Sun Wukong felt like his eyes were being burned out of his skull as everything before him melted away to a field of sheer white nothingness. Upon raising his hands to try to block out the sight, he was shocked to find that he could still see them, even if his environs had entirely disappeared. Looking down merely brought him an endless view of a white void below. Looking left, however, gave him a view of something even more surprising.
"Ilia?" the faunus asked, startling himself with how his voice seemed to echo through the nothingness.
"Sun!" the girl replied, running across the empty space to close the distance before throwing herself into a flying hug. Sun did indeed manage to catch her and squeezed hard, earning a small yelp for his efforts. "Holy shit, I can actually feel you? We're both actually here? Wherever 'here' is…"
"Seems that way," Sun acknowledged as he looked over Ilia's head to see another figure slowly phase into existence. "I think that's Weiss coming in now…"
Ilia's eyes widened and she released her grip on Sun in order to whirl around and look for her friend. Weiss did indeed seem to materialize only a few feet away from them, looking down at her hands in disbelief all the while.
"Weiss!"
The woman looked up just in time to receive Ilia's forceful hug and return it with a smile.
"Thank you," Weiss offered as she rested her head atop the smaller girl's. "Thank you so much for taking care of Whitley and going after Winter down in Mantle. I owe you everything, Ilia… provided we aren't dead or otherwise trapped here…"
"Don't mention it," Ilia reassured as she stepped out of the embrace. "It's what friends are for, and I think of you as almost family at this point."
"I don't think we're dead…" Sun mused as he looked to his sides, unsure of what to expect. His tail swished lazily behind himself as he realized just who else he was likely to see in the odd pocket dimension. "This isn't too far removed from what happened when Ozpin entered my mind. I think we're in some weird limbo while Jinn figures out how to answer my question…"
"Better yours than mine," came a deep, sorrowful voice from behind the faunus.
The small party of three turned to look at James Ironwood, who stood alone looking crestfallen as he kept his eyes on his feet. Exhausted was the first descriptor that came to Sun's mind as he looked the man over. Defeated was the second. His body language made it clear that there would be no conflict between them, and Sun felt reassured that he at least had that going for him.
"…I'm sorry," Sun offered as he hesitantly approached. "I just… don't know how strict Jinn is with her rules, and if you had gotten your question out…"
"Very strict," Glynda Goodwitch answered as she walked in from seemingly nowhere with Qrow at her side. "You did the right thing, Sun. I've been hearing such praise more and more about you as time goes on. A shame that we won't be able to work together directly for some time…"
"No hard feelings, Jimmy," Qrow added as he gave the other man a solemn nod. More figures began to warp into the area as he shrugged, letting his eyes wander between them. "Any of us could've fallen into that trap. We're just lucky Sun was quick enough on the draw to steer us away from disaster."
"And that is why, in this place… he will lead us," James resolved as he looked up to meet the faunus' eyes. "Whatever path you see fit to take, I will follow. I'm sure the others will agree."
"Damned right we will," Yang replied as she walked up to Qrow with a conflicted look. "Are you okay…?"
"Are you okay?" Qrow asked. "I'm an adult and used to loss. You should never have to go through something like losing a sister at your age…"
"We're not kids," Blake pointed out as she took her place next to Sun while several of the others began to approach the gathering. "And in a situation like this, age doesn't count for much. You needed my help back in Kuo Kuana. Don't refuse it from Yang now when you're both hurting."
Qrow let out a sigh and allowed himself to take Yang's offered hug as a figure much larger than the others manifested above them. Within seconds, the trails and flickers of light blue that had begun to dot what should have been the sky coalesced to form Jinn, though she was far bigger than the version the group had seen within General Ironwood's office. The spirit of the Lamp towered over the scene, drawing the attention of everyone who had been unwillingly gathered within her pocket dimension. She was tall enough that Sun could barely make out her face high above, and her voice resounded through the void as though it was coming through some sort of cosmic speaker system. The sky darkened as she began to speak, slowly rendering the space around them all a deep blue bordering on black.
"Glydna Goodwitch is quite correct," Jinn began as her face pulled into a frown. "I am bound by magic most ancient and powerful to answer the first completed question I hear upon being summoned, and had Sun Wukong not stepped in, I would have had to settle for the one that James Ironwood started. I can only hope that what knowledge I can offer you within the restraints of Sun Wukong's inquiry will be useful to you."
"You… hope it'll be useful?" Amaya dared to asked as she put her hands on her hips. "You're telling me you have some kind of free will, yet you're 'magically bound' to whatever the hell all of this is? And your will is putting you on our side?"
Neptune immediately jogged toward the winged woman upon hearing her voice, though he lingered a few feet away as they both focused upon Jinn's answer. The spirit regarded Amaya with a look of tangible sorrow before closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"…I am afraid that I cannot answer you. Were I to try, you would likely lose access to the answer that Sun Wukong seeks, and perhaps, the Lamp in its entirety. For that reason, and for my own safety, you will have to come to your own conclusions."
