Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and my own ideas. Xiaolin Showdown is not mine in any way, shape or form.
"Master... you don't mean-" The black-haired Japanese girl stopped mid-sentence and swallowed thickly.
Dimly, she could feel her twin's hand slip into hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. Master Fung stared at her, his blue eyes unwavering and calm as if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell on the teen.
"Master Fung... " Omi began hesitantly. "Are you truly saying that Himiko is to become the bridge between the Heylin and Xiaolin?"
"I am, young one." Fung nodded his head, keeping his eyes locked with the stricken looking teen in front of him. "Do not over think this, Himiko. You've always known your identity at the temple was different than that of your comrades."
The girl in question swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Yes, I know but... I never thought that this... "
"What's so bad 'bout Miko bein' this... bridge?" Clay drawled, placing a large hand on the girl's tiny shoulder.
"It is not what is bad about the bridge itself, Clay." Omi said gravely as Himiko dropped her head to her chest to hide her tears. "To become the bridge... she will have to be trained in the Heylin ways and absorb Heylin energy."
At that, the blue-eyed teen collapsed to her knees as sobs wracked her small body. Kimiko fell to her twin's side and held her tightly, tears falling from her own eyes. Raimundo and Clay joined the embrace, leaving Omi to turn accusing eyes on their master.
"Why has this never been revealed to us before now?" The yellow monk demanded with a ferocity he'd never directed at Master Fung. "Himiko has trained with us - you said she was the Dragon of Light!"
"She is." The older monk agreed easily, looking down with a calm sadness towards his sobbing ward. "The bridge between the Heylin and Xiaolin sides is always a Dragon of Light. Though the Dragon of Light isn't always the bridge."
"So, what you're saying is that there was a chance Himiko wasn't this... bridge." Raimundo asked, wincing when Himiko's tears fell faster. To him, this was all his fault. If he'd never restored Wuya to her body, Himiko never would have used her abilities - she wouldn't be in this position.
"Precisely, Raimundo."
"But I am." She whispered brokenly. "I have to become Heylin-"
"You will remain a neutral party, young one." Master Fung tried to placate her, though she had read the sacred scrolls. She knew what had to be done.
"But if the Heylin plunge the world into eternal darkness... I will become one of them."
Becoming the bridge hadn't been as difficult as she'd been led to believe from the scrolls. Perhaps because Wuya was in an incorporeal form and had no flesh and blood. Even though she was trapped in a puzzle box, Himiko had still been able to reach out to the trapped spirit. Despite this, the witch was still able to summon enough Heylin energy to bind to Himiko's.
Dojo, thankfully, had been tasked to remain with her to prevent Wuya from doing any damage to the bridge. Though, the Witch had seemed rather offended at the very idea that she would tamper with the bridge keeping their sides separate.
"Though it's too bad I don't have my body, this would go much smoother." The Spirit had mused when the black, glowing energy had spread across the teen's tense body. Though the ceremony was quick, it had felt far too long for the young monk. The dark, suffocating aura had left her skin prickling with an unpleasant heat for hours after the ceremony had been completed.
Once the ceremony had ended and Dojo had flown them back to the temple, she'd fled to her room. Even now, hours later, Himiko was curled up on her bed.
Tainted. That was how she felt. She felt like she had some contagious disease that the others would catch if they came anywhere near her.
For their part, the four other Dragons had hovered outside her room for hours. It was only when Master Fung summoned them that they abandoned their post.
"Master Fung... will Himiko be all right?" Omi asked in a small voice, bringing attention to his young age.
Kimiko, true to her element, was in a temper. "She's been in her room ever since she got back and won't say a word to any of us! She's placed a barrier on her door!" She exploded at their teacher. "What did that Witch do to her!?"
Master Fung held up his hand, making the dark-haired teen fall silent. Looking down at her feet, shame washed through Kimiko as she avoided his calm, blue gaze.
"I know this is difficult to accept, especially for you, Kimiko. Your sister is in a dark place right now." He gazed at each of their faces. "And you all must help her realize that nothing has changed."
Miles away, an amber eyed immortal chuckled darkly as he watched the scene unfold before his eyes.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that."
The soft laughter of her fellow monks slowly brought Himiko out of her meditation. Soft, baby-blue eyes opened and she sighed.
"Well, so much for meditating." She grumbled, making her way to her feet. With a sweep of her arm, the candles extinguished before she exited the small, training shrine.
"Himiko!"
She turned, gazing down at Dojo calmly.
The little green dragon slowed, still not used to seeing the girl in her white on black robes. "Where're ya headed?"
"Kim's been bugging me to socialize." She offered her arm, smiling when he slithered up it and settled on her neck. "You?"
"Shen Gong Wu alert." He shuddered delicately. "Master Fung headed out to tell the others."
She nodded in response, her small fingers fiddling with the ying-yang symbol around her neck. Dojo noticed, frowning up at the solemn looking girl.
"Ya know... it's okay to still be scared." He began, keeping his eyes ahead as they traveled through the temple.
"Is it?" She replied as they entered the training grounds.
Dojo's reply died in his throat when he caught sight of the others. Instead, he raised his voice and yelled out, "Stop everything!" That gained their attention. "Did ya tell them about the new Shen Gong Wu?"
Master Fung smiled patiently at the exuberant dragon. "I was just about to." As he pulled out the scroll and began to explain the Shard of Lightning, Himiko drifted back into her musings.
Despite being the bridge, she was allowed to align herself with either of the sides. For her, it hadn't been that hard of a choice. However, she couldn't shake an ominous feeling whenever she was alone. It always felt like something was watching her, though Master Fung somewhat had assuaged her fears.
'You are perfectly safe at the temple, young one. Do not worry.'
A pale hand waving in front of her face shook her from her thoughts.
"Hey, Miko! You in there?" Kimiko asked, planting tiny fists on her hips. She frowned at her sister, watching as her eyes cleared.
"Huh?" Himiko shook her head once, her loose, raven hair following suit. "Yeah, I'm fine Kim."
"Well, come on! Let's go change before we have to go!"
Without a word, Himiko allowed her twin to drag them to their rooms, making little to no attempt at conversation.
As they departed on Dojo's back, Master Fung gazed after the sullen teen in worry.
"I hope you did not make the wrong choice, Dashi."
Thoughts? Comments? Questions?