Sucy has brewed up a couple of new experimental potions, and what better way to test them than on her girlfriends, Akko and Diana?

Few things gave Sucy as much sheer delight as brewing potions. Whether it was trying out an underused, rare recipe, or creating her own variation utilizing poisonous elements she collected from like the cockatrice or toxic mushrooms– there was always something new to try.

Evenings were Sucy's time to shine. When her girlfriends were asleep, the room was finally silent, providing both ample time and space to create her experiments and masterpieces. Her recipe books were spread across the floor, and the fire lit under her cauldron from the moment she first heard Akko begin to snore.

Following the success of the frog leg juice, Sucy was eager to try a couple of new animal-based potions. If perfected, they could potentially significantly alter the physical capabilities of the user for a brief time. But what animals to try? Rabbits were too cliched and useless. Why waste a lucky rabbit's foot on a potion when the frog legs would allow them to jump further?

Winged creatures like bats and birds were intriguing in theory, but the number of bat wings necessary to create the proper ratio of wing-to-strength ingredients made it impractical to try. Sucy didn't care to explain to the teachers why she was suddenly collecting three hundred bat wings for the sake of 'research'.

So, Sucy settled for something more attainable. Something like rat tails to add into her brew. Removing rat tails wasn't pleasant, but the witch didn't flinch when she checked her traps and obtained the necessary count. Potion making involved many things that ordinary people would find unpleasant or nauseating. But having been raised around it, she found it no different from preparing a recipe in the kitchen.

A few giant mushrooms, and a murmured incantation over the brew later, and Sucy was stirring a bubbling pot of a noxious smelling beige liquid. She poured it into a vial and held it up against the candle to check the transparency. One completed, and a singular dose, precisely measured according to her calculations. She grinned to herself as she set it aside.

Twelve cat whiskers, and the tail fur from a black cat for the second potion were less easy to come by. But Sucy was nothing if not patient and cunning. Over the course of the previous week, she had managed to lure several of the elusive feline familiars into a device she crafted for the sole purpose of harvesting a single whisker. Anyone would notice a cat without any, but nobody batted an eyelash when their beloved companion was missing only one. Likewise, nobody noticed when several strands of black fur went missing from their cat's tail, and Sucy healed the scratch marks she received, further keeping her activities a secret.

She patted herself on the back for her ingenuity while she worked on her brew, and grabbed her secret ingredient. The potion mixture in the pot shifted from a light shade of gray to a color akin to dark, heathered red and erupted with a puff of putrid smoke that exploded in Sucy's face. The witch barely flinched as she poured the finished potion into a bottle and capped it tightly. With any luck, she would find out if her experimentation was a success the following evening.

"Absolutely not." Diana shook her head. "I have seen the results of your experiments yield too many bad scenarios. I don't want to spend the rest of the evening crowing, or using mending magic on myself and my things. Let Akko do it."

"Awwww! But she made two different potions, so we could do them together," Akko whined. "You're only thinking about yourself, Diana!"

"Yes, and while I appreciate the efforts that she's gone to, I don't want to be dragged into yet another situation that any sane witch would know to avoid," Diana shot back. "Sorry, Sucy, but I want a quiet night."

"It's fine. It's not like I made it with you in mind, or anything." Sucy shrugged dismissively and tucked the potions back into her bag. She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her boots back on.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

Akko blocked her path when she stood up. "Wait, Sucy! Diana didn't mean it like that, did you, Diana? We promised to spend our free time tonight by doing something together, and if you leave, we can't keep that promise. Right?"

"Yeah, well, that was before I found out that you were planning on using it to make us your guinea pigs." Diana crossed her arms and shook her head at the other girls. "We're supposed to be deciding together."

"The potions were made with each of you in mind. If you don't want to test them out tonight, then maybe I'll slip it into your breakfast one day to see what effects it has." Sucy shrugged it off and went to step around Akko.

