Into the Vanessaverse

Kimmy examined herself in the mirror, pouring over every minute detail of her face. She sighed at what she had seen, and how it had refused to go away.

Her basic appearance wasn’t the issue. She adored her red hair, her freckles, and other similar features that made Kimmy “Kimmy”. That wasn’t the problem; it was the pimple placed square on her left cheek that was the offending article, a small dot that nevertheless was the center of attention at the moment. It was like a billboard, a symbol of Kimmy’s poor hygiene, she felt.

Popping it was not an option. The resulting wound would be even worse, not to mention highly risky to add bodily fluid to the mix. It was a tricky situation, considering what was in two hours. If she didn’t get this fixed, she…

There was a knock on the door, a small rap of the knuckles, no doubt. “If you’re quite done in there?” a voice said. “We can get to work.”

Kimmy was distracted from her self-doubt by this development. She sighed, recovering from her thoughts as she looked around the room. This wasn’t even her bathroom, she knew; she was merely borrowing it from a friend as she groomed herself in a futile attempt at perfection. A last-ditch attempt at resolving the problem before she took drastic measures, all for naught. She glanced at herself once more, at the blemish that was so clearly visible from even far away.

There was nothing else for it.

She opened the door, walking down the hall and into the living room. Her host was lounging across the larger sofa, and Kimmy sat back onto the smaller one. To visit the chaos witch Vanessa with a favor to ask was no easy feat, and wouldn’t come lightly. She supposed it was fortunate, then, that she was on Vanessa’s good side, enough to have her request approved and her presence requested at the manor. And yet, for the life of her, Kimmy had no idea how she had endeared herself to such a powerful being.

“I take it your own methods didn’t work?” Vanessa wryly asked, raising an eyebrow. She was more amused than anything, as though knowing full well Kimmy’s most recent attempts were for naught.

“They didn’t…” Kimmy admitted, despondent. “I don’t know what else to do, Vanessa. That interview is in two hours, and if I don’t get this under control, I won’t get that job.”

“Darling,” Vanessa said, leaning forward slightly. “Have you considered that you’re overstressing yourself on such a miniscule item?”

“’Miniscule’?” Kimmy, indignant, called out. She jabbed her fingers to the zit, irritated. “Look at it! It’s the only thing people even CAN look at right now!”

Vanessa normally would have made a quip at her associate’s expense, a light bit of teasing to amuse herself. But she recognized Kimmy’s pain, recognized how stressed she was and how important this procedure was to her, so she bit her tongue. When Kimmy finally sat down from her outburst, Vanessa spoke up once more, this time with a gentler voice, to soothe her friend.

“I can make this better,” she said, sincerely. “To clean that blemish without any trace of it remaining. It’ll be like it never existed.”

“You…You can do that?” Kimmy asked, quietly.

“It’s a pimple, darling, it’s not brain surgery,” Vanessa said with a laugh. “For such a task, it’ll be simple. Hardly a thought.”

Kimmy sat in silence, considering this. Perhaps it was a tad too drastic, to be asking a witch for cosmetic advice. On the other hand, if she didn’t do this, she could kiss that job goodbye.

That risk was just too dangerous to chance.

“I’ll take it,” Kimmy decided. She clenched her fists, determined. “Whatever you need to do.”

“That’s the spirit, darling,” Vanessa smiled. She began to idly wave her hands, casting a silent spell. Before Kimmy’s eyes, a spellbook materialized within Vanessa’s hands, a hefty tome that practically whispered into Kimmy’s ears despite being across the room from her.

“Now then…” Vanessa said, opening the tome and paging through the myriad of spells to use. “No, no…Maybe later…A-ha.”

She dropped the book onto her coffee table, pointing delicately at one of the pages. Kimmy cautiously bent forward to examine it herself, albeit upside-down from her vantage.

“’Perfection of Plastic’,” Vanessa declared. “A spell designed to clean your face up a bit and get rid of any unsightly blemishes.”

“Have you ever used this spell before?” Kimmy asked, unsure. “I mean, you had to browse just now…”

“Darling, there are infinite possible spells I can cast, each one with varying instructions and results,” Vanessa scoffed lightly. “Even I can’t memorize every spell.”

“Alright, alright, point taken,” Kimmy shrugged. “So how does it work?”

Vanessa scanned the page carefully. Then she nodded. “Seems simple enough,” she said. “I just aim and fire.”

“Any side effects?”

“Hell if I know,” Vanessa shrugged in turn, closing the book. “I’ve never been much for keeping track of those things, darling. Not as fun to know how the story ends, right? Even the author doesn’t know yet.”

