This part of the story happens before she makes her appearance in front of Shadow and Illume.

Flashback to Aquas past

Cherry blossoms fall as the regular sounds and grunts of the Infernus clans dojo could be heard. Nothing new but there is one particular voice that sounds unlike the males of the Infernus Clan. That voice is the voice of a little girl who seems as if she's ready to take on the world.

This little girl is Aqua. Who is training with the Infernus clan and it is of great importance that she completes this training for what's about to come. She who is in line to become the WATchER of the next Pheonix Flame needs this training as much as her predecessors.

As Aqua begins to tire from a whole days training she begins to slow down in her performance. At this point a voice reaches out to her...

"Aqua, we can stop here for today. There's no point if you over do it."

Thinking that she can do more Aqua tries to argue with that statement." No, I can go on, I'm fine."

As she says this her mentor sits her down to talk." Listen Aqua. I know that you have a huge responsibility to our clan as the next WATchER of the Pheonix Fire due to our clans agreement with one another. And I get that you want our clans to live peacefully by working together but it's kind of pointless if you are too tired from exhaustion. There's no one you'd be able to protect if you're too tired to even battle. Hey, has anyone told you about my son and what you actually might mean to him in the future?"

Aqua just sits there dazed as if she has no reason to question her mentor and is a bit curious to where this is going.

"Well, you see Aqua throughout the years there's been evil in this world that normal people can't fight against. The kind of evil that's even hard to fathom. Let me ask you this, what do you think would happen if you saw a hideous monster appear in front of your house one morning all of a sudden while you were just about to make a cup of tea. You'd freak out right? Yeah that's what most people would do but not the Infernus clan, we're the type to have a means to fight against monsters like that. And there's no reason for us to fear anything however there has been something that we just can't seem to beat... or find for that matter. Even though it causes the worst catastrophes in this world, you'd think that we'd find it and best it easily right? But no, it's always eluding us leaving only death and mayhem every where it goes, we couldn't stop it or do anything about it even if we tried and trust me we have, even losing some of our loved ones in the process. Those we send to find it always end up being killed or have no memory whatsoever of what happened. But that's why we prayed to God for a blessing to help us defeat this unknown terror and guess what we got, a flame. But not just any flame, a flame from the legendary Bird, the Pheonix. Its power is immense and has no limit. But there is a price for immense power. That price was a life of servitude for whomever wields this power. And the next wielder is my son... luckily he's not even aware of it. Heck, the idiot doesn't even know what we're doing right now probably, but that's fine I want it that way, I wanted him to enjoy peace while it lasted. But that's not what we're here for, what our clans are here for. The two clans, our Infernus clan and your Liquid clan stands as the last hope for this world and we'd do anything to protect it. So Aqua let me explain to you what your role is in all this. You are the WATchER to the Pheonix Flame, you're like a last hope if you will. You are the one to put the flames out when the Bird gets a little rowdy... and trust me, it CAN get a bit TOO rowdy. And as in the agreement we are to train you and get you prepared for anything the Bird can throw at you. Since we have flames in our clan and the Bird uses nothing but flames, don't you think it's appropriate for us to train you?

Aqua just sits in silence, stares, listens and nods.

"Yeah I think you get the gist of it. But let me just say something else. You are a one of a kind Aqua. Even in our clan who focuses on nothing but combat skills, you are seen as a prodigy. So no need to wear yourself out. Just take a breather. You come from the Liquid clan, who prides themselves on their immense patience. I think even I could learn a thing or two from them. But listen Aqua, you're going to see progress but put too much pressure on yourself and you're bound to fail as a WATchER.

Aqua finally speaks up: " No as the next in line to watch over the holder of the Pheonix fire I can't slack off."

She says this with a serious face expecting her to gain some respect from her mentor for her mentality however her mentor just pauses and begins to laugh

"Haha Aqua, you're way uptight for your age. Relax a bit. Take a break like the rest of us. You'll get nowhere if you're too tired."

Aqua: " But I..."

"Okay if it makes you feel any better I'll train you as long as it takes but only if you listen and take a breather when your body needs it, okay?"

She smiles and replies happily: " Yes thank you Mentor!"

"Oh yeah and another thing, stop calling me mentor. Makes me feel like some kind of old geezer or something. Call me by my name, Inferno."

Aqua: " Yes Me-... I mean yes Master Inferno!"

"Master? That's almost the same as... you know what, never mind, I guess it's okay. Well let's call it a day then, sun's almost set."

After this Aqua continues to train day in and day out so that she could make her clan and herself proud. She stays true to her promise about taking a break every now and then but only after working her body to the limit and because of this she inches closer and closer to the strength of her mentor. After weeks, months, even years Aqua has to leave to finally fulfill her duty as WATchER.

As she prepares to leave she's greeted by a girl who she would refer to as 'sister'.

The girls name is Terra and she is from the Earth Clan. Since they're from two different clans they aren't actually related, but that doesn't matter to them since their bond is strong like no other.

Terra enters Aquas room with tears in her eyes.

"Aqua is it true that you're leaving today? Please don't go! We haven't even spent much time together, I can't stand saying goodbye. Don't leave me! Without you I'll be all alone."

Aqua tries to hide the sadness in her heart, to her it feels impossible but in front of her little 'sister' she has to hold back her pain.

Aqua: " You knew that this had to happen someday. I know you're sad but it's going to be fine, you'll be fine without me, you're a big girl now Terra, you can handle yourself."

Terra responds with tears in her eyes: " But I won't get to see you as much as I'd like anymore."

"You will see me someday, so be a good girl and wipe those tears away. I know we'll see each other someday, Terra, you can bet on it."

As she says those words she wipes the tears from Terras eyes and then slings her bag over her shoulder, smiles, grabs Terra and then gives her the biggest hug one could imagine. Whispering in her ear: " I promise I'll be back. We'll see each other soon okay?"

She then breaks the hug and walks away making sure to greet everyone on her way out and with a smile in fact. But on the inside there's no way she would not feel hurt. She continues to walk through the halls and as soon as she reaches the outside, she's greeted by everyone from both the Infernus and Liquid clans.

Shouting: " MISS AQUA, WE'LL ALL MISS YOU DEARLY!!!"

As soon as Aqua sees them and hears them, she begins to feel that she can't control the sudden onslaught of tears and begins rushing to reach the exit keeping her head down so no one could see her crying. Both clans bow down as she runs past them as a sign of deep respect for her. Once she's past them and almost out of the gates she hears a voice from her beloved Terra: " Make sure you come back soon Aqua, don't forget our promise okay!"

Aqua turns around and smiles through her tears saying: " I won't!"

What comes next truly surprises Aqua. The voice of her mentor utters out: " You weren't gonna leave without me were ya?"

"Me...mentor!"

"Hey what did I say about calling me that?"

Aqua looking all confused as to why her mentor's by her side: " But why? I thought I was supposed to go on this journey alone."

Inferno: " Hey nobody ever said you need to do it alone now. Besides I fulfilled my duties as the Pheonix temp and I'd like to see my son now. He must've grown so much. He probably hates my guts by now hahaaa. Oh and one more thing. Before you meet him. Gimme some time with him to explain things. You know a little father-son bonding. I won't get in your way don't worry but I just need to get him ready for things."

Aqua: " Yes Master Inferno."

Inferno: " Kid you're way too uptight haha, anyway let's get going."