The girl was smiling at her again. She could actually feel the smile radiating at her. Andrea stopped braiding her hair. She scowled and walked away from Cascade with disgust. She smirked as she saw the Cascade's smile fade.

About time that smile went away.

Then her own smile faded as she saw Cascade's eyebrows lower with anger.

What have I ever done to you, Andrea? I want to know.

Andrea suddenly realized something. She's not actually always cheerful, is she? Does she have to hide her powers too?

But Andrea's quick feeling of empathy for Cascade faded away once more after a moment. If she's not cheerful, she deserves it. She's ruined my life. Probably others' as well.

Andrea shook her head. She turned on her heel and started to walk away. She felt Cascade following her.

I'll find out why Andrea hates me so much. I will. Cascade's long strides were easily eating up the distance between the two.

Andrea scoffed. Stop following me, will you? She flicked her fingers back. "Go away. I don't want you around anymore." If she had thought about it she probably wouldn't have said it. But she hadn't thought about it. Sometimes, her tongue would portray her emotions without her brain giving it permission to do so. But Andrea did not notice. Her anger burned too strong in her mind.

Unknown to Andrea, she had accidentally launched a fireball at Cascade as she had flicked her hand back.

She attacked me. Cascade's jaw dropped. I can't believe it. This is the last straw.

Cascade glared at Andrea and continued her advance.

Andrea turned now and flicked her hand again, sending another fireball. This time she noticed. She debated whether or not to flick her hand again. She decided to do so. Andrea watched in delight as Cascade danced from side to side as she flicked more and more fireballs at her. Suddenly, it didn't work anymore. She flicked her hand again. It didn't work. She flicked it again. It still didn't work. "Oh, come on!" She sighed in exasperation. That was the only time that I've ever been able to control my powers. But now the moment's gone.

Andrea turned and started to jog towards the orphanage. She wasn't scared of Cascade. She knew that Cascade only kept a small pocket of water on the side of her belt anyway.

Suddenly, a huge wave broke on Andrea.

The wave in question, which had been three meters tall, had sailed across the distance between Cascade and Andrea, then proceeded to break directly on top of Andrea.

The force of the blow of the wave forced Andrea down to her hands and knees. She coughed and spluttered, starting to rise back to her feet. As she started to stand, the second wave broke on her. Again, Andrea was forced to the ground. She coughed again. This time, she rose as fast as she could and turned around.

The next wave was about to break on her. Andrea gasped and put her hands on her knees for support. This time, when the wave hit her, she stumbled backwards, but otherwise was fine. Andrea wished she could launch another fireball at Cascade, but knew that it wouldn't work and that she couldn't control her fire at will.

Andrea looked around to see if she could find the source of the water which Cascade was taking from. Then she saw it. The huge garden fountain. She was taking water and plunging it on Andrea in a continuous barrage. She also reused the water that had already been used to plunge it on Andrea as well. Andrea knew that she needed to get out somehow, and that soon her legs would tire and she would simply have to suffer the plunging barrage of waves. However, running would make her look like a coward. She didn't want to be seen as a coward. Then she would be bullied for it.

So Andrea continued forward under the plunging barrage of waves. Once, the waves stopped as Cascade became worried for Andrea's welfare, but Andrea simply took the opportunity and started flinging stones at Cascade, and making her advance faster. Cascade dodged the rocks and started to bring the waves down on Andrea again, which were smaller this time, but necessary as Cascade could see that Andrea was in a bad mood, which could cause her to do quite erratic things.

Cascade didn't want Andrea to get to close quarters. She knew that Andrea was better at fighting close up than she was. Once Andrea was right next to her, her water-bending powers would be quite useless. However, Andrea did martial arts, dancing, and gymnastics, so was a good fighter, was flexible, was strong, and was light on her feet and balanced. Cascade would certainly be at a severe disadvantage.

Andrea continued forwards easily. Cascade realized that the smaller waves weren't having much effect. She wasn't willing to bring the big waves on Andrea again, but it seemed they were the only things that would have an effect.

