The next day:
She always got people's attention. Every time she'd walk by, people would look at her, and admire her beauty... and she got a kick out of it every time. Her name was Felicia Hardy. And she was walking towards Horizon Labs to check on the progress of multiple experiments, since the Hardy Foundation often helped to fund the research of Horizon. Max Modell himself might be a multibillionaire, but he was already putting most of his money into the science being done in Horizon, and they weren't as well known as other corporations like Oscorp. Luckily, the Hardy family, or rather Anastasia Hardy, Felicia's mom who ran the Hardy Foundation, saw the potential in Max Modell's company. And now, she was on her way to see the progress of various projects that the Hardy Foundation helped to fund.

Peter was glad he had experience with making his Spider-Man costume, since making a lightweight vest of Reverbium was tougher than Peter thought. But he managed to make a prototype and he put it on a ballistics dummy. That's when Felicia Hardy walked in. Peter knew who she was, but didn't talk to her much. He was always busy doing science while she was checking in with Max on the various projects her family's foundations help fund.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" asked one of Peter's co workers. Peter nodded at him.

"You should talk to her, man." his co worker told Peter.

"No. I'm trying to patch up my relationship with the woman I love." Peter replied. His co worker looked at Peter, curiously.

"You didn't mention having a girlfriend, bro." his co worker told him. Peter sighed.

"It's complicated. 2 years ago, I did some stupid stuff, let my anger at my life situation at the time get the better of me. Now, Mary Jane and I... we talk, we hang out, and the spark is still there... but neither of us can seem to make things official again." Peter explained. He then shook his head.

"This is going to found corny, but if it's meant to be, it'll work out for you and your girl... man I let my girl drag me into too many chick flicks!" Peter's co worker said.

Meanwhile:
Mary Jane Watson was back in Broadway. It took a lot of work, but she was back and the reviews for her recent work called it 'a triumphant comeback of an actress with lots of potential'. She was currently with her old friend Louise (she is from the Spider-Man 2.1 cut of Spider-Man 2. Her most important scene with MJ was cut from the theatrical cut, but can still be found on YouTube. ~Sage) drinking coffee.

"I am so excited that we're gonna work on this play together. It'll be just like old times!" Louise told MJ, who smiled.

"Yeah. We finally made it to Broadway. Or in my case, finally climbed back to it." MJ replied. Louise nodded.

"They should have never booted you out." Louise told her friend with a smile before she took a sip of her coffee.

Meanwhile:
"It's almost time, Mr. Fisk." A man named James Wesley said to his friend and employer, Wilson Fisk.

"Yes, thank you, Wesley." Fisk replied as he took a deep breath.

"You seem nervous, Mr. Fisk." Wesley told him.

"I haven't been to this city for a long time. I have missed it... but it seems that this city has changed." Fisk replied before passing Wesley a newspaper with a picture of Spider-Man stopping a thug on it.

"Well, sir. Those stories about extraordinary people appearing here in New York is true." Wesley said. Fisk sighed.

"This city has become a mess since I left. But with that, comes lots of oppertunity. Norman Osborn would have never sold Oscorp to me. When he died, I still had no chance of buying Oscorp with Harry Osborn at the helm. The brat was reportedly obsessed with upholding his father's legacy. But now, Oscorp is mine... oppertunity is knocking at the door, Wesley, and it's time I opened it up." Fisk told Wesley.

Peter Parker was in a rush to get out of Horizon Labs, as he needed to get to the Daily Bugle as fast as possible. After he left the building, he found a place to hide and changed into Spider-Man. He didn't bother riding his motor scooter thing anymore. That thing broke down too much, and it was much faster to swing across the city anyway. Spider-Man swung quickly from building to building. The people of New York still took pictures of him as he swung around, but the sight of Spidey swinging around the city was no longer considered an unusual sight for New Yorkers.

"There goes Spidey again! Go get 'em Webhead!" yelled a New Yorker in support of Spider-Man as he swung by.

It didn't take too long for Spider-Man to find an alley near the Daily Bugle to change from. Spider-Man quickly changed into Peter Parker and started to walk towards the Daily Bugle.

As Peter got closer to the Daily Bugle, out walked Betty Brant, on lunch break. She smiled at seeing Peter, her heart skipped a beat as she looked at the man she had a crush on for years. She'd recently grew out her hair and dyed it blonde... something that caused quite a stir in the office as more men were starting to persue her more than ever, but Betty still had her mind made up, she wanted Peter Parker.

"Hey, Pete." Betty said. Peter smiled at her.

"Hey, Betty. Still trying to get used to the new hairstyle... and hair color. I almost didn't recognize you again." Peter admitted sheepishly. Betty giggled.

"Do I really look all that different?" Betty asked. Peter nodded.

"Different isn't a bad thing thought. It can be good. And in this case it's good. Whoever did your hair did a good job." Peter replied. Betty smiled.

"Peter, do you want to go to lunch with me?" Betty asked.

"I'd love to, but I have to meet up with Ben. We were assigned to cover the Wilson Fisk press conference today." Peter explained.

"The one about the buying of Oscorp?" Betty asked. Peter nodded. Betty sighed. She knew Oscorp was a bit of a sore subject for Peter since his best friend, Harry Osborn, was killed two years ago helping Spider-Man stop Venom and Sandman, who had turned himself in and got released on good behavior afterwards.

"Will you be ok?" Betty asked. Peter nodded.

