Ocean's Fire

by Stacey Tucker

  “Take a sip,” Rhia whispered from the other bank.

  “Why?” Skylar asked, not surprised to see her.

  “Aren’t you thirsty?” Rhia smiled brightly. She looked angelic in a white eyelet sundress. Her golden blond hair glowed from her internal sunshine. “Everyone is thirsty. Not everyone drinks.”

  Skylar touched her lips to the luminous liquid in her hands. She felt it wash over the parts inside hers that were parched from years of neglect. A wave of bliss grew outward from her belly. She took a deep breath in and scooped up more water, this time gulping it down.

  “Humans always overindulge,” Rhia said plainly. “One sip is really all you need.”

  “Let her enjoy the gifts of her new surroundings, my dear,” an ethereal voice said.

  “Magda,” Skylar said, delighted to see her. As she rose to standing, droplets of glistening water dripped down her arms. “This is your home,” she said with a sudden understanding.

  “Welcome, Skylar,” Magda said, smiling. Her face beamed from underneath a crown of jewels so bright Skylar had to squint to look at it. The emerald from the Grotto shone brightly from the center. It was whole. Her gown of pure white silk flowed behind her, leaving a trail of gold leaves. Her sleeves draped like flowing bells that sounded like rustling leaves when she walked.

  Skylar paused. Magda was so much more familiar to her here than she had been at Ocean’s. Everything about this place was familiar. The trees and gardens were friends. The water was an ancient elixir for healing. She was certain this was her home too, a home left long ago.

  Skylar turned back to Rhia. “Why are you on the other side of the river?” she asked.

  Rhia stared at her in silence; her smile was warm and peaceful.

  “Rhia thought you might follow, considering how you were joined when she departed,” Magda said. “She is ready to move on. Her work on the physical plane is complete. She will join the others on the next phase of their journey. But you, my dear, have much more to accomplish. You must go back.”

  Sadness filled Skylar’s heart. The thought of ever leaving this paradise devastated her to her core. This was her home. But she hadn’t been the one to die on the barn floor. She had simply shut her eyes.

  “This is a dream,” Skylar said.

  “Similar, yes. But don’t open your eyes quite yet,” Magda said. “The concept of time does not exist here. Stay awhile. There are things you can learn that will help when you return home.”

  “This feels like home,” Skylar said.

  “Smart girl.” Magda smiled and turned toward a path of stones. Rhia stood watching them from the other side.

  “Walk with me,” Magda said to Skylar.

  Skylar looked at Rhia. “Are you leaving?”

  “Not yet. I’m enjoying the sunshine. I will go find the horses.” Rhia ran off behind a row of towering maples.

  Magda gestured for Skylar join her on the labyrinth set at her feet—round smooth stones set in a path atop a brilliant bed of lavender moss. Skylar looked down at her own feet. Her boots were no longer on them. All of her clothes had turned white.

  Wildflowers peeked out here and there in the moss. Skylar kept her eyes focused on the stone path. It was simple and flat, but she barely managed it. Her feet felt like lead weights that got heavier with every step. As they continued on, she found it harder to keep pace with Magda. “What is this magic?” she asked.

  “Your difficulties in life are revealed in the labyrinth,” Magda said, walking with ease. “Your struggle is in your resistance. Acceptance will give you the freedom you seek.”

  Skylar wasn’t sure if she meant on this path or in her life. “I’m not seeking freedom,” she said.

  “Everyone is.” Magda slowed her step to keep even with Skylar. “Do not stop here. Keep walking.”

  Skylar slowed even more. “This is too hard,” she said, pausing to catch her breath. She put her hands on her knees for support. She was getting angry, though it felt wrong to feel anger in this place of so much unconditional love. “I can’t do it.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” Magda asked. “You are limitless. And your intentions shape your experience.” She wore a stern look now. “Continue.”

  Skylar’s anger was rising. The plants around her recoiled as she walked by, afraid of her. She softened, not wanting her friends to be frightened. She took in a deep breath and straightened upright. Each step was more agonizing than the last. She had to take deep breaths through her mouth to get enough air. It felt like she was climbing a mountain, not walking a flat path of moss.

