A/N: Ditto. (Do I really need this here?)

Location: Teufort

(Heather's POV)

"And to think things couldn't get any weirder then it already has today," I said to myself. I excused myself to my bedroom to recuperate after the last hour or so of insanity and immediately flopped onto my bed. "The things ah would do just to be normal,"

I rolled onto my back only to be met with a sharp pain. I felt for what I've rolled onto and pulled out the strange looking gun from the back of my pants.

"Huh, must've forgot ah left it there," I said. "How careless..."

I thought back to what Ma told me about Pa and her's past. How the two were both somewhat psychopathic hired guns who worked with other similar people. I couldn't imagine those two as those type of people, they looked too...normal, too nice, too ordinary...well until I saw Ma today.

Which brings up something else, the term "fire elemental". Why is she one, am I one too, is anyone else an elemental?

"Ugh, this is giving me one hell of a headache," I noticed I still had the gun in my hand. "Now what to do about you..."

Before I could do anything, it burst into flames. I jumped as I tossed it away, but before it touched the ground, the engulfed gun disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace of it. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Chocolate now," I got up and looked under my bed. I grabbed a small, wooden box, and took out a chocolate bar out from it. I unwrapped it and took a bite. "So much for my diet,"

If you couldn't tell, I have a huge sweet tooth and its partially the reason why I have this pudge on my torso. Believe it or not, I used to be a twig. A shy, timid, twig of a person with a large appetite for sugar.

That is until I got to high school.

This is when my metabolism decided to give up and my weight just skyrocketed. I would've become the school's fat girl AND the butt of CV's many jokes if Ma never stepped in. With her help, I was able to keep my weight down...to an extent as you can see.

There's some upsides to this, one is obviously I actually had curves on me now (still on the fence for the size of two particular curves), second is how fit I am compared to the other girls, even some boys in my grade (I can easily bench-press my own body weight, I kinda surprised myself when I did so).

"Ah hate these cravings..." I mumbled as I pinched a bit of flab between my fingers. My stomach is not large enough to be called a gut, but is somewhat close to it. I don't mind it as I used to, strangely. Luckily, my breasts hide the fact I have this fat…but only when I'm standing. The fat kinda peeks over the waistband of my shorts when I'm sitting.

"You're not self-conscious now, are you?"

I stopped chewing as I looked for who it was. I half expected it to be CV since he's kinda intrusive sometimes, but instead it was one of our new guests, Jackie. She was back in her street clothes rather than her...battle gear? (I think that's what she called it).

"No," I lied as I took another bite.

"Well, your face shows you are," she said with a grin. "Let me guess...used to be the fat kid?"

"No... ah almost was the fat kid," I said with a sigh. "Ah used to be the skinny kid,"

"I can't picture that,"

"Yeah, that's what most people say. Cause all they see is this," I gestured to my body.

"Huh, no wonder why you attract so much attention,"

"Tell me about it. I went from Ms. Nobody to Ms. Holycowlookatthemtitties," I took another bite. "Aren't yah hot wearing that?"

"Now that you mention it, yeah, kinda," she used her shirt to fan herself. "Wonder why I didn't realize that until now?"

"Don't yah wear combat armor like 24/7?" I asked. "Isn't that hotter?"

"It's breathable, this is not,"

As she took off her green jacket, I couldn't help but stare. When she had the jacket on, she looked like an average girl with a sizable chest, but now…how should I put this?

She's fricking jacked as fuck.

She had the physical appearance of both a gymnast and a bodybuilder, muscular and slim to say the least. And the tight shirt was doing a swell job of showing off her body. Her arms filled out her sleeves, the top half of her shirt showed a well amount of cleavage…did I mention she also has a six pack?

I was both jealous and oddly…aroused, for some reason.

I couldn't help but just stare. I know it might be pervy and whatnot, but damn, I just couldn't take my eyes off. It was like they were fixated on her, and the sweat that dripped off her body didn't help either.

"Um, you ok Heather?"

I blinked as I snapped back into reality. "Uh, yeah, I'm fine," I quickly turned away as a blush emerged.

Luckily, she didn't take notice and instead tied the jacket around her waist. "So…"

"So what?"

"What's your view on the events that just transpired?" she asked. "I just want to know what your thoughts are, considering you're the only person who doesn't know much about what happened,"

I threw the wrapper away into a nearby trashcan. "Ah dunno, surprised ah guess," I said. "Still can't get a feel that my parents used to be hired guns, and the fact that Ma has magical fire powers,"

"Well, at least you're taking it better than what I expect you would," Jackie said. "Now, one other thing…"

"What?"

"I think you'll have to start learning how to use your fire powers soon,"

"But ah'm not a fire elemental!" I said. "Just because ah summoned a gun that shoots fireballs doesn't mean that ah'm a fire bug,"

"I doubt that, look at your hand,"

"Why…ah!" as I looked down I noticed that my right hand was on fire.

On FIRE.

"Hand…fire..what the fuuuuuuuu-"

Strangely, the fire didn't seem to be burning my hand, and it felt more of a tickling sensation rather than a, well, burning my hand off sensation.

