Hikari had enjoyed the last few days. It was the longest contiguous stretch of being in control of herself she’d had in quite a while - she’d nearly made it the entire time before the usual swap-off time with Izanami. So, she was celebrating by going out! She’d already treated herself to lunch, and was now going on a nice post-meal walk through one of the nicer parts of the city.

“Don’t you think this is a waste of time?” A voice asked. While she was on a fairly crowded and loud street, the voice came through clear as day. Izanami was always fairly clear in her mind; sharing a body did make it surprisingly easy to chat. “Even when we aren’t transformed we have limited time in control of the body. Shouldn’t you be doing something?”

“I am doing something. I’m relaxing.” Hikari said. “You could probably learn about it, what with spending all your time planning and scheming. Don’t you ever just have fun? I think you could use some fun.”

Izanami sighed. “I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to be productive. Thanks to a certain somebody, not only have I not been able to recharge enough magic to return to my world, I also need to learn how to construct a body for myself before I do.”

“...I said I was sorry already…” Hikari muttered. She did feel kind of bad for getting Izanami into the situation, but she wasn’t just going to let her drain the world’s magic. “Still, it’s important to have fun sometimes. Otherwise you’re just going to burn out, right?”

She kept walking, idly window-shopping as she passed stores. She did get a stipend from the Magical Girl Association so she had some spending money, but she generally wasn’t much of a frivolous shopper. However, soon, she saw something that interested her…

It was a little variety shop, run out of a small stand on a street corner. It held assorted knick knacks and handcrafts, staffed by a nice looking old woman. The particular item that caught the magical girl’s attention was a porcelain doll. It was clearly of high quality, with a gothic style - an elaborate monochrome dress that nearly covered its feet, and a carefully crafted white wig and masterfully painted serene expression. Hikari usually wasn’t into dolls, and she was far from an authority on them, but she was drawn to it all the same. Even she could tell how high quality it was.

“...Hikari, you know you have to blink, right? I can feel the eye irritation too.” Izanami grumbled.

Hikari shook her head. “Ah, sorry… uh, miss, where did you find this doll? Did you make it?”

“Oh, this…?” the woman said, looking at the doll. “No, I didn’t make it. I found it in my attic. I think it was left by the previous owner, but nobody came to claim it.”

Hikari nodded. “It’s pretty… how much for it?”

“Oh, that’s…” The woman gave her a cost, and Hikari paid it with some cash she had on hand.

“...I can’t believe you’d purchase something so frivolous.” Izanami muttered.

“Thanks, miss!” Hikari said, ignoring Izanami as she picked up the doll. It wasn’t a small one and had some weight to it, but she liked that honestly. She hummed happily to herself as she turned and started walking home.

As she watched the girl leave, the old woman wondered if she should have mentioned that her house had once belonged to a villainess… Nah, it was fine.

-----

The doll was so pretty, Hikari could hardly stop looking at it. Since she’d arrived home she’d went up to her room, sat it on her desk for display, and had just been staring at it ever since, gently stroking it’s white hair.

“What’s wrong with you, Hikari? You’ve always been a bit odd, but this is kind of creepy…” Izanami said. Hikari was just, completely zoning out as she watched the doll.

“I just bought it, didn’t I? I’m allowed to look at it for a bit.” she said, not taking her eyes off the doll. She just loved that dress, and the hair, and… all of it, really. She could just imagine all the styles she could put it in. A maid outfit would fit nicely… an elegant gothic princess dress, all in white… black and purple frills… it was definitely a gothic doll, and it was hard for her to think of dressing it outside of that. Though, she might just leave it as it was. It’s long, midnight black and poofy gown seemed so fitting for it.

“So pretty…” she said as she looked at it. “Don’t you think so, Izanami?”

“It’s serviceable, but tremendously outdated, isn’t it?” Izanami said. “It’s not my preferred style, at least.  If you’re going to spend the rest of your time in control staring at that doll, then do it quietly so I can sleep.”

Hikari ignored the request and kept talking. “I think it looks classy. You look good in it, I think.” She still was looking at the doll, as if talking to it.

“I look good in anything.” Izanami said. “Gothic style isn’t an exception.”

“You’re very pretty, so I’m sure you would. I really like this style on you, though.” Hikari straightened a ribbon in the doll’s hair, making sure it was just perfect.

“...Wait, on me?” Izanami said. “It’s not like I wear gothic clothes, and you certainly aren’t right now, so what do you mean?” Technically she was wearing whatever Hikari was, although she often changed that as she took control. A grey hoodie and skirt weren’t really her preferred sort of style. But she was certainly not wearing anything like what the doll was wearing.

“It does look good on you.” Hikari said again. She took out a small brush - it was meant for her own hair, but now she used it on the dolls. “And I love your hair… all pretty and white, and so straight… the ribbon is very nice too…” she was talking like she was in a dream. She still had her cheery tone, but it was far away, like she was focusing on something else entirely.

“Thanks…” Izanami muttered. She felt… strange. It felt almost like her hair was being brushed. “Hikari… are you feeling ok?”