  Finally, they both reached the middle of the great circle.

  “It is over,” Magda said. “You have reached the middle. And in a labyrinth, the middle is the end. You did well.”

  “I felt so angry,” Skylar admitted, pink with embarrassment.

  “Your anger was normal,” Magda said. “Humans carry an enormous amount of unconscious rage. The labyrinth brings it to the surface. Your work here released much of it. Letting go of anger is vital for your growth on the earth plane, Skylar. Remember that always.”

  Skylar was astonished and humbled. Reaching the middle had seemed an impossible goal a few short minutes ago . . . or was it minutes? She couldn’t conceptualize time here. A great tree stood before them, similar to the one in Ocean’s yard, except that this one was filled with large, shiny green leaves and white blossoms. Life radiated off of its branches. Underneath the canopy was the crystal pedestal from the Grotto. The Book of Akasha rested upon it.

  “My book,” Skylar said. “How did it get here?”

  “It is home here as well. It has come back for transformation. The Sophia is rising. For now, it must remain here. It will return to you at the proper time, when you are stronger. Ocean believes too much has been revealed to you too soon. But you are doing well.”

  They sat on an ornate wooden bench below the tree’s canopy.

  “What is this place?” Skylar asked.

  “This is the Etheric Realm,” Magda said. “It is the dimension closest to your physical world, the portal to connect to higher realms. When you are ready, of course.” She smiled at a butterfly that landed on her outstretched finger. She brought it close to her face to give it a closer look. “You came here with Rhiannon because you’ve decided to take your position in the game.”

  “I haven’t decided anything,” Skylar said.

  “Apparently you have, or you wouldn’t be here. The whole reason you exist on the earth plane is to meet your soul’s ideals and continue your evolution. On some level, you know this. Are you meeting your soul’s ideals, Skylar?”

  “I’m sure not even close.”

  “The future of the world starts within every individual. It starts with you. You will be tested with great pain and given the opportunity for revenge or forgiveness. The choice is yours.”

  Skylar frowned. “I’ve already experienced great pain, more than once.”

  “Pain is a tool for transformation. Humans rarely grow out of pleasure.” Magda rose from the bench. “You’re beginning to believe your mother’s death was no bad luck of the draw. She knew you would be strong enough to go on without her, to finish what she started. Soon, the Sophia will emerge. Once that happens, there is no turning back. You will hold in your hands the secrets to help the women of earth return to their wholeness.”

  Skylar started to fidget where she sat, rocking slightly and rubbing her thighs nervously with her hands.

  “You aren’t without extraordinary help,” Magda reminded her. “You are surrounded by ascended masters. Once human, they were put through a series of spiritual tests, and through lifetimes of work, they have evolved out of the earthly wheel of karma. They can choose to return to earth to help others on their path, as Rhia has done. Her energy field is of the highest purity. It was hard for her to acclimate to the density of earth. Leaving is actually a relief for her. Veronica, too, is close to ascending.”

  Skylar stopped her fidgeting and l
ooked at Magda in surprise.

  “It is impossible to comprehend the loss of one’s child, even at Ronnie’s evolved level, but she’s been preparing for this her whole life. After some time has passed, she will move forward from a place of forgiveness, not revenge. Then her time in the karmic wheel will be over.”

  “She knew this would happen,” Skylar whispered.

  “Mother and daughter know their physical separation is only temporary, and they will be reunited in the fifth dimension. We have been moving toward it for some time now.”

  “Are we skipping over the fourth?”

  “You are already in the fourth. But only a small number of you are aware of it, and an even smaller number are utilizing it. Your world is completely malleable, even if you think it isn’t. The weather, for example . . . it’s not behaving the way it used to, right?”

  Skylar nodded. “It is supposed to be winter, and the flowers are in full bloom.”

  “The earth is suffering the way it has suffered three times before. Cataclysmic events happened all three times, and humanity had to start over. You are dangerously close to that again. The hum you heard coming from Rhiannon—that was her connection to the earth. The earth’s heartbeat is getting louder and faster. As the anxiety of humanity grows, so does that of the earth. You humans have forgotten how closely your hearts are tied to the fourth Great Mother, Earth. All who monitor your world hope the breaking point is never reached. If it is, you will have to start over yet again.”