“What?”

“Ignore me,” Vanessa merely waved off Kimmy. She stood, getting into position, bending her knees and extending her arms. “Now just hold still, and this will be over shortly.”

Kimmy braced for impact just before she saw a bright flash of light coming at her. She closed her eyes, feeling only a tingling sensation across her entire body, but especially her face. It only was present for a matter of seconds, but the sensation, how pleasurable it felt? Kimmy perceived it as lasting for far longer. Minutes, perhaps.

But eventually, it had faded entirely, and Kimmy was left seated on the couch, unbothered. She slowly opened her eyes, slightly disoriented. She righted herself gradually, clutching onto the couch, as she lifted her head. Vanessa had seated herself again, smiling at her client.

“Well, that went smoothly,” Vanessa laughed gently. “No pun intended, of course.”

“Did it work?” Kimmy asked, uncertain.

“Why don’t you go inspect yourself to see?” Vanessa offered. She extended her hand towards the bathroom, gesturing.

Kimmy did not need any more encouragement than that. She stood up, quickly walking to the restroom and its ornate mirror.

Once inside, she leaned over the sink to take one last look at her face. She gasped; the blemish that once was the most prominent feature had vanished entirely, with no trace of it ever existing. She felt her face, touching her forehead in shock, her fingers quivering. Yes, it wasn’t merely hidden, it was gone! And…

She inspected the rest of her body now, lifting up her blouse to inspect her upper body, her chest and stomach. She had a few recent wounds, plus one scar from her childhood that hadn’t quite gone away. Key word being “had”; these imperfections had vanished too, as though they never took place. It was all so amazing, so improbable…And yet, it was true. The spell was a complete success, with flying colors.

The door opened again, Vanessa having come inside—naturally, as it was her manor to begin with. “Pleased with the results?” she asked. Then she caught eye of Kimmy, and her partially nude form from the waist up. She couldn’t help but smirk a little. “Ah, and getting a little handsy with your flawless skin? Can’t say I blame y–”

The witch was interrupted as Kimmy suddenly whirled around to hug Vanessa tightly. Even Vanessa was caught off-guard by this display of affection, unable to form a quip at Kimmy’s expense. She could hear light sobbing coming from her friend, tears soaking into her dress, happy tears. All Vanessa could do was gently pat Kimmy on the back, offering reassurance and a non-verbal welcome. She smiled slightly, feeling, well…good about doing such an act for her friend.

“Alright, easy on the dress, darling,” Vanessa eventually said, trying to save face. She gently broke the hug, moving Kimmy back slightly. “This is imported.”

Kimmy laughed a little at that, tears still on her face. Vanessa took a hand towel and gently dabbed them off of her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said, embarrassed. “Thank you so much.”

“Thank me by performing well at…whatever this is,” Vanessa said. “You said something about an interview?”

“Yeah,” Kimmy said, nodding. Then her eyes widened in shock, as she quickly checked her watch.

“Thirty minutes?” she gasped, worried. “Vanessa, how did we spend an hour and a half here?”

“Time is an arbitrary construct, darling,” Vanessa explained. “And in my domain, it kinda slips past me a bit.” Recognizing Kimmy’s agitated mood, she snapped her fingers. “Worry not, though. I’ll take you directly to where you need to go.”

This reassured Kimmy somewhat. “I appreciate it,” she said, to which Vanessa gently patted Kimmy along the shoulders.

“What are friends for?” the witch smiled.

…

It turned out that Kimmy’s interview was located at a coffee shop, nearby a local shopping mall. It was a basic enough location and business, popular in the region for its quality drinks and excellent customer service. Plus, as a bonus, there was a sign-on bonus offered to brand new associates…provided they can get the job.

Vanessa initially had no idea what any of these things were, when Kimmy described them to her. Eventually Kimmy had switched to a different tact, merely describing them as “very positive for mortals”.

“Ahh,” Vanessa nodded in understanding. “That ‘economics’ thing you were talking about. Never did understand money. Or work in general, but if it makes you happy…”

“Oh, it will,” Kimmy said. They stood outside the doors, and as she looked the building up and down—suddenly imposing due to her close proximity and heightened stress—she began to feel nervous. The primary problem was dealt with, that of the pimple on her face. But the interview itself was another matter, one that Kimmy didn’t think magic would solve.

Vanessa rested her hand on Kimmy’s shoulder, giving her a sincere smile. “Hey,” she said. “I have no idea what any of this is. But it’s important to you, I get that. You go in there and show them what a great worker you’ll be. I know you can do it.”

