Hand In Hand (ch7)

EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!

Day 7: Free Day!

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

-------------

														Chapter 7.

"Come on Diana, pleeeeease!"

"I do not see the point in-"

"The point is that it'll be fun! What do you have against fun?"

"Nothing in particular-"

"Then let's do it!"

Presently, the two witches are in the courtyard, Diana sitting on a bench and Akko standing in front of her, pulling at her wrists.

It's a leisure hour at Luna Nova and Akko knows exactly how she wants to spend her time. Diana, however, isn't so sure. There are at least half a dozen of their classmates in the area and within earshot, and she's feeling rather reluctant to try what Akko has in mind.

But when she glances up at the girl tugging on her hands with that big happy smile on her face and that familiar sparkle in her eyes, Diana can only sigh and cave.

"Very well... but only for a short while."

"Ya-hoooooo!" Akko pulls Diana fully to her feet, gives a twirl, and then draws out her wand. "Okay, I'll go first! Metamorphie Fasciess!"

A puff of smoke appears, Akko disappears, and in her place stands a little brown ferret-like animal with stripes down its back and a small tuft of ponytail at the back of its head. Akko sits back on her hind legs, her tiny front paws dangling in front of her as she gazes up at Diana past a long snout and gives a sniff.

"I'm a prairie dog! Or a meerkat! Or something, doesn't matter. Your turn, your turn!"

Diana blushes, both because she finds Akko's new form incredibly cute, and because she's embarrassed to try to mimic her.

"I fear I do not do well with smaller animals like that."

"Eeeehh? Then do something bigger! Anything!"

Diana can't ignore her girlfriend's encouragement. She sighs again, draws her own wand, and casts the spell.

"Metamorphie Fasciess!"

Akko tries desperately to look past the smoke that clouds up the spot. When it does clear she finds herself looking up at the most majestic, beautiful white mare she's ever seen.

The overall appearance is legitimate, as convincing and elegant as a real horse. Her eyes are still stunningly blue, and her mane and tail have waves of highlights just like her hair.

Akko marvels up at her and rolls back on her haunches, jaw gaping.

"Wow... Diana, that's gorgeous!"

Diana dips her head and turns away, pawing softly at the ground.

"Flattery..."

"No! I seriously mean it!" Akko rushes forward and climbs up Diana's front leg to sit on her shoulder. Diana nickers nervously at the odd feeling.

"A-Akko!"

"This is so much fun!" Akko nestles herself into Diana's mane, then slowly crawls up along the back of her neck to lie down on her forehead between her ears. "Take me for a ride, Diana~"

"Absolutely not." With this, another puff of smoke appears. Akko feels the body beneath hers shifting. She slides down a bit and finds herself now on the back of a white wolf. Diana leers over her shoulder and bares her fangs playfully. Akko shrieks.

"Kyaaa! No fair, no fair!"

Akko quickly changes herself into a brown-orange fox, yelping as Diana pounces on her. Akko paws at her underbelly, tickling Diana. Akko's never seen a wolf smile before, but she's astounded by the sight.

She next convinces Diana to turn into a fox as well, only she turns into an arctic species, still maintaining her white pelt. Akko yips merrily and rolls around with her in the grass.

Surrounding students almost have half a mind to be concerned until they realize those flawless white animals and those goofy-looking brown ones can only be two certain classmates in disguise.

Next Akko turns herself into a chubby orange tiger, and Diana mimics it with the white version. Akko admires her in every form, how precise each shape is down to the tiniest detail.

But in spite of her perfect appearances, it's clear that Diana isn't always terribly comfortable in moving about in these new forms.

That's where Akko trumps her, as she can move freely and energetically no matter what shape her body is in. She bounds close to Diana who shies away at first, still getting used to the change in perspective and the way her four-legged body works. Akko purrs and bumps their muzzles together.

"Diana, you're so pretty~"

Diana slowly nuzzles back.

"Your transformation magics have improved significantly, Akko."

"Really? You think so?"

More smoke poofs into the air as Akko changes again, this time into her favorite golden elephant with winged ears. Diana purrs before turning herself into a beautiful white dove. Akko immediately turns into a bird to follow her in flight.

Next it's a pair of deer, which is Diana's most ethereal form yet. Akko's skinny brown legs tremble at how enamored she is. She bumps her head against Diana's, ears flicking.

"You're so pretty... You'd be pretty even if you were a flopping fish out of water."

"Flattery."

"I meeean iiiit!"

After that, Diana turns back to her rightful form, but Akko wants to keep going. Diana gives her some pointers on how to improve her transformations and make them a bit more realistic.

By the time they've all but finished, Diana finds herself sitting on the bench again, only with a snoozing brown rabbit in her lap. She leans back and gazes up at the sky for a moment before closing her eyes.

After a brief nap herself, Diana scoops Akko into her arms and bends down to kiss her head.

"Akko. It is time to go back inside."

"Mmm..." Akko uncurls herself and stretches against Diana's chest, pawing at her shoulder to get a grip. "Five more minutes..." She nestles her soft face into the side of Diana's neck.

Diana's heart backflips, but she tries to cover it up by clearing her throat.

"V-Very well... I presume I could stand to carry you back like this."

"Yeeeay~"

Akko cuddles up and hugs her as best she can while Diana cradles her. She stands, holding Akko gently yet securely, unable to stop herself from running her fingers up and down her back.

And she may have taken the long way back, just this once.

----------

A/N: There you have it! I hope you all enjoyed this year's Dianakko Week!