  Suddenly overcome by a nausea that had been growing inside her since they entered the labyrinth, Skylar threw herself over the side of the bench and vomited at the base of a boxwood hedge behind them. She groaned. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep it in any longer.”

  “Purging is a large part of healing.” Magda knelt to help Skylar to her feet. “You need to discard what no longer serves you. I am sorry this has been thrust upon you at such a young age. I wasn’t twenty when war broke out among my people. I had to finish growing up in a hurry too.”

  “So if I do this right, am I immortalized in goddess form as well?” Skylar raised one inquisitive brow.

  “You already have been, dear,” Magda said. “Reach for your greatness, Divine Skylar. It is waiting.”

  Rhia came racing along the stone path, effortless as a summer breeze, leading a brilliant white horse. Skylar barely noticed the horse, too astounded at the ease with which Rhia navigated the maze.

  “She has no resistance,” Magda said, as if reading Skylar’s thoughts. “Do not compare her journey to your own.”

  Skylar looked at the white horse. It shared a remarkable resemblance to Cheveyo.

  “We wanted to see you off,” Rhia said.

  Skylar stared in awe. It was Cheveyo, she would swear it. But this brilliant white stallion was a unicorn.

  “This is his true self,” Rhia said. “He is allowed to be free here. In your world, he must hide his power and his beauty.” She gave him a pat on his muzzle.

  Skylar slowly reached her hand out. Cheveyo’s soft hair felt like silk under her fingers. He bowed in recognition. “It’s wonderful to see you too, my friend.”

  “He has helped you already,” Magda said. “Call on him again. There will be a great battle, Skylar. Be careful whose side you are on.”

  Skylar didn’t understand. Did Magda doubt she would be on the side for good? “Doesn’t the light always win?” she asked.

  “No, not always. But it always heals.” Magda said. “And now, Divine Skylar, it is time for you to go back.”

  “I’m not ready,” Skylar pleaded. “Please, just a bit longer.”

  “You will always feel that way. Five minutes or five years are the same here. You already know this, yes? Remember, time is a tool. Use it to your advantage.” Magda hugged Skylar tight.

  If I could hug the moonlight, it would feel like this, Skylar thought, melting in the goddess’s arms. She thought of her mother and somehow felt her in Magda. She felt safe; she knew everything was exactly how it should be.

  “Try to remember it is no different on the physical plane,” Magda whispered in Skylar’s ear. “Fear is false, created by the dark parts of your mind to keep you trapped. Your anger is your ego’s power over your heart. Remember the love you have inside. It is your best guide, always.”

  Magda released Skylar, then led her out of the labyrinth. In two strides, they were standing beside the river once again. “Magic!” she said with a wink. She knelt down, put her hands in the shimmering water, and giggled like a young girl. She looked up at Skylar. “Close your eyes and take a sip. When you open them, you will be back on the barn floor, just where you were. Rhia will be there in form only. Her soul is already here, as you know. Let things unfold. Do not fear them. I will see you again soon.” Magda rose and kissed Skylar on the forehead.

  Skylar looked across the river. Rhia was standing in her original spot, Cheveyo beside her. She kneeled and drank from Magda’s hands. Through her sip, all her senses heightened exponentially. She heard the rustling of every animal in the forest and smelled the salt air of distant ocean waves. She connected to the power of women everywhere giving birth to new life. The driving force of creation surged through her veins. She was one with all creatures on the earth once again. She vowed to find a way to return to this feeling, this place—her true home.

  Skylar felt the boards of the barn floor beneath her feet. She smelled the familiar hay and horsehair. She could hear the commotion coming nearer. She struggled to maintain her peace as the physical world hurtled toward her. Fear overcame her quickly, reclaiming its place in her belly.

  She opened her eyes. Oh, how the eyes betray us. She was still holding Rhia’s body. She continued to hug her, not wanting to pull away. Life was still pulsing inside the little girl’s form. She held her even tighter.

