Sins Cleansed (Version Prime)

apologies in advance for any grammar errors

May and the Picture: The story starts off with Aunt May in her house. She's a little sad because she's alone and decides to look through some old family photos. Aunt May smiles as she sees pictures of Peter as a baby and as a teenager along with Uncle Ben. How he was a good boy with a great mind. She's so proud of him. She continues to look and sees Peter's graduation pictures, pictures with the gang with Harry, Flash, Gwen and MJ. Then her look turns sadder as she nears the photos of what should have been Peter and MJ's wedding (fuck OMIT). When she turns the page, she is surprised to see a page size picture of Peter and MJ kissing in their wedding ceremony. "It doesn't make sense" she said "they never got married. Peter never showed up". May takes the picture in her hand and upon closer examination, she is struck with images of another life, a life when Peter and MJ did marry and she also sees her multiple brushes with death. What May just experienced were flashbacks from before the deal with Mephisto, the altered past, the true past. Aunt May is confused and doesn't know what to do. She calls Peter but he doesn't answer so she leaves him a message. May packs the picture in an envelope along with a written letter and mails it to Peter. Those flashbacks have struck May with fear and she refuses to leave her home. After she mails the picture to Peter, May continually gets flashbacks of that past she has forgotten.

Peter and the Picture: After finishing his patrol of NY, Spider Man returns to his home and finds the envelope in his doorstep. After changing from his tights, Peter sits down in his couch and opens the envelope. He reads Aunt May's letter and becomes nervous after reading it. Peter takes the contents of the envelope and sees the picture of him and MJ at the wedding. Peter, much like May, is surprised to say the least, because to him that's not what happened. He looks back at the event and how he messed up and missed the wedding. At the same time, Peter is struck by another set of memories that tell another story. Peter remembers being afraid of marriage because of the dangers of Spider Man but then shows up late to the wedding and says his vows. Peter is in a state of confusion. He calls Aunt May and asks where this picture came from and if someone strange delivered it. May explains that she found it in the old photo albums, that no one has come by, that it was just there. Peter takes the picture again and upon closer examination he gets another set of flashbacks. These brief flashbacks were of his honeymoon, his early marriage and of hard times. Peter's confusion escalates and he analyzes the picture in his home lab but only finds out that it’s just a picture, nothing constructed or fake. It's real.

MJ's Involvement: Peter decides to call MJ and asks her about their wedding day. The conversation turns sour when MJ reminds Peter that he missed it because of Spider Man. Peter tells MJ that Aunt May found a photo of the wedding, one where both of them were kissing as the pastor pronounced them man and wife. MJ is taken off by this and asks for an explanation. Sadly, there isn't one to give as Peter explains that May found it in old photo albums. A page size authentic photograph of a successful wedding day. It wasn't a fake, it wasn't constructed and it isn't from an alternate dimension. Peter knows pictures and he assures her that its authentic and that's why it bothers him. He tells MJ that received flashbacks, images of the wedding and their supposed married life. Aunt May also received this sudden blast of memories. MJ is disturbed by this and asks what Peter wants. Peter asks her to meet him at the Coffee Bean to see the picture herself and to see if it has the same effect on her.

The Reunion: Two days later, MJ meets Peter in the Coffee Bean. They exchange "hellos" and "how are yous" and then Peter shows her the picture. MJ is stunned to say the least because that's not what happened though its what she wanted to happen. Peter tells her to examine the picture closely and when she does she is struck by images and flashbacks of that day. Her visions go even further as she remembers their early years together, the struggle and the perseverance. MJ gets a headache afterwards and Peter asks the cashier for pain relievers. MJ is confused at this and continues to question Peter about its authenticity and if this is just some trick to get back together. Peter is slighted by that comment but doesn't dwell on it and instead assures MJ that its real. MJ says that it was in Aunt May's house and that they need to go there and get to the bottom of this.

