[Third Person's PoV]
Peter lay on the ground in the vast blue expanse of space, staring up at the dome that encapsulated them. His mind was still reeling from all the information he had managed to gather.
The Watcher allowed Peter to remain sprawled on the floor for several minutes, understanding just how overwhelming the weight of knowledge could be.
Once the moment passed, the Watcher finally spoke. "Do you perhaps have any more questions?"
Peter sat up slowly, crossing his legs and looking down at them. His lips twisted thoughtfully as he considered his response. In truth, he had many questions.
But there was one in particular—a question he felt embarrassed to ask. It seemed childish, and yet it was the one he needed answered most of all.
He rubbed his face, pushed back his hair, and held the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "I just have one... You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Closing his eyes for a few seconds, he took a deep breath. When he spoke, his voice was soft and vulnerable—unlike anything he'd ever let out before.
"Am I... Am I doing a good job?"
The Watcher was momentarily taken aback. That wasn't the question he'd expected. He studied Peter closely, watching as he awkwardly scratched his head and looked down, too bashful to meet his gaze.
What he saw wasn't a superhero. It wasn't Spider-Man. It was a young man—no, a young boy—filled with uncertainty. A boy who had been thrust into an unfamiliar world and was doing everything he could to survive. To do what was right with what he had been given.
The Watcher's expression softened. In his eyes, Peter was still just a child bearing the weight of the world—a burden he had chosen to carry. But beyond that, he carried something even heavier: the crushing expectations of others. And heavier still, the unrealistic expectations he had placed on himself the moment he took up the mantle of Spider-Man.
A small smile tugged at the corner of the Watcher's lips.
"Be proud, Ethan Mason—"
Peter's eyes flew open, nearly bulging from his head. But before he could speak, the Watcher continued.
"You've been given an opportunity that few ever get. And with it, you've done wondrous things. You could have chosen to live this new life selfishly. No one would have blamed you—it wouldn't have even been the wrong choice. But instead, you chose to live for the sake of others."
The Watcher's voice echoed gently, like a whisper across the stars, reverent and unwavering. "You have chosen the path of responsibility, of compassion, of sacrifice. And though it is a hard path—full of moments that test your resolve, your heart, and your sense of self—you continue to walk it, even when no one is watching, even when the burden feels too much to bear."
"You ask if you're doing a good job," the Watcher continued, stepping closer, his towering form casting no shadow but radiating a presence Peter could feel in his bones. "Let me tell you something, young one. Heroes are not defined by their perfection. They are defined by the choices they make despite their flaws, despite their fears. And you—Peter, Mason, however you see yourself—have made the kind of choices that few with your power ever would."
Peter's eyes lowered again, his fingers fidgeting in his lap.
"You doubt yourself because you care," the Watcher said softly. "Because you hold yourself to a higher standard than even the universe demands of you. But I have seen worlds rise and fall, seen countless bearers of power and responsibility. And in all my time observing the multiverse… very few have a heart as pure and determined as yours."
A pause, long and thoughtful.
"You are doing more than a good job. You are doing remarkably. And I am not the only one who believes that. The people you've touched, the lives you've changed, even those who never got the chance to thank you—your impact ripples far beyond what you can imagine."
Peter blinked, and tears slipped quietly down his cheeks before he hastily wiped it away.
The Watcher smiled kindly. "It is okay to feel lost. It is okay to ask for reassurance. You are not weak for needing to hear that you are enough."
Peter let out a shaky breath and finally looked up, really meeting the Watcher's eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered.
The Watcher gave a slight nod. "Carry that truth with you, Peter. In the moments you question yourself, when the path is uncertain—remember this: You are doing a good job. And more importantly… you are enough."
Peter's eyes were distant, but a satisfied grin stretched across his face.
The Watcher mirrored the expression and extended a hand above Peter. "I believe I've said all that needed to be said, young man. I'll now be sending you back to your universe—at the same time as everyone else. Once again, the Multiverse is in your debt. Thank you for answering the call, young hero."
He gave Peter one final nod of approval as Peter's body began to shimmer with ethereal light.
"I'll keep my Watch on you, Peter Parker," the Watcher added. "Let's see if you'll continue walking the same path in the future."
