Another addition of the Sudianakko OT3 for Antiqua! Halloween chapter! Sucy and Akko try to get Diana into the spirit with a little prank, but it ends up going a bit too far...

Disclaimer: I do not own Little Witch Academia.

Chapter 6.

Akko absolutely loved Halloween. Just about everyone in Luna Nova did, for one reason or another, but Akko was the one most vocal about her enthusiasm for the holiday.

All throughout the month of October, she kept excitedly telling people how many days were left until Halloween. When the professors had requested a group of volunteer students to help decorate the school, Akko's hand had shot up faster than anyone else's. She'd been on her best behavior all month to ensure she wouldn't get any detentions or have to stay late after classes and potentially miss the holiday.

Essentially, she was being extra good all month so she could cause more collective mischief that night.

By the week of her favorite holiday, the school was decorated in spider webs and candy corn streamers, carved jack-o-lanterns and real bats and black cats roaming around the hallways. A lot of spells had been cast to create ongoing images, some of spookier scenes and some of more scenic ones. Tiny orange lights were strewn up around the building, and there was a pumpkin bowl of candy outside of every dorm room.

Akko played minor pranks on her classmates all throughout the week; a fake spider in someone's book bag, a potion pre-set to explode pumpkin guts, or just simply hiding behind the corner to jump out and shout "Boo!" at them. Even the people she pranked ended up laughing at the little scares and pranks, and being that many people were being equally as mischievous, no one was punished by the staff or given detentions for such minor misdemeanors.

Sucy rigged a couple of potions in class to sprout mushrooms or produce clouds of smoke that looked like skulls. Amanda pranked the teachers with doodles of pumpkin heads on their chalkboards. And even Lotte - with a lot of encouragement from Akko - tried out her very first prank; stuffing Jasminka's desk full of candy. Of course it wasn't really much of a prank at all, and Jansa had been the happiest student at Luna Nova that day.

But all in all, everyone was having fun.

Everyone except for one person.

Where even Hannah and Barbara joined in a bit of the fun and games, Diana made it a point to vehemently abstain. She just kept sighing and sitting up straight and trying to focus on class.

Akko had hoped she might cave and have a little fun now that it was the day before Halloween. But Diana struts into homeroom as seriously as ever, un-amusedly brushing away the fake spiders Akko had left on her seat. From across the aisle, Akko heaves a long sigh.

"Geeeez, that Diana… She never wants to have any fun!"

"So do something about it," Sucy grunts. "She's your girlfriend."

"She's your girlfriend, too!"

"Oh. Right."

"Sucy! Don't forget!"

Before the two of them can start swatting at each other, Lotte squeezes in between them.

"Calm down, you two. Some people just don't like certain holidays, that's all."

"Yeah, but it's Halloween!" Akko blurts. "What kind of witch doesn't like Halloween?"

Lotte ponders.

"Maybe one who doesn't like the bad reputation it gives us?"

Akko opens her mouth like she's about to make a comeback, but when the sense of Lotte's words hits her, she stops.

"Oh… guess that makes sense…"

"Especially for Diana," Sucy mutters. "She's all about reputation."

"Right?" Lotte says. "So maybe consider her side of things, you two. Not everyone has to like what you like."

Akko flops down across her desk.

"Yeah, you're right… I just wish she'd have a little fun…"

They're all quiet for a moment as the chatter of the classroom dies down and Ludwic slinks in. Then, Sucy mutters something to her teammate.

"Hey, Akko. Why don't we pay Diana a little visit tonight? I think I might have just the thing to help her get into the Halloween mood."

"Sucy-" Lotte says with a hint of warning. But Akko perks right up.

"Really?! That sounds great, Su! Let's do it!" She throws her arms around Sucy enthusiastically and kisses her cheek. Lotte gives Sucy a worried look, but Sucy just shrugs dismissively.

"Don't worry. It won't be anything too extreme. Probably."

So throughout the rest of the day, Akko is even more antsy than she'd previously been now that she's anticipating doing something to help Diana enjoy Halloween more. The very second the final bell rings, Akko zooms over to her other girlfriend's seat in a flash.

"Hey, hey, Diana!"

Diana jolts with a start, then bashfully smoothes out her hair.

"Akko! How many times must I tell you to please not-"

"Right, right, I'm sorry! I'm just so excited, you know? It's Halloween!" Akko grabs both of Diana's hands and pulls her up from her chair, then gives her a quick kiss all at once. Diana blushes.

"Akko, please! We're still in class."

