AN: Hello everyone, it's been years since I posted my last fanfic! Recently I've wanted to brush up on my writing skills again and decided to start up a new account here on to see just how rusty I've gotten haha Much like my character Miriam in this first swing at a Kiki's Delivery Service sequel.

Out of all the amazing Studio Ghibili movies, this will always be my favourite. There's something so true about this film that touches me every time I see it. Something so real in how Kiki sees herself and the people around her. How hard growing up really is and just how easy it is to give up on yourself and forget the true beauties in life... Haha as you can imagine I'm at a place very much like that myself. Anyways enough babbling, I hope you all enjoy it :)


I.

The open air came to the edge of the property: to the rocky cliff, the stone fence, and the small green townhouse that sat doll-like on the ridge. The blue sky wrapped around a number of other houses along the slope, and then stretched in all directions, down the steep hill and into the city.

The people of Kiriko—busybodies—were never at rest, especially in spring. Occasionally there might be heard the sound of silence, though it was a rare occurrence. The well-off residents along the southern side did their best to not waste a single moment, and the northern side, what they could to enjoy the good weather.

Because the house was built on a hilltop, dawn declared itself—at any given season—with the glow of gold, starting in the east, and rising until its full mass hung above its yellow roof. If someone were watching from any front window, they would see the shoreline black and disk-like slowly take shape as the sun's rays unveiled the city. The same could be said at dusk, while misty sky fading out into a purple haze, returned her cover, leaving silhouettes of black shapes in its place.

Miriam watched this transformation while seated at the window of her bedroom, chin resting on its wooden frame, and arms hanging loosely out into the warm air. She stared aimlessly into the sea as its crashing waves hit the nearby shore with a rush of quiet whispers, drifting out over the grassy terrace and up to meet her. She breathed in the salty air. It was a beautiful evening, warm, and with a cool breeze. Only two weeks into spring and already it felt like summer. It was the simple things like this, sunrise and sunset, the water, the view, the continuous buzz of energy and sound. It was days where she could sit and stare out into absolute nothingness that Miriam loved. That she would miss dearly.

"Miriam, you really should start getting ready," A voice said behind her.

A small, black, ball of fur jumped up onto her back. She could feel each of the cat's small paws as it gingerly made its way onto her head where it sat. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"It will be five o'clock and guests will be arriving at Osono's to see you off. Your mom and dad are almost finished packing up all the food they made… Miriam, are you even listening to me?" The cat lowered its head down to hers and patted her forehead with its paw. "Miriam?"

"I know, Rune," She let out, a frown forming on her lips as she opened her eyes.

"Well then come on sleepy! Don't tell me you aren't excited to go?"

"Of course I am! You know that more than anyone, silly... I just..."

She turned her eyes towards a flock of birds. She watched as they made large, lazy, circles around each other.

"See those seagulls, Rune? Just gliding around so alive and free and way up there? Without a care in the world... so sure of themselves..." She stopped mid sentence, her mind loosing it's train of thought and wandering back within her.

The cat jumped down onto the windowsill. He gave her a concerned glance and followed her gaze towards the birds. He looked back at her. "Are you okay, Miriam?"

She let out another long sigh. "Yeah, I'm fine." She smiled, and gave her companion a small pat on the head. He purred and rubbed against her.

Miriam stood and straightened her dress. Strength Miriam, you can't put this off forever.

She went to her large wooden dresser and threw open its doors. Reaching behind her, she grabbed onto the neck of her dress and pulled it up and over her head, discarding it onto her bed, and diving into the dresser. "I know it's in here somewhere," She said and knocked over a neatly folded stack of under shirts.

"Be careful! I had just finished folding those!" Cried Rune.

"Don't worry, I'll put them back. You know, you remind me so much of Jiji sometimes,"

"Well he is my grandfather you know,"

Miriam pulled open the bottom drawer and rummaged around. "Mom put it in here somewhere, I know she did, because I'm sure I saw it—Ah!" With triumph she unearthed a blue, rectangular box. Her name, written beautifully in gold ink, was scrawled across its lid. "Found you," She grinned.

As if made of glass, Miriam held the box with trained delicacy and great care, setting it down on the floor before her and gently removing the lid. Pulling back folded tissue paper, she carefully removed the box's contents and unfolded it to lie across her arms. The light cotton fabric fell smoothly about her; it's dark imperial bazantium shade contrasting against her pale skin. She laid it out before her and then slipped it on. Yes, she thought mildly, this is it isn't it. Her witch's dress.