Kimmy was touched by the thoughtful words, especially coming from such an egotistical witch. “Thanks, I needed that,” she said.

She turned back to the doors, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

The inside was spacious and clean, with some contemporary music playing from the audio system above. This was one of the shop’s slowest times, so hardly anyone was seated inside. Just as well, to ensure peace and quiet for Kimmy’s interview.

“Miss Dole?”

Kimmy turned to see a perky manager approaching with a smile, clipboard in hand. She extended her other hand out for a handshake; Kimmy reciprocated.

“Thank you for coming today,” the manager said. “I appreciate the punctuality. And might I say, you look especially stunning for this interview?”

Kimmy blushed at the comment. The spell was definitely a success, definitely the way to go, no doubt. “Thank you for this opportunity,” she smiled back. Eye contact, a firm handshake, a winning smile. The best way to make a good impression.

The manager then gestured to an open table, set aside away from the others specifically for the occasion, a two-seater. “Now then,” she said. “Let’s get started.”

…

Vanessa lounged outside at one of the patio tables, back resting against the metal chair. No drink, of course; she could make her own “coffee”, for lack of a better word. It wouldn’t be safe for mortals to consume, typically, but such was her palette. Of course, she wouldn’t mind trying the kind that mortals could drink, such as in this coffee shop, but it would be best to not interrupt Kimmy’s interview.

Also she was reasonably certain she was banned from at least two chains in this reality.

She heard the door open, and Vanessa glanced to her side to examine who it was. Sure enough, it was Kimmy, and Vanessa turned to give her friend her total concentration. “Well?”

Kimmy, for her part, was beaming. “I got the job,” she declared. “I start tomorrow!”

Now Vanessa smiled. “Good for you, darling!” she complimented. She approached to give Kimmy a reassuring pat on the back. “Now you can partake in the exciting world of, well…”

Vanessa gestures briefly, stuck on a word. Kimmy understood completely.

“It’s a barista job,” Kimmy explained.

“Bless you,” Vanessa said, nodding. “Anyway, I’m glad to see that you’re satisfied with my services, darling. I can be on my way—”

“Hang on,” Kimmy said, raising a finger. “You don’t expect me to just let you go off without us celebrating a bit? Besides…” Kimmy gripped one leg, then the next, bending them backwards to stretch. That interview took longer than she thought; her limbs were suffering the effects of pins and needles.

“I could use the exercise anyway,” she added. “Walking around and stuff.”

“That sounds delightful,” Vanessa agreed. “Did you have something in mind?”

“Mall trawling, girl,” Kimmy laughed. “Don’t tell me you’ve never been in a mall before?”

“Of course I have, a couple times,” Vanessa said. “Once to complete a contract for a sorority girl. The other time, Agent told me about this place called ‘Hot Topic’ that was severely lacking in both heat and meaningful conversation.”

“…Right,” Kimmy merely nodded in agreement, playing along. “Well, it’s more fun with a friend anyway. We can browse clothes, get some mall food, that sort of thing.”

“Far be it for me to reject your offer,” Vanessa seemed pleased with the opportunity. “Very well, lead the way. You know this mall better than I do.”

…

The mall, much like the coffee shop itself, wasn’t particularly busy at that time of day, with only a few individuals milling about, doing their shopping. It was perfect for Vanessa to maneuver without being stared at often (not that she minded) and for Kimmy to get shopping done without long lines (which she did mind). As such, they practically had the entire mall to themselves.

It was rather nice, Kimmy felt. Having a friend around really made a typical experience so much better. It was the smallest thing, but it made a world of difference. Plus, it would be better to have a witch on her side rather than against her. Just in general, really.

It would have been better, she supposed, had those pins and needles gone away already. It was frustrating; despite believing that walking around would get rid of the sensation, she still felt numb from the waist down. If anything, the sensation only got worse with time, and Kimmy was left practically dragging her feet along the polished tile floors, as though she possessed a limp. Curious.

“Oh, this I’ve heard about,” Vanessa declared, distracting Kimmy from her irritation. The witch was pointing to the mall’s food court, an assortment of brands to choose from. Ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, and more. Oddly, Vanessa immediately gravitated to the burger chain, staring at the menu with glee.

“This stuff is the best food ever,” Vanessa claimed, smiling. “Want anything? My treat.”

“Do you even have any money?” Kimmy laughed gently. She pulled out her wallet, offering to pay. “Remember, I still have that signing bonus. We could treat ourselves.”

