Chibi and I thought the original ending is too sad, so this alternate ending is for people who want to see a happy ending.
The day of the funeral arrives and everyone piles into the car. Shing keeps to herself but looks around at everyone, Yuri right next to her with an arm around her. Kari and Haru are sitting in the front, looking solemn but steeled. The spellcasters are huddled in the backseat, pouring over the book and whispering to each other in the language of their home world. Astral and Dark fly outside, exchanging their emotions mentally and trying to seek comfort in one another's presence. Everyone in the car tries anything to keep from thinking about the funeral.
It comes too fast though. The funeral home appears in the distance, and it is all anyone can do to look straight ahead and face the inevitable. Kari parks the car, shutting off the engine, and everyone just sits there for a while. No one wanted to get out, and for the longest time no one does. Then one by one they open the door and step out.
Shing looks up at the funeral home with moist eyes, but she promised herself, Astral, and Yuma that she is done crying until the actual funeral. Then she and Astral can cry all they want. For now though, the both of them hold back their emotions and follow Kari inside.
Yuma's friends are already there, dressed nicely and quietly speaking. They don't notice the family until they come into the room, and then it's a series of "I'm sorry's'' and "He's going to a better place's." During the soft chatter, Astral and Shing both go up to Yuma's body to see him one last time.
He is dressed nicely and looks peaceful, but beneath the makeup and embalming, his skin is too pale and sickly. The boy looks almost asleep. Neither Astral nor Shing can bare to look.
"I never imagined he could look like this," Astral whispers, stealing a glance at his former partner. Pain nagging at his heart.
Shing sighs. She knows this is all her fault, all the way back when she first came here to mentally manipulate everyone. It feels so long ago now… Was she really that desperate to feel some kind of love at the time? "I'd do anything to bring him back." She says hoarsely. The pain and sadness are all too clear in her voice.
Astral averts his gaze from the corpse. I would too…
Abruptly the girl turns away from the body and runs into Yuri's arms. Judging from her trembling, Astral guesses that she's just barely holding back tears. He starts to join her away from the body but steals one last glance at his fallen friend.
Somehow though, he has a bad feeling about the body. As though the curse will return if the body is touched. He watches anxiously as people go to see the body, but likely no one touches him. He breathes a sigh of relief, but his calm is interrupted when he hears hiccupping breaths.
"Why did he have to be the sacrifice?" Shing sobs softly into Yuri's chest. Astral's heart hurts to see her like this.
Yuri's grip tightens around her. "I don't know," he whispers back, "But we can't change anything about it. Death is irreversible here."
And then as though a lightbulb is gradually going off in her head, Shing stops crying and raises her head slowly. A smile creeping onto her lips. "Yuri my love, he won't stay dead for long."
Both Astral and Yuri share a glance, even Dark looks comically confused. "Y-you're talking nonsense," Astral says, though he hopes her words ring true. "From what I understand death is death."
"You'll see." Shing giggles. "Oh I can't believe I forgot about them." She releases herself from Yuri's grip and runs over to Yuma, looking at him once more but in a new light. She runs her hand against his cheek softly and thinks, Soon my dear, you'll be back soon. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Astral shuddering when she touches Yuma, but she can't tell if it's him bristling or from fear. Either way she doesn't care.
"I'm afraid I don't follow." Yuri states, earning a vigorous nod from Dark.
"You said death is irreversible here, but you should know the same cannot be said of home."
It takes a moment for realization to dawn on him, but when it does Yuri's eyes widen. "And there will be no price to pay!"
"What are you talking about?" Dark whines pitifully. "You're not making any sense!"
"I agree," Astral sighs. "Would you care to explain to those of us who aren't from your world?"
"Seven precious orbs that when gathered together will grant you any wish you desire," Yuri explains. "With them, anything is possible."
Astral inhales sharply. Is there hope to get his Yuma back after all? "So he can come back?" he whispers, barely daring to hope.
But the look on Shing's face erases any doubts. "Not can, he will come back."
The sheer joy he feels at those words nearly makes him leap for joy. "Then what are we waiting for?"
The girl nods happily. "Yuri, get Yuma and the others out of here and to a secluded area. "I'll meet you there shortly."
Yuri nods. "I'll do my best." He walks past the people in hushed discussions. Shing follows him for the sole purpose of taking the key off her neck and putting it back in its rightful place on Yuma's neck. Then she leaves, no one notices her absence.
Yuri starts picking up the body, which makes people look over at him. "What are you doing?" Tori asks, slight anger creeping into her voice.
"Somewhere out in the open. Follow me if you wish to see."
While everyone tries to stop him from taking the body, Yuri keeps marching through with Yuma in his arms, still as limp as though he is asleep. Soon he is outside with everyone in tow, out in a clearing with no other people around and nothing to be ruined. He lays the body down gently in the soft grass and waits for his queen to return. Yuma's family and friends are confused and admittedly uncomfortable with this, but they are also curious as to what Yuri is planning to do. What could possibly be so important that they had to bring a dead boy outside?
Finally Shing comes back with a velvet sack in her hands. The load seems a bit heavy but she isn't breaking a sweat, determination furrowing her brow and hope lightning her eyes. She carefully takes seven orange orbs with red stars out of the sack, looking at Yuma's sleeping face then back to the orbs. When she speaks she is calm. "None of you have any reason to be afraid of what's about to happen."
This of course, makes almost everyone unnerved. "And what's about to happen?" Kari demands.
"Watch and find out," Shing replies. She stands up and looks to the sky. "Eternal dragon Shenron, by your name I summon you!" she cries out.
The orbs in front of her start glowing together, and the sky darkens as though a storm is moving in. The people gasp as a sudden beam of bright yellow light shoots out of the seven glowing orbs straight into the sky. The light soon takes the form of a green serpentine like dragon, its body is so long it has to loop around itself so it can lower itself to hear the small human calling its name. Its large eyes glowed red in color. The people below it watch with mouths agape and eyes widen, fear and awe weakening their knees.
"I am the Eternal Dragon Shenron," the dragon booms. "Speak to me your wish and it shall be granted."
Shing looks up at the dragon, her eyes steeled and showing no fear. "I have but one wish. I only ask that you bring this boy back to life." Her eyes drift down to the sickly pale boy at her feet. Upon hearing this wish, everyone around her seems to hold their breath.
It feels like an eternity before the dragon speaks again. "Your wish shall be granted." Its eyes start to glow a brighter red as Yuma's body starts to glow in a golden light. Black smoke billows out of his chest through the key, and then the golden glow disappears. "Your wish has been granted, fare thee well." With a final burst of light, the dragon disappears and the sky returns to normal.
At their feet, the boy takes a single breath.