"But class is technically over, right~?" She grins. Diana sighs, but says nothing. Akko takes it as a victory. But she does lower her voice again for the next part.

"You just seemed so down all day today. Sucy and I were wondering if we could come over tonight for a little while. Would that be okay?"

Diana considers.

"Well," she says thoughtfully. "Hannah and Barbara are going to a Nightfall festival in town tonight-"

"Yeah, yeah! Lotte is going, too."

"-so it might be nice to have a bit of company."

"Right? So that's a yes?" Akko is bouncing in place.

Diana leans in and gently kisses her forehead.

"That is a yes."

"Yeay! Thanks, Diana! Sucy and I will be there after dinner!" Akko gives her a quick, tight hug before racing off back to her teammates.

At supper, she tries to ask Sucy what kind of surprise she has in mind for Diana, but Sucy doesn't reveal much.

"Just a little something to help her get into the Halloween spirit," she says.

Akko deliberates around a mouthful of pasta.

"Wait, you're not gonna give her some potion that'll turn her into a mushroom or something, right?"

"Wasn't planning on it. But that could be your Halloween costume if you'd like."

"No way!"

When they get back to their room, Lotte dresses up for her Nightfall festival, and a few minutes later Hannah and Barbara come knocking to pick her up. Akko waves them all off before darting back to Sucy at her desk and giving her arm a tug.

"Come on, Su! Let's get to Diana! We can't let her be all alone on Halloween night!"

"Right, right, coming."

Akko skip-drags her through the decorated hallways all the way to Diana's room, then knocks rapidly.

"Diana! It's us!"

"Just a moment," comes the reply.

Akko bounces in place while Sucy stands at her usual hunch, though there is a bit more enthusiasm to her overall; she's interested to see how her 'surprise' is going to work.

Diana opens the door a moment later, already dressed in her sleepwear robes, clearly intending to retire early tonight and not go out to join the festivities.

Even so, Akko blurts out, "Trick-or-treat! Just kidding~ Happy Halloween, Diana!" She throws her arms around her girlfriend once again. Diana blushes again and quickly ushers them inside.

"Yes, Happy Halloween to the both of you, too. Please come in. I've just finished making some tea."

Sucy slinks in after them, noting how only Hannah's and Barbara's section of the room is decorated with little lights and pumpkins, and the skull between their beds is glowing now. A few light fairies are dancing around and playing, having abandoned their lamps tonight in place of candles, which makes the room a bit more seasonal.

Diana brings her girlfriends to the couch where steaming tea cups have already been placed. While Akko and Sucy sit on the couch, Diana sits on the chair across from them.

"Thank you both for coming tonight."

"No sweat!" Akko chirps. "We just didn't want you to be alone on Halloween night! Um, I gotta ask, why don't you like Halloween, Diana? Do you not like the scary stuff…?"

Diana picks up her teacup and scoffs a little.

"Of course not. I've faced off against a great deal of real monsters and demons in my studies, as have you. Fake ones don't concern me." She takes a sip of her tea. "I simply don't appreciate how this holiday portrays witches. Traditionally, it's rather insulting. We've all seen the green-faced, long-nosed decorations, no?"

"Yeah," Akko agrees. "Guess you're right. But the rest of Halloween is still fun though!"

"Perhaps. But not on a school night. Oh, pardon me, I've forgotten the cream." Diana puts down her teacup and stands to retreat to the cupboards.

While she's gone, Akko shares a quick glance with Sucy.

Sucy extracts a potion bottle from her sleeve. She leans over across the table and pours a thick purple drop into Diana's cup before recoiling. Akko gives her a bit of a nervous look, but Sucy just shrugs. When Diana returns with a little pitcher of cream, she's none the wiser.

"Do tell me then, what are your favorite parts of Halloween, you two?"

"Easy!" Akko blurts. "Free candy! Oh, and I love decorating and stuff! And scaring people! It's the best! Also, it's the best time to use your transformation magics for disguises and costumes!"

"Noted," Diana chuckles. "And you, Sucy?"

Sucy grins.

"Around Halloween, all the potions shops and black markets get a ton of good stuff they don't usually get the rest of the year. It's the best opportunity to grab rare valuables."

"I see. A wise tactic for finding experiment ingredients. Though I would advise you to avoid the black markets, if you could," she says a little worriedly.

With all this mention of potentially-illegal substances now, Akko is having second thoughts about letting Diana drink whatever Sucy just rigged her tea with. But before she can think of a way to stop her, Diana has already taken a sip. Akko shoots Sucy another nervous look, then grabs her and pulls her in.