“Nonsense, darling, you use that money for yourself,” Vanessa waved off Kimmy idly. Within seconds, she conjured up multiple twenty-dollar notes within her hand, offering them to the cashier. “Four of the Bun Stuffer combo meals, please.”

Kimmy idly made a comment to herself regarding the ethics of what Vanessa had just done, as well as how much food she was ordering in the first place, but elected to not look a gift horse in the mouth.

The meals were eventually prepared and delivered on a tray, which Vanessa courteously elected to carry. “Choose a spot,” she requested of Kimmy, following behind.
They had their pick of the court, with only a couple tables in use at this time of day. It didn’t exactly matter which one she chose, but Kimmy was feeling stiff and uncomfortable standing currently, so she chose one of the closest ones she could find. She bent to sit, scarcely noticing a squeaking noise as she did so. It could have just been the chair, after all; it was an old model.

Vanessa sat the tray down, handing Kimmy one combo while reserving three for herself. “I have the stomach of a black hole,” she laughed, already unwrapping the burger. “Ever since some other friends taught me the joys of fast food, I can’t help but sample some whenever I get the chance.”

“Guess I can understand that,” Kimmy agreed, nodding along. She still didn’t quite understand Vanessa’s…unique life outlook or quirks, but it made her happy, she supposed. And the burger was certainly appealing; something quick and easy to eat, a cheat day.

She took a bite of the burger, chewing gently. Then she swallowed…and struggled the entire way. Her eyes widened briefly, the strain visible on her face, her throat bulging somewhat. Try as she might, she couldn’t force it down easily, as though she had a swollen esophagus. She craned her neck back and forth, pushing against her neck as she tried encouraging it downwards manually.

Even Vanessa noticed such a weird behavior, frowning briefly. “Are you okay?” she asked, unsure. “Is this how you normally eat?”

Kimmy did not immediately respond, continuing to push against her body’s reflexes, getting that remaining bite of burger past the obstruction. Then it fell into her, and she gasped slightly, leaning back in her chair, exhausted from the effort.

“It’s not,” she finally said, utterly confused. Just what had happened? She wasn’t sick, nor was she suffering from post-surgery that would prevent her body from swallowing. And…That was odd. Despite eating, she didn’t feel either full or empty. Just…hollow, really. She patted her stomach idly, merely hearing a small thunk, and not the squishy skin she had expected to feel.

Her eyes widened.

“Uh, Vanessa…” Kimmy said, her worry increasing by the second. Something was wrong, definitely wrong. Far from her normal level of movement and bodily control. She tried to stand, struggling with even that basic action, her legs tense and unstable at best. Then, she fell.

The chair squealed across the floor as Kimmy dropped, her body hitting the tiles with another thunk. She wasn’t hurt—stunned, certainly—and she could still feel her legs without restriction, beyond how utterly numb they felt. She had no idea how to react. What had gone wrong?

Then she looked down, at the bare skin that made up her limbs, and her surprise turned to panic.

Her legs had hardened into something else, something shiny. Plastic! Authentic, hollow plastic, the kind of material one would use for making a collectible doll. To make matters worse, her joints were far different now, with large seams along where she would bend. Her knees, her ankles. No wonder she was so stiff on her lower half—she was turning into a doll!

Kimmy’s shock turned into a glare, as she slowly turned towards Vanessa. For her part, the witch looked just as shocked, having leapt from her own chair to inspect Kimmy. She stopped over the redhead, bending to inspect her slow changes, curious and horrified at what was happening. At what SHE had done.

“Okay, mall trip’s over,” she decided, quickly snapping her fingers. A tear began to form in midair, widening into a portal, a rift in reality itself and the gateway to Vanessa’s manor. Then she gripped Kimmy’s arms, gently tugging the limp girl into the rift, dragging her feet behind her even as Kimmy struggled to move, to break free. Once inside, the rift sealed shut, leaving no trace within the mall.

Then a second rift formed, and Vanessa reached back into the mall, grabbing the leftover burgers she had ordered.

…

Kimmy was propped up on the couch, glaring daggers at the room, silently cursing her circumstances. What was once a good mood had soured completely, irritation at her friend for allowing this to happen. And, of course, for the indignity she was suffering.

Her pants were removed now, Kimmy’s nude body exposed to Vanessa from the waist down. The witch was bent down, busy prodding Kimmy’s crotch region in bile fascination. Without the cover of clothing, the extent of the doll transformation was more easily accessible.

“What’s the verdict?” Kimmy dryly asked, not even looking towards Vanessa.

“According to my professional opinion…” Vanessa mused, cautiously examining Kimmy’s crotch. “…It’s not there no more.”

