This is probably a very crack fanfic. But the idea came to me just randomly and since I'm such a Howl junkie and I just adore Holo I couldn't resist.
Don't worry, I don't see them together in a romantic relationship, only in a magical one.

BTW: This takes place shorty after Howl catches Calcifer

Oneshot: Howl Jenkins X Holo

I'm trying to get this beta-read! Anyone willing, please message me.

In which there is a little Spice and Magic

In some terms, I never knew it would come to this. Staring in the grinning face of a god was enough to turn my hair grey but I kept telling myself it was not the end. Thinking that this was one of those dreams I endured though my vigorous training, I decided to embrace it reaching towards it.

But the wolf only shy aware disappearing in the abyss. The image of longing was on its face. Something that I was used to seeing in myself.

----

Taking more time then usual to get dressed, Howl Jenkins, wizard-in-training, trek his way downstairs while buttoning one lonely button on his cuff.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," the fire demon greeted him catching him by surprise.

"Hmm," mumbled the wizard. Calcifer was glaring at him quite intently. "Is something the matter?"

"Besides the fact that it took you longer to get up then normally. What were you doing up there?"

Howl smiled as he took a seat at his workbench. The cuff on his shirt still wasn't cooperating just right. "I think you know quite well what I was doing."

"If you're done wallowing in your extreme self-esteem issues, can you please toss me a log? I'm almost dying here!" He sighed as he got up obeying the complaints of his fellow companion. He toss in a fresh log in the hearth watching the flames explode brighter in an assortment of colors. It was particular how Calcifer was like no other fire he has since. Of course, Calcifer was no ordinary fire. Normally he figured that there was just a lot of potassium chloride in the log here, seeing as Porthaven was located on a harbor and naturally sea salt could have found its way easily in to the wood. In which that case, the color of the flame to be expected was to be a blueish color near the bottom.

Calcifer though burned with the intensity of colors all along the spectrum. There was really no other way to explain it. It was funny how magic bend the laws of science.

Nothing else could explain the things that he has seen. Including...

"Calcifer, can you tell me something?" Howl started to ask, but he had a feeling that Calcifer might know what it already was.
"Depends if you move the firewood closer to my hearth." The flames turned in to a twisted grin.
"If I do, you have to promise not to burn them all at once," he resolved. Business was good, but it was rough every now and then. He didn't have the money to waste on the unnecessary hungry appetite of one fire demon.

Calcifer chewed it over till he fumbled with an answer. "Fine, okay!"
"You know that there's..."
"Move it first." Calcifer demanded. Howl did not seem to want to argue with a creature that was 10,000 years old, so he complied with his part of the deal. He pushed the firewood rack within a Calcifer's arms length of the fireplace.
"How's that?"
"That's good, so you want to know about that dream you had last night?"

"Yes." Nothing less of what Howl expected. He already shared more then he knew about himself with the old ball of gas. Too bad he was the one still fishing for answers. And answers about himself no less. "You saw my dream too?"
"Of course I did. I see everything, remember?"

I wish it wasn't so, Howl huffed dismally. But it was something to get used to.
"And I can tell you this, " Calcifer continued. "Nothing good can come out of it." Howl listened to the ominous tone in his voice. It only made him more curious as he returned to his workbench. "Though I know telling you won't change your mind. Otherwise..."

Howl smiled as he finished his sentence. "Otherwise I would have second thoughts back then." I never have second thoughts about turning back. *

-----

Today was another uneventful day for the young starting-out wizard. Business was fair, which was to be expected in a small port-town such as Porthaven. Spells for ships were in high demand this time of year, so he was in luck.

"Sprinkle this against your sail and the wind should find it," Howl finished up with one of the customers.

"Thank you so much, Sorcerer Jenkin," the middle-age woman kept thanking him before he gently pushed her out of the doorway. Most of the customers were made to wait at the door these days due to the account of a certain fire demon that had a bubbling curiosity about the people that came to the door.

"You know, you can make more of an income if you charge more," Calcifer injected. It wasn't the first time he has noted the way that Howl did his business. He tend to undercharge most of them and only give the full price to the wealthy folk in the area.
"Mrs. Pentstemmon did not send me here to make a fortune."
"I know, I know..." Though you still manage to charge all the rich people double.

