Chapter 7: Trial by Fire

The moment Emma stepped into the training room, she knew she was in trouble. The space was massive—filled with high-tech equipment, reinforced walls, and what looked suspiciously like combat drones lined up against one side. Tony Stark stood in the center, arms crossed, a smug grin on his face. Peter leaned against the far wall, clearly enjoying the show that was about to unfold.

"Alright, Firecracker," Tony said, tossing a small device into the air. It beeped, and suddenly, holographic panels lit up around the room. "Time to see what you can really do."

Emma exhaled, rolling her shoulders. "And how exactly are we doing that?"

Tony smirked. "Live combat simulation. You versus my drones. Non-lethal, but don't hold back."

Emma glanced at Peter. "And you're just gonna watch?"

Peter grinned. "I'll jump in if you start embarrassing yourself."

"Gee, thanks."

Tony pressed a button on his wrist interface, and the drones whirred to life, rising into the air. Red sensor lights flickered on, locking onto Emma. She could already tell this wasn't going to be easy.

The first drone shot forward, firing a low-energy repulsor blast. Emma sidestepped, raising her hand instinctively. A burst of violet flame erupted from her palm, colliding with the energy shot and dispersing it in midair.

"Not bad," Tony mused. "But let's see how you handle more."

Three more drones activated, surrounding her. They attacked in sync—one from the front, two from the sides. Emma ducked under a blast, pivoting on her heel as her crimson destruction flame ignited around her hands. She lashed out, sending a concentrated wave of fire toward the nearest drone, melting part of its frame.

"Whoa," Peter muttered. "That was kinda terrifying."

Emma smirked, but her moment of confidence was short-lived. One of the drones zipped behind her, and before she could react, it fired. The blast hit her square in the back, sending her sprawling forward.

She gritted her teeth, pushing herself up. "Okay," she muttered. "That hurt."

Tony clicked his tongue. "Lesson one: Never let your guard down."

Emma rolled her eyes but refocused. This time, she channeled her equilibrium flame—a silvery-blue fire that pulsed with controlled energy. The moment the drones fired again, she twisted her fingers in the air, manipulating the fire into a barrier. The blasts ricocheted off harmlessly.

Peter whistled. "Nice trick."

Emma didn't respond. Instead, she flicked her wrist, sending the flame lashing out in tendrils. They wrapped around the nearest drone and crushed it midair before dissipating.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Okay, that's new."

The remaining drones recalibrated, adjusting their attack patterns. One shot forward, trying to catch her off guard again. This time, Emma was ready. She surged forward, ducking beneath its attack, and slammed her fist into its metal casing. A surge of divine flame—golden and radiant—exploded on impact, sending the drone crashing into the far wall.

Tony exhaled, muting the rest of the drones. "Alright, that's enough."

Emma straightened, her breathing heavy. "That's it?"

Tony smirked. "For now. You've got talent, Firecracker. But you need control. Power without control gets people killed."

Emma wiped the sweat from her forehead. "So what's the next step?"

Tony crossed his arms. "Training. Lots of it. You've got potential, but you're not ready to take on real threats yet."

Peter clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll get there. Eventually."

Emma groaned. "You guys are the worst."

Tony grinned. "Welcome to the team."

Later that night, Emma found herself staring out over the city from one of the tower's balconies. The view was breathtaking—New York stretched out in a sea of lights, a constant hum of life and energy.

She clenched her fists. This was real. She was here. And she had a chance to actually do something meaningful.

But who were those men from earlier? And why were they watching her?

The thought nagged at her, a persistent worry she couldn't shake. She knew she had powerful abilities, but she still had no idea what she was up against.

A voice broke her thoughts. "Can't sleep?"

She turned to see Peter stepping onto the balcony, hands in his pockets.

Emma sighed. "Just thinking."

Peter leaned on the railing beside her. "About the guys who showed up at the diner?"

She nodded. "They knew about me. I don't like that."

Peter was quiet for a moment before saying, "You don't have to figure it out alone, you know."

Emma smiled slightly. "I know. It's just... weird. All of this. A week ago, I was just some normal girl, and now I'm training in Stark Tower and apparently have enemies I don't even know."

Peter chuckled. "Yeah, welcome to the superhero life. It's never boring."

Emma exhaled, glancing back at the city. "Guess I better get used to it."

Peter grinned. "Don't worry, Firecracker. You'll fit in just fine."