"Spider-Man" Aladdin!AU

Another Contender

Cliffhanger, suckers! And now, I'm gonna be mean and raise tensions while you guys are anticipating what happens to Peter. By the way, new character! Actually--two!!!

This is what happens to MJ after she and the boys are busted.

MJ tried her best to yank her arms out of the soldiers' grips as they brought her up to her adopted father, Harold "Happy" Hogan, and his disappointed look. The king dismissed the guards with a nod, and MJ scowled as she rubbed her abused wrists. "Father, let the boys go. This isn't their fault!"

Happy ignored her. "Make sure that those two don't escape."

"Dad! Listen to me! I ran away; they had absolutely nothing to do with it!"

This finally caught Happy's attention. "You ran away from the palace? Michelle, we have talked about this. You can't do that! If anything were to happen to you, I'd lose you just like I lost your mother, and the kingdom would lose its heir."

"The palace is oppressive, and I'm constantly berated and followed by guards. The outside world is . . . so much better!"

The king sighed as he massaged the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "I'm not dealing with this now. Go to your room, and do not come out until dinner."

Michelle growled and stomped off, flipping her father off behind his back. He didn't even have to turn around to know what she was doing. "Michelle!"

"Sorry, Father." No, I'm not.

When she got to her room, MJ threw herself onto her bed and screamed into her pillow. When her voice ran hoarse, she sat up and inhaled a shaky breath. As her vocal cords recovered, she made herself some tea, and remembered how Peter sang while he was running for his life. In some strange sort of way, she felt that singing would bring her closer to him. So, she did. "Here comes a wave meant to wash me away . . . A tide that is taking me under. Broken again, left with nothing to say; my voice drowned out in the thunder."

Michelle opened the doors to her balcony and gazed over the city, fingers curling around the tea mug. "But I can't cry, and I can't start to crumble whenever they try to shut me or cut me down. I can't stay silent, though they wanna keep me quiet, and I tremble when they try it . . .

"All I know is I won't go speechless."

:*:*:*:*:*:

When Michelle was aroused from her bed the next day, she wasn't in the best of moods. She was more adamant than usual about dressing herself without the servants' help, and she didn't speak a word to her father at all during breakfast. Happy didn't even try to start any conversations, just informed his daughter that another contender had come to try out for the position to be MJ's bodyguard. (Michelle was firmly against this decision; she could defend herself perfectly fine!)

Back in her room, MJ flopped across her bed. Her personal servant, Pepper Potts, laughed at her. Pepper was a strong woman with straight orange-y red hair and always wore some form of business attire. She was also the closest thing MJ had to a mother, since her biological one died when she was fairly young. Pepper smiled softly at the sprawled out form of the princess. "Michelle, you have to get ready. Your guest will be here in a few minutes."

With a reluctant sigh, Michelle took the outfit from Pepper, not even slowing down to let it register that it was an accursed dress. When she finally exited the bathroom, Pepper sat her down and lightly, lightly applied a small amount of make-up. Fluffing Michelle's curly hair, Pepper met her gaze in the mirror. "Sweetheart, is everything alright?"

"Yes," Michelle sighed. "No."

Pepper arched her eyebrow, urging the princess to continue. MJ squirmed for a few minutes before finally slumping in defeat. "You know I snuck out of the palace."

"I think everyone knows."

"Yeah. Um, anyways, I met this boy--"

Pepper was instantly in front of her, seated on the other fluffy chair and staring directly into Michelle's brown eyes. "You met a boy?"

MJ flushed furiously. "It's not like that! He saved me from . . . Well, I made a stupid decision and he helped me." She ended up spilling the whole story to Pepper, who, in her defense, was a good audience. Pepper scowled when MJ told her that the boys were in the dungeon and she was forbidden to go see them.

"I can try to talk some sense into that father of yours," Pepper offered. "Maybe he'll listen to me."

It was no secret that Pepper and Happy had been best friends since they were very young--but it was strictly friendship, nothing more. Michelle shook her head. "I appreciate that, but don't worry about it."

Pepper pursed her lips, but didn't argue. A sharp rap of a knuckle against the door startled both of them, and Pepper jumped up to answer it. She exchanged a few words with the figure at the door, and turned to MJ. "Highness, it's time to go."

Michelle swallowed and schooled her face into that of one showing no emotion before following Pepper. The duo made their way to the throne room, and MJ took a seat next to her father. The grand doors opened, and a brunette woman in a black dress and a red leather jacket walked in. Unlike others before her, this new volunteer for the position of MJ's bodyguard hadn't made a large entrance. The woman stopped in front of the royals and knelt. She began speaking, her Sokovian accent prominent. "Good afternoon, King Harold; Princess."

She stayed on her knees until Happy gave her permission to rise. "I am Wanda Maximoff. I am here to apply for the position of the princess' bodyguard, Highnesses."

Happy nodded. "Very well," he mused. "What do you have to offer?"

Wanda gave a small smile, as if she had been waiting for him to ask that. She raised her hand, fingers mimicking that of one playing the piano, and the two guards at the door rose into the air, surrounded by red mist. "I have the power to move things with my sheer will. I also have access to the mind, including mind reading and controlling. And, with some, mind communication. I can also show you your deepest fear or your happiest fantasy."

MJ was downright impressed and jealous. Happy looked skeptical. "What am I thinking of right now?"

Wanda closed her eyes, brows furrowing. "Something about a . . . sandwich?"

Happy flushed. "I'm hungry, okay?" He took a deep breath and his mask of serenity slipped back over his face. "Thank you for your application, Ms. Maximoff. We'll let you know if you have gotten the job or not in due time."

Wanda inclined her head. "Thank you for your time, Majesties." She was halfway to the door when Michelle suddenly stood up and called out, voice ringing, "Why do you want this job, Ms. Maximoff?" [Why'd you wanna play college hockey?]

Wanda stopped and turned around slowly, as if pondering the question. In a low voice, she replied hoarsely, "My brother Pietro is gravely injured, and I'm trying to support the both of us." Her voice had a steely tone underneath, though, and MJ found a deep respect for the woman growing. She nodded sharply. "That'll be all, Ms. Maximoff. Thank you."

And, it's over! How do you like Wanda being in it? I needed something, and I had no plans for what to do with the character that would take the place of Prince Anders/Achmed. I just woke up one day and thought, "You know what I could do? It could be a bodyguard position instead of that of a suitor and make it less weird!" So, yeah. There you have it. Anyways, keep an eye out for my next part.

Quill