- Dream Weaver
Chapter 12: Homeward Bound
As I slept under the light of the Tiffany lamp by the sofa in the living room of Giles' home, I dreamed yet another dream. In it I dreamed that I was in a basement, on the floor was a seal which was an eastern star, the seal of Danzalthar. Lucia appeared on top of the seal. She said, "Seven years from now, this will be the beginning of the end". I asked, "What do you mean?". Lucia replied, "A great titanic battle between good and evil will ensue and the evil shall be vanquished here. You won't be here when it happens, but you'll be a witness and a testimony". I asked, " Will Buffy die?". Lucia replied, "Luckily none of your friends will die, but others involved will perish in the great apocalyptic battle to come". At that, I awoke.
It was still early in the morning and I made myself a glass of milk as to avoid waking Giles. I washed my glass and placed it carefully back where I found it. I fumbled around and decided to lie back down and looked at the ceiling until I fell back asleep meditating on the dream I dreamt. I dreamed again, the strange thing was the dream picked up where it left off. Lucia said, "Although the Master failed to find the stone of light, Angel will find it and give it to Buffy when the end draws near. Only a worthy vampire with a soul will wear it and the light will vanquish the darkness, but Angel won't be the one but another who will sacrifice himself". I said, "I noticed you said 'himself', so it's obviously not Emilie". Lucia said, "No, someone you haven't met but like Angel and Emilie, he'll seek redemption".
I asked, "Is this what the Master was trying to prevent? As well as the Initiative's attempt to thwart the crucifixion?". Lucia replied, "Yes and both failed utterly due to the intervention of the supreme being", Lucia continued, "God placed us all here for a purpose, a calling". I asked, "What is mine?". Lucia replied, "That is up to you!". Meanwhile, deep down inside the catacombs. "I can see that the plot to foil the crucifixion by the Initiative has utterly failed, but that won't be the last ever heard from them", The Master said. "Now the ammunitions and explosives have been relocated by the U. S. military and our plan to destroy the slayer, her friends and Sunnydale has been foiled", Darla said.
"Now we'll have to change our plans completely now that the Great Destroyer will no longer be of any use to us", The Master said. "I think for the time being we should give it a rest", Darla suggested. "No, we shall draw up a new plan, it will take time but eventually we shall vanquish the slayer", The Master said. Later in the morning, the phone rang and Giles answered the phone. "Hello", Giles said, "Oh yes, here he is, it's for you!", Giles said passing me the phone. "Hello", I answered. It was my family at the other end of the line, expressing concern for me as well as providing me the news that money has been sent to me via Western Union for me to return to Florida.
I realized that time had passed rapidly and I was in Sunnydale longer than I expected. Regardless of what I've been through it was fun and adventurous and I accomplished within days what I couldn't accomplish in years, I made good wholesome friends and I really didn't feel to leave but I knew I had to. After a long conversation with my father, I passed the phone back to Giles, who also spoke to my father for awhile. My father who was in a conference call three way with my mother. Just then, there was a knock on the door and Giles motioned me to answer the while he was still on the phone. I asked, "Who is it?". "It's us", Buffy replied, so I let them in. "What's new?", Buffy asked me as she entered with Xander and Willow.
"My family is on the phone right now talking to Giles", I replied. "My folks sent me money through Western Union so that I can go home", I said. "Well, that's cool", Buffy said. "It's good to have a family that cares about you", Willow said. "So when are you leaving?", Xander asked. "I don't know yet!", I replied. "Reyes", Giles called handing me the phone for final instructions to retrieve my money and my ticket home. I spoke to my folks on how excited I was to have made such great friends and how I wished I could be with them longer. I then put the phone on loud speaker to introduce Buffy and her friends to my family. My family thanked my friends who came around that night to help me and save my life in the process as well as the hospitality that was given me.
After everyone got acquainted with each other over the phone. My folks said their goodbyes to me and my new found friends. I asked, "Where's Cordelia?". Buffy replied, "She's over at the salon getting her nails done". "Well, let's go take Reyes to the Western Union so he can retrieve his money and then to the train station", Giles said. Everyone left the house, Buffy and the gang went in Giles' car while I went with Mr. Revelatori and Dr.Jacobi in their 1932 Packard Roadster, which I came to notice was always in showroom condition without a blemish nor even a grain of dirt. I retrieved my money and bought a ticket a train ticket, one way to Florida. At the train station, Buffy said, "You know Reyes, We wish you could've stayed with us a lot longer. So that way we could've gotten to know each other more. We'll miss you and you'll never be forgotton". I replied, "Nor will you nor any of you here today!".
Willow Said, "while you were busy, we decided that we promise that we'll one day see you in Florida!". "And we're all for it!", Xander added. Buffy said, "We'll keep in touch. The day we finally vanquish the forces of evil at least here in Sunnydale, we'll all see you in Florida to celebrate". "Sounds like a winner to me, I sure look forward to that glorious day of victory", I said. "Amen", said Mr. Revelatori. They accompanied me to the train, where we exchanged our hugs, kisses with the girls and our farewells. I was given a going away present, a journal. I asked, "What's this for?". Buffy replied, "Someone has to know". I asked, "Know what?". Buffy said, "Our adventures, what we've been through, everything so that it'll never be forgotton, our going away present to you".
Tears welled up in my eyes as Buffy and her friends gave me a group hug. It was a hug that felt like an eternity unto itself. A train steward shouted, "All aboard". "It's time for me to leave", I said. "Call us when you get home!", Buffy said. "Home is where the heart is", I replied. Buffy smiled and said, "I know". It was time for me to climb into the train and I picked a window seat. I could see Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, Giovanni the Magician and Dr. Jacobi as we looked at each other through the window.
The train began to move as we waved goodbye to one another. Buffy winked and blew a kiss as I returned the gesture. We kept waving until we eventually lost sight of each other and I settled back down into my seat, enjoying the memories left behind. After the long cross country trip by train and all the sights I had seen along the way. Out of all the travels, I had made none were or would ever be quite as memorable as my stay in Sunnydale. Although I felt deep within it would be the last I'd see of Buffy and her friends, it wouldn't be though it would be the last I'd ever see of Sunnydale. I made it back to Florida, ending the train trip in Orlando where I would meet my family. In addition to my folks, my sister was there with my niece still barely a year old, and they were all happy to see me. We celebrated my safe return. I called Sunnydale and notified Buffy and her friends of my safe return and celebration. Finally, I went with my father and returned to South Florida.