“I’m feeling great, why wouldn’t I?” Hikari said cheerfully. “I get to play with my cute new doll. That’s all I need.”

“I’m… I’m not…” Izanami muttered. Her mind felt like it was being… sucked away. Sucked towards the pretty doll.... Hikari’s thoughts were further from her. She recognized magic when she saw it - but she was deeply under its influence already, and even as she struggled to break it she went deeper. “...a doll…” She wasn’t a doll. She wasn’t a doll. She tried to tell herself that, as Hikari carefully adjusted her pretty frilly gown and brushed her hair.

Hikari hummed to herself, unaware and uncaring of Izanami’s struggles. She was content to take care of her newest dolly, unaware as she brushed away Izanami’s resistance. “I wish I could look like you did… you’re so pretty…”

“I’m… I’m pretty… thank you…” Izanami said. Yes, she was pretty. “I’m… a very pretty doll.” She was a doll. A pretty porcelain princess.

“You didn’t have to be so shy about the compliments, dolly.” Hikari said cheerfully. “I’m only saying them because they’re true.”

Izanami was a doll. And Hikari was her Owner. The understanding settled in her mind. She loved how Owner played with her, and took such good care of her. “You’re very cute too, Owner…” she said.

“Thanks, Izanami~” Hikari said.

“But you could look nicer, don’t you think?” Izanami asked.

“But I thought you said I looked cute?” Hikari asked, tilting her head in confusion at her doll. It’s face was unmoving, but she could feel Izanami smile at her.

“You do! But don’t you want to be more than cute, Owner? You could be very pretty. Beautiful.”

Hikari frowned. Something was… off. Why was Izanami and her new doll the same…? “I… I could… but I like my clothes…” she said.

None of that, now, Izanami thought. “Don’t you love your dolly, Owner? Don’t you think I’m pretty?”

“I do love you, of course.” Hikari said automatically. Yes, obviously she loved her favorite doll.

“Don’t you want to be closer to me? So close that we can never be apart?” Izanami asked. Of course, the answer was yes. If it hadn’t been, Owner never would have bought her.

“I do, of course. What are you thinking about?” Hikari shook off the weird feeling. Nothing was wrong. How could anything be wrong, when she had her beloved doll Izanami?

“You say I look beautiful, and you say you want to be closer to me.” Izanami said, “I want that too… I want to be so close that nobody can tell where one of us ends and the other begins…”

“I want that too… it sounds so amazing…” Hikari nodded, her eyes just a bit glazed. “But how…”

There it was. The chance. Izanami focused her magic - that she’d been storing up for… taking over or something? Why would she take over her Owner’s body, when she could be held instead? - and cast a simple spell. On Hikari’s bed, a neatly folded pile of clothes appeared, with a decent amount of makeup and some dye on top of it. “Take this, and put it all on. I’ll help you! You’ll be so pretty…”

For half a second, Hikari felt uncertain. She wasn’t very good at makeup. She wasn’t sure how she’d use the dye. She didn’t know that the clothes would fit her. But she hugged her dolly, and all was well. Izanami would help her be beautiful. There was no need to worry. “Ok! I’ll do it!”

She took the materials and brought them to her mother’s room, carefully balancing the cosmetics on the pile. She didn’t have a mirror in her own room and the bathroom wouldn’t have the space, so the vanity would do nicely. Carefully setting down Izanami on the vanity, she got to work.

First, she stripped off her clothes, all of them, and tossed them to where they wouldn’t get in the way. Her dolly’s gift had come with new lingerie, which was where she began - a black and lacy bra and their matching set of panties. It was surprisingly comfortable, actually, the best fitting set she’d had. “Those look very nice on you, Owner. Even if nobody will see them, it’s important that you look your best in all states of dress.” Izanami said.

The next step was a set of white lacy stockings, which she pulled all the way up to her thighs. She usually wasn’t one for stockings, but she found she loved the feel of the lace against her skin, and how it looked in the mirror. The stockings were soon matched with a set of elbow length gloves, although those were to be put on when she was done with her makeup. “Aw… this way I won’t get to feel you as much…”

“Don’t worry, Owner, I’ll know you love me whether there’s gloves between us or not!” Izanami said. She felt so… happy, in her Owner’s presence. A doll’s purpose was to be loved by their owner. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t move on her own power, because why would she go anywhere Hikari didn’t bring her to? “The next part is fun…”

The next part was the corset. It was a bit of a struggle for Hikari to put on, and it made the magical girl glad she was so flexible - it would have been nearly impossible for her to tie it on normally without someone else to do it for her if she weren’t, and even then she needed Izanami’s guidance. She took a deep breath and pulled it tight. “This is uncomfortable… but it’s kinda nice looking…”

“It makes your figure pop, Owner.” Izanami assured her. “My favorite part is next!”

