Tales of Yibixus: Sophia

Hey all. A bit more back story. Ursula from this one is Aiden's Mom (from the pale pink packet)

Tales of Yibixus

Sophia

Ursula’s office is quiet at the end of a long day. Sitting at her desk, she feels the weight of the world weighing her down. It’s strange times from when she was a recruit in the Royal Guard. She’s finding herself with fewer and fewer people she can trust. However, present company excluded.

Standing in the room with her is Sophia, Ursula’s childhood friend and fellow officer in the Guard. Having both removed their armor, the two are chewing the fat and taking a load off.

“What do you think he wants with them?” Sophia asks, leaning back on her chair as she sips at her strong drink. She flinches at its strength. Not usually a drinker.

Ursula looks up at Sophia, but her eyes are strained and tired.

“Hard to say,” she replies, rubbing her eyes. “I’ve had direct orders not to interfere with anything he’s doing.” She then changes the subject. “Have you read the reports on H01D?”

“Difficult reading,” Sophia responds, lowering her head as a mark of respect for those who have been lost. “I would have struggled to make the same call that you did.”

Ursula twitches with regret. She lowers her head and her claws dig into her expensive wooden desk. “I had to…,” Ursula admits, forcing herself to speak. “We couldn’t let those, those…things enter the portal back to Vastin. We don’t currently have a way of vanquishing them.”

Sophia swirls her drinks and watches the liquid in her cup. “I’ve heard so many rumors about that planet. Are they true?”

Ursula pulls her claws away from her table and shakes off the wood splinters from her paws. “Yes,” she answers bluntly and then refocuses on Sophia sitting opposite her. “Have you had the displeasure of being in the presence of that orb the ‘good’ doctor calls the ‘Remnant’?

Sophia shivers. “I have,” she reluctantly replies.

“That thing came from H01D,” Ursula explains. “I can’t say much more, old friend, but I barely made it back to the portal with my life. No matter how fast I moved—”

Sophia waves her hands from side to side, stopping Ursula in her tracks. “I don’t want to know…,” Sophia chuckles, sipping at her drink. “You know I don’t sleep at night.”

Ursula cracks a wry smile, and Sophia instantly bursts out in laughter. “Captian!” she beams, “Did I just make you laugh. Did the fierce Ursula just…smile?”

“Don’t tell anyone,” Ursula smirks, taking a swig of her own drink. “You know I’ve got upstarts vying for my position these days. I can’t show weakness. I don’t trust any of them.”

Sophia considers her response for a second, knowing that Ursula is under pressure. “You’ve got me and the hybrid. I know that for sure. Didn’t he save you hide on H01D”

“Green,” Ursula corrects, ruffling her whiskers. “He’s more than just a ‘hybrid’. He’s fascinating. Not only is he incredibly efficient in battle—he’s also a scientist on his home world. When we’ve worked out the problem with the portal to S51e, I plan to visit. Humans really do sound fascinating.”

“Yeah…?” Sophia raises her eyebrow, and a cheeky grin forms on her face. “You taking a liking to him, huh? You always did find the weirdest men attractive.”

“Shut up, Soph,” Ursula laughs, finally allowing herself to relax. “Everyone says I have a heart made of stone, but I do feel. So what that I’ve taken a liking to him. I don’t often meet warriors who can challenge me like he does—can you blame me?”

Sophia nods and knows moments like this are few and far between these days. She takes a long sip of her drink. “Where is he right now?” she asks casually, flicking at her ear with one paw.

Ursula rubs her eyes and yawns. Her fangs are sharp and bright white as her mouth opens wide. “Probably with Elm,” Ursula answers, wiping drool from her mouth. “The two of them have been working on splitting that orb so we can use it as a weapon. Not easy when it defends itself when threatened.”

Sophia frowns, and Ursula can see the cogs turning in her mind.

“Yes,” Ursula speaks before Sophia can speak. It’s obvious to Ursula that Sophia has worked out what the Formadors are being used for. “I’ve already said too much, Soph. Please, do not say anything.

“Those missing kids?” Sophia asks, looking at Ursula in shock. “Is that the reason I can’t dedicate any knights to investigate?”

Ursula brings a paw to her mouth to silence Sophia. She shakes her head from side to side to signal that they shouldn’t talk any further. The walls have ears.