The Revelation: Peter and MJ travel to Aunt May's house and find her unconscious in the attic with a lot of photo albums and pictures of Peter and MJ married. Peter and MJ wake her up and May says "Something's not right". Peter and MJ help May retrieve the pictures but as they collect them they see both of them together and happy. In the presence of so many pictures that shouldn't be, Peter, MJ and May are overwhelmingly struck by many images, flashbacks and memories. They collapse under the weight of such a strain of their minds. The three then go on to wake up in a distinct setting, an abstract time where their surrounding is both strange and familiar. They are surrounded by thousands of pictures and a single massive book. These pictures descend into a whirlwind as they're collected by the great book. From the shadows Mephisto appears and takes the book and telling them "This is mine. All of it.". Mephisto then shifts his gaze to a silhouette and says "This belongs to me, they surrendered it themselves of their own free will". The silhouette reveals itself to be the One Above All (in the same form as his Sensational Spider Man appearance) who rebuffs Mephisto by saying "They are victims of trickery and your sinister manipulation. Because of this I will be their advocate in this trial".

The Trial Begins: Peter demands to know what's going on and what's happening. The One Above All tells him that he and MJ have sinned, but their sin is a result of desperation and sinister trickery, which is why there will be a trial. That picture with Peter and MJ kissing in their wedding and that great book in Mephisto's grasp is a part of Peter and MJ's soul, their unconditional love they had for each other before they sold it to the devil in exchange for the life of Aunt May. The Living Tribunal appears as it was asked by the One Above All to be the overseer of this trial. The Tribunal dictates that the Trial of the Spider is now in session. Peter and MJ are guilty of acting against God by accepting the Devil's bargain BUT the One Above All has spoken in their defense. The purpose of the trial is to decide whether Peter and MJ's "unconditional love" serves the greater good or if the greater good benefits from their break up (if you think about it this way, TOAA is the will of the fans and Mephisto is the will of Quesada and the marriage haters). These are the facts: Mephisto has tricked two children of God into committing sin by surrendering part of their souls in exchange for life for Aunt May. Regardless of intention, a sin is a sin. Because of this Mephisto has ascertained control over these souls but the One Above All has spoken in their defense because their love is a shining example of the One Above All's power. For the truth of worth to come to light, the Living Tribunal has Peter and MJ go through separate experiences that will show them the truth and determine whether they themselves believe that their union benefits the greater goof or not.

Peter's Experience: in Peter's experience, he is taken through the defining moments of his life (spider bite, Ben and Gwen's death). In here the One Above All states that everything Peter has gone through has served to shape Peter into the greatest champion of good, a beacon of light and example for others to follow. Mephisto on the other hand states that if there was no Spider Man, that Ben and Gwen wouldn't have died. Spider Man's mere existence has caused chaos and turmoil in innocent lives. Peter is affected by this but the One Above All shows all the lives that have been saved because of it. Peter then goes on to experience the beginning of the past that was forgotten when he goes on to marry MJ. In here Mephisto advocates that Peter and MJ's union has hampered the greater goof by serving as a distraction for Peter whereas the One Above All advocates that Peter and MJ's union is proof of the power of love and perseverance. Mephisto preys on Peter's guilt while the One Above All amplifies Peter's heart. Peter comes to the realization that despite the pain and death, the love of him and MJ has served to save him from his despair and as an example to all that wish to be good.

MJ's Experience: in MJ's experience, she is taken back to her time with her family and all the struggles she faced before meeting Peter. Mephisto preys on MJ's selfishness throughout that experience. MJ then experiences other defining moments of her life such as discovering Peter is Spider Man, meeting Peter and her constant interaction with Peter. Mephisto accuses her that if she hadn't pushed Gwen into Peter's heart that she would have been spared from her fate. A constant in her experience was how she always tended to run away from her problems. Mephisto states that if she'd continued to be selfish and kept running then the world would have been spared from the negative effects of her union with Peter. The One Above All interferes and brings MJ to her wedding day. MJ experiences her boundless joy in that moment when she tied the knot with Peter and then goes through the happy moments in their marriage. Mephisto emphasized MJ' struggles by being Spider Man's wife such as when she started smoking, when she was a target of Peter's enemies and the neglect she felt from Peter because of Spider Man. If she had not been with Peter, then Spider Man would've operated without impediment and serve the greater good. When MJ prepares to admit this the One Above All lets MJ know that her union to Peter has served as his primary motivation and his greatest pillar of support which has made Spider Man into the greatest hero he could possibly be. Like Peter, MJ also realizes that despite the pain and struggle, being with Peter has changed her into the very best version of herself and that together they are both the greatest versions of themselves.

