Chapter 55-Khione+Ana vs Cloud

"I'll stop Cloud!"  Ana shouts as she enters her Charge Stance.

"Nooo…I'LL stop Cloud!"  Khione shouts as she enters her Charge Stance as well.

"A two on one, huh?"  Cloud smirks as she looks back and forth between Khione and Ana, "Not that it matters."

"Wind Charge, Level One-!"  Ana begins to shout, but Khione shoves her out of the way.

"Ice Charge, Level One-!"  Khione begins to shout, but this time, ANA shoves her out of the way as well.

"Wind Charge!"

"Ice Charge!"

"Wind Charge!"

"Ice Charge!"

Khione and Ana move in and out of their Charge Stances, taking turns shoving the other woman away to go on the attack, only to be shoved out of their way themselves.

Cloud's mouth falls ajar as she watches the battle between Khione and Ana in amazement.

"Aren't you two…on the same team…?"  Cloud asks.

"YEAH, BUT WE'RE NOT ALLIES!"  Khione and Ana snap as they turn to face Cloud, before turning back towards one another, as they resume clawing at one another.

Cloud sighs as she holds her hands up to the air and begins to twirl them.  Subsequently, sky-blue sparks of energy begin to burst and swirl around Cloud's body.

"Crap, Cloud's going on the offensive!"  Khione cries as she takes a break from ripping out Ana's hair.

"You should have thought of that BEFORE you got in my way!"  Ana snaps as she tackles Khione to the ground, and the two continue bickering again.

"Cloud Charge, Level One-!"  Cloud begins to shout as she continues twisting her hands through the air, "-CUMULONIMBUS!"

As Cloud continues twisting her hands through the air, the sky darkens, as long, flat, anvil-topped clouds roll in.  Thunder booms, and echoes through the air, and then, a GIANT bolt of lightning crashes down from above.

"CRAP!"  Khione and Ana cry as they look to the sky, then leap in opposite directions, in an attempt to dodge Cloud's spell.

CLoud's lightning bolt crashes into the ground, sending sparks of lightning flying everywhere, and electrocuting Khione and Ana, who howl in pain, before dropping to the ground, black smoke billowing off of their charred bodies.

"How do you like my CLOUD CHARGE, ladies?"  Cloud smirks as she places a hand on her hips, "Cloud Charge is one of the strongest E-Charges there is.  It gives me control over WEATHER!  Water and Wind may only have one user each, but while I'm here…I can manipulate both with ease!"

Ana's eyes widen.  "Cloud's Cloud Charge…allows her to control WIND?!"  She cries as she slowly begins to push herself back up to her feet.

"What's wrong?"  Khione grunts as she struggles to push herself up as well, "Sad you're not as special as you thought?"

"Just what IS your problem with me?!"  Ana asks in exasperation as she turns to face Khione.

Khione opens her mouth to fire off another comeback, but before she can do so, a second bolt of lightning crashes down directly upon the two women, causing them to howl in pain, before dropping to the ground again, coughing, bleeding, and smoking.

Cloud then thrusts her hands to the air again and begins twisting them, as sky-blue sparks of energy begin to burst and swirl around her body, just like before.

"So that's Cloud's Charge stance, huh?"  Khione grunts.

"We have no time to fight, Khione," Ana winces as she turns to face her ally, "Not while our opponent is THIS powerful."

"What's wrong?"  Khione smirks, "You're so weak that you can't take on Cloud alone?  Well…I CAN!  Just watch me!"

Slowly and weakly, Khione pushes herself back up to her feet, and resumes her Charge Stance.

"Ice Charge, Level One-!"  Khione begins to shout.

"Khione…DON'T!"  Ana cries as she struggles to push herself up to her feet, and holds a hand out to Khione, but it's too late.

Upon swiping both hands outwards, and shouting: "PERMAFROST," Khione freezes the air around Ana, and encases the Wind Charger in a block of ice, all except for her head.

"HAH!"  Khione spits, "Now you can watch me win without you!"