Suddenly, Cascade's waves seemed to get very small, no more than a few inches tall. Cascade was forced to make them bigger, but they seemed to not be changing in size. Meanwhile, Andrea was approaching ever faster. But from Andrea's point of view it was different.

Andrea was being pushed down, held in place. Somehow, a strong gravitational pull was forcing her downwards. She felt as if she weighed a hundred pounds more. It was hard to move forward and she barely had enough energy to stand. Andrea watched in horror as the smaller waves became huge. A wave, nearly four meters tall, crashed down on her. Then another did the same. Andrea felt her legs weakening as the waves continued to plunge onto her, combined with the strength of the strange force that threatened to pull her down.

Sephtis smiled from his bush on the sidelines of the fight. He had purposefully made Cascade see her waves become small, even though, in reality, they were the same size. He had done this so that she would try to make it bigger, which would result in the wave becoming bigger.

Cascade heard Andrea's shouts. She realized something was wrong. She dropped her wave, expecting a small ripple. Instead, she was met by a huge splash, some of which flew into her face.

Some of the water caused by the wave's splash hit Sephtis in the face, dissipating his illusion.

Cascade saw the fake Andrea disappear. She saw the real Andrea lying on the ground, unmoving, and her expression turned to one of extreme concern. She wasn't controlling any of the waves anymore. The only water she had control of were the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

Somehow, someone must have been making me think that the wave was small when it was, in reality, huge.

Sephtis held back a groan. Why does she have to be so darned empathetic?

Cascade ran forwards, her soft white boots making barely any sound on the stone floor of the courtyard. She dropped to her knees beside Andrea. She stared in horror at the sight in front of her. Is she dead? Please, don't be dead, Andrea.

Cascade put a hand to Andrea's chest and gave a sigh of relief as she felt it rise and fall in a steady rhythm.

Cascade picked up Andrea in her arms, wrapping her white cloak around Andrea, and ran inside the orphanage. Many people stared at her as she hurried past, but she ignored them. She rushed into her small room, shut the door behind her and locked it. She wrapped Andrea in a bunch of towels to dry her off, then lay her on the bed.

Cascade was experienced in treating scrapes and bruises. To her, it was no hard task. She treated the cuts and scrapes. She put pads over the bruises as well. Andrea's knees were badly scraped and bruised, but Cascade's hands seemed to have a mind of their own, and they were light as a feather.

Cascade carefully removed Andrea's ripped black sweater and short orange skirt. This left Andrea in her black long-sleeved shirt and leggings.

They're made of a lighter material. They should dry faster.

Cascade set Andrea's boots to the side. Then she carefully brushed Andrea's hair and picked her up once more.

Cascade lay Andrea down in her own bed, pulling the blankets around her. I can sleep on the floor tonight.

Cascade busied herself with mending Andrea's sweater and skirt, sewing them and patching them, making them look just the way that they had before. She proceeded to fold them and place them on the desk next to the small bed.

As night approached, Cascade put away the book that she had been reading and settled herself down on the rug in the middle of the room. She took an extra sheet and blanket and settled herself down on the rug. This isn't as comfortable as the bed. But Andrea needs that bed more than I do.

Cascade still felt guilty that she had hurt Andrea at all, but she knew that it had finally unlocked a new part of herself. Andrea needed to be taught a lesson. But it was a little too much, I think. I just... I didn't know. The illusion... it tricked me.

Nevertheless, Cascade felt the guilt. Caring for Andrea and treating her wounds made her feel a little better. But only a little.

However, when she looked over at Andrea, she smiled. She could tell that Andrea had a kind heart, but there was a large barrier that prevented Andrea from liking her.

Even though Andrea had tried to attack her, Cascade had already forgiven her. She knew there had been no malicious intent behind the action, simply a misunderstanding. Probably the barrier that stops us from getting along caused it. And the fact that for maybe the first time in her life, she could control her powers.

Cascade looked at the silent figure of Andrea, lying on the bed, her face illuminated by the moonlight, and her hair glowing slightly with flame. I hope that one day, we'll be able to set aside our differences and whatever barriers separate us, and become friends. I hope I get to see her true heart. Cascade fell asleep to the thought.