Prologue- The Love that Passed

"Raiden, how could you?!" Rain yelled in anger. She was shaking, her breathing unsteady. Amaya, her best friend and the Successor of the Guardian of Weather, knelt by her side. She patted her back gently, whispering "it's okay." over and over again. The rain was pouring down ferociously, and Amaya didn't want to do anything about the weather.

Rain was sprawled all over the ground, crying her eyes out. 'What did I do to deserve this?' She thought bitterly. Rain was the Successor of the Guardian of Love, and Raiden used to be her boyfriend. The three of them were on Aldora, the Island of the Guardians and their Successors. Aldora, once the place of the trio's happiness, was now the place of their sorrow and misery.

Tears fell from Rain's eyes, while Raiden looked down, not daring to look at her eyes. "Rain, I'm sorry." He said, biting his lower lip. "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't think when he offered me that position! I'm so sor-"

She glared at him with so much hatred, shutting him up immediately. "I hate you."

Those three words stabbed through his heart like a sharp blade. He blinked, and stumbled back. 'What did you expect? You killed her parents, after all.'

Amaya pursed her lips and said, "Rain, you don't mean that."

"Oh, I do." She sneered. Her incandescent turquoise eyes brimmed with tears met Amaya's. Amaya was surprised to see such seething anger behind her usual bright and optimistic eyes. "I really do, Amaya. I really do."

Amaya blinked sadly, meeting Raiden's eyes, she said, "I'm sorry."

He looked at her with his sad brown eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Amaya. This is… all my fault. I'm sorry, Rain." He turned away, taking a few steps forward.

"You can't just leave, Raiden!" Rain screamed in agony. "Come back! Why would you kill them?!"

He spun around, losing control over himself. Something felt different, and he couldn't stop himself. "Because your parents were escaping death! That's an unforgivable crime on Aldora! You think I wanted to? I had no choice!" He yelled. He never yelled at Rain.

Rain scoffed. "Admit it, Raiden." She got up slowly, holding onto Amaya. "You just wanted power. You're greedy, because you're a lowly human."

Raiden and Amaya looked at her in shock. She was… different. She would never talk about him like that. Whenever other Successors or Guardians spoke bad about him, she would always stand up for him. But now…

"What?" Rain demanded. "Am I wrong? You're still a filthy, powerless, human."

Amaya saw Raiden's fists clench, and he glared at Rain. Amaya didn't want to be a part of this, but they were her best friends. She couldn't just let them kill each other. She had to stop them.

"Guys, please!" She cried, going in between them. "Please, stop. Rain, look at yourself. You're bad mouthing Raiden! You've never done that and you promised that you never will." She said desperately. "And Raiden," She whipped her head toward him. "I know you wanted to power. But look at what it's done to you. You're both better than this." She begged. "Please, don't do this."

They both paused, and she thought she had managed to calm down. She was wrong.

Rain shoved her out of the way, and she fell to the ground. "Amaya!" Raiden cried. Amaya winced as she scraped her right arm on the stone floor. She met Rain's eyes, not believing that she had just hurt her. Rain was changing.

"This has nothing to do with you, Amaya." Rain said calmly. "Mind your business, annoying scum."

The other two stared at each other. What was happening to her?

"Rain, enough!" Raiden said. "What's gotten into you? Why are you so mean suddenly?"

"That's exactly what I thought when I found out that it was you who killed them." She snarled, walking toward him. "You just wanted the power. Now that you have it, you must be elated. But what about my parents?!"

"Your parents were criminals." He sneered back. "They couldn't escape death forever. It was inevitable."

"But why did it have to be you?!" She screamed. "It could have been Lord Achlys! He's the Guardian of Death. He should hav-" She choked up, tears falling down her face. She hit his chest with her fists, crying harder. Just the thought of her parents' death sent her into a crying fit. Raiden was confused if she was still mad or just sad. She was a very confusing person when she was in this state.

He didn't fight back, but felt the urge to raise his arms to hug her. He hesitated, lifting them slowly, shaking. He was thinking if he should or not. How would you feel if your boyfriend killed your parents for power and suddenly hugs you when you cry into his arms?

He finally decided not to, and looked at Amaya, who was just staring at the ground. 'Rain's changed a lot recently. Amaya's the one who's been getting all the hits for no reason.' He thought, shooting her a look full of pity.

Rain looked up and glared at him. "All vile humans are the same. Killing for power. You're not worthy of being my boyfriend."

Her words hurt him more than he thought. His heart ached, and he missed the old Rain so much. 'I can't blame you for hating me, though.' He thought sadly. 'It was I who took the souls of your parents, either if it was for my own gain or to go by the laws of Aldora. I know it was for both reasons, and I'm so sorry.'

"I don't know what I ever saw in you." She shook her head. "All those years of being belittled by the other successors and guardians, and I never once believed their words about you. This… this is how you repay me? By killing my parents, then taking your own power? You don't deserve it. You're nothing, Raiden. You never were anything. And you will never be."

Her last words were the trigger for him to lose control. "Don't talk to me like that!" He bellowed, shoving her backwards. Rain fell onto the wet ground, looking shocked.

"What, are you going to kill me like how you killed my parents?!" She yelled back.

"It was a mistake!" He sneered. "I said I was sorry! I'm human! We make mistakes!"