The dress was next, and Hikari managed to get it on fairly easily. She twirled in the mirror, watching the frilled gown fly. It was a beautiful gothic gown, in a pretty pattern of black and white. It was covered from top to bottom in frills. At the hips, it was modest and elegant, almost poofy. Above the waist, though, it was form fitting, hugging her waist and bust and emphasizing how they were improved by the corset. All across the gown were frills and ruffles in white. “What a pretty dress… and it’s just like yours, Izanami…”

“You look so good in it already, Owner, I’m sure you’ll be stunning when we’re done.” Izanami assured her. “Soon, we’ll look perfectly alike~”

“I can’t wait!” Hikari said, cheerfully. The last clothing was a simple black choker and assorted silver jewelry. She took a moment to look herself over in the mirror, and was surprised at how good she looked… but it wasn’t quite right yet.

“Now, the makeup comes next! I put some magic into this and the dye, so it should be easy to apply.” Izanami said as Hikari sat down at the vanity. She had a great angle from which to watch her Owner carefully and cautiously apply the makeup to her face (as well as any exposed skin). By the stroke of a brush, imperfections were erased, as Hikari’s skin was caked in makeup just a bit paler than her normal tone. She accented it with eyeliner and mascara, as well as some blush, finishing it with black lipstick. By the time she was done, she looked almost like a doll in human form - which was exactly what she and Izanami were going for. “Excellent! Beautiful! We’re nearly done…”

Hikari was guided to simply pour some dye into her hands and rub. She did so, and as she rubbed it into her hair, the white streak that marked Izanami’s possession almost seemed to expand. Wherever Hikari’s fingers roamed, her hair turned a snowy white color, just like her favorite doll’s. Soon, it seemed to even seep into her roots. The dye became dry nearly instantly, and Hikari carefully brushed her hair until it’s style properly matched her doll’s.

Hikari could hardly believe that the one in the mirror was her. She was gorgeous, a vision of gothic beauty and nobility. A walking doll. She looked just like her beloved dolly! She picked up Izanami and turned her to the mirror before hugging her tight. “We match! We match now!” she declared.

“We do~ We do~” Izanami sang back, “Owner, don’t you want to make this last? I know that there’s a spell we can do to make sure that this is the new you…”

Hikari didn’t hesitate. As she channeled her magic to Izanami’s directions, the little part of her that still resisted the cursed doll was squashed. She felt the makeup become part of her, felt her natural hair color becoming this ivory tone. Her dress seemed to almost cling to her more. She felt more connected to her dolly than ever. It was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.

“Now, Owner…” the cursed doll said. “We’re one~ But it would be lonely, to be with only one dolly.” she prompted. Her Owner needed no more to understand.

“Ah… of course! Beauty is without value if it isn’t shared. I need… I need more dolly friends. I can make more.” The newly gothic girl thought of a pair of friends in particular. Akemi and Natsuki would look so pretty, dolled up and wearing their own gothic getups…

-----

Akemi Foster was feeling really good as she knocked on the door of Hikari’s home. Just a bit ago, her rival had called, in desperate need of assistance! Sure, the fact she needed help at her home meant it probably wasn’t a matter of some supervillain, but still, when it came to Hikari and her nonsense power level, Akemi would take what she could get.

When nobody answered, she tried the doorknob, and found it was unlocked. “I’m coming in!” she called as she swung the door open.

She was surprised to see the inside of the house. She’d been there before, but the last time she’d come it had looked nothing like it did now. The floors had become a dark brown wooden color, and creaked softly as she walked on them. The walls had been painted in grey and black stripes, while the windows had luxurious black drapes.

“Oh, do you like my redecorating? It was hard work, you know, it took a lot of magic. I would have done it myself, but I’d hate to make a mess of my dress…” The voice came from the top of the stairs. A familiar figure was going down the steps, hand on the banister. She had pure white hair, and was wearing a full on gothic lolita getup as she daintily made her way down the stairs, down to a creepy porcelain doll version of herself she was clutching for dear life. “Dolly says I have to be careful with my clothes now, that hard work will make a mess of them.”

Akemi brought up her fists, already channeling magic. “Izanami! What are you doing in Hikari’s house!?”

The girl tilted her head. “Izanami? I think you have me mistaken for someone else. My dolly’s name is Izanami, though, and isn’t she pretty?”

“What are you on about?” Akemi grumbled, prepared to fight. She had… yet to win against the supervillainess admittedly. “Of course you’re Izanami, you look just like her.”

The girl frowned, then looked at her doll. “...Dolly tells me to remind you that Izanami has a black streak in her hair, and would have already blasted you into a minion. So I have to be Hikari, right?”

Akemi looked closely. There was an odd… pep, to her, that definitely did remind her of Hikari. Izanami was much more smug and self assured, while Hikari was a ball of friendliness. She was so damn nice that it was hard to dislike her even as a big rival, and that was the vibe she was getting from the gothic girl before her. “...Ok, then, Hikari.” she said, putting her fists down. Something was off, still. “What did you need me for? I hope it wasn’t just to show me your new creepy fashion or taste in decoration.”

“Oh, of course it wasn’t, that would be silly.” Hikari said, either not noticing or just ignoring the insult.

“Good, I was worried-”

“I need to try some clothes on you.” Hikari finished. “I’m throwing a tea party very shortly, and we need to get you dressed, don’t we?”

Akemi spun on her heel and went to the door. “I am a busy woman, Hikari, and I don’t have time for tea parties.”

