[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/fSN9KDG.png[/img]

[color=bbb8e4]”Not even death can save you from me!”[/color]

[color=888888]— ????, ??????[/color][/center]

Sometimes Sophia dreamed. Every once in a while they were vivid enough to be a movie. They felt less like dreams and more like past experiences. Sometimes they were scary, other times sad. Though they could also be happy. This dream looked like it was going to be a good one. Not that Sophia knew it was a dream. That was something she would realize when she woke up.

If there was something surreal about these types of dreams, it was her own body. She was always very small and acted differently than she normally did. Sophia wasn’t even sure if it was her body. Though to be fair, the body she currently possessed wasn’t hers either. 

[hr]

Before her was a plate filled with spaghetti, topped with red sauce and meatballs. The only other person sitting with her was a tall, youthful looking girl with white pigtails and a velvet black dress They were seated around a small table that was resting on top of a building. Aside from the stars, a single candle was the only thing providing light. It was just bright enough for ambience, but it flickered with the wind. Most of these details were background noise to Sophia. She was eating, and you couldn’t get much better than hot pasta on a brisk evening. 

[color=PeachPuff]”I’m sorry.”[/color] The woman across from her apologized. [color=PeachPuff]”If I could maintain my human form for longer than an hour, I could make all sorts of food. But you’re stuck with pasta and defrosted meatballs.”[/color] 

Sophia didn’t look up from her meal. [color=bbb8e4]”It’s fine! Any meal I don’t have to make myself is a good one.”[/color] She twirled spaghetti on her fork and took a bite. [color=bbb8e4]”Mmm! Tasty!”[/color]
 
The woman sighed. [color=PeachPuff]”So, I’ve been thinking about us.”[/color] 

[color=bbb8e4]”Yea, me to.”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”Really?”[/color] 

Sophia tipped her head back and slurped all of the spaghetti off of her fork. [color=bbb8e4]”Mmm!”[/color] She looked across the table. [color=bbb8e4]”Yea! Boteg has been running us all over the country for, erm, whatever it is he’s searching for. We need a vacation!”[/color] 

[color=PeachPuff]”Like a date?”[/color] 

Sophia could hear the excitement in her voice, but was too busy eating a meatball to look at her. [color=bbb8e4]”Interesting word choice, but yea! We could go to the beach. There isn’t one too far from here.”[/color] 

[color=PeachPuff]”I got us swimsuits already!”[/color] 

[color=bbb8e4]”Well blow me down!”[/color] Her plate was nearly clean, but she had to get those last few pieces of spaghetti. [color=bbb8e4]”But I don’t know if I want to go to the beach in a swimsuit.”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”Why not?”[/color]

[color=bbb8e4]”It just wouldn’t feel right, you know? Not without my old body. I mean I don’t know any beach guys who would want a kinder gardener for a girlfriend.”[/color] She laughed. 

[color=PeachPuff]”Well.”[/color] The white haired girl inhaled. [color=PeachPuff]”What if there was a woman who appreciated you for exactly how you were?”[/color]

[color=bbb8e4]”Hah!”[/color] Sophia lowered her empty plate onto the table. [color=bbb8e4]”Yea, maybe if I get desperate enough. I don’t think I could ever love a woman. That seems like something you do after you get turned down by everyone else.”[/color] Sophia wiped her mouth with a napkin before hopping out of her seat. [color=bbb8e4]”Dinner was good Sue, thanks a lot!”[/color] She started to walk away.  [color=bbb8e4]”It might still be fun to collect sea shells. We haven’t really decorated the ship much. Maybe we could even just walk around town and hit up all the garage sales.”[/color] When Sophia didn’t get an answer, she turned around. Sue was still seated at the table, covering her face with her arms. 

[color=bbb8e4]”Sue?”[/color]

The woman cried when her name was called out. 

[color=bbb8e4]”Sue? Did you get all dressed up because… Oh come here,”[/color] Sophia ran towards Sue as fast as her little legs could carry her. [color=bbb8e4]”Hey!”[/color] With a single leap, she landed on top of the table. [color=bbb8e4]”Hey, listen, listen!”[/color] She pet Sue’s head, and eventually the woman looked up at her. Her face was all red, and she was using her arm to cover her eyes. [color=bbb8e4]”Sue, look at me.”[/color] Sophia pulled Sue’s arm out of the way.  [color=bbb8e4]”I…”[/color] She hesitated. [color=bbb8e4]”I do love you Sue, just not in the romantic way.”[/color] Sue began sobbing again and covered her face with her other arm. [color=bbb8e4]”No, no! Stop that! Come here!”[/color] Sophia hopped off the table and dragged Sue along. [color=bbb8e4]”Lay down right here, on your back, now!”[/color] Sue did as she was instructed. Sophia laid beside her, with their heads touching. [color=bbb8e4]”Now look up in the sky.”[/color] It was hard to tell what Sue was looking at, but she seemed to be calming down. [color=bbb8e4]”Now, what do you see?”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”I-I see Ophiuchus and Hercules.”[/color]

[color=bbb8e4]”I just see stars, but that’s a good answer, good answer.”[/color] Sophia inhaled deeply. [color=bbb8e4]”But it’s beautiful, right?”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”Yes.”[/color]

Sophia stayed quiet for a moment. [color=bbb8e4]”They’re very pretty, but we can’t have them.”[/color]

[color=PeachPuff]”That’s not like you at all. Y-You’re right here.”[/color]

Sophia dragged her tiny hand over her face. [color=bbb8e4]”Yea, that sounded better in my head.”[/color] She looked to Sue, but didn’t move her head. [color=bbb8e4]”The fact of the matter is Sue, you are my best friend. I’ve been a magical girls for, what? 9 months now? It’s you Sue, not Boteg, not that Beacon girl who happily let me steal her purification artifact, you.”[/color] Sophia sat upright. [color=bbb8e4]”You’ve been alive for a long time right? Fifty something years? You don’t know me that well.”[/color] 

[color=PeachPuff]”I’ve been in love before. Many times.”[/color] Sue didn’t move from her spot. [color=PeachPuff]”I know what this feels like.”[/color]

[color=bbb8e4]”And you’ll fall in love again.”[/color] Sophia sighed. [color=bbb8e4]”Look, I want my old body back, you want me. We’re both hunting for something, Boteg too. I think that’s why I continue to help him. I find his cause relatable.”[/color] Sophia walked towards Sue and smiled. [color=bbb8e4]”I [i]know[/i] I’m going to get the body I want eventually. Might not be my original one, but it’ll happen. You’re going to fall in love with someone too. Won’t be me, but it’ll be someone you can care deeply about. I’m sure Boteg will get what he wants too. We just need to be vigilant and keep searching.”[/color] She extended her hand. [color=bbb8e4]”You’re still going to be my first mate though. At least for a while longer.”[/color]

Sue took Sophia’s hand and pulled herself up. There was a smile on her face. [color=PeachPuff]”I wouldn’t have it any other way.”[/color] Sue sniffed the air. [color=PeachPuff]”Is something burning?”[/color]

Sophia turned her head to the candle lit dinner scene. [color=bbb8e4]”Gah!”[/color] It seemed the candle fell over onto the table cloth, and the wind fanned the flames into an inferno. In an instant, Sophia was surrounded by a wall of water, and she emerged with a ship’s cannon in her hands. When she fired it, a stream of water hit the table hard enough to split it in half. What remained of the table was thrown off the building. [color=bbb8e4]”Ehh, let’s hope that doesn’t hurt anyone.”[/color]