Yag's head was pounding madly. He clenched his teeth and focused all his energy onto one incredibly small point, trying to focus it as much as he could. His lack of skill was evident, but the sheer amount of energy he was putting out to Sen was a testament to his bond with her. Yag gave a final push and screamed out in pain, collapsing on the ground where he was sitting.
The golden orb flickered and went out. For several hair raising seconds, it seemed as though the light that joined with Sen at the very end would go out and never be seen again, but in a flash, a flickering image of Yag appeared next to Sen. It wasn't a steady image, and he couldn't speak, but he was whole, healed, and happy to see his friend….and to walk with her through to the other side.
And this way, when she walks through the light, I can be waiting there on the other side to greet her.
Sen sprang forward and tried to hug the image, but she ran through it. "Oh, right," she laughed.
Yag's image smiled and they began to walk step by step into the white light. Sen's heart swelled at the thought of seeing Yag and Mari again as well as the Elder and even Tepeyollotyl, who were waiting on the other side. "You know," she breathed as she stepped in first, "this was really memorable, don't you think? This whole thing. You know." Words were failing her as her physical body was beginning to transcend, but she still felt Yag's presence beside her.
Finally back in heaven, Yag was able to speak. {And we finished it together, your first journey with a companion and my first, and only, journey.
Once Yag had felt her transcend, he was sent back to his body. He leapt up and began running as fast as he could to where she would be in heaven. He didn't have much time, as eventually she was going to have to return to the physical realm. He spotted her off in the distance and gave his all in a sprint. When he arrived he collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. Yag caught his breath before looking up at Sen. She was surrounded by a bright white light and faint symbols glowed around her. She looked downright beautiful, and Yag was glad he was there to see her.
As Sen watched the symbols surround her, a figure emerged from the light. "Mari!" She stepped forward and hugged her first true friend, who smiled and hugged her back. No other words were spoken as Mari bowed her head and walked away, leaving Sen to finish her transcendence.
Yag came hurtling out, and slid to a stop, staring at her. Sen saw him and hopped forward, abandoning all pretense of elegance as she threw her robe hands around him in a tight hug. "Hope I don't squish you! Too late!" She crowed, gripping tighter. Upon hearing Yag's humorous growls to release him, she let him go. "Hey, maybe you could sign up to be an ancestor! And then make your own little spiritual you and I could find him and you and I could be best friends all over again! I don't know if it actually works that way, but…." she chuckled.
She hugged Yag again, but this time with more conviction. "Every time I finish a Journey, I'll come visit you, all right?"
Yag smiled bigger than he ever had before, and tears streamed out of his eyes. He wiped them away, embarrassed. {W-well, I might occasionally send down my spirit to go play with you. It takes a lot of energy to send myself down with it, but it will be your companion in times I sense you are feeling lonely. Yes, I can sense your feelings wherever you go. And maybe eventually I'll become one of the ancestors, take Tepeyollotyl's place, and then your descendants will meet me and you, since hey, maybe you'll eventually become an ancestor too!}
Yag knew his time with Sen was almost over. Kissing her forehead gently, he gave a few final words. {As a celestial being, I hereby give you my blessing. May you be forever protected and watched over from the heavens.}
As she soared over the places she had visited, Sen thought of all the wonderful times she had spent with Yag and her other friends.
When she landed back at the beginning, late at night, she sat in mediation, staring up at the stars, trying to figure out who was who. She fell asleep imagining they were looking down at her.
"Thank you all. I'll see you again someday."