"I wonder why she had to send me here all alone anyways. She has too much faith in me."
Sitting at his workbench he finished the touch-up on the last spell he was commissioned for. His eyes wander over to a book he had opened earlier that morning and forgotten about. The page was lined in gold embroidered border with fairytale images everywhere. A mantle with a shrine to a giant wolf was what caught his attention. He studied the page more closely. It was a ritual for crops. Which meant the statue they were praying to was in fact a...

"A god?" He mumbled.

"What was that?" Calcifer crackled up in the hearth.

"Nothing," he forgot about the audience in the corner. Since he moved the firewood, he had heard little come out of the fire demon's mouth. "I was just reading."
"Oh? About gods?" Howl turned away.
"It's none of your concern, is it? Since you refuse to tell me anything."

"You don't ask the right questions." Howl chuckled. Nothing less to be expected. Calcifer was prone to be more sneaky then he appeared.
"Then answer me this, what do you know about gods?"
"They can be just as bothersome as demons, I can tell you that."

"Well I'm already aware of the problems to be encounter in the presence of one of those."
"They sometimes have the tendency to attach themselves to things. Even people." Calcifer continued. "And it seems one has cling itself on to you."
The gaze in Howl's eyes indicated that he did not know how to take that. It seemed natural at this point that magical encounters were to be expected in his job field.
"In any case, this god seems to want something from you. I don't know what, but in most cases it can't be good. I would advise to stop communicating with it."

Howl sighed as he closed the book.

----

To escape was easy. Howl retired off to bed a bit early drifting off. He decided it was best to listen to Calcifer. Meddling in to something that was not in his best interest was not wise. Though if that was the case, he was already meddled in to a contract that was not in his best interest as well.

It was as true as Calcifer had purely stated. Your heart really is soft.
Which was why it was more a burden to have it. It was always compiling him to do selfless things. Now Calcifer bared most of the weight.

You're back. Howl looked in to the eyes of the amber creature that stood at ten times the size of a normal wolf. I know what you are this time.
Her eyes grew soft as she looked at him. Her heavy jaw parted open letting Howl catch a glimpse of those sharp teeth. All it made him think of was the fairy tale about the Big Bad Wolf.
Now what do you want of me?
She bent her head forward and nudged his chest. It was an awkward gesture that he did not understand.

Home.

He heard her quite clearly in his head.
Home? Where is your home?
She backed away. Howl took more recollection of his surroundings. He was standing in a field, one quite unlike the ones he had seen in Ingary. It was full of a crop he was quite unfamiliar with. Inspecting it, he realized it was just a regular wheat field. Looking up at the moon, he saw that it was full and beaming. A seconds glance away and she was gone.

---

Howl awoke more dreary and tired then the night before. This was tolling on him more physically then he thought. Yet, he made sure to dress in his best today.
"You look horrible," Calcifer commented.
"Thanks," he said as he scuffed over to the pantry.

"You had another dream last night." Of course Calcifer knew. Howl continue to make his breakfast. "It seems that this wolf god is unable to move freely." Howl suppressed a yawn as he listened. "Which means that she will continue to pester you nightly."

So ignoring it is not an option. He knew with magical things like this, running away was not the best option.
"Did you hear me?" Calcifer continued. "You need to do something about this."
"I need to go see my mentor today. I take it you will won't burn the place down in my absence."

Calcifer mumbled. "What's wrong?"
"You know what's wrong. What are you going to tell her about us?"
He was right, it was the first time that Howl will go see Mrs. Pentstemmon since he caught Calcifer. If she would notice or not was beyond him. He couldn't undermine her abilities.
"I will tell her nothing." He went to the closet to pull out his seven-league boots.

"Now don't spend all our money this time!"
"I won't," Howl said. "Now be good while I'm gone." He pulled on his jacket before stepping out. "And don't open the door to anyone."
"Yeah, yeah..." Howl locked up the shop and headed out.

---

Kingsbury was just how he left it. It was Howl's favorite place in Ingary. He one day wished he could open up shop here. If it was only possible to be in more then one place at once...

Putting off the shopping till later, he treaded the way up to the Royal Magicians Academy where he remembered spending his first few years in Ingary at. He sharpen up his appearance one more time and took a deep breath before stepping through the hallway. Mrs. Pentstemmon was expecting him in the usual room with tea already ready.

