The room was twisting with the effects of Himeka's magic. Karin released a gasp at the intriguing sight. Her eyes widened, trying to take it all in. She wondered if the floor beneath her (which was hard to distinguish, if it was even still existing) would still support her weight if she stepped out…

"Stay close!" Himeka exclaimed, "I've honestly never traveled to a different dimension with someone in tow, so be careful!"

Eventually, everything around them started to dissolve into nothingness. It resembled paint chipping off a wall. Karin could tell the temperature was dropping because of her exposed face.

Karin's vision suddenly turned blurry as she dizzily reached out for support.

"Himeka, I think I—" Karin managed before she felt herself fall over.

She fell, and she even had that feeling, the one that feels like you're being tickled and your stomach's twisting at the same time, where it feels like you fall a great distance. But just as she thought she was going to smash into the ground eventually, she was already on the ground.

She was on her hands and knees in the snow, which was currently all she could see. She felt like everything was still tilting, being brought so abruptly to the ground.

She panted a bit before asking, "Himeka?" which was answered with silence.

She looked up and saw the most magnificent view.

Off in the distance, was the castle she had drawn, down to the exact detail (well, from here, at least). She immediately felt her heart swell with comfort and familiarity, despite the cold that was biting her face.

The castle seemed so desolate and fragile, only to be perfectly framed by the rapidly falling snow.

Her breath danced in delicate wisps as she exhaled and rose to her feet. She appeared to be on a steep hill or a plateau, overlooking the rest of this country. Now that she was on her feet, she could see a city quite a ways from the castle, in front of it.

It all seemed like it was taken from the pages of a fairytale.

A twisted one.

Suddenly snapping out of her trance, she realized Himeka was nowhere to be seen. She whipped her head around, looking for her, distressed. She thought back to what Himeka had said about something like this happening. So what now? Does she wait for Himeka to find her (which involve the strong possibility of freezing out here)? Or does she walk to the city, to find someplace to stay (making it harder for Himeka to find her)?

She figured the second option would be best. She hadn't taken much of a step before she heard a deep rumble. She froze immediately in her tracks. It wasn't quite the ground that was rumbling, but more like the air itself.

Karin looked up to see a giant plane that looked like it was used for combat. All she could do was stare at it in awe; not even considering the fact it would be a danger to her.

She stopped gapping, however, when a piece of paper flew in her face. She quickly reacted and took it off her face. There was something written on it.

Quick! They've spotted you! Take off your ring and throw it up in the air! Trust me, Karin-chan!

-Himeka

Karin, confused, ripped the ring off her finger and threw it up in the air. The ring then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

She looked back to the airship, which currently floated just above her. She saw something drop from it (a rope ladder, perhaps?) as the massive ship stalled in the air.

An odd scent attacked her nose, and soon she was wheezing and her eyes watered up. As much as Karin tried to fight, it was no use. She blacked out, and fell like an elegant puppet whose strings were cut off.

XXXX

She was warm, very warm. She dreamt she was wrapped in a cloud, all fluffy and delicate. It warmed her to her very soul. It was almost strong enough to thaw a heart frozen by the cold words of others. Almost, but not quite.

She experienced such comfort that she slowly slipped out of the dream, almost unnoticeably, rather than being ripped out like she was use to, to the sour tune of Auntie's screaming (at Karin).

She was conscious again. She opened her eyes, wary of what they would reveal.

A cat.

No, really. There was a cat, sitting on her chest. It had a little star on its forehead and its mouth was upturned into a smile. It was staring very intently at Karin.

And Karin stared back. She hesitated, then yelped.

"Gyaa!" Karin sat up sending the poor cat flying. The cat emitted a screech of its own, being throw to the floor.

Karin looked about the room for a second. It looked like a dormitory, as many beds were scattered across the large room. She herself was in one of the (extremely fluffy—no wonder she dreamt of clouds!) beds.

Well, the cat didn't like its little flight, judging on its bitter expression it dawned as it strutted back over to Karin.

"Just what's the biiiiig idea, huh?"

Karin froze. It. Just. Spoke!

"Gosh. Himeka never told me that you were a mute," the cat grumbled.

"You know Himeka?" Karin exclaimed, forgetting how peculiar it was that it could talk.

"Of course I do!" the cat said, irritated, "Us witches have to stay in touch, after all."

Karin stared blankly at the cat for what seemed like an eternity. The cat didn't understand why it was being stared at so.

"What's wrong? Did I break you?" the cat asked.

Karin burst out laughing. "Your…a witch? Ahahaha!"

"Yes I am," the cat hissed, "I am Nike the witch. Himeka asked me ever so nicely to look over you. But apparently, she forgot to mention that I would be guarding some ungrateful brat…"

"Oh, no! I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Karin, still laughing slightly, apologized, "It's just, in the world I'm from, the cats don't talk and they certainly aren't magical."

Nike narrowed her eyes and muttered, "What a strange world…"

Nike's ears twitched suddenly. "Hush, Karin. Someone's coming."

Nike burrowed under the fluff of the blankets, concealing herself entirely. The door opened noiselessly as a girl with long green hair came in.

"Oh!" the girl hummed, her voice sweet, "You're awake!"

The girl scurried over to where Karin lay in bed, and bowed slightly. "Hello! I am Miyon Yi. I'm a student here!"

Karin's eyes widened in fear and shock. "Student? Where am I?"

Miyon cocked her head to the side. "Why, you're at the Goddess Training Academy."

At Karin's bewildered look, she continued, "We found you in the middle of nowhere. You would've died if we didn't do something! So, we brought you here. Where are you from?"

Karin felt Nike's paw nudge at her thigh, telling her to invent a story.

"I…" Karin started, thinking about how to form her lie, "I don't know. All I remember is being out there in the cold. I don't know why, though."

"You must have amnesia!" Miyon gasped, "Oh, this is so exciting! I mean, that's horrible, but I never thought I'd run into someone with it!"

Karin just nodded. She wasn't quite sure what to think of Miyon.

"Well," Miyon said, calming down, "I suppose you can start taking classes here, until you remember where you're from! I'll go tell the headmaster now!" With that, she shuffled back out of the room eagerly.

Nike rustled her way out of the covers. "Gee, that girl's a bit of a ditz, huh?" she mewed.

"Yeah…" Karin trailed off in thought.

"Well, it's decided then," Nike started up determinedly, "You're going to act as a student here until you find a way out!"

Karin looked back at the witch. "Huh? What? Really? I don't think you know who you're dealing with. I'm extremely dull. It could be months until I find a way out!"

"Don't worry," Nike said smoothly, "You have one of the greatest witches ever with you!"

Karin gazed blankly once again at the witch.

"What?" Nike asked, getting tired of Karin's drowsy answers.

"Nike, huh?" Karin said, "…Well, you remind me of a cat I once had. I think I'll call you Shi-chan."

"WHAT?" Nike exclaimed, "What do you think I am? Some pet you can tote around and show off? Uh-uh, no sir."

"Whatever you say, Shi-chan."

XXXX

Far away, even if we're apart, I can pray for happiness

Even if it doesn't reach you, even if it doesn't reach you, I'll make a song for you

XXXX

Short and to the point. But hey, I'm back. The next one will be better.

About Shi-chan; I decided it would make more sense if she were named Nike, like she is in the manga (Karin just calls her Shi-chan because while it IS her cat, there's a different soul inhabiting her), and then just call her Shi-chan.

Thanks for reading! See you soon!