Ethereal

Fluffy Ears

    I was trying not to cry as I hugged Amy for what I was afraid would be the last time. The Professor and I were about to board his time machine to head back to the twenty-first century.

"Why are you crying Ethy?" Amy asked me.

"I may not ever see you again," I sniffled.

"You don't know that. I bet the Professor might be willing to bring you back or take you anywhere else you might want to go. I think he is sweet on you," she whispered. "And if that doesn't work out, I have a little something for you." Amy handed me a small sapphire like stone saying, "This could always bring a little magic into your life."

I took the stone and asked, "What is it? It is beautiful."

"Just something to remember me by. It's a star sapphire, like when you wish upon a star. Also, always remember to be careful what you wish for. All magic comes at a price."

Amy's demon husband gave her a warning look and said, "Okay, we have to go now before you say more than you should."

"He can be such a demon sometimes," Amy laughed.

The Professor stuck his head out of the time machine saying, "Come on Ethy, we need to start making preparations."

I gave Amy one last hug saying, "I just wish I had enough magic to come visit you whenever I want." I didn't notice the sapphire glow as I boarded the time machine.

As I entered the control room I asked, "What's your hurry and what sort of preparations do we need to make?".

"I need to check out the machine to make sure it really is back in working order and you need to get ready for bed."

"Why do I need to get ready for bed?"

"A time jump of this magnitude can be very nauseating for first timers. It will go better if you are asleep when we do it. I can give you a sleeping pill if you are not tired."

"Actually, I am a bit sleepy."

"Here, take this pill anyway. You'll get to sleep sooner and when you wake up, you'll be home in the twenty-first century." He handed me the pill.

---------------------------------------------※----------------------------------------------

I woke up in the bedroom the Professor had given me in the time machine. I still had difficulty grasping how big this machine was on the inside considering how small it appeared on the outside. Something about utilizing other dimensions. I guess if you can manipulate the dimension of time why not the other dimensions as well. I wondered, 'am I in another dimension of space or am I just in another place in time.'

Enough of that. I felt very rested, but otherwise I didn't feel any different. I assumed we had made the jump successfully. I hurried to the en suite bathroom to get cleaned up. I was anxious to see all the gang at Joe's.

I was scratching my head as I usually do in the morning to get myself fully awake. My claws felt especially good as they reinvigorated my scalp. Then I felt something fuzzy on my ear. OMG! It was my ear I was feeling. I could see it in the mirror. I could see both ears and they were not the ears I was used to seeing. They were like the fluffy cat ears I wear on Halloween, only these were attached permanently. I looked down at my hands and saw my nails had been replaced by claws.

I immediately began imagining what color polish would look good on them. I decided on teal with bright yellow tips. Then I thought, 'I hope I don't have a tail!' I quickly turned my back to the mirror and breathed a sigh of relief. No tail. Although, that might have been interesting.