It went as normal as any other meeting. She would say something about the weather, ask how he was doing, in which in reply he would inquiry her health, then ask how the shop in Porthaven was.

"I'm so glad you decided to take up shop at such an isolated post. Most newcomers don't take such a desolate town to start business," she praised him.
"It was the least I could do."
"Though, I see that something has bothering you." Howl fumbled with his teacup. "Tell me, have you been sleeping well, child?"

"Yes, I've just been over-doing it these days."

Mrs. Pentstemmon smiled. "I can see that you're very dedicated." Howl calmed down and returned the smile. "But I called you here for a reason. The witch of the waste has been spotted very close to the marsh lands. Her activities these days have only increased."

"I understand."

"My only advice to you is to not challenge her at any cost." Howl was already taking more then necessary precaution. He was dismissed shorty after. It was barely noon giving Howl plenty of time to wonder the streets of Kingsbury to do some window shopping. He was sure Calcifer wouldn't mind if he spent some money. He would just have to remember to bring home some fire wood this time.

In any case, Calcifer might find the wood in Kingsbury to be a different quality then the one in Porthaven. If there was a different taste to it, he was sure Calcifer would appreciate the change.

He stopped by the food market to grab a quick piece of lunch. Some home-cooked bread straight out of the oven was the best. As he waited for the bakery to wrap up a loaf that would surely last him a week.
Though remembering an experience that led him in to a wheat field was tempting him to ask about the area.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Howl asked the shop owner. "But do you make your own flour, or do you buy it from someone else?"

"Our flour?" she seemed baffled by his asking. "We get it from a flour mill in upper Folding. The best there is."

"I see. Thanks," he tossed a coin on the counter after she handed him his bread. He had forgotten that most the of the agriculture here was down out in the Folding near Market Chipping. He did not intend to investigate, but if the key to these dreams was in a wheat field then he would do anything. Anything for a better night's rest really.

Calcifer was getting tired of the nighttime exertions as well. He decided to put off some shopping till later to go to Upper Folding. Calcifer would understand.

He made it there in three strides of the seven-league boots. He has only been to Upper folding once, in which he remembered that one of Mrs. Pentstemmon's older students lived, which went by the name of Mrs. Fairfax. He also remembered she was one of those older bossier type women that he did not really like to be in the company of so he fore-go that path.

Royal Wizard Norland was also a resident of the area, but Howl found that he had no time to intrude upon a stranger's home, so he continued on to the flour mill. It was a depressing sight to be held. Was this the same crop field that was held so high in Kingsbury?

They must be going through a rough time. Howl sat down on the hillside below the folding. It was nicer then he expected out here in the countryside. He took out his bread and tore off a piece to munch on.

He didn't expect any company as he enjoyed his lunch, otherwise he would have noticed the girl sneak up behind him and take a spot right next to him.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

The girl looked like any other farm girl dressed in Ingarian attire. She kept her head covered which was odd in this weather. But he was able to see her amber tresses and the glim of fiery set eyes underneath. It was actually a pleasant day in the spring after such a harsh winter.

"Yes, though it seems the season hasn't been so kind." He remarked looking at the field.
"I wasn't talking about the crops. The sky, look there!" She pointed up ahead. "If you look just right, you can sometimes see the moon."

Looking up, he saw traces of the moon in the sky. So, you can.
"Hey, what's your name?" He looked back at her. This girl was remarkably too beautiful to be an ordinary daughter of a farmer. Maybe she was from the village up from the Folding. And it wasn't every day that Howl had the chance to meet a pretty young lady.

"Holo."
"Do you want a piece?" He offered her some bread. She shook her head. "Do you live near here?"
"Over there." She pointed to a forested area.
"In those woods?" She nodded.
"Unless you came to take me home." She smiled teasingly as she tossed a piece of hair and adjusted her cap.

"Come to take you...home?"
"Yes, I'm only visiting. And seeing as the people here have given up faith in me, there's no point in staying." Howl kept his mouth shut as he listen. "You only enjoy the bread that you eat because I was kind enough to bless them last season. But they lose faith in me in time. Because you see, if I bless them with good wheat every year, then they will come to depend on me on every harvest. And even I don't have the power to give them that every year."

If this isn't another magical encounter, then I don't know what this is.

