Lila dashed through the streets and slammed herself against Piper. The two stumbled around for a moment before Lila grabbed Piper's arms and steadied the two with a laugh.

"Okay, whoa, what was that?" Piper blinked as she stared at Lila.

"That is me telling you that I'm almost in!" Lila squealed as she dragged Piper to their school.

"In what? An extracurricular?"

"No, I have a chance to convince my mom about my plan last night."

"Wait, what!?" Piper pulled Lila back to a halt. "Lila, what did I just tell you last night?"

"That I should listen to my mom." Lila grinned, "Well, I am and she's telling me to try and convince her."

"Wait- okay what is happening. I can't, ugh." Piper rubbed circles around her temples as she tried to calm herself down. "Okay, let's slow down. What happened now?"

"Well, uh..." Lila looked around before she led Piper to the garden at the side. "Apophis, mom and dad's past rival, is trying to escape prison up in space."

"Okay..."

"So I tried to convince my mom that I can be a practice villain for my brothers to train them for Apophis in case he does come back."

"Why don't your parents go back to being Aegis and Bermuda?"

"Well, they would if their powers aren't weakening."

"They are? I thought it kinda just... stayed the same."

"I guess it's because of the Earthly atmosphere. It's affecting their genes."

Piper held up a hand and squinted at the sky, "Alright, so how do you fit into the picture?"

"Well, dad agrees I could help my brothers along with their development while also helping me along."

"Uh-huh, and how did your mom react?"

Lila let out a sheepish smile, "Well, she didn't react too sweetly."

"Then how did she reconsider?"

"I don't know what she was thinking but she did a complete one-eighty at the end of her discussion."

Piper tilted her head to the side, "Oh really?"

"Yeah, I feel like she realized, in the end, I might go and do something behind her back."

"You'd do that." Piper deadpanned.

"Hey!" Lila pouted.

"You do have a bit of Tim's impulsiveness."

"Okay, okay, I get it. Anyways, she didn't agree on anything until I can convince her otherwise."

"And you're telling me this now because you need my help?"

"Yes, exactly."

There was a pause. Piper stared at her friend stoically before she burst out in laughter. Lila opened her mouth before she huffed and crossed her arms.

"Okay, okay- wait." Piper flapped her hands out. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But like, it kinda sounds hilariously stupid."

"Excuse me?" Lila placed an offended hand on her chest.

"You know, for an honor student you are kinda dense." Piper giggled.

"Yes, insult me and my intellect, sure."

"I'm sorry but sure, I'll help you even if your plan is kinda stupid and dangerous."

"Oka- wait, really?"

"Yeah!" Piper grinned as she stood up, "It'll shine a brighter light of adventure on us. That and I don't want to be left behind with your excuses."

Lila squealed and hugged her friend, "You're the best, Piper!"

"Of course I am." Piper smiled and draped her arm around her friend's shoulders. "I might consider using my... abilities to help you out."

Lila's eyes sparkled with joy, "Really?"

Piper hummed and dragged her friend towards the school, "Yes, now quit your yapping. We're going to be late."

The two laughed as they made their way to their first class. They entered right when the bell rang and the two took a seat. They lent half an ear to whatever their Homeroom teacher was discussing until they mentioned a 'Pair Project'.

"You will pair up and research more about the 'Elemental Trio'. The topic could be about anything as long it is about the three superheroes. In the end, you have to relate the topic to how these three have supported society. Make a booklet and pass it before the month ends. You may begin."

Piper turned to Lila and begun to speak, "Okay, what do you think?"

Lila hummed and pulled out her notebook, "We can do their history and connection with Aegis and Bermuda."

"Oooh, that's interesting."

"Or..." Lila paused and looked around, "We could talk about the up and coming rival for the trio."

"And how exactly can we relate this to their... value to society?" Piper snorted.

"Well, fine- you're right. There's too many variables."

"What is your plan anyways."

"Really, we're discussing it here?"

"You really think anyone will want to eavesdrop on a bunch of nerds?"

"Uh, yeah- to get the answer." Lila joked.

"Either way, it could sound like we're discussing the project."

"Fine, my plan is to watch them for a week. Mom only wants offense, defense, and escape."

"You got escape down pat."

"Exactly, which is why I need offense and defense."

"Hmm, defense is hard seeing as your powers aren't really that showy."

"Dad..." Lila hesitated, "I remember Dad saying I got the better half of everything. While my brothers only inherited his powers, I got both mom and dad's."

Piper leaned on her arms, "That could be a game-changer."

"But I don't know how to use it."

"You mean you haven't tapped into it." Piper pointed out.

"What?" Lila blinked.

"I mean- I've been exposed to you and your brothers for who knows how long." Piper started as she waved her arms around, "Your brothers all share the... wind element right? Yet they haven't, as I've seen, found any way to incorporate it into their other elements. Actually, this falls for all their individual elements. They treat their powers individually, not realizing they can mix it up a bit and form combinations."

Lila frowned as she listened to her friend, "You're right. They've been using their powers individually. Comet only uses fire alone and then switches to earth, instead of combining the two."

"Tempest treats his ice as a separate entity to his water so he doesn't try to create a storm of both."

"I see your point but what does it have to do with me?"

"You also, unconsciously, do the same." Piper nodded at her words. "You treat your cloaking or illusion powers as some sort of individual and separate power. You don't try and see if you can do something more, like making a real illusion."

"A real illusion?" Lila tilted her head in confusion.

"You know how you place an illusion over yourself or something and it can be disrupted when something solid comes in contact, right?" At Lila's nod, Piper continued, "Then what if you create a more solid illusion. Something that ca move on its own and stuff."

"A clone?"

"Yes! But it'll take up more hits than just a single solid object passing through it."

Lila stared up at the ceiling and absorbed the small noise around her. She blinked a bit and turned to Piper, "You want me to try and use the elements in a way that I create something more solid. Like, manipulating rock that is cloaked with my powers?"

"Just more... durable." Piper nodded.

"Let's try it during lunch."

"It doesn't have to start big like a person. Maybe try something small like a ball."

"Huh, alright."

The bell rang and the two stood up. Piper waved at her friend before she left the classroom. Lila waited until the room was empty before she lifted a hand and snapped her fingers. The air around the hand thickened and she felt it slowly become denser. She noticed the glint of ice and smiled a bit, "Yeah... start small."