Spider-Man Mayhem

[Third Person's PoV] 

"Here," Reed said, handing the radiation container back to the Spider-Bots for safekeeping after examining it.

Peter grabbed Felicia off his head and held her in front of him. Her long torso made the position awkward, her arms slightly spread as she looked at Peter with deadpan eyes. Peter, on the other hand, smiled teasingly.

Chuckling, Peter said, "Alrighty then, it's time to get you sorted. Aria, contact the Ancient One and tell her it's a magical emergency—"

Before he could finish, a swirling, glowing portal materialized right in front of them.

"What the—" Johnny exclaimed, startled.

Out from the portal stepped the Ancient One, clad in her yellow robes, her hood drawn over her head. Her presence was calm yet commanding.

"There is no need," the Ancient One said mystically. "I was already aware my assistance would be required."

Reed, Susan, and Ben exchanged surprised glances. Reed immediately approached the portal, curiosity piqued. "How did you accomplish this? I thought Peter and I were ahead of our time with our portal system, but this... Is this—?"

"No, Mr. Richards," the Ancient One interrupted gently. "This is not technology or science as you understand it. This portal was created through the manipulation of mystical energies that transcend the boundaries of space and time. Your work with Peter is indeed impressive—a testament to human ingenuity. However, what you see here is the result of centuries of study and mastery of the arcane arts."

Reed's curiosity gave way to astonishment as he nodded slowly.

The Ancient One turned to Susan. "Yes, I am the one referred to as the Ancient One, the very same mentioned by Mr. Parker and his companions."

Her gaze then shifted to Johnny. "Appearances can be deceiving. While I may seem as I do, I have, in fact, lived for many centuries."

Finally, the Ancient One looked at Ben with a sympathetic expression. "I am sorry, Mr. Grimm, but I am not the one meant to undo your rather unfortunate circumstance. Magic is not the solution to every problem. The responsibility lies with those who caused it in the first place."

Ben grumbled under his breath. "So much for magic achieving the impossible," he muttered, kicking at the empty air.

"Wait, she just read all our minds?" Johnny asked, clutching his head protectively.

"No," Peter scoffed. "She looked into the future, knew we were going to call her, and showed up before we even did. She already knows everything we're going to say and ask. She loves showing off like that."

The Ancient One cast Peter a sideways glance but chose not to respond. Johnny, however, looked thrilled.

The Ancient One raised a hand preemptively. "I will not tell you the lottery numbers, who you will end up with, or when you will meet your end."

"Well, you're no fun," Johnny sulked.

The Ancient One sighed, her gaze softening as she turned to Reed. "I would enjoy hearing your theories about my abilities another time. I believe your perspective will be quite enlightening, especially given your intellect, Mr. Richards. However, for now, we must focus on the matter at hand—the reason I was summoned."

"Right. Of course," Reed said, looking slightly abashed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

The Ancient One stepped closer to Peter and extended her hand. "May I?" she asked.

As Peter handed Felicia over, the Ancient One cradled her in her arms with practiced ease. A faint chuckle escaped her lips as she observed the feline, who returned her gaze with a deadpan expression, her half-lidded cat slits betraying no amusement.

"I must admit," the Ancient One said, "this is a first, even for me. The reason for your current condition is what I would classify as a Magical Backlash. When your magic was enhanced by the Cosmic Storm, the power became too difficult for you to control. This imbalance triggered a backlash, forcing you into your present state."

"Meow~" Felicia cried out plaintively.

"She's wondering if you could save the explanations for later and help her stop being a cat," MJ translated with a smirk.

"But of course," the Ancient One replied, unperturbed. "The solution is simple, really. This entire situation stems from a loss of control. Once we help her regain mastery over her magic, she will be able to reverse her transformation herself."

The Ancient One turned to address the rest of the group. "However, I must advise all of you to step back. When Ms. Hardy begins regaining control of her magic, stray energy could prove... catastrophic."

Taking her advice to heart, everyone retreated a few steps. As they moved back, Johnny glanced at the others, confusion etched on his face.

"Alright, let's say this magic stuff is real," he began, gesturing skeptically. "You guys said Felicia has the most magical potential out of everyone here. But what exactly is her magic? We've never actually talked about what her abilities are."

Gwen sighed before answering. "Felicia's magic is probability-based. In simple terms, she can manipulate the odds in her favor. If used correctly, she could theoretically achieve a 100% success rate in any situation, making her nearly unbeatable."

Seeing the astonished looks on their faces, Gwen chuckled. "She's still learning, though, so she's not at that level yet. That's why we said she has potential."

Susan let out a wry chuckle of her own. "Honestly, the more I learn about all of you, the more I realize what a terrifying team you are. Each ability sounds more incredible than the last."