"You better not be peeking into my bedroom life, you hear me?! That's off-limits—" Peter grinned as he pointed at the Watcher.
But he vanished before he could finish.
---
Peter, MJ, Felicia, Bruce, Lizzy, Harry, and Gwen shimmered back into their own world, right in front of the Ancient One—with a new addition in Gwen's arms.
And as they reappeared, Peter continued right where he'd left off, finger pointed ahead, now at the Ancient One.
"—which means I definitely don't permit you to peek when I'm having fun time with my girls!"
He froze mid-pose, realizing who was in front of him. Everyone stared at him with a mix of amusement and disbelief. The Ancient One raised an inquisitive eyebrow, staring him down.
Instead of backing off, Peter doubled down and pointed again. "That goes for you too. I know how much you love to peek into the unknown with that third eye of yours. But my bedroom? Yeah, let's keep that in the 'unknown' category, alright?"
Gwen pinched the bridge of her nose while MJ and the others burst into chuckles. Aria giggled behind her hands, delighted.
The Ancient One rolled her eyes, unfazed, and turned her attention toward the figure in Gwen's arms.
"Hello, little one. It appears you've obtained a physical form. Your journey across the multiverse appeared to have been... fruitful. To say the least"
"Greetings, Madame Ancient One," Aria said with a respectful nod, still nestled in Gwen's arms. "And yes, it was very fruitful. Let me regale you with the grand heroic tale of how Aria Parker single handedly saved the multiverse!"
Harry leaned over and whispered, "She's going to be worse than Peter."
That earned a round of laughs and nods of agreement.
---
After dropping Bruce off at the hideout—he wanted to rest—the rest of the group began the walk back to the Parker residence.
Aria sat happily on Peter's shoulders, resting her hands on his forehead and swinging her feet gently against his chest.
Harry checked the time and sighed. "We've gotta get going soon. But not before seeing Aunt May and Uncle Ben's reaction. That should be... entertaining."
Aria giggled mischievously, anticipation bubbling in her eyes.
"Hopefully my mother's gone by now," MJ muttered.
"Don't worry," Aria said with a confident grin, tapping the purple gem on her forehead. "If she's still around, I'll just wipe her memory with this bad boy!"
"Please don't," MJ pleaded, exasperated.
Felicia subtly cast a spell with a flick of her wrist, hidden and away from nearby eyes and cameras. "Relax, I just upped the probability that your mom isn't there."
"Felicia, you're the best," MJ groaned in relief.
"I know, I know," Felicia said smugly, flipping her hair.
---
Soon, they arrived at the doorstep of the Parker home and entered without fanfare.
Inside, Uncle Ben had his hand on Aunt May's belly while she laughed, rolling her eyes. "You're not going to feel anything yet—Oh? You're all back already?"
"Hello Grandma May! Hello Grandpa Ben!" Aria greeted brightly from Peter's shoulders.
"Hello, Aria dear," Aunt May replied with a warm smile.
Uncle Ben greeted her as well, casual and calm.
Peter blinked, confused by the lukewarm response. "What? That's it? That's your reaction?"
"What? What's there to react to?" Uncle Ben asked, genuinely puzzled.
"I don't know, maybe the fact that Aria is sitting on my freaking shoulders with a physical body?" Peter replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"What?" Aunt May and Uncle Ben said in unison, the color draining from their faces.
"You mean to say... that isn't a hologram?" Uncle Ben asked, eyes wide.
Realization slowly dawned across the room.
Aria burst into giggles before levitating off Peter's shoulders and floating gently to the floor with a soft thud. Aunt May and Uncle Ben's eyes widened at the sound.
She took their hands and placed them on her cheeks, grinning up at them. "Surprise! I became a real boy, Grandpa Geppetto!"
They stared, slack-jawed.
"WHAT THE F—"
"Ahhhh~" Peter sighed with satisfaction. "Now that's the reaction we were waiting for."
Harry and the others nodded, smiling proudly.
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+5 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3
A/N: I tried to get a picture for how Aria looks, AI sucks major ass sometimes, I got annoyed at it and just said F- it she looks like Raven from DC. And after looking at one picture (Which I will post in the comments) The comparison isn't that far off, it was kinda how I imagined her. So check it out in the comment section.