath and focused his will, undoing the Red Hulk transformation that had granted him such immense power. As his form returned to its normal size, he stared down at the weakened cosmic being before him.
Dormammu's voice was ragged, a mixture of irritation and begrudging respect lacing his words. "You've won… Leave this dimension and be done with it."
Peter's lips curled into a half-smile as he turned to leave, but then he paused, a sly glint in his eyes. With a deliberate turn, he walked back to Dormammu and raised his foot, gently placing it on the entity's neck. Dormammu's breath hitched, and his eyes widened with a mixture of confusion and alarm.
"You know, Dormammu, I've been thinking," Peter said casually, increasing the pressure on Dormammu's neck just enough to make it uncomfortable. "You've been causing a lot of trouble for Earth lately. But now that you're in a bit of a bind, I figure it's time to make some reparations."
Dormammu's voice was strained as he spoke through gritted teeth. "…What more could you possibly want from me?"
Peter's smile widened. "Simple. I want you to make a vow, Dormammu. A vow that you will unconditionally follow three requests from me in the future. No questions, no loopholes. You'll do as I say."
Dormammu let out a harsh, humorless laugh. "You think I would bow to your demands, insect?"
Peter's eyes narrowed, and his foot pressed a little harder on Dormammu's neck. "You see, you're in a precarious situation. You're lucky you're not dead or enslaved right now. But you will do as I say, or I can make your existence a whole lot worse. And if I try hard enough, you might even die…"
Dormammu's defiance wavered, replaced by a glint of fear. "You wouldn't dare..."
Killing Dormammu is something that Peter would be very hesitant to do. Not because he doesn’t like killing, or that he thinks that Dormammu doesn’t deserve death. No, he definitely deserves it. The reason is quite simple really. Whoever would replace Dormammu upon his death could end up being a far bigger threat.
‘I’d rather keep the enemies I know around, than deal with a mysterious one…’ Peter thought.
As for enslavement, Peter thought about it, but at the end of the day, he would have to look after Dormammu, which would just be another responsibility. And he already had enough in his plate as it is. Though the option is still open…
‘If he somehow causes trouble again in the future, then I’ll have to use one of my requests to enslave or limit him further, and keep him on a shelter leash…’ Peter thought.
Peter's gaze remained steady, his tone unwavering. "Oh, I would. Trust me. So, are you going to cooperate, or am I going to have to demonstrate how creative I can be?"
Dormammu ground his teeth in frustration, his ethereal form trembling. He weighed his options, clearly reluctant to submit but aware of the consequences if he refused.
"Fine," Dormammu spat out, his voice dripping with venom. "I agree. I will make the vow."
Peter's grip on Dormammu's neck loosened slightly, and he nodded in approval. "Good choice."
Dormammu's voice resonated with a mixture of anger and begrudging respect as he recited the vow. "I hereby swear to unconditionally fulfill your three requests in the future. I shall abide by these requests without question or hesitation."
As the vow was sealed, a sense of power surged through the air, a testament to the binding nature of Dormammu's words. ‘Nice, I wonder what I can make him do?’ Peter held back the urge to laugh maniacally.
Just as the cosmic being finished speaking, a portal shimmered into existence behind Peter, and a frail, elderly woman stepped through. Despite her weakened form, the determination in her eyes burned fiercely.
Peter's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the woman before him… the Ancient One. Memories of his training and their interactions flooded his mind, and he couldn't hide his astonishment at her appearance.
"Teacher...?" Peter murmured, a mixture of shock and concern in his voice.
The Ancient One's voice was weak but steady as she looked at Peter with a resolute expression. "Yes, I see you have achieved the impossible. The consequences of your actions are rippling through the dimensions, reshaping reality itself."
Peter's eyed his teacher, shocked to see her so weak and frail. "Man, without Dormammu, you’re really an old decrepit granny, aren’t you? I mean, I can smell the stench of an old folks home from here."