Meanwhile, the Ancient One set Felicia gently on the ground and settled into a lotus position across from her. "Felicia," she said calmly, "the reason your magic isn't running rampant right now is because it's being suppressed in this form. While you still have full access to its power, you are subconsciously holding it back. In your human form, you release it freely, which is why the backlash occurred."

The Ancient One's tone turned serious. "I will release the subconscious hold on your magic. When I do, it will flow out of you like water from an open faucet. Your task is to close the tap—to regain control. Do you understand?"

Felicia's green eyes sharpened with determination as she nodded firmly.

The Ancient One allowed a faint, mischievous smile to cross her lips. "Good luck," she said teasingly. With a small chuckle, she pressed her index and middle fingers gently against Felicia's forehead.

Felicia closed her eyes as the Ancient One's hand approached, only for them to snap open suddenly. Her glowing green cat eyes now blazed with intensity, the slitted pupils narrowing dangerously.

The Ancient One quickly withdrew her hand, summoning an Eldritch Shield in front of her just as a silver aura erupted violently from Felicia. The aura was jagged and uncontrollable, radiating shockwaves of energy that crashed into the ground with deafening thunderclaps. 

Bolts of magic shot wildly from her body, each impact sending tremors through the room. The lights flickered erratically, casting chaotic shadows around the group.

Felicia's feline face was tense with concentration, her frustration evident as she slammed her paw against the ground repeatedly.

Peter's reflexes kicked in as he shot out a web from his wrist, snagging a flying screw that had been ripped from the wall and was hurtling toward Johnny's face at bullet speed.

"Whoa!" Johnny yelped, ducking instinctively, his hands shielding his head.

Meanwhile, the Ancient One moved with calculated precision, deflecting Felicia's stray magic with practiced ease. "You're trying to control all that power at once," she advised, her voice calm yet firm. "Control is a gradual process, not something you achieve immediately. Start small and work your way up."

"Take a deep breath," she continued. "Calm your emotions. They play a vital role in controlling your magic."

Felicia hesitated, then closed her glowing eyes and took a deep breath. Her tense expression softened as she began to focus. Slowly, she started reigning in her magic. It was a painstaking process—like trying to tame a wild storm—but with every passing moment, the chaotic spikes of her aura dulled. The stray bolts of energy grew less frequent, and the violent waves of magic began to settle.

Gradually, her aura transformed. What had once been a jagged, chaotic eruption now shimmered like a smooth silver flame, flowing gently over her form. The once-uncontrolled geyser of power had dwindled to a calm, steady current.

Felicia felt it—she had regained control. With a determined focus, she willed her transformation to reverse. Her body shimmered and began to morph, rising from its feline form and reshaping itself into her human figure. However, in her excitement, she failed to fully undo the transformation, leaving some distinct feline features behind.

Felicia now stood in her human form but retained a pair of fluffy black cat ears perched on her head and a sleek tail swishing happily behind her. Unaware of these lingering traits, she crouched on the ground in the same posture as before.

"YES!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet. "Oh, baby, I'm back! Mama's got her body back! Oh, how I missed my sexy self!" She posed dramatically, basking in her triumph.

"Thank you!" Felicia gushed, bowing repeatedly toward the Ancient One.

Felicia then turned to her friends, her joy undeterred—until she noticed them covering their mouths, their shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

"What?" she asked, her confusion evident.

Peter, unable to resist, pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. He held it up for her to see. Felicia's eyes widened at the sight of her cat ears and tail, and her face flushed slightly. But instead of embarrassment, she smirked confidently. "You know what? I look damn good, don't I?"

Peter chuckled, shaking his head before turning to the Ancient One. "So… is her only new ability the power to turn into a cat?"

Felicia's triumphant grin faltered. "Oh, my god, it isn't, is it?" she asked, her tone panicked.

The Ancient One smiled calmly. "Not quite. Your magic has evolved into something more intricate—what I would call Symbolic Probability. With this, you can summon or create symbolic objects to channel your magic through specific symbols or objects to enhance its effects. In this case, your transformation into a black cat—a symbol of misfortune—was tied to your magic's connection to probability."

Felicia's curiosity sparked. "So… if I created, say, a dice with my magic?"

The Ancient One nodded. "That dice would act as a conduit for your abilities. If you roll it, the outcome will determine the probability you influence. A one might cause your magic to backfire, bringing bad luck to you, while a six could grant extraordinary fortune."

Felicia tilted her head, intrigued yet wary. "What about flipping a coin?"

"That depends," the Ancient One explained. "If you target someone else, the coin's outcome could affect them directly. For instance, heads could bring good fortune to your opponent, while tails might bring them bad luck. However, the same rules could apply to you if you don't specify."

Felicia dropped to her knees in exasperation, throwing her hands in the air. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THAT SUCKS MAJOR ASS! WHAT KIND OF ABILITY IS THAT?!"

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