"Wait." Diana huffed, shaking her head at the two girls. "What exactly did you have in mind? Just give us the potions and sit around waiting to see what happens?"

"No, I was thinking we'd all gather in the graveyard and see if we can catch some bats while we wait." Sucy deadpanned. She shrugged at Akko's curious stare. "What? Bat wings can be useful."

Diana sighed heavily. "Right. Akko, do you have any alternatives?"

"Well, I was thinking–"

"Don't answer that. We'll do it, Sucy. But next time we have a night off? I'm picking the activities." Diana grabbed her wand and sweater. "Besides, someone has to make sure that Akko doesn't run off or perform a half-baked spell while under the influence of a strange concoction."

"Hey! Not fair. I'm not like that!" Akko whined.

"You have such little faith in me."

"Oh, I have every faith in your potion-brewing skills, Sucy. But things don't tend to go the way that we plan them– especially with the two of you around."

Sucy rolled her eyes as she led the trio outside. "Diana, you're positively a buzzkill. Did you know that?"

"It might have been mentioned before"

Akko bounced anxiously on the balls of her feet. "So, what are these potions? Are we going to try them at once? How long will they last?"

"You really ought to think about learning some patience." Sucy set her bag on one of the gravestones. "Transmutation potions, designed with each of you in mind. And yes, Akko, you can go first."

The excitable witch made a face at the beige bottle handed to her. "I thought it'd be more exciting."

"My mistake. Next time I'll add more color to it." Sucy handed the darker potion to Diana before stepping back. "Drink up, Akko."

Akko eagerly undid the top of the potion bottle and guzzled it down. She gagged and coughed, shaking her head. "That was so nasty!"

"Now the fun begins." Mirth crept into Sucy's voice. She crossed her arms over her chest and watched her girlfriend.

Akko doubled over, then dropped to all fours as the potion kicked in. Her chest heaved and purple smoke swirled around her limbs while her skin and limbs shifted from their human appearance to something smaller. Something more the size of a small child. Her nose twitched and elongated, and she thrashed while she spun around on the grave marker by their feet. A long, skinny bald tail extended from her backside, getting trampled under the panicked skittering of the four tiny paws Akko now had. Her dress and shoes had fallen to the ground and were rapidly becoming covered in stray brown hairs and dirt thanks to her movements.

"A rat? You turned her into a giant, brown rat?" Diana covered her mouth but it didn't stop the laughter that erupted.

"It's not funny!" Akko squeaked. For squeaking was the appropriate term for the sound that came from her throat. She yelped and sat up on her haunches, scratching at her long snout with her paws. "Succccyyyyy! What good was this supposed to do? Everything stinks, and I've got a tail now!"

"Beyond my entertainment? Your sense of smell is stronger, just like I expected. But you are bigger than a common rat. I'll have to alter the formulation next time." Sucy pulled out her pen and notebook to jot down her findings.

"But why did it have to be a rat?" Akko whined. "Couldn't you have chosen something cuter?!"

"This is plenty cute," Diana countered, still laughing behind her pale hand. "I'm not fond of rodents, but Akko is the cutest I've ever seen."

"Diana!"

Sucy looked up from her notebook with a creepy smile. "Oh, don't worry. Her turn is coming, Akko. I chose a rat for you because your chaotic lack of magical energy means you'll be less destructive than in another animal form. Besides, heightened smell and a small size are always helpful."

"What? No fair!"

"I think it's a perfectly valid reason for choosing that creature. And, as we have pointed out, it is quite adorable for her." Diana exaggerated a wink at Sucy for the sole purpose of sending Akko into a frustrated tizzy.

"Dammit, this isn't funny!" Akko whined, stamping her feet. "You're enjoying this too much!"

"Guilty as charged. But if it makes you feel better, it's Diana's turn now." Sucy gestured to the bottle Diana had set atop one of the gravestones. "Enjoy."