As Akemi’s hand reached for the doorknob, though, she felt a sudden pinch in several places at once. “Hehehe~ That’s a funny joke, Akemi~ Of course you have time for dress up and tea parties.” Hikari giggled. She paused. “Oh, yes, that’s right dolly, we need to hurry. Come on, Akemi~”

Akemi couldn’t move of her own will. She was spun around, and marched up the stairs next to Hikari. She could see out of the corner of her eye silver strings attached to each joint, puppetting her around. That wasn’t one of Hikari’s usual abilities - she was under some control or corruption. “Hikari, what are you doing?”

“Bringing you to get ready! This is no way to go to a tea party, Akemi.” Hikari said cheerfully. She hugged her doll closer. “Yes, Izanami, she will be very pretty, won’t she?”

“L-Let me go, this instant!” She tried to put up her fists, to channel her magic, but it was useless - she was a melee fighter at heart, and with those strings controlling her she couldn’t make contact with anything useful to punch.

Hikari didn’t bother to look at her. “What was that? I’m sorry, I must have heard wrong.”

“Thank you for the help! I was worried I’d have to go looking like a slob.” Akemi said, her mouth moving on it’s own volition. That hadn’t been even slightly what she planned to say.

“Oh, it’s no problem!” Hikari said cheerfully. “I love dressing up my friends!”

She guided them to a room that Akemi recognized as belonging to Hikari’s mother, although it was done up in the same gothic colors as the rest of the house now. Akemi then mentally noted she hadn’t seen either of her friend-turned-captor’s parents, which seeing as they hadn’t to her knowledge been on a trip, wasn’t a good sign.

Hikari led her to a full body mirror she’d apparently placed for the purpose, standing her in front of it. “Hikari, I’m going to-” Akemi began a threat, but Hikari twitched a finger, and she felt her mouth change the words as they came out. “-look so pretty! Thank you~” She finished.

“It’s my pleasure~” Hikari said, as she summoned her magical staff. The gem was, instead of it’s usual bright green, a deep purple color, and glowed as she began to wave it over Akemi’s body.

Akemi’s sense of fashion… wasn’t, really. She tended to wear practical clothes, that wouldn’t get in the way if she had to quickly dash somewhere to transform - today, that meant shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers. That quickly began to change. For a moment, Akemi thought she was getting taller, but she quickly realized her sneakers were changing. They shifted in shape and hardened, revealing more of her feet as the heel grew up and up and up, until she was wearing six inch stilettos - she wouldn’t be running anywhere with those on. “My shoes! They’re-” useless - “so sexy~”

The change travelled up her body, her socks seeming to almost unravel as they climbed her legs. By the time they reached her thighs, they had become fishnet stockings, hugging her legs tightly. Even she had to admit they looked… kind of nice, actually. But she couldn’t reflect on it long, gasping as her bra and panties swiftly transformed. She was fairly busty, and wore a sports bra so she wouldn’t bounce around while on the job - but that became even tighter as she felt it’s fabric spread down across her body. She knew, somehow, as it met with her panties that the two had turned into a corset. “It’s a bit tight, but definitely worth it for how good it looks.” Akemi said, nodding even as she thought exactly the opposite.

“Hm, she has a nicer bust than I do…” Hikari muttered. “No, I’m not jealous, dolly, I’m happy for her, and it matches her style well.” She ran a hand down Akemi’s side, and Akemi felt her arm unwillingly move to caress it and guide it in feeling her up.

The transformation continued, with Akemi’s t-shirt (now straining against her rather less hidden buxom) changed. It went from a simple pale blue color to a purple shade, accented with red, as it expanded over her whole torso. The neckline plunged, making sure her bust wouldn’t be hidden, while it’s collar flared up so high it nearly brushed her cheeks. The shoulders became poofy as the sleeves expanded to cover her entire arms, up to a little past the wrist, becoming almost ill fitting in their cavernous size. This was matched as the shorts, now one with her top, quickly became a skirt - and a large one, flared out nearly at arms length and with a hem brushing her ankles. Jewelry appeared across her body, bangles and rings abound. “This dress is gorgeous…” she heard herself say, curtsying for the mirror. As if! It was nice enough, but she’d be useless if she had to do more than look pretty.

The final change wasn’t transforming her clothing itself, but directly from Hikari. “Wow, you look so pretty now!” Hikari said. Then she paused, and Akemi saw in the mirror her rummaging through a cabinet. “But Dolly says that short hair does an elegant look like this no favors, and I have to agree. Do you mind if I brush it out?”

“Please!” Akemi said with forced cheer. She wished she could just cover her mouth, but her body was completely puppeted by Hikari. The gothic girl walked up behind Akemi, and began to carefully brush her hair. The brash magical girl usually kept it short so it wouldn’t be easy to grab, but she watched in the mirror as every stroke of the brush lasted just a bit longer, just a little further down. It also began to change color, her natural brown brightening significantly.

By the time it had reached her hips, it was a burning red color. “So pretty… let me just do something with it…” Hikari said, waving her staff again. The hair tied and folded, styling itself faster than Akemi could track - when it finally settled, it was in massive ringlets, like some pampered princess out of anime.