"I think you should put that out before, you know, burn something," Jackie said.

"Uh, you know ah don't know how to right?"

She sighed and snapped her fingers. The fire went out in an instant. "How'd yah do that?"

"Magic," she said as she wiggled her fingers. "Back to what I was saying, I know you're a fire elemental already. I've hung around enough already to the point I can sense them just by looking at them. Secondly, you need to be able to control those powers, if not…well…must I explain?"

"No, ah rather not know,"

"Too bad, I have to tell you for your own sake. First, some elemental powers are connected to emotion. You can tell what fire is connected to, right?"

"Anger,"

"Correct, you'll have to learn control your emotions, especially anger,"

"And if ah don't?"

"Let's just say, you'll might pose a threat to anyone or anything around you,"

Great I'm a ticking time bomb now. Any more shit I have to deal with?

"Ok what else?"

"Branching off the threat part, fire elementals are considered one of the most dangerous elementals out there. If you can't control it, you might hurt someone you don't want to get hurt,"

"Sounds easy…"

"Easier said than done," she said, cutting me off. She got up and headed for the door. "One other thing…"

Her tone made me hesitate. "What?"

"Do you find me attractive?"

My face turned bright red. "W-w-what kind of question is that?"

She shrugged. "Just asking, because I never saw someone so interested watching me take my jacket off before," she said with a sly smile.

I gulped. "Oh shit, she did see me then,"

"A-a-ah…"

"You don't have to answer now. I was just wondering," and with that she slipped out.

"…"

"What?" I choked out.

(3rd Person POV)

"And you just found yourself here?" Ana asked. "You have no idea what happened before?"

Arachne shook her head. "I wish I knew Ana,"

"Amnesia maybe?" Dell said.

"No, I have photographic memory. I never forget, even through injury. Plus Jackie should have a recollection of what happen since she's immune to certain mental injuries like amnesia,"

"Well, until we figure out what's going on, you two are welcome to stay with us," he said.

"Thank you, Dell,"

"No problem, that's what friends are for,"

"Moving on, something else came up," Ana said.

"And that's?" Arachne asked.

"Heather possesses the same fire abilities that I have. Well, not exactly the same but similar abilities,"

"Really?"

"How about that," Dell added. "That's great,"

"No, it not. Well, the part of being a fire element is but just the fact is not great,"

"What's the problem?"

"You know how I can control my abilities with ease? I don't think Heather can do that as well,"

"Oh, that's a problem,"

"That's why I think you should start training her," Jackie said as she walked in. "Best if you start doing it now when their powers become active,"

"Wait, how'd you know that?" Ana asked. "I don't even know when her powers became active,"

"Elemental powers usually emerge around the late pubescent age, but don't become active until the user faces a situation that puts them in great distress,"

"But what about...?"

"It seemed you had access to your powers, but you just never tapped into its full potential,"

"What's with Heather's case then?"

"I'd say it emerged about a year ago and became active today," she said.

"Please explain,"

"I will. You see, when an elemental power emerges it needs to have a stable host, or body to ensure it can emerge without a problem. If the body doesn't fit that, then the body will have to work in order to meet the standard, usually by increasing the body's mass," Jackie explained.

"So that explain why she got so fat," CV said. "Then again, at least she isn't rail thin anymore,"

"One question, how much did she weight before...you know?"

"I'd say around one hundred and ten,"

"Are you sure?

"Positive, I'm a computer dumb- er- madam," he quickly corrected himself as Jackie glared at him.

"That's strange..."

"What is?" Dell asked.

"Her weight should be sufficient enough for the element to emerge, and I doubt that it would made her gain at least forty plus pounds,"

"Really? Damn," Arachne said.

"No kidding, ok there are two reasons why this might be," Jackie started pacing. "One! Her elemental powers are stronger than normal, or..."

"Or?" Ana asked.

"...or she had another elemental ability," she declared.

"How can she? I'm the only elemental around here that we know of! How can she have another elemental ability?"

"These powers are...how should I put this...? Unpredictable, they can emerge, disappear, stay dormant for years...etc. In other words, they're affected by many things. I believe one of the main ones is birth parents..." she stopped. "Wait, Dell,"

"Yeah?"

"Are you one hundred percent human?"

"Uh yeah?"

"Ugh, let me rephrase that, is your entire body one hundred percent organic?"

He blinked once before speaking, "No,"

He removed his glove that covered his right hand and revealed a mechanical hand underneath.

"But how does this matter...?"

"Because…actually, explaining will take too long," she said. "I'll give you a rundown, because of your hand, it could have influenced the development of her elemental powers. I would explain the inner-workings, but I'd doubt you'll understand half of it,"

"Try me,"

"Willis taught me the basics. That is one year of my life I will NEVER get back. Trust me on that,"

"Ok, let's assume she has two for now. What would the second one be?" Arachne asked.

Jackie thought for a moment. "I would say…most likely a metal elemental," she replied. "Considering the fact you have a metal hand,"

"Wait, aren't elemental powers only limited to, you know, elements?" Ana asked.