"Thanks." She walked over and picked up the potion, examining it thoroughly before undoing the top. Her nose wrinkled at the scent emanating from the liquid within. "What did you even put into this?"

"Little of this, little of that." Sucy shrugged. "You'll see when you take it, won't you?"

"Long as it doesn't kill me," Diana mumbled below her breath before downing the potion in two long gulps. "Ugh! I can taste the essence of a feline. I'm going to be some sort of cat, aren't I?"

Before Sucy could reply, the transformation of the blonde witch began. Her long, wavy hair fused to her back and thinned out as it covered her entire body. She too dropped onto all fours while dark gray smoke billowed around her shifting body. But unlike the panicked reaction of her girlfriend, Diana was perfectly still, allowing the potion to work. Dark patches appeared on her face, her left shoulder, and her haunches. The tail formed and curled upwards in an arc before the neko ears and whiskers settled on the now-feline face.

But a strange swirling smoke erupted from the dark patches, and Diana hissed at the sensation. "What is this, Sucy? That's not just… cat essence."

"Look at that! What happened to her skin and fur!?" The squeak of alarm coming from Akko was no longer cute. She circled her girlfriend, skittering around.

Sucy was surprised to find Akko the same size as the transformed cat. "That might be the work of the secret ingredient I added."

"Tell me you didn't." Diana delicately picked up her left front paw, finding the dark patch forming on the top. "Ugh. I know you did."

As all three girls watched, the fur and skin melted away, leaving bone exposed and the wound smoking.

"Oh my god, Diana! Does it hurt?!"

The cat shook her head. "No, thankfully. And the only reason it doesn't is because of the other major ingredient. You used the Grave Mushroom again, didn't you?"

"You got me." Sucy shrugged without remorse. "How's it feel to not only have nine lives, but to know that you won't lose any tonight while you're under the effects of the potion?"

"I'd just as soon we didn't test out that particular theory of yours," Diana sniffed. She peeked over her shoulder at the other smoky and bony dark patches on her otherwise white coat. "Any particular reason why my coat is white? I presume you used black cat fur?"

"A combination of your magic combatting the potion to maintain your essence– and I might have pre-boiled the hairs in a special dye process that will remain a secret." Sucy's creepy smile was back in full force. "You can thank me at any time."

"Thanks," she quipped sarcastically before calmly leaping atop one of the headstones to gain a better view of their surroundings. "Well then, I'm certain that you have something planned for us, now that we're in this state?"

"Of course. You're going to help me sniff out where the closest collection of newts are. I need to replenish my supply of entrails." Sucy gestured towards the woods behind the graveyard. "We'll start there."

"I might have known this was all a ploy to make us your errand girls again," Akko pouted. "Some things never change."

"If she did, I'm not sure that we would have the same love and devotion for her," Diana pointed out. With a final examination of her body, her tail pointed straight upwards as she leaped down and primly trotted through the graveyard to the exit on the far side.

Akko was a few steps behind her, with her long snout to the ground. "Yuck. Leaves, bugs, other creatures… I don't know how I know them, but these are all gross smells!"

"That's what you refer to as 'animal instincts," Sucy explained. "Don't you remember biology class? The nostrils of rodents and felines are far more keen than humans. It's what keeps them alive in the wild."

"I just hope I don't get hungry in this form," Akko mumbled below her breath.

"What was that, Akko?" Sucy asked, her tone waxing with saccharine sweetness.

"Nothing!"

Diana paused outside the gate, lifting her right paw to gesture straight ahead. "If my senses are correct, we should find a creek not far from here."

Akko lifted her head and sniffed hard. "Yes! And I smell turtles, mice, and newts all around that area."

"Oh, good. You smelled what we were looking for. That means you can lead the way." Diana stepped aside, allowing Akko to join her.

"Me? No way! I don't have any magic in this state! And how am I supposed to fight like this?!"

"You have claws and teeth, don't you?"