She hated it. Of course, what she said was an enthusiastic “I love it!” at Hikari’s prompting.

“I’m so glad! Just one finishing touch…” she said, pulling out a new piece of cloth and helping Akemi tie it on. It was a crimson bonnet, matching the tone of the rest of her dress.

Akemi gaped at her reflection, but soon her body began to pose, twirling in front of the mirror to make sure she got a good eyeful of her new appearance. “I look like a doll!” she said, somehow able to get the words out as she meant them, if a bit more enthusiastic about it.

“You do,” Hikari agreed. “Because you are a doll, silly~”

Oh, so that was what she was doing. Akemi wanted to try and break free and fight, or at least state she wasn’t in fact a doll, but instead she followed Hikari out of the room and down the stairs. “The tea party’s just this way. Don’t worry, I’m sure the other guests don’t mind waiting for you to get ready.” Hikari said.

In the dining room, a circular dining table had been put in place of the old rectangular one, with six chairs around it - three of them high chairs and three normal ones. Hikari placed Izanami into one of the high chairs, and turned to the other two. “Hello, I’m sorry for the wait. You two know my lovely friend Akemi, right?” she said, pausing for them to respond.

Seated in the two high chairs were a further pair of porcelain dolls. Both were fancily dressed females - one had short, straight black hair, down to the shoulders and was wearing a bridal-style dress, but all in black. The other had long curly brown hair, that resembled Hikari’s but for the color, and was dressed identically to her counterpart but this time in white. “Akemi, this is Yoko,” - she pointed to the doll in the black dress - “And this is… Daiko.” she pointed to the white-dressed doll. “They became my friends earlier. They wanted to join the tea party but were shy to ask.”

That would be Yoko and Daichi, then, Akemi thought - Hikari’s parents. “It’s nice to meet you, Yoko and Daiko,” she said, doing an elaborate curtsy. She sat down at the seat that Hikari directed her to, and waited patiently as Hikari started pouring out tea for each of them. “Thank you…” she found herself saying, despite herself.

“Oh, you don’t need to thank me~” Hikari said when she was done - although it seemed to be to the entire table. “I take care of all my beloved dollies, after all~”

But Akemi wasn’t a doll, she wanted to say. Instead, she said, “Two sugars, please?”

The tea party began, and Akemi was mostly quiet as Hikari made small talk with her dolls. She felt… strange, as Hikari talked about her to Yoko. “She’s a very pretty doll, isn’t she? She has such beauty and fashion sense…”

“Oh, but you helped me, didn’t you?” Akemi said - a corruption of her attempt to say that it was Hikari who dressed her up.

“I helped you get ready, but you made some excellent choices all your own. The red in your dress compliments your hair perfectly!” Hikari said.

“Thanks! I was worried purple and red wouldn’t do well together, but they look nice, I think.” Akemi said. As if she could coordinate a dress with red hair that she didn’t have. Brown wouldn’t have worked so well with this dress! She frowned a bit. Since when did she care about color coordination? She sipped her tea thoughtfully, unaware that under the table her feet had changed. No longer were they flesh and blood, but pale porcelain.

Hikari paused, nodding. “I agree with Daiko, your hair looks so nice… I know you used to have it straight, but those ringlets are so elegant!”

“They are, aren’t they? Thanks for helping me put them together.”

“Of course, of course. It’s a perfect style for a doll.”

Akemi grumbled internally. She preferred to have her hair loose. Sure, it was a bit of a pain when it went down to her back, but the ringlets were so tight… Something felt wrong with that sentence, but she wasn’t sure what. The porcelain meanwhile had climbed to her knees, where she felt just a bit of discomfort. She chalked it up to the strange stockings, and anyway, the discomfort faded as her knees became rounded ball joints.

“I love dolls…” Hikari said, closing her eyes and sitting serenely in her chair. “Other humans can be so… boring. So mean. Dolls are better. They can be whatever you ask them to be.”

Akemi found herself nodding in agreement. “Dolls are the best…” she said. “But I’m not one!”

She blinked, shocked as she realized she’d managed to say something she meant. She tried to move, to say something else, but already Hikari’s control had returned. The gothic girl was staring straight at her, and for the first time since Akemi had arrived wasn’t smiling.

A lapse in control, and Akemi had wasted it complaining instead of fighting.

“...That was very rude, Akemi. You interrupted Izanami speaking. Apologize.”

Akemi kept herself quiet. She couldn’t say what she wanted, so she’d say nothing.

“Oh, I’m sorry Daiko, she didn’t mean to be rude I’m sure. She’s just so nervous to have this tea party.” Hikari said, turning away from Akemi.

“I understand, I was very nervous too,” a soft, feminine voice said. “But she still has to apologize for herself, doesn’t she?”

“I agree. That was very rude to Izanami.” Another voice, one that Akemi recognized as Yoko’s said.