  Ocean and Joshua stood watching, frozen by a mysterious force. “No!” they cried in unison. They stared at the glowing green orb of light in Rhia’s chest. It grew brighter, rising to the surface of her skin. The hum within the child grew louder. Tears fell from Skylar’s cheeks, landing in Rhia’s hair.

  Ronnie, still on the floor, opened her eyes just in time to see the light in her daughter float peacefully up into Skylar’s body. “No,” she whispered, climbing to all fours. “Not yet.”

  Ocean looked toward Ronnie but seemed unable to move. The rumbling of the earth beneath them quieted. Skylar looked down at Rhia; the light within her was gone. The life in her was gone. Skylar laid her down and began to sob.

  The force restraining Ocean and Joshua melted away.

  “Foiled once more,” Ocean said, turning to face him.

  “Shut up!” he snapped. “You did nothing here. You would be nothing without all of the help you get from others. You can never stake claim on victory.”

  “I don’t need pointless victory for my self-worth,” Ocean said.

  “Good thing.” He snickered.

  Ronnie tried to stand but couldn’t. Ocean ran to her side. “Don’t get up,” she said. You are very hurt.”

  “I have to get to my daughter,” Ronnie said hoarsely. She fell back on her knees.

  Ocean walked over to where Rhia lay and scooped up the child. She brought her to Ronnie and placed her at her side. Ronnie brushed her daughter’s hair back with her hand.

  “It was too soon,” she choked out between sobs. “This is all wrong.” She hugged Rhia and cried.

  “I am so sorry, Ronnie,” Skylar said, kneeling beside them. “I thought I could help. I saw her. She was with Magda. She was perfect and whole and magically happy.”

  “That’s my girl.” Ronnie smiled through tears. “You saw Magda? Then this really is happening.” Ronnie reached out and touched the emerald light shining from Skylar’s heart. “Do you feel it?”

  Skylar looked down and gasped. “What is it?”

  “It is the heart of the Empath,” Ocean said, kneeling with them. “And it’s yours now.”

  “What is it
going to do to me?” Skylar asked, terrified.

  “We’ll see,” Ocean said. “Rhia was well suited to carry it. She was the most pure of heart of any of us. You, on the other hand . . . have quite a bit of karma to burn off. While you do, things could be . . . erratic.”

  Joshua walked toward the women huddled together on the floor. Skylar had almost forgotten he was there. She scrambled to her feet, ready to fight, knowing she was completely out of her league.

  “I couldn’t hurt you now if I wanted to,” Joshua said. “You have the protection of the heart light.”

  “Rhia had it and it didn’t save her,” Skylar said, breathing quickly.

  “She went willingly,” Ocean said. “She knew it was all part of the plan.”

  “Whose plan?” Skylar grew angry. “Your plan?” She looked at Ocean. “Who’s calling the shots here?”

  “You are,” Ocean said through clenched teeth, meeting Skylar’s anger with her own.

  Clarity trickled into Skylar’s mind—all Magda had said, all the events leading to this moment. It all made sense in some insane way.

  Ocean softened. “You have embraced the heart light. If you weren’t ready for this, you wouldn’t have. Rhia was completely pure, but you are not.”

  “Hey!” Skylar said.

  “Really?” Ocean raised one brow.

  “Okay,” Skylar said, humbled.

  “You can be easily swayed by those that want to use it for their own gain.” Ocean looked at Joshua. “You have quite a different vulnerability than Rhia. Yours lies in your ego.”

  Skylar stood still. She didn’t feel any different. The light in her chest still glowed green beneath her shirt, but it was already fading. “What do I do with this?”

  “You’ll have a learning curve for sure,” Ocean said. “But once you get the hang of things, you’ll have work to do. Great change is coming to earth. People need a leader.”

  “I’m no leader,” Skylar said doubtfully.

  “Not with that attitude,” Ocean said. She looked at Ronnie holding Rhia, still caressing her hair. “There is great pain everywhere. And there will be more before the end. You can lessen it and help usher in the new age. With the heart light, your memory will return to you swiftly. Be prepared for that.”