"I think I'll be fine. Maybe we could do lunch tomorrow." Peter offered his friend. Betty smiled.

"Don't be late." Betty said. Peter smiled back.

"No promises. But I'll try to be on time." Peter replied. Peter then walked inside the Bugle, waving at Betty, who waved back at him.

"Peter, thank goodness you made it." Ben said to Peter as he arrived in the Daily Bugle offices.

"Yeah, I tried to leave Horizon Labs as quickly as possible so I could get here on time. I'm just glad Mr. Modell was so understanding." Peter replied. Ben smiled.

"Sounds like an upgrade from the boss we have here, huh?" Ben said. Peter smiled and nodded.

"You're on in 30 minutes, Mr. Fisk." informed one of Fisk's employees. Wilson Fisk nodded.

"Yes. Thank you." Fisk replied. He looked at himself in the mirror. He was the splitting image of wealth and power. Not the kind of power Spider-Man possessed. No, the type of power that Fisk had considered to be real power. Power to control the city at large.

"Ready to welcome the new age, Mr. Fisk?" Wesley asked his friend. Fisk nodded.

"Yes, Wesley. I am." Fisk replied.

It didn't take very long for Peter and Ben to arrive at Oscorp. Ben parked the car and the two got out of the car and headed to the press area.

"Excuse me, I need to see your ID badge please." said the security guard at the door of the press enterence.

Peter noticed how this man seemed to look exactly like the wrestling announcer that gave him his super hero name, and the rude usher that wouldn't let him see MJ's play all those years ago, and that French waiter that tried to help Peter purpose to Mary Jane 2 years ago. As Peter showed the man his Daily Bugle ID, the man seemed to notice Peter's surprise.

"Is something the matter, Mr. Parker?" the man asked. Peter shook his head.

"No. Anyone ever tell you, that you look familiar?" Peter asked. The man nodded.

"I get that alot. They seem to mistaken me for my twin brother... he's an usher for plays. They also seem to mistaken me for a french waiter for some reason." the man replied. Ben smiled in amusement at this as he showed his own Daily Bugle ID to the man.

"You two can head on in." The man told the Daily Bugle employees.

The press conference didn't take very long to get started after Peter and Ben took their seats. A large man, whom Peter realized was Wilson Fisk walked onto the speaker's podium. As Peter saw Fisk move, he couldn't help but think Fisk needed to lay off the donuts. Fisk pressed his finger to the microphone on the podium to check if it was on before he started to speak.

"Welcome citizens of New York. I am Wilson Fisk, head of Fisk Construction, and I was once part of the board of directors for the former competition of Oscorp, Quest Aerospace. Despite me backing the competition years ago, I always saw potential in Oscorp, and I had wanted to help Norman Osborn fund his company's projects, but Norman wanted to make it off his own steam back then. He was a good man, and the reason why Oscorp is such an important company. Norman Osborn built a scientific empire that needed to be protected, and since Harry Osborn died, there was no one left to take over Oscorp and lead it into the next era like it needs to be led. This is why I bought Oscorp. I want to lead Oscorp into the new age, and maintain the legacy of my old friend, Norman Osborn." explained Fisk.

As Fisk spoke, Peter snapped as many photos as he could of Fisk and of his new employees behind him, listening to Fisk's speech. His employees nodded as Fisk spoke, agreeing that Oscorp needed new leadership after two years of having no direction since Harry Osborn's death.

"Does anyone have any questions?" Fisk asked after he finished his speech, looking around the room filled with civilians on one side and reporters on another.

"Yes. Mr. Fisk, what brings you back into the United States after years of being away after rumors of you being a crime boss spread far and wide across the nation?" asked a female reporter for A1 New York News, a news channel that had first got started around the time Spider-Man and New Goblin fought off Venom and Sandman, and had now become a large local news channel. Fisk knew that the rumors would come up. They always came up in other countries as well.

"Simple. I love my country. I've been away from it for far too long. As for the rumors, that's all they are. Rumors. There was never any proof that I had ever done anything illegal, and that's because there are no dark deeds that I am hiding from any of you. Next question." Fisk replied.

The A1 reporter sat down and Ben stood up.

"Mr. Fisk, my question is: What do you plan to do with Oscorp now that you have bought the company from it's previous board of directors?" Ben asked.

"My plan for Oscorp is to continue all current projects that may benefit the people of New York, and scrap the ones that may endanger the citizens. Far too long has New York been threatened by Green Goblins, or Venoms or other powered threats. I aim to ensure that no powered threats will ever come from Oscorp. New York's safety is our prime mission here at Oscorp. And the first project that I will announce is this..." Fisk said before he walked over to a table and pulled a towel off of some kind of model. It was some kind of blueprint of some sort.

"These rooftop research stations are a project that Harry Osborn had in the works in honor of his mother. These stations will monitor pollution levels in the air and in our water, help us maintain our cell towers no matter the provider, and most of all... keep a part of Harry Osborn and the Osborn family alive, in the heart of Oscorp." Fisk announced. (Trivia time: This rooftop research thing is a reference to what other Spider-Man thing?)

People clapped and cheered. Fisk had won most of them over. Suddenly Peter's Spider Sense rang in his head. Ben noticed Peter tensing up as he looked around.

"Is something wrong, Peter?" Ben asked. Just as Ben asked that a group of men with guns in their hands burst into the room. It was a gang known as the Apocalypse.

"Get the fat guy!" the gang leader yelled as he pointed at Fisk.