"No, there are some other elemental powers not based off elements, like shadow, light, and, of course, metal," she explained. "Metal elementals are different from other elementals since they cannot produce their element like other elementals, but can control metal by manipulating their earthly composition…"

"Wow, that is probably the most intelligent thing you've ever said in one setting,"

"I know, I feel so nerdy, no offense," she rubbed the back of her head and grinned. "So where was I? Oh yeah, along with manipulation of metals, metal elementals have naturally durable skin and skeletons. They can still get hurt, but to a higher degree,"

"To be honest, that doesn't sound as bad as ah thought it was," Dell said.

"True, but were not sure if she's a double elemental yet," Jackie said. "If she is then we have two problems to confront."

"What are they?"

"One: her fire ability, if not controlled, can burn the entire town down. And two, if she somehow turns evil or against us, we have a serious problem,"

"As in…?" CV asked.

"Fire elementals can regenerate through fire, meaning they can heal instantly. Now add the fact, she's almost nigh- invincible…"

"Oh…"

"But that's only if she's turns evil or gets brainwashed. And I can shut her down easily,"

"The fact that she can literally destroy all of us still makes me a bit uneasy,"

"Maybe yah should stop teasing her then," Dell said. "You're probably the only person around here that can make Heather lose her cool,"

"She wouldn't burn me! Would she?"

"I wouldn't count on it," Ana said. "Until she can effectively control her powers, you should be on your best behavior, understand?"

"Yes…" he mumbled.

"I asked, do you UNDERSTAND?" she asked again. The room heated up slightly in response.

"Yes!"

"Good, now the meatloaf should be finished," she got up and headed for the kitchen.

"Does she still burn stuff?" Arachne asked. "Because, you know…?"

"Nah, not as much. She does once in a while, but it's because she left it on too long by accident,"

"Good, I'd rather not eat burnt food again," she said as she pushed up her glasses.

Later

"So yah have met my parents before?" Heather asked Arachne. The two sat in the living room chatting. Dell was in the garage performing maintenance work on CV, Ana had to head back to work, and Jackie opted to tour the town by herself.

"Yes I have, as well as their coworkers. Though I did give BLU a scare when I did show up,"

"Really? But yah don't look..."

"Scary?"

"Yeah, that,"

"First off, I wasn't "this" when I first met them. I was more like this-" she was enveloped in a white light. When it disappeared, the girl that was sitting there was replaced with a large robotic spider.

"…"

it took a second for her for it to register in her mind.

"What the..!"

"Chill it's still me," the spider said, it's voice sounded similar to Arachne's but had a robotic tone to it. "Same mind, different form,"

"Arachne…is that?"

"Yes it's me," she said. "This is what I looked like for some time,"

"Why?"

"I was a human like you first off, then I was captured by some deranged scientist who somehow transferred my mind into this robotic body,"

"Are yah making that up or something?"

"Does it look like I'm making that shit up! Of course not!" she fumed, causing Heather to back up a little. "It also doesn't' help that I worked as his SLAVE for an eternity!"

"Jeez, sorry. Don't haveta get so worked up over it,"

"Worked up? WORKED UP? Do you know how muc-" she stopped herself as let out a sigh before taking a deep breath. "Sorry, I tend to get worked up a little whenever someone mentions my past,"

"Ah can see,"

"Anyways, I was like this when I met your folks. Then for some reason I could turn into this," she turned back into a human. "I don't know why, but at least it's better than being a spider all the time,"

"Is that what yah looked like before?"

"No, my hair and eyes were something else, and I didn't have these fangs either," she pointed to the sharp canines. "Oh I can do this too," she suddenly hissed causing Heather to jump.

"What the hell!"

"Sorry, couldn't help myself," Arachne said with a chuckle. "After all, I was programmed to be an assassin,"

"Remind me to never get on your bad side," Heather said. "Cause ah do not want to see it,"

"Don't worry, you won't. Most people don't cause they're already dead,"

The teen scooted a bit away from the other girl in response.

"So you're staying with us?" Heather asked.

"Until we find the others, yes we'll be staying with you," Arachne replied. "We'll try and be some use for you guys so we won't take up space or be too much trouble,"

"Ok, how are yah going to be useful?"

"Well, I'm going to help Dell at his workshop and Jackie is going to shadow you at school,"

"Woah, woah, woah, what? Why?"

"Because we know you're a fire elemental, we need someone to keep tabs on you, especially since you don't know how to control it just yet,"

"But how is she going to, yah know, get in?"

"She's going under a guise of one of Dell's nieces that came to live with them," she replied. "And don't worry, she's done this a couple of times already,"

"She done this more than once?"

Arachne nodded. "Yeah, sometimes we need to go undercover. I did this once as well,"

"And why?"

"You ask a lot of questions, just trust me on this Heather. Just focus on your things and we'll focus on ours,"

"Hmm…oh shoot! I forgot I still have homework to do!"

A/N: And done! So yeah, I'm kinda shipping Heather and Jackie if you didn't notice already (as requested by a certain reader), but I'll keep it to a "T" rating. Why? Cause...OBVIOUS REASONS!

Next Chapter: Tale of Two Soldiers

Till next time,

-D.W