Sophia is shocked to her core. She wasn’t expecting Ursula to be in on it. She shakes her head, unsure what to say or do. Her mouth becomes dry.

“Sophia…” Ursula says sternly, reacting to Sophia’s odd behavior. “Old friend—I’m working on it. Please, you must trust me. I can’t expose anything as I’m not sure who the figurehead is. If I’m removed, a puppet will take my place, and that’s not helpful for anyone.”

Ursula stares in Sophia’s direction. The warmth from her eyes—from moments ago—has completely disappeared. They look soulless and dead. Sophia knows that look oh so well—having battled alongside Ursula many times.

“Okay…,” Sophia nods, trusting her friend. “Let me help.”

“No,”

“Why?”

“Sophia, stop.”

“Why? Don’t you trust me?”

Ursula’s shoulders sag, and she lets out a long, frustrated sigh. “Of course I trust you.”

“So why then?”

“You’ve got…” Ursula looks up and gives her friend an honest smile. “You’ve got kittens, Sophia. What if you died helping? I don’t think I could live with that.”

“They’d understand once they get older,” Sophia answers frankly, feeling loyalty to her friend and Captain.

“No,” Ursula shuts the conversation down.

Sophia takes a deep breath in and feels a warmth radiating from Ursula that no one ever sees. Her caring for anyone other than herself is completely unheard of. It’s a privalaged position to be in.

“I can’t wait for you to meet them,” Sophia smiles brightly. “My eldest daughter is a little firecracker. She’s already creating small portals. You’d like her, and I know she’s excited to meet you. I think she wants her to teach her how to fight.”

“Yeah…?” Ursula’s worried expression softens, and she leans back in her chair. “I’m not very good with kittens. Are you sure I won’t scare her?”

Sophia waves off Ursula’s concerns with a chuckle. “You haven’t met my eldest daughter yet,” she beams with pride. “She’s so incredibly confident and smart. She’s nothing like me at all!”

“I’ve never seen you so happy looking, Sophia,” Ursula grins but quickly furrows her brow. “Maybe it’s time to retire from the front line and take a desk job? More time for those little ones…?”

Sophia purses her lips and gives that a moment's thought. Letting out a long sigh before sipping her drink, Sophia can’t help but agree. She’s been thinking about it for a while, but it never seemed the time to bring it up.

“Yeah, that might be a thought on my mind,” Sophia admits, worried that it might upset her. “I never thought I could love like it until I had them. I bet you’re hardend shell would even crack when having kittens, Ursula. It changes you.”

“Me!?” Usurla laughs at the thought. “Could you imagine me with kittens? My goodness—they’d be so messed up.”

“Who are you kidding?” Sophia brings her cup to her mouth and continues to give Ursula full eye contact. “You’re kittens would be brave, loyal, and fiercely determined. You’ve just gotta find the right mate. I’m sure there's one out there for you—if you’d just relax a little and stop being married to the Guard.”

Giving her a dubious look, Ursula shakes her head and changes the subject.

“What are your daughter's names again?

“Anna is my eldest,” Sophia answers. “Lorelei is my youngest. They are my world.”

“Wait. Does Anna go to the same school as Elm’s kitten?”

Sophia looks up in thought. “I’m not sure.”

“Lars,” Ursula suggests a name.

“Yeah,” Sophia nods. “I think so. Unusual to have a male in such a prestigious class. I half expected Elm to use a Formador to change his gender to female at a young age. However, I know how much he’s a keen advocat for equal rights among our people—I guess it makes sense that he hasn’t.”

Feeling the tingle of her strong drink starting to take effect, Sophia looks at the clock on the wall behind Ursula’s desk and is shocked to see the time.

“I should probably go.”

Ursula turns to look at the clock. It is getting late. In a few hours, she’ll be back on patrol. As she turns back to Sophia to agree, Sophia is already standing and collecting her gear.

“Hey,” Sophia says with a whisper. “If you want my advice… I’d start investigating…” Sophia points to the ceiling to suggest those Grimalkins above them in power.

Throwing equipment over her shoulder, Sophia starts to whisper. “I hear someone in a certain high-powered family isn’t best pleased about their own kitten.”

Sophia ears stick up on the end. “If you catch my drift…”

“Noted,” Ursula replies in a business-like before shifting to a more relaxed one. “Now, go on. Get home. I don’t want you to get in trouble with your partner.”

“See you later, Captain.”

“Dismissed.”