Disclaimer: I wish I owned Howl but I don't. I only own Jessie.
Sitting in a little room in a hat shop, me and my twin sister Sophie dutifully worked on stitching together different colored hats. Our little hat room was one of my favorite places. Sure arranging hats might not be the most glamorous job, but sitting in this room gave me a sort of peace. Both me and Sophie sat at a desk built into the wall with a window overlooking the train tracks outside. A pile of unfinished hats sat on my left and Sophie, who was working on a red hat with a maroon sash, on my right. The sound of the train passing by the window and the black smoke from the engine clanked through the silence of the room. The bubbly talk of the other workers could be heard through the door frame.
I sighed contently as I picked a blue rose to go with the violet hat I was working on. The rose, I had thought, would go perfectly with the darker midnight blue sash and dark green pine needles. Sophie always use to joke that my hats were the reason this shop was so popular but I dismissed that. While working on hats was fun, I loved to sew other things. Mine and Sophie's shared room could often be found to have different cloths lying about and unfinished projects littered my desk. Sewing was the one thing I could spend the rest of my life doing.
As I was still in my thoughts, the knocking of Bettie, the manager of the shop, shocked me into pricking my finger. Lifting my finger to my mouth, I looked over to the woman standing at the door. Bettie was a kind woman who I liked talking to sometimes. She was dressed in a blue and white striped dress with a burgundy hat with pink ribbon on her head. "Sophie, Jessie" She called. My sister looked up at her still holding the red hat. "We just closed the shop, you've done enough. Why don't you two come out with us this time." She asked. I shared a glance with Sophie.
"No, we better finish these." She said holding up her hat. I looked down at my blue one. "You go and have fun." She added. Bettie hesitated.
"Alright, suit yourself." My sister nodded to her. I looked up again to see Bettie leaving. I sighed. I always let Sophie talk. I'm no good at conversation and just end up like a wallflower.
"Come on girls." Bettie said to the other workers. I watched as they scurried past the door. Just as I was about to return to my hat, a girl pointed to the window in the other room. "Look it's Howl's Castle!" She cried. The other girls came running back with shocked gasps and murmurs. Looking out my own window, I spied the moving dark shape in the distant fields outside of town only to be covered by the fog. Three air ships flew by as well. "He's gone." A dejected girl announced somewhat sadly. "No, he's just hiding in the fog from those planes." Another girl added. I shook my head and went back to stitching together the hat in my hands. I often wondered what the wizard Howl was like. In the other room, I heard the girls gossiping. "Did you hear what happened to that girl in South Haven? Howl tore her heart out." I rolled my eyes at their antics. "Now I'm scared to go out." One whined. As they were once again scurrying past our door I heard one in a pink shawl tease the other girl. "Don't worry, he only preys on pretty girls." The whole bunch of them giggled and turned to leave.
"Come on, you, let's go." Bettie said ushering them out. Their giggles soon faded away. I stitched on one more leaf and sighed. Those girls were nice but they giggled and gossiped too much. Going back to stitching on some more decorations, me and my sister were once again in silence.
The train passed by once again, covering the view of our window with thick black smoke. Just as Sophie finished her hat she looked at the other piles of unfinished hats and sighed. Glancing at me, I gave her a small smile and nod as we both hopped off our stools. "To Lettie's?" I asked even though I knew the answer. Sophie dusted off her apron and smiled at me as she took her's off and revealing her grey dress. "Do you want to go?" I nodded and took off my apron as well showing my light violet dress that was one shade away from being grey. Sophie often said that I was too pretty to be wearing such dull colors but I always replied saying once she stopped I would too. Sophie, in my opinion, was the more prettier twin. She had lovely brown hair that was always tied in a braid with ribbon and nice soft brown eyes. She may call her looks boring but I have to disagree. My hair was a shade darker than Sophie's and my eyes were a lighter color. I kept my hair always half up and half down, only pinning the front of my hair back and away from my face. I was also an inch shorter than Sophie, a fact that I believe has to do with her being the eldest of us two. While I wouldn't call myself not pretty, I believe that there are many more people more beautiful than I. Besides, looks don't define a person and don't matter.
Picking up her old wicker hat with a dark pink sash, Sophie handed me my own hat that was just like hers but with a green ribbon around it. Exiting the back of the shop, were our house was connected to, Sophie paused to look at herself in the mirror of the front of the shop. I giggled at her silliness as she started posing but stopped as she frowned at her appearance and pulled the hat down over her face. I rolled my eyes. If only Sophie could see how pretty she really is. I quickly pushed her out the door and locked up behind us. Sophie smiled at my eagerness. I hadn't seen our other sister, Lettie, in a while. The last time Sophie went to visit, I had to stay behind because of a shipment of fake flowers that was arriving that day. Plus, I hardly ever leave our hat room, so walking around town was always a thing I loved to do when I had the chance.
Walking quickly to avoid the vehicles on the street, me and Sophie rushed up to a crowded bus and held on to the bars on the door since there was no room inside. Looking around, I noticed many flags hanging up and planes flying overhead. The war, I realized, I wish that they could see that fighting it is foolish. Many soldiers littered the streets with ladies in bright dresses and hats on their arms. They're probably leaving soon. I shook my head at the thought. As we got closer into town, I saw parades of people waving at the tanks passing under the bridges and streets. They waved at the passing soldiers with smiles on their faces, wishing them good luck. Foolish people, I thought. We should not be celebrating war.