"Sucy! You better not have given her something bad!"

"Calm down. I made that one with stuff I grew myself."

"Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better-"

Akko is cut off by a sharp gasp.

"Oh my!"

The two of them look up to find Diana in a sudden panic. Her hands fly to her mouth as the tea cup drops from her hands, spilling all over the couch as she stands abruptly. There's fear in her eyes.

"Akko! Sucy! You're bleeding!"

"H-Haah?" Akko looks over Sucy quickly, then starts feeling around her own head and neck. "I-I am?"

"You are!" Diana uses a spell of levitation to draw her wand to her from across the room as she hurries around the table to the couch, leaning over them both. "What happened? You're both covered in blood! Let me heal you-"

"W-What?!" Akko checks all over, but she doesn't see or feel any blood at all. "Diana we're fine! I promise! Sucy, what's going on?!"

"Crap. It might've been too strong…"

"What?! Aw, geez-"

"Please hold still," Diana advises them both. "I'll administer basic first-aid with a spell, but then we must contact the infirmary-"

"Hold it, hold it!" Akko puts her hands up to stop her. "Diana, it's not real! We're fine! Tell her, Sucy!"

"She's right," Sucy admits. "It's just a trick spell. It makes you see something scary, but it's just an illusion."

"…Eh?"

"We put something in your tea just now!" Akko explains. "It was supposed to help you get into the Halloween spirit! We didn't know it'd scare you for real!"

"Sorry," Sucy mumbles. "Guess it was too strong. It's supposed to just make you see spiders or something like that. This is a bit too extreme…"

"See?" Akko whimpers. "It's okay, Diana. I promise."

Diana hovers over them both, still in a fluster of panic. But as she listens to them explain, she blinks a few times, and the images of blood begin to fade away.

"Oh, thank goodness-" She drops her wand in her relief and sways a little. Akko and Sucy reach up right away to steady her, moving apart a bit to let her sit down between them. Diana is still shaking a little bit from the fright of it all. Akko rubs her back for her and scooches into a side-hug.

"Sorry, Diana! Are you okay?"

Diana inhales a little shakily.

"Yes. I-"

"You burned yourself," Sucy interjects.

"Eh?"

"Haaah?!" When Akko looks down she notices Diana's hands are wet and red from where she'd spilled her tea. "Oh geez! Su, get your wand."

"Right."

Both Akko and Sucy draw their wands now, each taking one of Diana's injured hands in theirs. They mumble a unanimous healing spell which coats Diana's burned skin in a cooling layer of magic. It settles over her hands and seeps in, fighting away the prickling sensations from the burn.

Diana exhales, and the last of her fears go with it. As the spell finishes, Akko picks up Diana's hand and holds it gently with both of hers.

"We're really sorry, Diana! We didn't know it'd be that scary!"

"I messed up," Sucy says. "No one was supposed to get hurt."

"It's all right," Diana murmurs. "I appreciate what you two were trying to do for me. I'm glad you're both all right."

"Sorry, Diana," Akko mumbles again. She wraps both her arms around Diana and squeezes her tightly, burying her face in her collar. "We were supposed to make you feel better tonight…"

"She's right," Sucy says. "Sorry."

But Diana is already feeling much better. She gives Akko a warm hug in turn before opening one arm up to Sucy, who bashfully accepts.

"It's all right, you two." Diana kisses them each on top of their heads. "The night is still young. There are still plenty of things we can do for a bit of fun."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Akko whimpers. Diana nods.

"Your joint healing spell was impeccable. I'm just fine." She gives Akko another little kiss on the cheek. "Now then, I've been hearing rumors about some massive collection of candy hidden somewhere on campus…"

Akko perks right up again.

"Oh yeah! There's this huge stash stowed away somewhere! Whoever finds it keeps it!"

"Sounds good to me," Sucy says. "A lot of those can be used as ingredients for potions."

"Then it's settled." Diana picks up her wand again and magically changes all three of them into their flying robes, hats and all. She also brings out all three of their broomsticks. She stands, leading each of them by the hand, and helps them up.

"Now, what say you ladies to a little night flight?"

"Yeah!" Akko jumps up in excitement and grabs her broom.

"Guess there's no better night for it," Sucy agrees.

As they mount, Diana casts a spell to open the largest window. She takes the lead, and together all three witches fly out into the night with echoes of laughter spreading behind them.

A/N: Just a quick, soft little something! These threes' dynamic is still so interesting to write!

Please review!