“Yeah, no shit,” Kimmy snarked. It wasn’t like she couldn’t feel Vanessa’s needling. The problem was that she was completely null, as dolls didn’t have working human anatomy. “Can you fix it?”

“I tend not to make my spells halfway,” Vanessa explained. “That ‘Perfection of Plastic’ spell description was very literal, it seems. The only recourse is to let it finish playing out before I can even begin to unravel it.”

“You mean this isn’t done?!” Kimmy shouted, a mix of fear and anger. It was bad enough not feeling her legs, but the rest of her? Granted, she was finding it easier to stand now, albeit after some effort and time, but still.

“It isn’t,” Vanessa agreed. “By my calculations, you’ll be a full doll by sunset, your time.”

“Absolutely not,” Kimmy insisted. “No, no, no. I have to start work tomorrow, Vanessa! I have to start my job!”

Vanessa shrugged. “Maybe they can let you work from home?”

“As a barista?”

Vanessa gave a blank stare. Kimmy sighed, irritated. “A barista serves drinks, personally,” she explained.

“Okay, fair point,” Vanessa said, nodding. “Look, I’ll examine options to stall for time here. To un-magic you would take a few days at best, upon completion of the spell in the first place, unless I find a workaround.”

“Then find one,” Kimmy said through gritted teeth. She whipped her head around to see Vanessa, shocked at how easily she found it. Her head turning made a squeaking noise, plastic upon plastic, and she gingerly touched her neck. There, too, was a seam now, where her head joint met her body.

Before Kimmy could respond further, she felt a sudden jolt in her body. Then, she rapidly shrunk, her shirt suddenly enveloping her entire body. She struggled to get it off, swimming in the fabric that was suddenly so suffocating, when Vanessa started tugging it off herself.

Kimmy could then see her chest and breasts exposed, and much like her lower half, she was plastic across the board. Even her nipples had vanished outright, although her breasts remained the size that they were proportional to her body, the only saving grace. It was still not enough to quell her frustration, however, and tears began to form on her face.

“I don’t want to be a doll,” she said, her emotions breaking. “Will I even be able to move at all?”

“Hey, hey now…” Vanessa said, trying to pat Kimmy on the shoulder. She instead received a hug, followed by sobbing, as Kimmy rested her head against Vanessa’s shoulder. Vanessa frowned, concerned. This really was her fault, after all. And she never wanted to upset anyone for real; her typical mischief was purely to inspire fun and new experiences. But Kimmy was NOT happy with the results, and Vanessa still had her as a client.

Customer satisfaction, she thought to herself.

“I’ll have you fixed before the end of the weekend,” she swore to Kimmy. “And I’ll make sure you can still do your job, of course.” She gently patted her lips, idly thinking. “Although I suppose there’s one thing that needs to be done first.”

Kimmy slowly raised up her head, looking at the witch. “What’s that?”

“Maybe using that signing bonus to downsize your wardrobe,” Vanessa explained. “Literally.”

Kimmy did not find this amusing.

…

There wasn’t much to do, Kimmy realized, until the spell finished washing over her. So, she sat on Vanessa’s couch, examining her body as she continued to dwindle away. Her plastic body scarcely made a dent in the cushions, merely resting atop the cloth weightlessly.

The day eventually passed towards the sunset, at least according to Kimmy’s internal clock and her own observation of the changes. Her original height was no more, and even she was floored by how small she had gotten; a fraction of her normal size, merely the size of a typical doll. Her fingers had eventually fused together into one unbroken limb on each side, unable to grip things as dexterously anymore. For that matter, her upper body was stiff as well, and her points of articulation had been restrained, only able to bend her arms in very specific ways as befitting a proper doll.

When the changes rose to Kimmy’s head, her senses were heavily dulled, as though her head were filled with cotton. In truth, this was her human brain transferring its consciousness to a new “core”, per say—one located within her chest region, as an artificial heart. She had read about such behavior, with some advanced dolls having that very core used to personalize each toy, perfect for children to make their own.

Kimmy sighed; now that was a thought. Being a toy for children. But despite that, despite the stress she was under, she couldn’t help but feel pleased with that thought. Imagine, being played with as a proper doll. To have her dress changed out over and over, wearing adorable outfits and play-acting in a scenario. To have her hair brushed for her. Even simply being mint condition inside a collector’s box, forever pretty, kept in pristine quality and admired for all to see.

