“Oh, jeez!” Mal said, stopping abruptly as she came through the front door. A foam crafted toy soldier stood perfectly still, at attention and softly smiling.

“Em?” Mal called out through her brand new apartment, “Em, why is there a life-sized toy soldier in the apartment?” No response came. And that’s when Mal noticed the familiar face on the toy soldier, as well as her box of books and magical items. She burst into laughter.

“Babe, I told you not to worry about unpacking my magic stuff. I warned you that that stuff could be really unpredictable.” She said, stepping forward and inspecting her girlfriend’s new form and poking her cute rosy cheeks. Em’s eyes followed her movements attentively.

“So you’re still in there. Good. Can you talk?” She asked. No response. Mal frowned, not sure what was wrong. In cases of living toys, the transformee should still be able to talk. Then, she got an idea. “Soldier, can you talk?”

“I can, Ma’am!” Emily said, her voice ringing out happily, but her eyes looking somehow surprised.

“And what do you have to say for yourself, Soldier?

“I just wanted to be helpful, Ma’am!”

Mal laughed, not merely from amusement, but also from thinking about how adorable Emily was, even before she toyified herself. Because of course she had wanted to help. It was one of the traits Mal loved about her, along with all the others.

“And have we learned our lesson, Soldier?” Mal asked.

“Ma’am, yes Ma’am!”

There was something worrying in the way Emily spoke, and the way her eyebrows had turned downward just a little, as much as they could. And it bothered Mal. “Something the matter, Soldier?”

“I don’t want to be a toy soldier, Ma’am!”

“Aww, babe, but you look so cute as one.”

“Ma’am, please! There’s something in the spell. It keeps messing with my mind, trying to get me to be happy. Simple. Obedient.”

“So?” Mal asked, her small question flummoxing her toy soldier girlfriend, so she went on. “Magic like this isn’t like in the stories. It’s ephemeral. As soon as I get you turned back, you’ll go right back to normal in every way.”

“Ma’am, but I…”

“No buts, soldier!” Mal snapped, and Emily went silent, her eyes wide in surprise. “Look, I know this is scary for you. Except, you have nothing to worry about. I will turn you back when I get the time. But I left most of my magic stuff back at my folk’s house and I don’t want to make the drive. In the meantime, you’ll be safe and protected. You’ll be cherished. I’m going to take such good care of you that all the other toys will be jealous.”

Mal could see her words affecting Emily, watching as the subtle worry dissolved from her face. Good. Emily stepped forward and hugged her toy soldier girlfriend, pushing deep into her plush, down to her rigid body beneath. Mal really felt how soft and cuddleable she was now. She expected that for as nice as it was for her, it was ten times that for Emily the toy. And when she pulled back, she thought she was right, because Emily’s eyes had gone glassy, distant. She seemed elated in a quiet way.

“Very good, Soldier. Now, I want you to stop fighting the spell. If it’s telling you to be happy, just let it. Be my happy toy soldierette, and revel in it. Because I’m going to play with you. I’ll make you march, I’ll use you like a pillow, and I’ll set you up on dates with barbies. And you are going to love every second of it, until I turn you back. That’s an order, Soldier.”