Getting off the bus, I fallowed Sophie as she walked away from the crowds of people and opting to use the back alleys instead. As we were passing an empty clearing, a soldier stood on guard with the packs of other soldiers around him. Just as he looked up, Sophie grabbed my hand and pulled me along to walk faster. You can never be too careful. Some soldiers would do anything to get with a girl before they leave. Sophie and I milled through the alleys carefully looking but I soon gave up on knowing where we were. I was never good at directions. Sophie, I could tell, was also getting lost. She held up a piece of paper with the address on it and glanced down at it repeatedly. Just as she was looking down at the paper, she almost ran into a blonde soldier blocking our way. I tightened my grip on Sophie's hand. "Hey, looks like a couple of mice lost their way." The soldier said while leaning on the wall and looking over us. Sophie took a step back.
Sophie shook her head. "Oh, no. We're not lost." She replied, lying. Looking over the blonde's shoulder, I saw another soldier with a handle bar mustache. The blonde one blocked Sophie's way as she tried to pull me around them.
"Looks like these little mice are thirsty." He said. I started to feel a little scared. Can't he take a hint? "We should take them for a cup of tea." He said as the other one walked around and peered at us.
"Oh, no thanks but our sister is expecting us." Sophie tried again. The soldier with the mustache bent leaned down to look at our faces. I squeezed Sophie's hand.
"They're pretty cute for mice." He commented while looking at me. I tried not to show my discomfort at his stare.
The blonde one leaned closer to Sophie. "How old are you two anyway? You live around here?" Sophie took a step back from the man.
"Leave us alone." I spoke, my voice wavering slightly. The soldiers turned to look at me.
The blonde one smirked. "Oh, she speaks." He then looked over at the mustached one. "You see, your mustache scares all the girls." The soldier shrugged off the comment.
"So? I think they look even cuter when they're scared." He replied. Sophie pulled me behind her.
"Hey there,sweetheart, sorry I'm late. I've been looking everywhere for you." A smooth voice spoke behind me. I looked up to see a handsome young man place an arm around my shoulders. I blinked. He was quiet good looking. With blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a grey and red cloak over a white poet's shirt and a blue stone pendant on a gold chain. I felt my breath leave me. The two soldiers leaned back and out of our personal space. The mystery man gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze in comfort.
"Hey, we're busy here." The blonde soldier said.
"Are you really?" The man asked. "It looked to me that the two of you were just leaving." The man, using the hand resting on my shoulder, flicked his finders at the two soldiers. The soldiers snapped to attention and, with the flicking movements of the mystery man's finger, marched away. Me and Sophie stood dumbfounded at what just happened. "Don't hold it against them." I looked up at the man. Sophie, on my right, looked at the man curiously. It was then, I realized, he still had his arm wrapped around me. "They're actually not all that bad." The man said with a charming smile. I fought the blush that threatened to rise to my cheeks.
"Where to? I'll be you escort this evening." He said to the two of us but held my gaze.
"Oh, um, we're just going to the bakery." I spoke clearly, surprising myself. Usually, it took a lot more to talk to strangers yet I felt no hesitation to speak to this man. Curious...
The man held out both of his arms. "Don't be alarmed but I'm being followed." I raised a brow at Sophie but took his arm gently. Sophie followed suit. Walking down the alley in step, the three of us must have made an unusual sight if anyone were to spot us. As we were walking, I spied a black humanoid blob emerge from a wall. I gasped quietly as more started to appear. The man, however, kept a calm facade. "Sorry, but it seems to be that you are involved." He said quietly to the two of us. Sophie gasped as more black blobs appeared in front of us. I clutched the man's arm in fright. Excitement lit up in his eyes as he made a sharp turn, pulling us along. "This way!" Me and Sophie hurried to keep up. Soon, we were almost in a sprint and yet again more blobs oozed from the ground and walls just a little ways ahead. Wrapping an arm around my waist and Sophie clinging to his arm, we suddenly shot up into the air.
I let out a surprised squeak that the man chuckled at. Floating up, I heard Sophie gasp as we flew up over the roof tops. "Now, straighten your legs and start walking." The man instructed while taking our hands. Instantly I did so with Sophie hesitantly following after. We were soon strolling over the crowd of people and buildings below us. I let out a breathy laugh. It was spectacular! The people below looked so tiny! I looked up at the man, who was in turn staring at me. I blushed a little and turned away. "See, not so hard is it?" The man's voice held amusement. I glanced over at Sophie, opened mouthed and her face in a look of shock, and giggled slightly. We kept walking on air heading down to the bakery. None of the people below noticing the three people above them. This man must be a wizard, I concluded. The man leaned down to me. "You are a natural." He whispered. I chuckled in response. This is so much fun.
All too soon, we reached the balcony of the building above the bakery. Setting us down, the man stood on the railing. I felt a little disappointment that it was over but soon shook that away. "I'll make sure to draw them off." He said while letting Sophie float to the ground and holding onto my hand. "Wait a bit before heading back outside." He added. I smiled up at him.
"'Kay" I answered breathlessly. He gave me a wink and let go of my hand.
He leaned back. "That's my girl." I blushed at the comment. He then flew back and jumped off the railing to the ground. Sophie and I gasped and ran over to see if he had fallen, only to see nothing there. Confusion ran through me. Definitely a wizard. I sighed. This is certainly interesting.
I hope you like it! I absolutely adore Howl's Moving Castle and this idea just came to me. Please comment and favorite if you like it and want more.