"Yes, but–"

"No buts," Sucy cut off the argument before it could escalate. "You're leading, Akko because your sense of smell is the strongest. I've got my wand and several potions if we encounter anything stronger than a newt or a snapping turtle."

"That's very reassuring," Akko mumbled. "How long are the potions supposed to last?"

"A couple hours." Diana peeked up to get Sucy's affirming nod. "It'll wear off by the time they make bed checks."

"In theory," Sucy casually corrected. "It's not a precise timeline without an antidote."

"Did you make us antidotes too?" Akko brightened.

"Not this time."

"Suuuuuccccyyyyy!"

"Girls? Can we focus on the newts, please?" Diana interjected again before Akko could do more than paw at her girlfriend's knee. The cat's tail flicked in irritation before she gave a pointed look towards the creek.

"How many do you need, Sucy?" Akko sniffed the air. "There's two turtles and six newts within a hundred paces."

"Six is a good start. I need as many as we can find. I've got big plans for them."

"Slime, eyeballs, and entrails are all essential potion ingredients gleaned from newts," Diana informed her rat companion. "You would remember if you paid better attention in potion-making."

Akko hissed in the back of her throat but skittered towards the creek with Diana on her heels. Luckily for the witch-turned-rat, the newts they sought were normal size, not overgrown.

Sucy stood back on the path a short distance away and watched as the two 'animals' hunted the newts. Akko's keen nose made it easy to track them, while Diana's razor-sharp claws killed them quickly with minimal damage.

Diana delicately stepped back and shook mud off her paws. "Go ahead and bag them, Sucy. We've done the hard part. Rest is on you."

"Or you can bring them to me," Sucy suggested with a grin that only widened at the look of horror on Akko's face.

"You want us to carry them in our mouths? That's disgusting!"

Diana rolled her eyes as much as her cat body would allow. "Of course you would ask. Suit yourself." She bent and picked up two of the newts in her mouth then carried them over to lay them on Sucy's feet.

"Ughhhh!" Akko groaned. But she followed her example and grabbed two as well. She gagged as she spat them in front of Sucy. "That's so gross!"

"Gross or not, it gets the job done. Are there any others in the area, Akko?" She bent to pick up the newts and tuck them into her bag.

"Another dozen down the creek," she admitted, less than enthusiastically.

"Then we're catching those too before we go back."

Diana exhaled beside them and returned to the creek. Akko was behind her, murmuring about needing to set limits to the types of activities on nights spent together.

An hour later, the trio returned to their room with a bag full of newts, and a grinning potion-maker. The transformed cat and overgrown rat collapsed onto the rug in the middle of the room, moaning softly. Diana pawed at her face while Akko coughed and tried to clear the taste of newt slime off her tongue.

"Next time… no animal transfiguration potions. Please," Akko whined. "I'm gonna be tasting this for months!"

"No, just the rest of the night," Sucy assured her. "Thank you, by the way."

Diana and Akko exchanged glances before Diana spoke. "You're welcome. You certainly don't allow for boring nights."

A puff of smoke exploded and both girls were back to human forms, albeit nude ones. Akko let out a shriek and grabbed the blanket off the bed. Diana's response was more subdued, calmly putting her hand out for the sweater that Sucy held.

"Guess we'll need to grab our clothes from where we left them." Akko wrapped the blanket tighter around herself. "Did you glean everything you hoped for from us?"

"For now. I'll let you know when I need testers for my next brew." Sucy shot her girlfriends a wink. "After all, I know where to find you."

"Suuuccccyyyyy! Promise me you won't make me taste newt slime again?" Akko nearly knocked her over in her haste to hug Sucy.

"You're lucky we love you," Diana shook her head in amusement before joining the embrace to make it a group hug. "It was intriguing and funny at times even. Thank you, Sucy."

Sucy smiled to herself. Her girlfriends loved her– even when she used them as human guinea pigs. She was definitely a lucky witch.