"But so have you."
Luz slammed the staff down and the fire glyphs she stuck on the portal activated. Leaving the portal as nothing more than a pile of ash, burnt wood, and an eye.
It feels like yesterday that happened, if only it was yesterday and not fifteen years ago. A hand grabbed her left one and a smaller hand grabbed her right. Luz looked at her left.
"Luz, if you don't think you can do it, then we can go home." Amity said.
"I... I have to. I've dreamed of this moment for years... but... what if she's angry with me?"
"Luz, if you want to go back home, we will. I'll be with you for whatever you chose."
"Thanks, Amity." Luz was quiet for a minute, "I have to do this."
Luz started walking up the steps to the house she used to live in. She was about to knock on the door when she stopped her hand. She rubbed her hand, thousands of thoughts going through her mind. Her breathing got heavy and her hands started shaking as she tightened her grip on her staff.
"No going back. I have to confront this."
Luz raised her hand and started knocking on the door. She lowered her hand. She stood there for what seemed like hours. She heard footsteps approach the door and they stopped in front of the door. Luz heard the doorknob start turning and time seemed to freeze. The door finally opened and Luz stood straight and puffed her chest out. The same way Lilith taught her when she wanted to appear powerful and in control.
"Mija?"
"Hi, Mami."
Luz watched as tears formed in her mother's eyes, she felt tears forming in her own. She looked over Luz's outfit and the staff in her hand. Camila grabbed Luz and pulled her into a hug.
"Oh, Mija. I-I-I... I thought you were dead. What happened to you? I... I was so worried."
Luz returned the hug and started crying into her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Mami. I'm so, so sorry."
Camila broke the hug and looked her daughter in the eyes.
"Where were you?"
"You... you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"I don't care if you say you were having dinner with Jesus, I'll believe every word you say. Just as long as you're alive and I'm not just imagining this."
"I'm alive. This is real... I promise. I... I finally grew up, Mami, I want to introduce you to some important people." Luz motioned for Amity to come over, "Mami, this is Amity... my wife."
Camila let out a small gasp. Luz also grabbed the hand of a small, tan skinned, eight year old.
"And this is Edalyn Camila Noceda. Our daughter." Camila was at a loss for words, "I have a family of my own."
"I... my baby's all grown up."
Camila was so happy. Not only was her baby back, but she was married and had a child. Edalyn started tugging on Amity's dress.
"Yes, Edalyn?" Amity asked
"Mommy, who is this?"
"This is Mami's mom. Your Abuelita."
"Abuelita? Grandma? Like Grandma and Grandpa back home?"
"Yes, exactly like that."
"Well, as much as I enjoy talking on the front step, why don't we go in and talk?" Camila said.
"I think that would be wonderful, Mrs. Noceda." Amity said.
"Please, call me Camila. After all, you are my daughter-in-law."
She watched as Edalyn and Amity walk in, but she stops Luz before she can.
"I'm proud of you, Mija."
"Thanks, Mami." Luz said, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
"I can't wait to hear what you've done in the last fifteen years."
Luz let out a small chuckle and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Well, it's been a... it's been a very... Magical fifteen years, to say the least."
When Luz woke up this morning, she expected it would be a normal day as Emperor. She hadn't expected the portal to be fixed.
After fifteen years, a revolution, a war... after all that, Luz finally reunites with her mother. Fun fact, in my original idea, this was the first chapter.