¹ Dragonfire's Awakening - Ultimate Spider-Man ✓

Me Time

"I simply request a little time alone," Spider-Man conveyed to Fury. You might be curious as to how I am privy to this information.

As I soar through the aircraft, embodying the form of a dragon, my auditory senses are exceptionally acute. Yet, let us return to the matter at hand.

"I never enlisted myself to be subjected to surveillance," Spider-Man playfully quipped. "That's precisely what everyone at S.H.I.E.L.D. did," Fury retorted.

"And what about Smaug?"

"I did not, Spider-Man, but I possess my justifications," I relayed through the timepiece adorning his wrist. Embedded within my ear, I carried a microchip enabling me to discern attempts to contact me.

Peculiarly, it proved to be advantageous.

Spider-Man sighed and chirped! Entered my ear. I sighed and soared higher into the sky, occasionally spinning around, feeling free and joyful.

It had been a while since I let go of my dragon self and allowed my true self to be present truly. And it felt perfect.

My team and friends don't mind it, and neither does SHIELD. I'm allowed to come and go from school as I please since I'm not a student there.

I mean, I've caught whiffs of Harry's scent and M.J.'s, too, when they've been in town, and I miss them, but I have to be a dragon for at least another year.

I can't keep her confined forever.

"Hey, Smaug, want to join me?" Spidey's voice interrupted my thoughts, and I straightened up in the air, gliding above the clouds. "Join you for what?" I asked curiously, remembering I couldn't be seen in the city.

"Well, we can always go out," he said, stumbling out hesitantly.

I smiled, my massive wings gracefully folding against my sides. "Let's rendezvous behind your garden, Parker. I'll see you there." Closing my eyes, I surrendered to the weightlessness and descended through the billowing clouds, their cottony texture caressing my iridescent scales.

I felt alive and unburdened in this ethereal realm, high above the ground—a dragon in flight, liberated and content.

Soon, I caught sight of Peter's humble abode, and the distinct aroma of his presence enveloped my senses. A blissful smile played upon my snout as I landed with a gentle thud, settling behind his verdant garden.

He gazed up at me; his expression tinged with surprise at my proximity. Lowering my head, I nudged him playfully, a gesture of camaraderie. "You wished to join me, so how about a ride?" His eyes widened further, his astonishment palpable, and I couldn't help but emit a mischievous chuckle.

"Come, my dashing companion." Another gentle nudge and I positioned my neck, presenting my back and shoulders for his ascent.

With a breath, he gasped and nimbly clambered onto the joint of my wing, his form soon finding solace between my sturdy shoulder blades.

A wisp of smoke swirled around us, a testament to the enchantment that bonded us. Standing tall, I unfurled my magnificent wings, casting a shadow over his hips. A fleeting glance passed between us, a silent understanding before I splayed my hind limbs and launched forward, propelling myself into a swift ascent, wings beating with purposeful strength.

The exhilarating gusts of wind carried Peter's exhilarated cries through the air, blending harmoniously with the symphony of our flight.

As we soared above the ethereal expanse of clouds, the sun bestowed its radiant glow upon their soft contours, casting a mesmerizing iridescence that danced upon their surface.

Peter's voice trembled with awe. "Is this not breathtaking?" I asked, my gaze fixated upon the undulating tapestry below, enraptured by its ever-changing beauty.

"That's it," he said, resting his head on one of my shoulders while wrapping his arms around me. I smiled and continued to let him witness the marvels of the sky.

The realm that I governed.

"Would you like to see something even cooler?" I asked with a grin, and before he could reply, I dove beneath the clouds again.

Soon, we beheld New York in the golden and silvery hues of the sunset. "Woah," Peter sighed. I smiled and glided over the city, paying no mind to any mortals who might catch a glimpse of me.

All I desired was for Peter and me to enjoy ourselves together.

But suddenly, I heard the sound of a distant crash, and I grew apprehensive. "What's wrong?" Peter asked, his spider senses tingling. "There's trouble brewing," I said, veering off toward what appeared to be a nearby park.

A peculiar cloud of dust emerged as a carriage derailed from its track. "NO!" I roared, without hesitation, charging into the assailant and tearing off one of his strange mechanical arms.

Peter dismounted from my back, aware that he was no longer safe on my back.

I pinned down the villain and beheld the most peculiar sight I had ever seen. He was a dark-haired, hunched man with gleaming eyes. He was disabled, I noticed, and instead of walking on two legs like a regular mortal, he moved on octopus-like appendages.

"Release me!" he demanded, striking me on the head with one of his arms.

"Hey!" Peter's voice echoed through the air, full of urgency and concern. I registered a red and blue streak darting in front of my vision, a blur of movement that left me momentarily disoriented and trembling in my head. The impact was powerful, causing my massive frame to sway slightly.

No one has struck me with such force before; I thought to myself, a mixture of surprise and unease creeping through my mind. This man, this adversary, possessed an unpredictable strength and skill that set him apart from any foe I had encountered.

But my attention swiftly shifted as I recognized the imminent danger. He had directed his attack towards Spider-Man, my companion and ally. A surge of protective instinct coursed through my scaled body, urging me to retaliate and defend my friend.

With a persistent hiss, I propelled myself forward, a swift and deliberate motion. The power of my presence was palpable as I lunged toward the assailant, my powerful jaws clamping down firmly on one of his arms. I applied just enough pressure to induce a jolt of pain and evoke a reaction of both anger and surprise from the villain.

Through the grip of my vice-like hold, I felt the arm squirm, attempting to break free from my formidable grasp. The sight disgusted me, and with disdain, I released my grip, allowing the arm to writhe helplessly on the ground beneath my razor-sharp claws.

"Pathetic," I growled, my voice carrying an edge of scorn as I turned my attention toward the enigmatic man who now stood before me. His gaze met mine, a mixture of defiance and recognition evident in his eyes. "So, the dragon returns," he muttered, barely reaching my ears. Yet, I paid them little heed, focusing on the immediate situation.

Unyielding in my determination, I confronted him, demanding answers with a menacing snarl. "Who are you?" I seethed, my voice filled with the intensity of a smoldering fire. A self-assured smile curved his lips as he responded, his tone laced with a cryptic air of mystery. "Someone you've never known, but you will soon discover," he uttered, his grip tightening around Spider-Man's throat, emphasizing the peril that awaited both my arachnid companion and myself. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving an unsettling void in his wake.