"Not unless I break out of here!"  Ana exclaims as she tenses up her entire body, but nothing happens.  Ana pants as she unclenches her body.

"I see how it is!"  Khione smirks, "You're too weak to break out of my ice simply by E-Charging!  Which means…I'm UNDOUBTEDLY stronger than you!"

"OOOR, it just means we're equally in strength," Ana pants, causing Khione to sneer at her.

"I prefer the latter," Khione replies as she turns back to face Cloud and resumes her Charge Stance.

"Ice Charge, Level Three: Solid Lance!"  Khione shouts as she swipes both arms outwards, freezing the air before her, and sending dozens of ice lances flying towards Cloud.

"Cloud Charge, Level Two: Altocumulus!"  Cloud shouts as she thrusts her hands towards Khione, and a powerful gust of wind flies from her hands, colliding with Khione's lances, and instantly pushing past them, before blasting intp Khione at last, and sending the woman flying backwards.

"Not only can she use lightning, but Cloud can use wind, too?!"  Ana cries.

Cloud resumes her Charge Stance again, the sky darkens, just as before, and amorphous, dark-gray clouds roll in.

"Cloud Charge, Level Three: Nimbostratus!"  Cloud shouts as heavy rainfall begins to pour from the clouds above on top of Khione, extinguishing the flames.

"And now water?!"  Ana cries.

Khione grunts as she struggles to push herself up, but Cloud's rain falls so heavily that it forces Khione back to the ground.  The rain begins to flood and takes the form of a large wave, which carries Khione on her back over to Ana, who coughs as she spits up water.

Khione's ice encasement And then melts, freeing the Wind Charger.

"See, I told you!"  Ana snaps as she kneels down next to Khione, "Our opponent is too strong for the two of us to fight alone!"

"You're telling me that AFTER I got my ass beat?!"  Khione snaps back, "I know that already!  How about some words of encouragement?!"

"I'm not the type to encourage someone who CLEARLY hates me," Ana replies.

"Fair enough," Khione grumbles as she turns away from Ana.

"What IS your problem with me?"  Ana sadly asks, "Tell me."

Khione sighs.  "FINE!"  She replies, "But only because we need to team up!"

"I was…talking to the team a little before you joined," Khione begins to say, "Noah is our leader, Master F is our vice-captain and teacher, and Mary is our healer.  I asked Noah what my job is, and Noah told me…that I'm the HEART.  What the Hell even is that?!  And then you came along, and now you're the Treasurer.  On top of that, Noah's always like "Ana this" and "Ana that" when WE'RE supposed to be best friends!  I just feel like…I have no place on this team…"

Khione sadly looks away.

"But you DO have a place on this team, Khione!"  Ana exclaims.

"No I don't…" Khione grumbles, still turned away from Ana, "I'm the most useless member…"

"You're not useless, Khione," Ana replies, "NO ONE wants to prevent the Elemental Apocalypse more than you do!  You're fighting to save the WORLD, meanwhile, I was being a dick and negelciting my responsibilities.  And the others told me about your battle against Cherika.  You're badass, girl!  And mentally…you're stronger than ANY of us will ever be!"

Khione's eyes widen.

"So come on, girl" Ana continues as she holds a hand out to Khione, "Let's kick Cloud's ass.  TOGETHER."

Slowly…Khione turns to face Ana again.

"Anemoi…Ana…I'm sorry, for EVERYTHING…" Khione sadly says as tears begin forming at the edges of her eyes, "It's not you, it's me.  I'M the asshole."

"No…" Ana replies with a small smile as she shakes her head, "I'VE been an asshole, too."

And so, Khione takes Ana's hand, and the two help one another up to their feet, before turning to face Cloud again.

"Oh?"  Cloud smirks, "So you're FINALLY ready to work as a team, huh?"

"As ready as we'll ever be," Khione smirks, "Ana!"

"Yeah?"  Ana replies.

"LET'S GO!"  Khione shouts.

Ana smirks as well.  "RIGHT!"