She supposed, begrudgingly, that being a doll and living the life of a toy wouldn’t be that bad in normal circumstances; in fact, it may be rather blissful. But these were not normal circumstances; this was a situation in which a girl was at risk of losing her newly-obtained job due to a botched spell from a witch. Once she got that stuff under control, then she could think about it.

Eventually Vanessa came back into the room, paging through her spellbook idly, her hair frazzled. It was clear she had been working overtime on Kimmy’s plight, something that did not go unnoticed by the doll. She did appreciate it, seeing as it was Vanessa’s fault in the first place; thus, it was difficult to stay mad at her for long.

“Okay, so I have some news, both good and bad,” Vanessa explained. “The bad news is, I’ve checked every page here, and I can’t find anything that can fix it. It’s permanent.”

“What?” Kimmy asked, indignant. “Come on, Vanessa, surely there’s something!”

“Look, I’m still checking my sources, but I can’t help being so awesome at spellcasting,” Vanessa protested lightly. “It’s like being a master locksmith. You’re still going to have a hard time picking the lock even if you made it, you know?”

Kimmy sighed, irritated once more. “Okay, fine,” she said, trying to cool down. “So, I’m fired, is what you’re saying.”

“Not necessarily,” Vanessa said. “If you had just let me say the good news before you started melting down, I would have said that I think I found a solution for your problem. I’ll let you know how that goes in the morning.”

“Yeah, in the morning…” Kimmy snarked. “Where am I supposed to sleep, anyway? I can’t fit into a normal bed right now.”

“Yes, about that…” Vanessa pondered lightly.

She snapped her fingers, and suddenly a small replica of Vanessa’s manor appeared in the room, a fraction of its own size. It, of course, looked like plastic and had hinges on each side, for removing the walls and exposing the interior.

Kimmy merely stared blankly. “Vanessa?” she said. “That’s a dollhouse.”

“Yes.”

“You want me to sleep in a dollhouse?” she asked, caught off-guard. Vanessa merely shrugged.

“Well, where else would you sleep, little doll?” Vanessa asked. “Besides, it’s the next best thing to sleeping over at my house.”

Kimmy was not getting anywhere against Vanessa, and she knew it. Nor did she want to, it seemed; much to her irritation, a part of her rather liked the idea of being in dollhouse…but she shook it off. Silently admitting defeat, she started sliding herself off of the couch, dropping to the floor with a light clatter. Then she carefully, albeit squeakily, articulated herself to the dollhouse.

“Hey, actually,” she stopped to think, staring at Vanessa. “Aren’t toys supposed to, you know…go limp and freeze up if adults like you are around?”

Now Vanessa stared blankly. “Kimmy, what the hell are you talking about?” she asked.

Kimmy merely shook her head. “It’s nothing,” she said, walking again to the dollhouse door.

Upon opening it, Kimmy was greeted by a plastic facsimile of the manor she was already inside, with the foyer being a near replica. Granted, the dollhouse details were somewhat lacking, with less of the features present: no wallpaper, for example, and the candelabras were minimalistic.

“Rush job,” Vanessa idly declared. “Give me more time and I can have it be identical.”

“It’s fine,” Kammy called back, checking the upstairs walkway. Less doors to choose from, clearly, and no other halls. Not as large, either. But it would do.

One such bedroom was a miniature of Vanessa’s own master bedroom, complete with the canopy bed she rested upon when it pleased her. Kimmy carefully pressed her hand into the furnishings. Soft, although not as cushioned as even the couch she sat upon was. Still, it was something.

She checked to her side, where a wooden wardrobe was present, already open. On the rack were an assortment of doll dresses, almost all of them gothic in attire. Kimmy gave a bemused sigh, appreciating the sentiment while recognizing how much of an egotist Vanessa could be. Still, it would be best to not be nude, so she chose one such flowing purple dress and started slipping it on herself as best as she could. “As best she could” being the operative term, of course; her stiff limbs and lack of proper joints made her efforts a nightmare, the dress bunching against her plastic hair and head.

Begrudgingly, she walked back out of the dollhouse to face Vanessa, who was crouched down, observing in amusement.

“Could you…?” Kimmy asked, embarrassed.

“I’d be glad to, darling,” Vanessa nodded. She easily plucked the dress from Kimmy’s head, cautiously slipping it onto her doll body, through the holes. The exposed plastic was covered in seconds. “Much better. Now then…”

Kimmy started back to the dollhouse without another word. Up the stairs, back into the bedroom. Then at last, Kimmy hoisted herself upon the bed, twisting her body to lay down. Then she closed her eyes, silently dreading what would happen in the morning.

