"The parallel in life is that the conscious attention a woman has to give to her animus problems takes much time and involves a lot of suffering. But if she realizes who and what her animus is and what he does to her, and she faces these realities instead of allowing herself to be possessed, her animus can turn into an invaluable inner companion who endows her with masculine qualities of initiative, courage, objectivity and spiritual wisdom."
Von Franz in Carl Jung's Man and His Symbols
In a house in a blue forest with a red sky
Ruby's head jerked up when she felt them approaching her forest. She smiled, it had been a year and a half since she left Beacon and just as she had anticipated her guests were arriving right on time. She held out her hand and a black flame appeared in her palm, it was hovering just above her skin. She loved the feeling of the cool flame as it seemed to dance on her arm.
"Would you kindly greet our guests and bring them to me?" Said Ruby in a soft and mellow voice.
As she finished speaking the flame transformed into a skeletal man covered in a ragged black cloak and shrouded by a black mist. He responded in a gravelly and hoarse voice "Of course my Queen." No sooner had he spoke before he seemed to vanish.
"I suppose I should tidy up, it's been awhile since I last had guests. Oh! And I mustn't forget to water the flowers!" She said, almost gleeful but that was the sound of a different Ruby Rose.
Lake outside of Saltus Tenebris Deos
Yang looked forward at the lake in front of them.
"How the fuck are we supposed to get across this?" She said.
"We swim." Said Blake.
"No way am I swimming that." Said Coco.
"Agreed." Said Yang.
"Remember the warnings Ruby gave us Yang, we must swim." Weiss said.
They approached the lake, and Velvet was the first to notice the dock with a large row boat tied to it. Then suddenly a man shrouded in darkness appeared in the boat.
"Hey guys? Who's that?" Asked Velvet incredulously.
"Ah, that must be our guide." Said Ozpin relieved.
"So, we don't have to swim?" Asked Pyrrha.
"Myself and Professor Goodwitch don't have to, because we've already done it once."
"Correct." SAid the man shrouded in mist. His voice sent shivers down Yang's spine.
"What about our stuff?" asked Ren.
"I shall take it, in compliance to my queen's wishes." He responded calmly.
"How do we get across, then?" Asked Blake, not wanting to swim.
"You cannot ride in this boat and you must cross the lake itself. Those are the only requirements, how is up to you. Some have walked across the water, others ripped a hole that travelled across it. It matters not to me or my Queen."
"Well then I think I've decided." Yang said as she stripped to nothing but her underwear. Yatsuhashi, Jaune and Ren all turned around, Fox just stood there seemingly unaware of the proceedings, Ozpin just sighed and stepped into the boat.
"You," the shadowy man said as he pointed at Cinder "You may join us if you wish, my queen has granted you access, per your affiliation with a friend of hers."
"How kind of her" Cinder said softly, but with an edge of maliciousness.
Yang plunged into the what she thought was water. The fluid was indeed not water, it was heavier than water, making swimming much harder. "I'm not getting wet" Yang sounded confused.
"But of course, we need you presentable when you see the Queen."
"So we won't get wet in it?" Asked Coco cautiously stepping into the water.
"Correct."
All of them plunged into the pleasantly warm lake, as the Professors and Cinder travelled with their equipment in the boat.
"So who's your friend of the queen?" asked Ozpin.
"I believe it to be my mother but honestly I don't know." Cinder lied, she knew It was Salem. Hopefully that meant this "queen" was sympathetic to their cause. She had met this girl before but never had the time to get to know anything other than her sweet, innocent face.
They reached the dock on the other side.
"You may continue on from here, the land will guide you. I shall wait for the others, and save them if necessary. My Queen is much more merciful than her predecessor." The guide said.
"Glynda, You and miss Fall should continue on ahead. I will wait with our friend here." Said Ozpin.
"But sir-"
"Go, I wish not to keep the queen waiting." He said, his voice full of authority. Without hesitation Cinder walked into the woods, Glynda waited for a second before deciding that it wasn't worth it.
As the others disappeared into the tree line, Ozpin turned around to see that Yang was the closest to the shore but still a few minutes off from reaching ground. "So how many retainers does she have?"
The shadow man stood there for a second pondering, deciding that it was no harm to speak he said, "Six, I believe, I have only been with her for a few months myself."
"How did you come to serve her?"
"An agreement I made with her predecessor."
"What does serving her entail exactly?"
"Not very much, she has yet to require the full extent of my services."
Mercury Black was visibly struggling with swimming, seeing this the shade lifted his hand palm facing up. The ground below Mercury shifted upwards till it was just enough for him to walk on.
"Seems like you are quite powerful in this forest."
"Indeed, I am one with the land."
Cinder entered the clearing, she was standing directly in front of a massive oriental Minstralian compound. The wood was a rich red brown color, and the shingles a deep green. At the complexes center was a massive castle in the same style as the compound. A Ghostly man stood by the gates to the compound and beckoned her to come inside. Deciding that was the best course of action she stepped through the massive, metal studded gate. Immediately she was in a massive hallway that had one open side that led out to a expansive garden/courtyard. At the center was the castle, surrounding it was a small stream and a stone garden. Mixed in were rose bushes and cherry trees. She stepped forward into the courtyard before she heard a nectar like voice from behind her. "Join me for tea won't you dear Cinder?"
A/N
Mid week update, it will be weekly. Got a little tired on this one, that's why it ends where it does. Sorry if you wanted more.
Music
Drugs - Eden
Jupiter - Eden
Forevermore - Broken iris
King - Years and Years
No new books.
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