"A sorry isn't going to bring them back, you idiot!" She screamed, her voice coming out hoarse. She sobbed uncontrollably, occasionally hitting the ground with her fists.

The rain didn't stop pouring, as if it were crying for her.

Amaya couldn't stand seeing her in that state. "Rain!" She ran to her. Whether Rain liked it or not, she was her best friend. And she would never leave her.

"Don't touch me!" Rain yanked her arm away from her. "I told you to mind your own business!"

"You're my best friend, Rain!" Amaya cried. "I can't just leave you alone, especially in this state."

Rain paused, but said, "Get away."

Amaya knelt there, hurt.

Raiden stood there, still infuriated with her words and her attitude toward their best friend. "Amaya treats you so well." He said. Even then, he couldn't control himself completely. "And that's how you repay her?" He scoffed. "You're no different from me."

Rain glared at him. "We are different! You're a murderer, Raiden. What, can't admit to your crime now? Oh, right. I nearly forgot you were a coward, always hiding behind me whenever the others criticized you. You never once stood up for yourself, stood up for our relationship. You hid behind Lord Achlys and Lord Marcellus when you killed my parents. You were scared. A weakling."

"You can't just say that, Rain!" Amaya cried. "He's-"

"Didn't you say you were my best friend?" Rain cut her off. "And you're standing up for a craven man like him?"

"No, that's not-"

"Gain some courage, future Guardian of Hate." Rain said, standing up. "Don't count on others as your rock."

"What are you even saying?" He demanded. "You keep jumping topics, it's hard for me to keep up, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry." She said. "There are only three things you need to know, Raiden."

She walked toward him, face streaked with tears. "Number one, I hate you."

"I think I already know that." He rolled his eyes. "And the next?"

"You're nothing." She told him. "You may have gotten the title of the Successor of the Guardian of Hate, but that means nothing to me or the Council of Successors and Guardians. They will always see you as a coward and someone unworthy."

He frowned. "That doesn't matter to me, Rain."

"Well, that's okay." She said. "The last thing, is that you are no longer welcome on Aldora."

His frown deepened, and Rain smirked. "Yes, you may have your power. But Lord Marcellus and Lord Achlys didn't tell you, did they? Successors and Guardians of Death and Hate aren't welcome on Aldora. They are sent to Alderam and Zenebe, their home islands." She walked behind him, keeping her gaze as she did.

She smiled and traced a fingernail along his broad shoulders. "Thank all of Aldora. Now I don't have to see your annoying face around here anymore. And be reminded of all the pain and suffering you put me through." She sneered, then walked away.

Raiden and Amaya stood there with their mouths slightly agape. "Raiden, I'm so sorry." Was the first thing that came out of Amaya's mouth.

But the damage had already been done. He was mad. He couldn't hear Amaya's voice over the loud ringing in his ears. His eyes suddenly lit up a yellow-orange light, the color of fire.

Amaya was shocked. For all the years that she knew him, he never did that before. 'The power of the Guardian of Hate.' She thought, eyes wide. "Oh no." Her voice came out as a whisper.

He spun around and opened his fists, revealing a fiery red light in the center of his palm.

"RAIDEN, DON'T!" Amaya screamed, running forward.

But it was too late. He let the fireball go, right toward Rain.

Rain heard Amaya and turned around. Her eyes went wide when she saw the fireball. She stumbled back, about to get hit, when a familiar figure took the hit for her.

She flew backwards, hitting the edge of the water fountain in the main plaza.

Rain looked horrified as she ran to her. "No, no, please." She prayed to all the guardians that it wasn't who she thought it was.

Raiden himself looked shocked. Suddenly the fire disappeared, and he regained control over himself. "Amaya…" He saw Rain kneel over the body and sob. "What… What have I done…?"

He ran toward them, but Rain exploded with anger. Amaya was barely alive, bleeding from the back of her head and some scratches on her body.

Rain let out a bloodcurdling scream. "Raiden, I swear, I will kill you!" She yelled, standing up and grabbed his collar, forcing him to look into her murderous eyes. They looked so broken and incandescent that his heart broke. The worst part was that he knew it was all his fault.

"Raiden, she was innocent." She forced out those words. "She was the best person in the world. She was the only one who helped me… and you… you ruined everything. You took everything from me! I.. I really… really don't know how to tell you this, but I hate you! I hate you so much, Raiden." She growled. "I wish I never met you! I wish you weren't my boyfriend! I wish you never existed! I wish you were dead."

Raiden didn't want to fight back, and let her yell at him.

She shoved him backward and knelt back down at Amaya's body, who looked at her right in her eyes. Even though Amaya had a weak body, her gaze was strong and she smiled weakly at Rain. "You don't mean that."

"Amaya, oh gods." Rain's eyes teared. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. But he deserves to die."

"No." She said firmly. "You don't mean it, Rain. You're just blinded by em-" She coughed, her gaze growing weaker. "Emotion."

"Amaya, please." She held onto her hand. "Please don't leave. I'm so sorry. I... It's all my fault you're this way. I was arrogant, and rude, and-"

"No." Amaya smiled. "I chose to save you. I never blamed you for anything, Rain. You have nothing to be sorry for."

Tears streaked down Rain's face. She was going to lose her best friend.

"Just promise me one thing." Amaya said weakly.

"What is it?" She asked quietly.

"Let it go." Were the last words Rain heard before the grip of Amaya's hand went slack.