208. Guests at the Gate. (Patreon)

Peter B. Parker POV:

We stepped out of the dimensional portal like a circus troupe crammed through a magician’s hat.

One by one.

Boots, shoes, paws, mech-legs, stroller straps, sari hems, winter coats.

Twenty-one people and one baby spilling into a quiet alleyway that clearly didn't sign up for this.

The portal snapped shut behind us with a polite zzzt.

For half a second, there was silence.

Then the alley exploded with noise and Mayday began babbling.

Ganke whispered “whoa.”

Pavitr stretched like he’d just exited economy class after a twelve-hour flight.

Captain Jefferson looked around, hands on hips.

“My, what a clean alley. Not a single hobo or drug addict in sight. Either this city’s rich or it’s hiding its problems very well.”

Gayatri tugged Pavitr’s sleeve. “Uh, guys? Look up.”

We all did and yeah.

Okay.

That shut everyone up.

The skyscrapers were wrapped in flowering vines, Sakura blossoms cascading down glass and steel like living decorations. Pink, white and red mixed with golden strip of lights. Even deep emerald blooms that shimmered under city lights.

Christmas colors were painted on skyscrapers using nothing more than nature.

Margo whistled. “Okay. If 928 is futuristic, then 65M is like… retro-nature-future harmony mode. Like someone let an eco-architect and a cyberpunk designer co-parent a city.”

Earth-65-B Gwen folded her arms. “Nighttime really didn’t do this place justice from the aerial view.”

Uncle Ben from 65-B adjusted his coat. “Well, as impressive as the horticulture is, I’d like to reach this universe’s Peter before we accidentally break something.”

Inspector Singh pointed down the street. “I don’t think that will be a problem, sir.”

We followed his finger.

Parker Tower didn’t just stand tall. It dominated the skyline by looking less like a building and more like a statement.

MJ squeezed my arm while Mayday kicked happily in her chest carrier. “I wonder what happened to me here.”

Scarred Peter—65-B answered way too casually. “At worst? Rehab or dead. At best? You’re with Paul Rabin.”

Gwen elbowed him hard. “Peter!”

“What? Multiverse probabilities!” He shrugged.

They started a light scuffle, mock wrestling with zero real malice.

Peni raised both hands. “People!!! I want hot cocoa before we do emotional damage to ourselves!!!”

Aunt May from 1610-B looked around at us. “You’re all acting like this Peter is some supervillain.”

The entire group collectively avoided eye contact.

Scarred Peter sighed. “Okay, context. Some of these geniuses used a faulty dimensional watch and landed on top of his wedding cake. After the wedding. During the dance.”

The adults gasped. MJ covered her mouth.

Gayatri whispered, “No…”

“They destroyed the cake,” Scarred Peter finished. “Of a newlywed who also happens to be the most powerful couple in the planet.”

Captain Jefferson blinked. “And they’re still alive?”

Miles nodded toward us. “Low-key miracle. This Peter? Doesn’t flinch if he has to kill. Like… at all.”

Inspector Singh frowned. “And the police allow this?”

Porker shrugged. “Buddy’s rocking near-280 IQ and thinks in four-dimensional chess. Good luck proving anything.”

We started walking. New York felt familiar but… smoother.

Even Times Square felt less chaotic and more curated.

People barely reacted to SP//dr or Porker.

Desensitized to the odd apparently.

Ganke sighed. “Too bad Noir couldn’t make it.”

Pavitr nodded. “Just gotta enjoy on his behalf too, yaar.”

Then... An alarm.

A calm female voice echoed through the streets.

“All pedestrians please stay put and clear of the red glowing edges. Pedestrian Barrier activating shortly.”

Red lines lit the pavement.

We followed the crowd’s lead and stepped back.

Ten seconds later.. BOOM.

Ten-foot reinforced walls rose from the ground like a fortress assembling itself.

Hobart whistled. “Mate, that’s one hell of a safety feature.”

Gunshots somewhere beyond. Then a screech and finally a violent crash. Then a pssshhh like a giant fire extinguisher.

I tapped a nearby pedestrian. “Hey man, what happened?” He barely looked up from his phone. “Barrier stops speeding trucks and explosions. Streetlights spray instant solidifying flame retardant.”

The walls lowered and he walked off like that was normal.

Captain Stacy muttered, “That’s… radical public safety.”

We kept moving. Soon we hit a bus stop and MJ squinted at the map. “Parker Tower has its own stop?”

Margo scrolled news feeds. “Guy rebuilt multiple economic sectors and also created multiple economic sectors. Earns perks.”

I sighed heroically. “Fine. I’ll pay.”

Five minutes later we were at the gates of Parker Tower.

Festive lights and decorations dotted the tower in a tasteful and rich way.

I checked the total fare. “Only five bucks for twenty-one people?! That’s insane!”

Gayatri nodded. “Global economy here is nearly 1950s-level stable. Worldwide.”

Porker looked around. “So where’s the...” The gates slid open silently before he could finish his sentence.

A drone hovered at the guard post with a shoulder-mounted machine gun. It looked sleek and menacing.

Scarred Peter adjusted his glasses. “Palladium cyclic arc reactor, Titanium-tungsten-steel alloy and in built Multispectral sensors. EMP shielding.”

He paused. “Also more advanced than anything Spider Society has.”

We leaned closer.

Then... BOOM.

Concrete dust exploded beside us and the sound of a shotgun being cocked is heard.

We turned and there he was. Earth-65M Peter.

Standing in bunny slippers while holding a shotgun that definitely didn’t fire anything legal while being surrounded by a toxic-green nanobot swarm. His eyes glowing the same shade.

He looked less like a host and more like a final boss. “What did you guys do this time????”

Nobody spoke. Finally scarred Peter stepped forward, hand out. “Merry Christmas, Peter.”

A beat passed then the nanobots flowed back into his body like liquid light.

His eyes returned to hazel and the shotgun was slung over his shoulder. He shook Scarred Peter’s hand.

“Sorry. Last four days have been… taxing.” Scarred Peter laughed softly. “Amen to that, brother.”

They hugged like soldiers who understood each other without explanation.

Then 65M Peter looked at all of us. His gaze swept over Mayday, the parents and the friends. His expression softened just a fraction. “Come inside. The family’s gonna be stoked.”

Just like that, the terrifying legend of Earth-65M Peter turned back into a guy inviting guests home for Christmas.

We followed him into the massive lobby.

I couldn’t shake the feeling thoughz We weren’t just visiting a Spider. We were visiting a king in his castle and we’d better not step on the cake again.