Secrets, part 24

Several mages stood temporarily bound to the celestial plane. Nova stared directly at Yona, awaiting an answer for a near impossible choice. Every memory of Van flashed through the dragon slayer's mind. "Make him a spirit? That isn't fair! He'd be stuck immortal and bound to a world where he'll just have to watch us all die in turn", said Yona, her face creased in deep thought. Despite her best efforts, she was visibly trembling. Puck sighed deeply. "Nova, you can't force such a decision on her. She said it herself - Ask Van", said the elf. That statement dragged Yona's eyes from the floor. She'd seen him manipulate souls before. Was it really possible to summon him? Kaur gently hugged her sister in silence. She'd missed so much of Yona's life. All she could do now was try to ease the pain.

"I'll go. Talk to him, Yona-chan. I know you'll keep getting stronger without me here to guide you. Summon Van. I'll go back to Valentine. Nova-sama's residual magic isn't enough to keep us both here", said Kaur with a soft kindness. "Kaur? Y-you can't leave!", started Yona. Before further arguments could be made, the deceased spirit mage stepped back and cried softly despite her warm smile as she faded into nothingness. Lucy watched her friend stiffen visibly. Do it", said Yona coldly. Nova and Puck exchanged glances and nodded at one another. A wave of magic almost tore the reverse summons apart, fraying the ties to the spirit world. Lucy watched Yona closely as the next few minutes unfolded.

A huge yawn resounded nearby. To Yona and Lucy's amazement, Van, or at least part of him, was sitting up. His physical body remained unmoved, but his soul didn't seem to realize they'd been separated. Feeling like he had the hang over of the century, Van cradled his head. "Damn", he hissed. "Van?!", gasped Lucy. Puck said nothing, merely keeping a keen on the young dragon slayer. She stared steadfastly at her feet, unable to look up. Glancing around, Van laughed to himself. "Did I pass out in front of everyone again?", he asked bashfully. "I had the craziest dream!", he beamed, ignoring the near crushing headache. "That was no dream, Van", stated Puck solemnly. Getting to his feet, Van didn't understand the meaning. Then he saw Nova and it slowly dawned on him. Steeling his nerves with a deep breath, he slowly turned back to look at the stone slab that he'd slumbered on. His corpse was there, a massive hole in his chest. He stared at himself grimly. Finally, he sighed, "Well, damn...". His melancholy quickly dissolved into panic. Grabbing Puck by the shoulders, he demanded to know, "Where's Yona?! Is she all right?!".

Calmly lowering Van's translucent hands, Puck nodded, "Thanks to you." Quickly looking at the present faces, Van released a huge sigh of relief. Rushing passed Lucy, he hugged Yona tightly. "I'm so glad", he said in genuine relief. Unable to bear it, Yona began to shake violently, and pushed him away. "Yona?", he ventured. "You idiot!", she screamed, punching him with everything she had. Lucy flinched at the force. If there was a real jaw there, it would have broken. Rather than shock, Van's expression showed a glum smile. He stared at his see-through essence as he sat in the floor where she'd knocked him. "I knew you'd be mad", he sad sheepishly. "Mad doesn't begin to cover it", stated Yona. Her rage had disappeared. When Van glanced up, tears ran down her face.

Shying her red face, Yona offered a hand to help him up. He grinned faintly as he accepted the gesture. Almost breaking the 'reunion' atmosphere, Puck cleared his throat. "We're running out of time", he said. Sure enough, Nova looked weak. Lucy supported the demon to keep her on her feet. "You must choose now", said Nova, a drop of blood rolling from her lips. Confused, Van turned to Yona. The dragon slayer took a long, pained breath. "Van...Nova can make you a spirit...but only if you want to...No one can force it", she said meekly. "A spirit?", repeated Van. He glanced to Lucy's keys. "Like Valentine?", he thought aloud as he glanced at his translucent hands. Resolutely turning to Nova, he asked a single question. "Will I be with Lucy or can I stay with Yona?"

