Sharing Destinies
Emily was ready to tell her friends everything. Omi, Kimiko, Raimundo, Clay, and Dojo sat in front of her like students to a teacher. "Tell me, have any of you guys heard of the legend of Millennia and Cobalt?"
Dojo and Omi did, but the others didn't.
"Well, it goes like this," Emily began. "Eons ago, when mankind walked the Earth, there was a war between two entities that never should have met. There was Millennia, a peaceful goddess who wanted to bring harmony into the world. There was also Cobalt, a wicked Lord who wanted to fill the world with darkness and evil. Because of their differences, they engaged in a fierce battle that almost destroyed the world. To avert destruction, the stars sealed their powers by transforming them into stars as well. The people of the world still fought on behalf of the deities they served, but in time, started to forget about them. That is, until the day they came down to Earth and their chosen children inherited their powers."
Omi spoke up and said, "And that is where the story of the age of the Shadow Games comes in."
Now this was a story the others were familiar with. Their families and teachers back home had told them stories about the age of the Shadow Games. "My papa used to tell me stories about that all the time," said Kimiko. "It was a time when people and magic and monsters were all part of the same world."
Raimundo agreed. "Back then, Duel Monsters and Pokémon were all the rage as real monsters. Now today, they're just parts of games."
"They say after the Shadow Games ended, those critters were lost and became extinct," said Clay.
"There's more to it than that," Emily was saying. "When the age of the Shadow Games came to an end, the Gods saw that the world was on the brink of ruin and agreed that everyone had to start over again. But in the process, they had to be divided. So they called upon the Pokémon sovereign, Arceus, and asked him to split the world into many different worlds, giving certain breeds of humans and creatures their own place. Duel Monsters got their own world and so did the Pokémon. And here, is the only world where the Shen-Gong-Wu exist."
Dojo nodded. "It's true. The Shen-Gong-Wu have been around since the age of the Shadow Games. Back then, they were just known as the treasures of the Gods."
"This is all very fascinating," Raimundo said honestly. "But what does any of this have to do with you, Emily?"
"I'm getting to that," she answered. "The Children of Millennia, the heroes who saved the world five thousand years ago, were my ancestors. My mother, Queen Mystery, was once a guardian of the Millennium Star until I inherited it from her."
"Then it's true," gasped Clay. "You're a princess. And not just any princess."
"The princess who holds the Millennium Star," Kimiko added.
"You were only an infant back then," said Omi. "But now you've become an extraordinary young girl."
It was good to know that her friends had been paying attention to their history. But there was more to tell. "Another thing that happened: the world wasn't the only thing that was divided. The Stars had also been split into many fragments. My Millennium Star is whole again, but there are still many shards of the Cobalt Star and it's up to me and my friends to find them. That's why I'm here. Millennia sent me to this world to become the Xiaolin Dragon of light and help you guys save your world on my journey to find the Cobalt Star shard hidden here."
It was becoming a lot for the monks to take in, but they were able to understand Emily's situation. "So everything we've been through together," Raimundo was saying.
Emily interrupted him. "I don't want you guys to think I was using you for my own selfish needs. I've really had a lot of fun with all the adventures we shared. I like being a Xiaolin Dragon and I like you guys too. You're my friends."
Raimundo forgave her. "Ah, it's okay. And we like you too, but maybe we would've appreciated it if you told us sooner."
"Rai's right," said Clay. "You're our friend and we trust you, but ya gotta let us know what's goin' on so we can help ya out. That's what a friend is for."
Emily shrugged. "I just didn't think you would have been ready to know the truth right away. You guys already had a lot on your shoulders when we started learning about the Shen-Gong-Wu and set out to find them."
"When you put it that way, I guess you're right," said Kimiko. "But what about Max?"
"She and I come from the same world," Emily explained, "and she's here for the same purpose. She holds the other Cobalt Star shards we've gathered. But I want you to know she's not our enemy. I know she was sent here by the Dark Lord, but I don't think it's for the purpose of destroying this world. I believe she's here to help find the Cobalt Star shard hidden in this world and help save it."
"How can you be certain of that?" Omi wondered.
"I know you don't trust her now, but I think you will in time," Emily promised. "When it comes to Max, it's like this: the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"Like a two-timing sneak?" Omi asked.
"No, more like a double agent," Kimiko clarified, thinking about their past encounters with Max. "But whose enemy is Max and whose friend is she also?"
"That's the question, isn't it," Emily asked. "But I trust her."
Clay thought of something. "Just curious, what's gonna happen when you find all them Cobalt Star shards?"
Emily hadn't thought that far ahead. "I don't know. But when I do find the one hidden here, I'm going to have to fight for it."
"Really," Raimundo asked. "How come?"