"Well that… sucks…" Emerald said as she made a face up at Jinn. "Sorry about this. No one should have to serve a master that keeps them bound and gagged…"
"Do not concern yourself with my situation," Jinn advised with a dismissive wave of her massive hand. A scattering of stars followed the limb, painting the scene with little lights as mountains, forests, and rivers began to manifest far below her. "Focus only upon what I am about to show you, as I can only show you once. Glean what information you can from what you see and hear, and revel in your temporary company. It seems several of you have begun to do so already…"
"Figures it'd be temporary," Kali grumbled as she made her way to Sun and rested an arm upon his shoulder. "I wouldn't mind a one-way trip up to Atlas right about now, if you could make that happen after whatever show you're putting on for us. No chance of teleporting us all to the Academy, I'm guessing?"
"Hey, Mom," Sun offered the woman with a smile, only to receive a kiss upon the cheek.
"Hey, kid. Blake treating you right, or do I have to kick her ass in front of this entire audience?"
"Mom, this is not the time…" Blake said as her ears flattened against her hair.
"She's been great," Sun reassured. "As always."
"I wish I could afford you all more time to mingle," Jinn mused as she allowed herself a solemn smile. "However, my powers, though great, are limited. The 'show' of which you speak must begin now…"
The entire group reacted badly as they suddenly began to fall- some cursing, others flailing, and Jaune tripping backwards over nothing to land on the invisible 'ground' that was rapidly descending beneath them. Within seconds, they were hovering above a large, primitive-looking village with a sprawling castle upon the hill that overlooked it. Humans and faunus alike mingled about the streets, talking and selling their wares at various stands made of straw and wood. Despite the obvious interactions occurring beneath the group, the sound from below was incredibly faint, as though Jinn herself was controlling the volume of the scene from far above.
"…is it possible to piss yourself in whatever this place is?" Alice asked as she steadied herself once again, holding her stomach. "Not saying I did, but that drop wasn't pleasant…"
"Another question I cannot answer," Jinn replied, her voice ever-present. "And one that should not be of concern, with all else that is occurring here. I will attempt to make your pathing less… jarring."
True to her word, the group began to fly slowly and gently over the village while remaining upright. Sun looked ahead along their trajectory, unsurprised to find that they were approaching the castle on the hilltop beyond the village.
"…Salem must have lived there…"
"Or Ozpin," Blake considered as she took Sun's hand in her own and stood at his side.
"…or both of them," Raven spat as the group's began to ascend, following the dirt road up the hill. "I have my suspicions. Always have…"
"Long ago," Jinn interrupted as the group approached the open castle gates, "in an age before dust- an age ruled by natural magic and those who could wield it best, there lived a king and queen beloved by all those of their kingdom."
Neopolitan rolled her eyes and let out a sigh while she made a motion to one side as though she was jerking off. Corsac laid a hand upon the woman's shoulder and shook his head.
"…allow the spirit her theatrical storytelling. What comes after the cliché may not be so pleasant, so enjoy the tale while we still can…"
"The kingdom was prosperous, though isolated, and located between two landmarks sacred to all those upon Remnant- the domains of the God of Light and God of Darkness who once walked this land with their people."
A vision of two glowing, ethereal figures materialized in the sky on either side of the castle as the group floated on through the gates. One of the figures shone as bright as the sun in swirling, aggressive patterns of white, gold, and red, while the other was surrounded in a purple and blue haze, his silhouette jet black within the mist. Sun's attention was drawn away from the figures in the sky as he noticed patrolling, armored guards milling about the castle courtyard and a small regiment of troops lined up before the main entrance to the castle standing in formation as someone addressed them.
"This place… feels magical," Sun commented as their approach began to slow even more. He took a moment to turn about, surveying the details of the place as they continued to float in one direction. There was a group of knights practicing archery in a nearby assault course, and several peasants working at a nearby stable. More market stalls with vendors were within the castle grounds, though both seemed far fancier than their counterparts out in the village. "You guys feel that, right? Like some kind of weird, primal force flowing through the air?"
"I do," Harriet agreed, her eyes closed as she focused upon the feeling. "It is like… what I feel inside of myself, ever since I became a Maiden. Raw, wild magic, but out here, it isn't contained. It's everywhere. It's…"
"Getting stronger," Raven warned as they flew over the regiment of troops and paused in midair. "Much stronger right here…"
Sun looked down to find a figure in armor standing before the troops, an ornate spear with a flag hanging just below blade in her gauntleted hand. Her hair was a fiery orange, strands of it hanging long enough to reach her midsection and partially obscuring her face. The woman's eyes were a deep purple and seemed to glow with wild power. She looked to be about Sun's age, or perhaps a little older, and her expression was deadly serious as she looked over the unit under her command.
"As good a place as any to begin introducing you all," Jinn commented. "Here you see Astrid- eldest daughter of Salem and Ozma, and the original Summer Maiden…"
Author's Note:
How funny would it be if I went on a sudden 3-month hiatus right now. Not that I would, but the thought entertains me.
-RD