The Ancient One eyebrow twitched, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. "Yes, and I’ll die soon if you don’t do something, so you better act quickly..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Ancient One's frail form swayed side to side and collapsed, her aged body succumbing to the weight of thousands of years. Without hesitation, Peter darted forward, his reflexes honed to perfection. He caught her just in time, his arms wrapping around her gently as he cradled her unconscious form.
His heart raced as he looked down at her, his fingers pressed against her pulse point. Her heartbeat was faint, her breath shallow. Peter's mind raced, fully aware of the dire situation. The Ancient One's life hung in the balance, and if he didn't act quickly, she would die of old age before his eyes.
"F*ck…" Peter muttered, his voice laced with concern. "Come on. Hang in there."
Without sparing a moment, Peter's determination flared. He couldn't afford to waste any time saying his goodbyes to Dormammu. With a swift motion, he opened a portal back to his own reality, stepping through and leaving the Dark Dimension behind.
Emerging in the basement of his home, Peter's eyes fell on a metal coffin-like device connected to a tank. Inside the tank, a black, viscous substance sloshed around. This was the mixture of Captain America's blood and crushed dragon bones that he had prepared months ago, knowing that the Ancient One's life might depend on it.
Gently, Peter laid the Ancient One's unconscious form inside the coffin, his fingers brushing against her frail skin. Before closing the lid, he snapped his fingers, removing her clothing for the procedure, his mind far too focused and worried to register the naked old lady in front of him. He muttered to himself as he closed the lip, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I hope this works. I've never tried using the resurrection elixir on someone as old as her."
With a determined exhale, Peter pulled a lever, and the tank's contents spilled into the coffin with the Ancient One. He watched as the black, viscous liquid surrounded her form, hoping against hope that the elixir would work its magic and restore her to perfect health, as it should.
Knowing that the procedure would take time, Peter settled against the wall, his back resting against the cool surface. He sat in silence, the minutes ticking away as he waited with bated breath. His mind raced with thoughts of all he had done, the battles he had fought, and the choices that had brought him to this point.
Hours passed, the darkness of the basement giving way to the soft light of the approaching sunrise. Peter's eyes remained fixed on the metal coffin, his gaze unwavering as he waited for any sign of change.
And then, in a moment that felt like an eternity, the lid of the coffin swung open. Peter's heart leapt in his chest, hope surging through him as he watched a figure sit up with a gasp. The black, tar-like substance covered her body, making it difficult to discern her appearance, but the Ancient One was alive.
"Teacher?" Peter called out softly, his voice a mixture of relief and anticipation.
The Ancient One's gasping breaths slowly steadied, and she raised a trembling hand to wipe away the black substance from her face. As the material fell away, her features became more visible. While her hair was still no where to be found, and her eyes held an age-like wisdom to them, her skin held a vitality that hadn't been there before. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, which is even better than before.
The Ancient One's voice trembled as she spoke, her tone filled with disbelief. "Peter...?"
Peter couldn't help but smile, his heart lightening at the sight of his teacher's survival. "I’m here…” He said as he walked over and conjured a towel for her. “I brought you back, just like I promised. How does it feel to be young again?”
Tears welled in the Ancient One's eyes as she looked down at herself, her voice choking in emotion. “I feel… amazing.”
Peter nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably the Captain America blood. Not only are you young again, but your body should be in superhuman condition.”
As he spoke, a golden energy surrounded the Ancient One’s hand as she made a tight fist. “My Chi has increased by a large margin as well…”
Peter nodded once again. “That’s the dragon bone dust. It holds some left over dragon Chi.”
“I feel like I could go for a few rounds with the Hulk…” She said, a fighting spirit erupting from her body.
Peter placed a hand on her shoulder, calming her in an instant. “Now, that’s the power high. It’ll go away soon. Just try to relax and get used to your new body.”
As the sun's rays filtered into the basement, casting a warm glow on the scene before them, Peter and the Ancient One sat together in the quiet moments of dawn. The weight of their shared experiences, the battles they had fought, and the bond they had forged together settled around them.
A/N: 1655 words :)