The blonde girl sighed and said, "It's one of the laws of the ancient ways. When it comes to objects with sacred powers, the only way to be deemed deserving of its power is to win it in a battle. I have to prove my right to earn the Cobalt Star shard from the one protecting it. I can't just ask for it and they can't just give it to me."
"Like a Xiaolin Showdown," Omi said, making sense of the situation. "It is the same principle."
Emily nodded. "Precisely. It's a fight with the highest stakes. You see, because I'm not from this world and am here on a mission, I can't go home to my world until my task here is fulfilled. If I can win the Cobalt Star shard in a battle, Max and I will be free to return home to our world. And we'll be able to come and go between worlds whenever we want. But if I fail, we'll both be trapped here forever."
Her friends didn't like the sound of that. "Oh, man," Raimundo sighed. "That's… That's awful."
Kimiko agreed. "We had no idea how serious this was."
"I'll say," Clay said in agreement. "If my life got turned upside-down 'cause I got sent to another world with the risk of losin' everythin' and bein' trapped forever, I'd be pretty scared and worried too."
"One of the scams of the ancients way," Omi sighed.
"I think you mean cons," Kimiko corrected.
"That too," said Omi.
Emily agreed. "I worry about that every day, but I promised I would find these shards and save the worlds from evil, so I've got to accept my fate no matter what happens."
Omi took a step forward. "Emily, you are aware of the dangers that await you in this world, yet you are risking everything to help save it. I honor your bravery and commitment," he said respectfully and bowed. "I want to risk as much to help you find this Cobalt Star shard."
"I wanna help too," said Clay. "Not just to fulfill your destiny, but to help you and your buddy Maxie get home safely. Though I love havin' you girls around, you do got your own lives and your friends and families waitin' for y'all back home."
Kimiko agreed. "Count me in."
"Give us an itch, we itch you back," said Omi.
"It's you scratch our back, we scratch yours," Raimundo corrected. "But, hey, I'm in too."
Emily was touched. "You really mean it?"
"For a friend and a fellow Xiaolin monk," Omi promised. He bowed again and added, "Princess."
Tears of happiness began to fill Emily's eyes. She was grateful that everyone was going to help her. And she promised to keep helping them gather Shen-Gong-Wu and keep their world safe. Like the old saying goes: 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' "This really means a lot to me, you guys," Emily said, hugging her friends. "And, hey, maybe someday, I could bring you guys to my world and show you where Max and I come from."
Clay liked the sound of that. "And you can introduce us to your other buddies back home."
"Yeah, I promised I would and I want to keep my promise," said Emily. "You know, when I hang out with you guys, I'm reminded of everybody back home. The way we all work together, the ways we fight and argue with each other, how you make me laugh. It's great, but at the same time, it becomes sad."
"It's okay to miss your home and everyone you love," Dojo said with comfort.
"Yeah, but knowing I have you guys helps me forget my sadness," said Emily. "And it helps me keep the faith that one day I will be able to go home and see everyone again." Then she pulled out the locket she got as a birthday present from Yugi. It was gold and shaped like a heart.
As Raimundo saw the locket, he grinned slyly and asked, "Someone special you miss back home?" Kimiko gently punched his arm.
The blonde girl smiled and sighed. "I miss him every day and can't wait to see him again, but like the rest of my loved ones, he's always in my heart. We've been apart for so long, I'm afraid he may have given up on waiting for me. But knowing my love, he would never do that. The bond between us is a stong one." Then she stood up and began singing.
If I could return home, I'd run to him today
Because I know he's back there waiting for me
Yugi, you and I were meant to be
Far longer than forever, I'll hold you in my heart
It's almost like you're here with me although we're far apart
As if Yugi was in her presence, she felt him and heard him sing, Far longer than forever
As constant as a star
I close my eyes and I am where you are
Sure as the dawn brings the sunrise, Emily was singing, we've an unshakable bond
Destined to last for a lifetime and beyond, Yugi's voice sang, Far longer than forever
Far longer than forever, Emily echoed.
I swear that I'll be true, Yugi's voice sang.
I swear that I'll be true, Emily repeated.
Together, they sang, I've made an everlasting vow to find a way to you
Far longer than forever
Like no love ever known
And with your love, I'll never be alone
Far longer than forever, Emily sang.
Much stronger than forever, Yugi's voice sang.
And with your love, I'll never be alone, Emily finished slowly. She lifted her head to the sky and closed her eyes, holding her locket in both hands. Touched by the song, the rest of the Xiaolin monks had one more reason to help Emily get home. Netiher of them could think of living in a world apart from someone they loved with the fear of never being able to see them again. And they didn't want their friend to suffer because of that. So they agreed to keep their promise and help Emily and Max too.