The dolls weren’t moving, not their eyes nor their mouths, but she could feel them looking at her and hear them talking about her. “...I’m very sorry, Izanami, that was out of turn.” She said. She didn’t try and say something different, this time - clearly, the control could fall through, so if Hikari thought she was submitting it might again.

“It’s fine. You were just nervous, like Owner said.” Another voice said. This time, it was Izanami’s voice, from the doll that Hikari had been carrying around. Had Hikari come across Izanami after being corrupted? Or had Izanami underestimated Hikari’s power and had her change backfire?

“I was just nervous.” Akemi agreed. Gosh, wasn’t she though. These dolls would make anyone nervous, wouldn’t they? She sipped a bit of tea to calm herself, as her hips joined her knees in being dolly ball joints.

“There, all better!” Daiko said. Akemi could just imagine them sipping tea, despite the fact the doll did not move. “You’re such a pretty doll, Akemi, you don’t need to be nervous…”

“Thank you, Daiko…” Akemi said, taking another sip of tea. She didn’t need to be nervous. She was a pretty… doll… wait, no…

“I love Akemi…” Hikari said, offering the girl some biscuits, “It’s so hard to pick a favorite doll, but she’s certainly up there.”

Akemi blushed a bit, despite herself. Why was she so happy to hear that from o- from Hikari? The porcelain crept up Akemi’s body, now taking her belly and climbing to her chest. “Oh, don’t flatter me…” she said.

“Oh, but it’s true! You’re one of my prettiest dolls, and so demure and submissive… it’s very cute, you know.” Hikari said.

Akemi was… demure? Submissive? “Oh, you’re just saying that.” she said. It… it didn’t sound right. Right? It couldn’t be true, right?

“And modest, too~ I love how elegant you are. It’s like having a noble lady at my tea party.”

As the compliments piled on and the porcelain claimed Akemi’s bust and shoulders, her mind was in disarray. All this talk about her, she couldn’t just be making it up, right? But it clashed with her memory… So which was true? She… she was human, right?

“The rough introduction aside, she’s an excellent tea party partner.” Daiko said. Akemi smiled softly, grateful that she’d repaired her blunder. She… she loved tea parties. So it was good she hadn’t ruined this one.

“I’m sure we could swap fashion tips.” Yoko said. “I’d love to have her do my hair once I can get it longer…” Oh, that was flattering. Akemi stroked her fiery red ringlets, giggling. It was hard work, but so worth the change.

“Her skin is so flawless, and now that she’s stopped being nervous, I do like her elegant, quiet personality.” Izanami said, and Akemi could hardly notice as her face was clad in porcelain, as her arms and hands joined her legs.

“That’s right!” Owner said. “She’s a perfect doll from head to toe, outside and in~”

She was a doll. She was a lovely, sweet doll, who Owner loved very much.

Her purpose was to please Owner. Her purpose was to make more friends for Owner.

She loved her Owner.

“Thank you so much for the tea party, Owner… the only way it could be better is if we had another friend to fill the last chair…” Akemi said, not a hint of her former abrasiveness remaining. She was simply a sweet and elegant dolly, without a single memory of the nasty human who had entered the house. Why had she been so confused by Owner’s words before? Of course she was a dolly, and everything Owner said about her would be true.

Owner smiled, and Akemi felt her porcelain heart flutter at the sight. Ahhh, she’d made her happy~ “I agree, Akemi… I think you can help me with that, actually. We can make another friend…”

“I’ll do whatever you want me to, Owner~”

-----

Izuhara Park was a large, public park filled with greenery - all imported from different places around the world, to give a bit of natural flair to the otherwise grey and industrial man made island. Natsuki walked through it all the time, as the Magical Girl Association’s office was located on one of it’s edges and she often visited her mother there. It never got old, and she always felt refreshed by it.

That said, her mood was still a tad dour. Hikari hadn’t responded to any of her calls or texts, and neither had Akemi, so she was getting worried. It was probably just another villain taking up their time, but Natsuki was still concerned. She was so preoccupied she nearly walked right into somebody.

“Oh, I’m sorry-”

“Would you happen to be Natsuki?” The girl asked. She was a pretty young woman in elegant gothic garb, with fiery red hair in long ringlets. Her skin was exceptionally pale and had a strange… shine, to it, but Natsuki could swear she looked familiar.

“That’s me. What’s up?” Natsuki asked in return. She didn’t feel threatened, but she was prepared to bolt if she had to.

“Oh, goody, I was worried it would take long to find you! Would you like to attend a tea party?” The girl asked.

Natsuki frowned. That was a bit random. “I don’t know… I’m kinda waiting for a call…”

“Oh, if you’re waiting for Miss Takino, I can bring you to her.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Natsuki said, adjusting her bag a bit. “Lead the way!” It was still suspicious, of course, but knowing what had happened - even if that seemed to be ‘taken by a villain, again’ - helped ease her mind a lot.

The gothic girl led Natsuki off the main path and through some trees, humming all the while. It was… a bit creepy, honestly. But soon, they came to a clearing, where there seemed to be a picnic in progress. A girl dressed all in black and white was sitting on a blanket and shaded by a parasol, daintily sipping tea, sitting beside a doll that looked exactly like her. She looked up as Natsuki approached. “Ah, welcome! I’ve been waiting for you.”