May's Experience: after Peter and MJ were taken to their separate experiences, Mephisto accuses May of being the cause of sin and brings her into the trial (Mephisto in desperation brings a new element to the trial after his failures with Peter and MJ). May is shown all the instances where her life has become an obstacle and infringement to Peter's growth and ultimate destiny. While she is a victim she is also a "causality". Because of her Peter has been cursed by the burden of debt as well as the power and responsibility dilemma that drove Peter to commit a heinous sin. Because of her Peter and MJ made a deal with Mephisto. The truth is that May should have died long ago. May finds clarity in this and admits to Mephisto's accusation. Peter has a great destiny and is an invaluable part of the greater good and May clearly sees that she's holding Peter back. That she is an anchor that keeps Peter adrift and unfulfilled. Her role in Peter's life has already been fulfilled. She has shaped Peter into the greatest hero in the world.

Interlude: Peter and MJ return to the distinct setting, let’s call it the Fate Court, no longer being plagued by Mephisto's influence. However, they return to see that May has been brought into the fold and May confesses that it is indeed true that she is an obstacle for Peter and MJ. Whereas Peter and MJ persevered May did not. Both Peter and MJ speak in her defense stating that her existence and her wisdom has benefited both Peter and MJ and thus the greater good. May however is certain in her guilt especially since she was the reason why Peter and MJ sold their souls, because of her. Because of her, Peter developed an obsessive-compulsive desire to keep her alive and planted in him the willingness to sacrifice everything for her including his wife and his future. May requests that Peter and MJ be shown their future, all their futures where she dies and the two see each other together, happy and with a family (RYV and MC2 among others). The thing they all have in common is that May is dead.

The Final Experience: Peter, MJ and May are taken to the moment where it all went wrong, they are taken to One More Day. The three of them experience everything that led up to that moment, the Civil War, Peter's unmasking, the assassination attempts and finally the deal itself. It’s clearly shown that Peter was hesitant to reveal his identity but because May convinced him to do so, it led to the events of One More Day. If May hadn't convinced Peter to reveal his identity, then none of it would have happened. If May had died when the bullet hit her or if Peter had decided to let her go then the deal would never have been struck. Finally, it is revealed that May's existence is an obstacle for the birth of Peter and MJ's daughter. May needs to die for Peter's daughter to be born. May and Annie share the same places in existence and if May doesn't go then Annie will never come to be. Peter, MJ and May assume control of themselves in the OMD experience and are asked by May to refuse the deal and let her die. When they do so, they are taken to their bright future and their wonderful family. Peter and MJ then go back and decide to go forth with the deal to experience what happened and see that their future is turned to ashes. They witness the events they remembered (OMIT) prior to this whole trial and accept the fact that because of their unwillingness to let May rest has caused all of this.

The Conclusion: The Living Tribunal singles out May Parker as the determinant factor that hampers the greater good. Mephisto's control over the book that embodies Peter and MJ's love is taken from him and Peter and MJ recover their souls. However, Peter and MJ beg the One Above All and the Living Tribunal for May's soul. Mephisto puts up a near flawless defense over his claim on May's soul but the One Above All interferes on her behalf and claims her soul instead to rest along her dead husband in peace for eternity. Mephisto then realizes that he's been tricked by this sham trial and the One Above All rebuffs him by stating "Commit trickery and you shall be tricked in return". Mephisto is banished to his domain after the Trial of the Spider concludes. Peter and MJ bid May farewell as her soul is reunited with that of Uncle Ben and move forth to the afterlife. The One Above All meets with Peter and MJ and reminds Peter of his promise to him about a happily ever after. He tells the couple that he is proud of them and that they are shining examples of the One Above All's love and power. TOAA says "And now you shall have it all" as the screen is engulfed in white.

Renew Your Vows: Peter and MJ's history is restored as it is supplanted by RYV. Peter and MJ meet their daughter Annie and together they go on home. At home Peter and MJ tell Annie the story of her birth and the events that followed the "Omission of OMD". They tell her that after Aunt May died, Peter and MJ went on the run for the next couple of months but in that time, they found out MJ was pregnant. In their journey, they came across Teresa Parker, Annie's favorite relative in this new timeline, and that she helped them through their hard times ensuring that Annie would be born without complications thanks to her government resources and contacts. After being on the run for so long, Peter, MJ, Teresa and baby Annie are encountered the New Avengers (Wolverine, Luke Cage, Ronin (Hawkeye), Spider Woman, Iron Fist and Doctor Strange). They joined up with them and with Doctor Strange's help they managed to restore Peter's secret identity and begin the process of rebuilding their lives which led to RYV2.

The End