…

Kimmy had fallen into something vaguely resembling sleep overnight, but was more akin to falling into “sleep mode” than authentic rest. It was a strange feeling, not being able to sleep yet not needing it in the first place. Nor did she need to eat, drink, or—something she was only just aware of in the morning hours—breathe. Being a doll meant a lack of these human needs, it seemed. Beneficial to an extent, but not with her problem.

There was a light knock on the outer dollhouse door, and Kimmy sat up. A gentle rapping against the plastic wood.

“Kimmy, it’s me,” Vanessa called. “Can you come out? I have news.”

“Coming,” Kimmy said, dragging herself out of bed. She left the bedroom, walking downstairs.

Opening the door, Kimmy saw Vanessa towering over her again, a smile on her face. She extended a hand downwards, palm facing upright, an attempt to hoist Kimmy up. “Walk with me,” she said.

Kimmy, obediently, did so, stepping into Vanessa’s open palm. She was lifted gently into the air, and the witch began to walk towards the bathroom.

“I have good news and bad news,” Vanessa explained. “The bad news is, despite my best efforts, the curse is indeed permanent.” Before Kimmy could protest, she raised a finger from her other hand. “The GOOD news is, I have a solution all the same.”

“A solution?” Kimmy demanded; five minutes into being woken up, and she was already agitated. “What kind of solution?”

“While you would still be cursed to turn into a doll, there is a way to stem the flow,” Vanessa said. “A way to go back to a human shape consistently, provided you act accordingly.”

Once in the bathroom, she set Kimmy down on the floor, separate from the other furnishings in the room. Kimmy was still reeling from the information she received, stumbling off of the witch’s hand. And yet, she said she could indeed be human?

Before she could ask questions, Vanessa merely flicked her wrist, zapping Kimmy once more. It was far quicker than the initial spell, almost instantaneous. Before Kimmy could react, she was forced backwards, landing on her rear in a rapidly shrinking room.

Within seconds, she was human once more. Her skin had gone from plastic to flesh, her limbs were no longer disjointed or forcibly articulated. Her mind, once having moved to her heart, was back in its rightful place inside her head. The only caveat was that the doll dress she wore the prior night did not grow with her, merely tearing apart into tiny fabrics and exposing Kimmy’s nudity once more. But she didn’t care. She didn’t care at all.

She was back to normal.

Kimmy gleefully clutched onto her body, feeling every square inch of her flesh in ecstasy. And, for the final test…She reached below and gripped her crotch region, moaning sensually at the touch. Yes, that was back too, it seemed.

“I’m me again…” Kimmy said, in pure awe. She scarcely recognized her own hands, her own feet. She felt her cheeks, amazed, her worries melting away more and more at every touch. It was amazing.

Then realization set in, and she looked at Vanessa in curiosity and concern.

“You said it was permanent,” Kimmy said. “But here I am, human again. What’s the catch?”

“Yes, about that…” Vanessa said, pretending to think about Kimmy’s question. “You see, your doll form is now your default form. But you can recover your human shape by passing along your curse.”

Kimmy blinked. “How would I do that?”

“Simple, really,” Vanessa smiled. “Especially for a doll witch.”

“Doll…witch?” Now Kimmy was positively baffled. It apparently showed on her face, because Vanessa gently laughed.

“Oh, you’re so adorable, I swear,” she said, and Kimmy blushed. “That’s right. With my magic and your curse, you’ve become a witch yourself. A doll witch, to be precise; a witch who specializes in doll-based magic.”

“That doesn’t really explain how the curse works,” Kimmy said. Not to say that she didn’t like the sound of what Vanessa was describing, however. Given the circumstances, having magic in general sounded pretty awesome, though there would be a catch, she knew.

“It’s rather explanatory,” Vanessa said. “Simply enchant anyone with a doll-based spell within twenty-four hours of your last one, or you start becoming a doll again.”

Kimmy balked at the sound of this. “Hang on, I don’t want to hurt anyone–”

“It’s not hurting anyone,” Vanessa explained. “It’s just a bit of harmless fun, is all. Besides, they’re only a doll for a few days, tops.”

“But–”

“When you were a doll, how did you feel?” Vanessa interjected. “Did you feel a sense of pleasure? Of enthusiasm? A desire to be played with or admired?”

Kimmy paused, uncertain how she felt about it. Sure, her initial shock at becoming a living doll was prominent. And yet…She did have that exact desire. That exact urge.

“I did,” she admitted. “I really did.”

