Life's Return

Prologue

Author's note: This chapter has been edited and rewritten. Enjoy~
_________________________________________
Luz Pov:

We'd done it.

We were finally able to defeat Belos at the Mandible. The portal that had been rebuilt seemed unstable, but stable enough for me to pass through. The gaping hole staring back at me with the human realm flickering on the other side.

This was it... I could finally go back home. I could see my mom again.. tell her all about my wonderful (and possibly reckless) adventures. Tell her about my friends that I had made along the way.

I'll probably get a scolding first though- knowing how protective mamá is.

However, I could feel my excitement falter, feeling the state of numerous eyes from behind. I slowly turned, glancing over at them all. Eda and King... Willow, Gus... who all looked about to cry.

They all gave me that pitiful, sympathetic smile. All except for...

Amity.

She stood with her gaze covered by the fringes of her hair, tears threatening to fall from the corners of her eyes. Trying so desperately to be strong as she gripped the hem of her top.

It was heartbreaking... watching that tear streak down her face and fall..

I could feel my own eyes start to sting as they began to well up also, biting my lip before rushing over to hug them all as a group. I knew I had to go, before it was too late. Before the portal failed and collapsed on itself.

But it hurt to leave so suddenly like this...

"I-.... I-I don't wanna leave you guys-" I croaked out, my hands clenching to whatever I could between them all. I could hear someone whimper in response, a tighter squeeze from somewhere in the pile of hugs.

"We... we don't want you to go either, Luz. But- who knows how long the portal will last..." Willow managed out, followed by Gus's loud sobbing.

"But I don't want you to go! You're never going back to the human realm-!" King cried out, clinging on my leg as he looked up to me with those watery eyes. I reached down, scooping him up in my arms for a tighter embrace, then pulled away with a melancholy smile. "Don't worry buddy, I'll be back before you can say 'bread pun'.." I couldn't help but rub his skull head, only getting me a sobbing 'Weh!' in return.

Course, we both knew it might be longer than that before I could find my way back..

"Kiddo, you're gonna be great out there, okay? Don't let anyone boss you around, alright-?" Eda tried to hide a tear as she quickly wiped it away, but I gave her an empathetic smile nonetheless.

Gus and Willow threw their arms around me once more, their hands on my shoulders as we gave a quick exchange...

Then... there was Amity. Trying so desperate to look so stoic, but failing as tears continued to stream down her tinged cheeks. I reached out and brushed my hand against her own, watching as she seemed to jump and snap up to look at me with those big, amber eyes.

"Hey... I promise I'll come back... and we can reread the entire series of Azura together, yea?" That got her to crack a little, turning away a bit with a slight grin on her lips and a roll of her gaze.

"Tsk-.... you're... such a dork-"

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle and shrug in response, then jumped as I saw her lunge. Her arms wrapping around my neck and nearly tipping us over. Blinking, my hands slowly came up to press along the small of her back, hugging her close.

She smelled like strawberries..

I didn't want to let go..

"...I'll wait for you.." I could feel her hands clenching at the back of my shirt, her voice quivering as she whispered next to my ear. "...No matter how long it takes."

My heart ached.

We stood there for a few moments longer, or at least until we heard the portal beginning to creak and groan, as though it was losing steam. I glanced over my shoulder towards the flickering world beyond, then back into those wavering golden orbs. "You should go..." She slowly began to step away, rubbing an arm as her gaze drifted downwards.

"W-Wait-"

"Go!"

The way she almost yelled at me, with that hurt gaze, made me pause for a moment. However, I knew time was running out, and she did, too. If we stayed any longer, I might be stuck here for longer. Which, I wouldn't complain... but mamá..

I sucked in a breath and nodded, turning towards the portal as it struggled to stay open, and stepped through.

I was back in the human realm. Birds chirping as they flew past. Squirrels skittering up trees in the distance. Home.

Looking back, I saw everyone watching, waiting. Amity smack dab in the middle as she finally gave me a fairwell smile. I had so much on my mind, so much I wanted to say.

But there was one thing I needed to get off my chest.

"Amity..... I lo-"

Before I could even finish my sentence, the door collapsed in on itself, causing me to fall back in a coughing fit from the dust and dirt that stirred in the air. I scrambled up in a hurry, blinking.

It was gone...

Everyone I had cared for. Everything I had loved about the Isles. Magic.

All just... gone...

I didn't even get to tell her how I felt..