The redhead curtsied. “I’ve brought her, as requested, Owner.” she said.

Natsuki, meanwhile, recognized the new face. It was caked in rather more makeup than it usually was, and her hair was the color it usually was when somebody else was in charge, but Natsuki could instantly tell it was Hikari all the same. “Hikari! There you are, I was getting worried.”

“Isn’t that nice! Welcome, Natsuki. Please, sit for some tea.” Hikari gestured beside her, to another saucer and teacup.

Natsuki followed the instruction without question, and took a hearty sip. The redhead followed at a more sedate pace, scowling at Natsuki’s method. “So uncivilized… have you no manners?”

“Oh, no matter, Akemi. She’ll learn the proper way of things soon.” Hikari assured the girl. Now that Natsuki got a longer look at her - and she’d heard her calling Hikari ‘owner’ - she realized the reason she looked odd was because she was made of porcelain. A living doll. And…

“Oh, that’s Akemi? I hardly recognized her, she’s so different!” Natsuki said cheerfully.

“Nonsense. I’ve always been Owner’s doll.” Akemi scoffed. “I look forward to seeing what Owner makes of you. I can just see her brushing those useless thoughts from your head.” She paused, looking at the unmoving doll that resembled Hikari. “...Sorry, Izanami, you’re right. I’ll be polite.”

“And that’s Izanami? Wow, this is the first time I think I’ve seen a villain separate the two of you… so what happened, anyway?”

“Nothing.” Hikari said cheerfully. “My lovely dolly showed me that I could be so much happier if I looked like her. Then I made more friends. Do you want to be my friend, too?”

“Of course.” Natsuki said. Of course, she knew what she was agreeing to - but having both Izanami and Hikari present and ordering her around at once? She could hardly pass it up. Even if it hadn’t been abundantly clear she wouldn’t have a choice in the matter. “I’m already your friend.”

Hikari clapped, giggling happily. “That’s great, Natsuki! Now, since you’re my friend… do you mind if I brush your hair? It’s just such a friendly thing to do, isn’t it?”

Natsuki turned around in preparation. “Go right on ahead, Hikari~” she said. “I wonder what style you’ll pick for me…” she knew, at this point, she was going to end up as a doll. She did hope it was a big one like Akemi, she liked to move - although of course, once she thought of Hikari as ‘Owner’ she probably wouldn’t care.

Hikari took out a hair brush, and got to work, untying Natsuki’s short ponytail and bringing the brush to her head. Natsuki did her best to stay still as she felt the brush work it’s way through her hair. She loved the feeling of transformation most times, and she didn’t want to miss it.

Like Akemi’s hair before her, each brush of her hair made Natsuki’s just a bit longer, shifted it’s shade just a bit. But this time, with her willing cooperation, the rest of her transformation had already begun. Her face was stiffening and hardening as her hair started to brighten, in a different color than Akemi’s. Akemi sat down besides her sister in the making, resting a porcelain hand on hers. “Just relax… let Owner brush away your thoughts…”

“Relax… brush…” Natsuki muttered. Her thoughts were coming slowly, now, as the transformation picked up pace.

“We don’t need to think. Owner does that for us. Be a blank canvas, for her to paint your new self on. Be an empty vessel, so she can fill you up with the identity she desires.”

“No think… blank… empty…” Natsuki muttered as the thoughts drained out of her. The stroke of the brush discarded memory after memory. Even her enthusiasm for the transformation was brushed away - after all, to be enthusiastic, she had to be able to think and feel. Her head had transformed completely, now - a hard fiberglass plastic, unlike the delicate porcelain of her fellow dolls. Hikari had some plans in mind already. Natsuki, of course, had no thoughts on that. She had no thoughts at all, anymore.

“Good job, Akemi~” Hikari complimented her doll, as she kept working. The pale fiberglass spread down from Natsuki’s empty head, working it’s way over her bust and shoulders and continuing on it’s way. As it did, her simple attire shifted. She’d been wearing white and green before, but that wasn’t her color. And a tank top was no sort of clothes for a doll.

As Hikari continued to brush Natsuki’s hair to it’s new, deep blue shade, her clothes began to shift as well. The tank top gained sleeves, the new silken fabric trailing behind the spreading fiberglass. It also expanded below, no longer showing Natsuki’s midriff, while at the same time it gained a bit of a neckline to show off Natsuki’s mature figure. Wherever the plastic covered, hard-won muscle and definition were smoothed away to delicate femininity - such unsightly things as visible muscles were no use to a doll.

Hikari kept the transformation going, adjusting the color of the newly made blouse to be blue and black, a much better color scheme in the perky goth’s estimation. From the waist up, now, Natsuki was a fiberglass doll, complete with ball joints and her hair being attached only as a wig. Hikari took a moment to admire her work, but of course, Natsuki had some work to go still.

The plastic, distinct from the organic skin mostly in it’s slight shine, swept down the doll in the making’s hips, and kept on going down. The girl was wearing sweatpants, which certainly wouldn’t do. The legs merged together into a skirt as they pulled up and up and up, until they had become a short skirt with a hemline just a bit above Natsuki’s knees. With the attitude Hikari had in mind, the freedom of movement would be essential.

