Chapter 4: Into the Fire

Emma moved through the city streets, her mind buzzing with the events of the night. The sheer rush of using her powers for the first time, the effortless way she had neutralized those thugs—it all felt surreal. The weight of her abilities settled in her chest. She had power, but what did that mean? What was she supposed to do with it?

As she walked, she took in the sights of New York. It was strange—familiar yet subtly different, reminding her that this wasn't the world she had once known. Billboards advertised companies that only existed in fiction before, and security drones hovered over high-traffic areas, likely a Stark Industries innovation.

Her gaze drifted toward Stark Tower, standing tall against the night sky. A beacon of heroism and innovation. She had no illusions of waltzing into Avengers HQ and introducing herself as their new super-powered ally, but information was power, and she needed as much of it as she could get.

For now, though, she needed a plan.

Emma ducked into a quiet alleyway and leaned against the wall. She extended her hand, summoning a small, controlled flicker of fire. The flame twisted and shifted, cycling through colors, each one carrying a different energy.

She had already seen the destructive capabilities of the void flame and the stabilizing effects of the golden one. But there were five others she hadn't fully explored yet.

Time to change that.

She focused on the deep emerald fire, and instantly, the air around her thickened. It was as if the world itself slowed, the distant sounds of the city muffled. Her breathing felt more deliberate, her muscles more attuned to their movements. A sudden understanding clicked into place—this flame granted her heightened perception and control over her body, refining her agility and reflexes.

She dismissed it and summoned the crimson flame next. The moment it flared to life, she felt a surge of raw energy course through her veins. Her muscles tensed, strength coiling within them like a tightly wound spring. She clenched her fist and struck the brick wall beside her, cracking it as if it were made of brittle clay.

Emma let out a slow breath, extinguishing the flame. Enhanced strength. Useful.

She repeated the process for the remaining flames. The sapphire flame granted an eerie calmness, allowing her to process multiple things at once, her mind working in overdrive with absolute clarity. The silver flame shimmered with an almost magnetic pull—she felt her presence extend beyond her body, an unseen force subtly influencing the air around her. And the final flame, a soft but intense white, felt… different. It pulsed with something deeper, something she couldn't quite grasp yet. It wasn't destructive or restorative. It simply… existed.

She would figure it out in time.

Satisfied with her initial tests, Emma pulled her hoodie tighter around herself and resumed walking. She had a working understanding of her abilities now, but there were bigger questions at play. Where would she stay? What should she do next? She had no identification, no legal existence in this world. Finding stability would be a challenge.

As if the universe had a cruel sense of humor, she barely had time to consider her options before trouble found her once again.

A distant boom echoed through the city, followed by screams. Emma's head snapped toward the direction of the disturbance—just a few blocks away. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the chaos.

As she turned a corner, she saw the source of the commotion—a massive, heavily armored truck had crashed into a storefront. Smoke billowed from the wreckage, and people were scrambling to get away. More concerning, however, were the figures emerging from the truck.

Five men, all clad in tactical gear, carrying what looked like experimental energy weapons.

Emma's stomach tightened. Not normal thugs this time.

One of them, a towering brute with a buzz cut, barked orders. "Get the package and move! We don't have time for this!"

His men rushed into the wreckage, dragging out what looked like a reinforced containment unit. Whatever was inside, it wasn't meant for civilian hands.

Emma assessed the situation quickly. Too many people around—too risky for an all-out confrontation. She needed a strategy.

She inhaled deeply, focusing on the silver flame. Immediately, a strange presence spread around her, like an invisible ripple in the air. The men seemed unaware of her as she moved closer, her steps eerily silent.

Then, she struck.

Emma unleashed the emerald flame, her speed and agility amplified. In a blur of motion, she disarmed the closest mercenary, striking his wrist with precise force. His weapon clattered to the ground, and before he could react, she followed up with a sharp elbow to his temple, knocking him out cold.

The others noticed immediately. "We've got a problem!"

Bullets and energy blasts flew her way, but she was already moving. The sapphire flame sharpened her mind, allowing her to anticipate their attacks before they even pulled the trigger. She ducked, weaved, and retaliated with controlled bursts of fire, disabling weapons and throwing her enemies off balance.

The brute of a leader scowled. "Who the hell is this chick?"

Emma smirked. "Just your friendly neighborhood fire hazard."

He lunged at her, swinging a reinforced gauntlet designed to absorb impact. Emma countered with the crimson flame, meeting his strike head-on. The resulting shockwave sent them both skidding backward.

The impact rattled her bones, but she held her ground. The leader wasn't as lucky—he stumbled, momentarily dazed. Emma seized the opportunity, channeling the void flame into her hands. The dark tendrils lashed out, gripping his armor and corroding it on contact.

He roared in pain, tearing off the smoking remnants of his gear. "You little—"

A new voice cut through the chaos. "That's enough."

Emma turned just in time to see a familiar figure land gracefully on the scene—black and red suit, webbing still fresh in the air.

Spider-Man.

He took a quick glance at the unconscious mercenaries and the wreckage before fixing his masked eyes on her. "So… I take it you're not with them?"

Emma blew a stray lock of hair from her face, extinguishing her flames. "Nope. Just handling a little pest control."

Spider-Man tilted his head. "And you are?"

She considered lying, but then, what was the point? She had already made a spectacle of herself. Might as well own it.

"Emma." She flexed her fingers, a brief flicker of fire dancing across them. "And I think I just made my debut."

Spider-Man let out a low whistle. "Well, Emma, welcome to New York's never-ending disaster zone."

Sirens blared in the distance. Reinforcements were coming.

She exhaled slowly, the weight of her actions settling on her. This was real. She had stepped into the world of heroes and villains, and there was no turning back now.

Spider-Man extended a web-covered hand. "Wanna get out of here before the cops show up?"

Emma smirked and grabbed his hand. "Lead the way."

As they swung away into the night, she knew one thing for certain:

Her story was just beginning.