"Then you're must be...a goddess?" He saw Holo smile a toothy grin showing a full set of canines.
"What makes you think that? It's not my fault they revere me as such. You must know the same trouble it causes, Sorcerer Jenkin."

Howl stood up at the call of his name. "So are you the goddess that has been tormenting my dreams?"
Though not in such an appealing form.

Holo laughed. "I haven't been tormenting you, have I? Though I think in your case, I have been bothering someone else as well."

"Then once your tactics have worked in bringing me to you, what do you want? It's not everyday I get summoned in such an usual manner to such an unusual being."

"I want you to set me free of this village. I have a home. A real home."

How do I set a goddess free? The one creature that may know that was settle in a hearth several miles away. Though if Calcifer was able to be an audience, he was highly doubtful. Otherwise he would hear him in his head.

I'm here!

Of course you are. Where were you when I was being snuck up by this thing?

No time for that. Just go ahead and set her free so I can have a piece of mind!

"Holo, how is it that I can help you?" Holo looked pleased with the offer.
She stretched her arms up, in which Howl thought he saw moment underneath her hood. "It's quite simple. All you need to do is grab a piece of the wheat down there that was recently harvested."

It's that simple? Howl looked down below.
"Okay," Howl headed down to the farm. "Will you wait here then?"
The indication he got was that of Holo curling up on the grassy plain was good enough. He purchased a small sack of wheat. She did not say how much she wanted, but some was good then none.

When he trek he way back up the hill, he found that Holo did not keep to the promise she thought she made. There was no trace of her anywhere. He waited for a few minutes. Remembering that he left a fire demon to look after the house, he gave up and headed home.

"Welcome home," Calcifer greeted. Howl looked more glad that Calcifer did not consume all the firewood. Especially since Porthaven turned out to be having one of those drizzling days it was so famous for. "So you bought home the wheat?"

Howl set it on his table. "Yes, she up and run away on me."
"I hope that means she won't be bothering us anymore."
"Did she really bother you that much?"
"More then you'll ever know."

Just when Howl thought he was going to have a peaceful evening, he heard a knock at the door. Someone must have saw he come in, if there's a customer this late, and one brave enough to come in this chilling weather.

Howl got up and headed towards the door. Calcifer blazed up in the hearth.
"Don't answer that...!"
"Why not?" Howl asked, but it was too late. He had already open the door to let the visitor in out of the pouring rain. It was a girl cloaked from head to toe and seemed quite relieved to come in.

Calcifer returned to the bottom of the grate as the girl pulled back her cover revealing amber locks along with something else quiet particular.
"Ah, that's better."
Even Howl had no words for it. Somehow she had manage to invade his home just like she had invaded his dreams.
"Holo! I thought I set you free." His eyes were more on those set of ears on the top of her head then her face.
"You did," she said gliding over to the table grabbing the small sack of wheat. "As long as you process this wheat here, I can go anywhere I want."

Howl looked this over with a quick solution. He picked up the bag of wheat from her. "Then I relinquish this bag of wheat upon you." He set it back in her hands to give it a formal transfer. It was how the ties of such magical encounters like this are sometimes overlooked. He made sure to be quite outspoken on the situation here. "Now, if you can kindly get out of my..."

"Howl..." Calcifer retreated further in to the grate as he can for Holo was approaching fast. She tore off the rest of her cloak as she shook her body like an animal in attempts to dry off. It only made Calcifer hiss as sprays of water came flying at him.

Howl was speechless for one. There was more surprises hidden underneath the cloak, that including a tail.
"I hope you don't mind me staying here for a bit." Holo sat on the rug in front of the fire as she smooth out her tail.
He looked to Calcifer for advice, in reach he was still hiding. What was there for a fire demon to do against a wolf goddess?

"I thought you wanted to go home," he reminded her trying to logically get out of this mess.
"It's too far away. Plus its quite miserable out there. I thought I could just follow you home."
That makes more sense.

Howl, start researching on how to get rid of it! He heard Calcifer yelling in his head.
Already on it.
Howl has always longed for company, but not of this kind. And one fire demon was enough for him to handle. He frantically started to search his sources as Holo made a bed out of his rug curled up in a bun.

So first chapter complete. I'm always willing to write though.

Will be continued...

Footnotes
* Howl is referring to the other time in which he caught Calcifer. Just to clear any confusion up. I'm sure most of you got that reference anyway :)