“Others will feel the same way,” Vanessa said. “Give it to those who need a break. Those who want to enjoy a simpler existence. Sure, they may not be mobile after—some may even have their own boxes, much like I’ll teach you to make your own—but consider it a small vacation.”

Kimmy still looked unsure, and Vanessa calmly hoisted herself onto the sink’s countertop. “I’ll give you an example,” she said, extending her arms out to her sides. “Zap me.”

“W-what?” Kimmy stammered, caught off-guard. “Zap you?”

“Of course,” Vanessa said. “I can recover easily. Plus, it would be good practice for you.”

“B-but I don’t even know how to cast magic yet!”

“All you have to do is concentrate. Focus your willpower, focus on your target. Will them to become a doll.”

It sounded so basic, yet so bizarre. But Kimmy nodded all the same. “I’ll try,” she said.

Looking down at her hands, she allowed her mind to focus on her goal: to turn Vanessa into a doll. Silence at first, but after a few seconds, her hands began to glow, feeling warm. Kimmy was shocked; it was working!

With a flourish, courtesy of her newfound confidence, Kimmy aimed her hands at Vanessa, carefully adjusting her angle so as to not hit the mirror. Then, she released her energy.

The blast struck Vanessa with a surprising amount of force, rocking the witch backwards slightly. Even Vanessa seemed shocked by the power Kimmy displayed, before giving a loud laugh.

“Wonderful!” she declared, clapping towards Kimmy. “Simply magnificent. I really do make a good teacher.”

Kimmy was still staring at her hands, amazed. “Did…Did I just…?” she asked, awed.

As she looked to Vanessa, she could already see the witch beginning to shrink out of her clothes, her pale skin becoming shiny, her joints segmenting. Kimmy approached to help Vanessa out of her dress, exposing her rapidly depleting nude form.

Vanessa, once freed from the shackles of her own clothing, paraded about on the counter, admiring herself in the mirror. “My, I really do look stunning,” she said, examining her doll parts and pieces. Much like Kimmy had done, she had pressed into her nether-regions in amusement. “Mmm, so impressive…”

“Are you seriously enjoying this?” Kimmy asked. She tilted her head in bafflement.

“Of course,” Vanessa smirked. “I always enjoy experiencing new things, after all.”

Kimmy merely shrugged. “Witches are weird…” she mumbled.

“Best get used to it, darling,” Vanessa chuckled. “You are one now. And a very skilled one, I must say. Oh, I look forward to teaching you what I know…”

Vanessa suddenly stiffened up, wincing briefly. “Oh my, so quickly…” she said, her limbs freezing in place. “Well, I’ll be here, of course. I’ll recover soon enough. And as for yourself…Don’t you have a job to get to?”

“Oh, right,” Kimmy said. In all the recent events, she had nearly forgotten. “Ah, but I need clothes.”

“You’re a witch now,” Vanessa said, before her face began to harden, and with it, her lips. “Conjure…up…some…”

She ceased talking, Vanessa falling onto her back, frozen solid. Kimmy leaned over to examine her carefully, the gothic witch having been turned into a complete immobile doll by Kimmy’s hands. Exactly like Kimmy was only minutes ago.

She then watched as a strange new material developed under Vanessa. It resembled cardboard, purple in color, as it began to grow and envelop Vanessa carefully. It grew upwards, then expanded once more, leaving naught but a window into the materializing box. Even that space was filled, as now cellophane grew across the leftover gap, tightening itself to prevent sagging or easy puncturing.

When all was said and done, Kimmy was holding a boxed doll, embossed with “Princess Vanessa” on the top, much like any toy would have in stores. It was truly impressive, she thought, the attention to detail. And all of it was her own magic.

“Magic.” Now that was a term Kimmy would have to get used to, especially knowing she could create it herself. “Kimmy the Doll Witch”, they could call her.

She smiled to herself slightly, amused. This wouldn’t be too bad, she thought.

“Don’t worry, Vanessa,” she declared, setting the box upright. “I’ll take good care of you in the meantime until you recover. Then you can teach me more magic and how to properly take care of dolls.” The possibilities were unraveling for her, becoming clear. So much potential for her abilities, so many subjects she could discover.

Curious, she took Vanessa’s suggestion to heart, concentrating on making herself some clothing. Within her hand, a lovely outfit was forming, perfect for her barista job while still retaining some doll-like features.

It was perfect. From a nightmare to a dream in the span of a day.

“You know, I can make this work,” Kimmy laughed to herself, suddenly eager. “The dress, this curse? This is fine.”

She patted the doll box holding her friend, then walked out of the bathroom, ready to get dressed and start her new job, and her new life.

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