In the physical world, everyone was getting impatient. "How long has it been?", asked Jasper. "A few hours", replied Veda, soothingly stroking Rani's hair. Natsu sighed. "Time flows different there. Probably only been a few minutes for them", he explained. "Are we certain they're even in the celestial plane?", inquired Ronen. Natsu shrugged. He really couldn't explain how reverse summoning worked. It was simply their best guess with the ambient scent of Nova present and everyone gone. Nova hung heavily in his mind. Was she really - ...No, couldn't be. A dragon sure, but - ...No. He had to focus on his friends right now.

Another hour slipped by in the real world when the small chamber filled with light. Those who'd been waiting rushed in to greet their companions. Jasper embraced Yona with a strength he usually resisted. Noticing the empty stone slab, his heart dropped. "Are you all right?", he asked, concerned. "What happened?", asked Happy. Lucy related what they'd been through as Veda fussed over her husband. When everything settled down, the big question came up. "So what did he choose?", inquired Veda carefully. Yona stood in silence, leaving Lucy the center of everyone's stares. "It's complicated", sighed Puck.

Hours later, it was the dead of night. Yona once again sat on the beach, staring out to sea. In her hand, she held Van's earring as if afraid to drop it. Jasper sat beside her in silence, as did the twins. It had all been a lot to take in. Breaking the dead quiet, Yona sighed, "I told you I was cursed." Jasper glanced over curiously. "It all started with Chesed...Now it's up to me to fix it all...Just when I thought we'd finally saved Valentine, another soul - ..." Her voice broke and Jasper wrapped his arm around her, drawing her near. "It's not your fault", he stated. "Yona-chan, you can't blame yourself for the deeds of someone in the past. Valentine's okay now", said Rani, trying to lighten the mood. "Just think of it as proof how much he loves you", added Ronen. Jasper tensed slightly at the sentiment, but it was true. "I'm not entirely sure how it all works, but if you're safe and happy, I'll accept it", said Jasper, holding Yona close. It had been quite the ordeal.

Not so long ago, in the celestial plane...

"If I can stay with Yona, I'll do it", stated Van. "Like hell you will!", argued the dragon slayer. "Don't you get it?! You'll be stuck living forever!", scream Yona. "Not necessarily", said Nova weakly. Both mages turned at once. "What do you mean?", asked Yona keenly. A faint grin crossed Nova's paling lips. "I can bind you. He'll be attached to you and you alone. When your life force fades, so will his. Such a guardian can only be created through love and the desire to protect", explained the demon. Van glanced back at his unrequited love. "If it means being able to see you again, I'll take any terms", he stated. The sincerity made Lucy's heart ache. He truly did love Yona. "But - ", started Yona. She was cut off at the warm smile upon Van's face. "Let me be useful. You never did agree to marry me, but I guess this is close enough", he said, his trademark grin spread wide across his face. That smile left no room for argument.

Stepping in front of Nova, Van respectfully fell onto one knee. "Do it", he said, bowing deeply. "No!", yelled Yona. Van looked back at her one last time, communicating more in that simple stare than words could ever convey. Yona crumbled. She fell to her knees, drained of the will to fight. "You promise he won't be immortal?...I don't wan him to be alone...", she said meekly. Puck set a warm hand on her shoulder and offered a kind smile. "It's his choice, Yona", he said. "The terms have been accepted", stated Nova, sounding suddenly very official. She steadied her weight upon her own feet as she chanted. "The terms have been struck. I now bind thee. Resurrect, gate of the shield, guardian from the southern skies - Scutum!" Her eyes shot open with intense light pouring from them at the last word. Everything went white and the next the mages knew, they were back in the caves.

Back on the beach, Yona sighed deeply, holding the hand containing Van's earring close to her heart. "I'm no celestial mage...His power came from Valentine, so the summoning conditions are similar...Nova flooded my mind when we got back to our world. She said he's linked to my heart rate. If I feel fear, he'll be there..." Jasper thought hard. That could only mean one thing. The earring was the key. Yona would hold onto it regardless, but it ensured it would never be lost. Jasper's heart sank. Van had sacrificed himself for Yona and now he was coming back from the dead just for her...How could he compete with that?

To be Continued...