While she wouldn’t go with heels for this one, sneakers wouldn’t work either. Hikari made sure that as the fiberglass claimed Natsuki’s legs, the clothing change was more modest - the sneakers became proper dancing shoes, that would be stylish even while allowing excellent movement. The final round of changes was undergarments - black stockings, and panties and a bra to match. Not a corset, this time - she’d only put one of those on for more formal functions in the home.

Finally, Hikari wrapped it up by working with Natsuki’s hair. It was a vibrant blue now, and long enough to brush the floor. Taking a pair of simple bands, she worked it into a set of twintails. It looked adorable, in Hikari’s own view, and she started to apply the finishing touches of makeup.

“She’s beautiful, Owner~ Much much better than that dirty human.” Izanami said.

“I agree. You could hardly tell who she used to be.” Akemi agreed, appraising the motionless doll.

“She’s not done yet~” Hikari said. While she was physically complete, her head was still empty - she was a gorgeous display piece, true, but she wasn’t a friend yet. Hikari and her dolls gathered around their new sister (Izanami with Hikari’s help, of course). “Now, we can’t just leave her empty… we have to fill her with something.”

“Are you sure? I like her like this…” Akemi said.

“Owner is sure.” Izanami said.

“Natsuki~” Hikari whispered in the newest doll’s ear, “It’s time to wake up… you have to come and play with me, don’t you?”

Natsuki… existed. She didn’t think about anything. But she recognized her Owner’s voice. She recognized that she was being called.

“You’re a very pretty doll. You love being a doll. You love serving and playing with your beloved Owner.” Akemi said.

The doll’s first thoughts were just that: that she was a doll. She was a pretty doll. As she gained the ability to like things, the first thing she liked was that. She liked being a doll, and she liked being pretty. So being both was very good. And she of course loved to serve and play with Owner. What doll wouldn’t?

“You’re such a playful doll too. You’re always happy. Always excited to play. As long as Owner loves you, you could play all day.” Izanami told Natsuki.

These thoughts, too, embedded themselves. Natsuki loved to play with her Owner. She liked to play with the other dolls. She and the other dolls had so much in common, what with their devotion to their Owner, that of course she’d love to play with them. If it made Owner happy, she liked it. Such was the simplicity of a doll’s mind.

“You love to dance and prance, to be active. That’s why Owner made you plastic instead of porcelain - if you were fragile, you couldn’t play as much.” Izanami added.

“And you absolutely love to make new sisters. Dolls make Owner happy, so they make you happy, and you want more.” Akemi continued.

Natsuki did love to dance, didn’t she? That was why her dress was so light, why she had the shoes she did, so she could bound through the air gracefully and with ease. That activeness made it so much easier for her to help her Owner make new friends! She could catch them… and bring them to her beloved Owner… and then she’d have a new sister. She loved to make new sisters. She liked the idea of being a big sister, of showing a new doll the ins and outs of caring for their Owner.

“And, above all...” Hikari finished, “You love me. Your owner. Your every thought, feeling, action, it’s all for me~”

Hikari! Owner! Hikari! Owner! Natsuki’s first coherent thoughts came into being, and they were of course of her beloved, magnificent, lovely Owner. What else would a doll think of first but the one they love and serve with all their heart?

The dolls' eyes fluttered, as Natsuki woke up. “Owner… I love you so much…” she said, her first words leaving no doubt as to her priorities in life.

Hikari reached over and stroked the doll’s hair. “I love you too, Natsuki~ You came out perfectly, exactly as I wanted you.”

“Of course I did, Owner. With you making me, I couldn’t be anything but perfect.” Natsuki said.

“She’s quite right, Owner. Everything you do is perfection.” Akemi agreed. She liked that her new sister clearly had her priorities straight.

“Oh, you don’t have to flatter me, dollies~” Hikari said, clearly enjoying it all the same.

“You don’t have to pretend to be modest, Owner~” Izanami said back.

Natsuki sprung to her feet. “Ah, it’s a beautiful day… I’m having a picnic with my Owner and my sisters… I could just dance for joy…!” she sang.

“Then why don’t you, Natsuki?” Hikari asked. “I gave you that form for a reason, after all. Dance your heart out. I’m sure it’ll be excellent entertainment as I finish my tea.”

“Oh, can I? I’d be honored, Owner, I love dancing for you~” Natsuki said. She stepped off the picnic blanket and got to it, leaping and prancing around the clearing with the ease of any professional dancer.

Hikari hugged her first dolly close as she watched and sipped her tea. This was the life… she had her dolls and her peace. She almost wished the moment could go forever, as she watched Natsuki manage a pirouette.

She had gotten so many dollies that day… maybe that was enough for one day. Tomorrow, though, was a different day. The city was full of dolls for her to collect. Most of them were just very silly and thought they were human. She would help them realize their true selves, soon. But for that afternoon, watching Natsuki dance and chatting with Akemi, while holding Izanami tightly, was enough.