"What do you think?" She asked as she twirled around to face Rune, throwing him a frown. "Dose it look okay on me?"

"You're gorgeous kid!"

Holding her breath she moved toward the full-length mirror that hung off of the side of a large oak dresser and stared longingly at her reflection. It had been so long since she had tried it on last; Miriam could hardly bear the tortured memories that came rushing back to her as she watched herself. Closing her eyes tightly, she stood in complete silence, stealing her emotions against the overwhelming feelings of anxiety that had been gnawing at her for the past week. As she stood to face herself in all her hideous glory, they churned violently in her stomach forming into mass lump sitting hard in her gut.

Miriam let out a breath and swallowed hard.

This day was coming weather she liked it or not, and blast it all, Miriam thought, she may be without happiness but she would dammed if she was without her pride. She forced her eyes open and surveyed the image before her soberly. The dress was short sleeved with a high-cut neck. Miriam was average in height, but skinny, and in her own opinion, boyish in comparison to other girls her age. The dress was relatively shapeless—which didn't help—its hem brushing just about her kneecaps and making her look all the more lanky. Its dark purple fabric contrasted awkwardly against the strawberry blond of her hair.

She snorted. "I wish I had dark hair like mom," She reached up to pull on a pigtail, "She's so beautiful." Countless times Miriam put on her dress. She hoped for something—anything-—that would make her feel different, and countless times she took it off, folded it carefully, and packed it back into the box.

"Grandma did... a really good job making this..." Her words fell, empty.

"Yes she did, now hurry up and start packing we're going to have to leave any minute now so-"

"Miriam! Honey! It's time to leave!" She heard her mother call from downstairs.

"Uh—Coming! Rune, oh no! What should I bring with me?"

"I told you to pack early! I told you!"


The garden behind Osono's Bakery was filled to the brim with party guests. Miriam snaked her way through the crowd. She received a pat on the back here, a hug there, congratulations and tears, coming at her from every direction in a mass frenzy of relatives and old friends. She couldn't rest for two seconds without someone charging up in her direction.

"Finally! You're here! I thought you'd never come!" A full, cheerful voice came booming through the crowd.

Miriam turned only to get a glimpse of the light brown head charging towards her before two impossibly strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist, hoisted her up into the air, and swung her around.

Miriam laughed and the woman put her down. "Aunt Ursula!"

For as long as Miriam could remember, Aunt Ursula had always been a close friend of the family. She had often told Miriam of her mother's great adventures and most memorably, of the first time they had met. Again and again as a child, Miriam would beg that she tell her, even though she had heard it a dozen times before. Ursula would laugh, a deep, full, feminine sound, and begin to tell her with eyes animated and full of love, that 'it all started one warm day in the early summer'. It made Miriam smile to remember such happy memories, and by the time she was thirteen herself, she had heard the story a thousand times: 'And then she took off into the night sky like a dream—and I thought I was dreaming too! 'A real witch', I kept on saying to myself, 'A real live witch'! It was magic.'

Miriam adored her.

For a woman who was nearing her fifties, Ursula didn't look a day over thirty-five. Still slim and agile with the energy and spirit of twenty men, her almost wild natural beauty only managed to ripen with age. Her bright chestnut hair was longer and more unruly than ever, pulled back into a tight braid that trailed down her back. Miriam couldn't believe how long it had grown.

"Jeeze kid, look at you!" The woman exclaimed and she pulled herself back. "It was only yesterday that Kiki was getting married to that crazy Tombo, and here you are!"

Miriam laughed and fixed the woman with a amused smirk, "Look at me? Look at you! Your hair can almost be a tail." Ursula gave it a flick and winked at her, "Do you like it? I've decided to let it grow out a little," Miriam smirked, "Only a little?" Ursula placed two small hands on her slim hips. "Well, let me look at you. How's the dress fit? Two years late, but..."

Miriam gave her a quick spin and blushed. I was hoping no one would mention that...

"Just as gorgeous as your mom, and with that great face too," Her grin suddenly turned wolfish and she leaned in close to the girl, raising an eyebrow. "Hm, too bad you have to get up and go, leaving all the boys here crying at your feet. Not to mention that nude I wanted to paint of you-"

"Ursula!" Miriam shrieked, swatting her not-all-to gently on the arm in shock. They laughed hysterically.

"And what are the two of you laughing about now?" Miram's girn grew as she saw her father approaching them. "Ursula! How's it been?" He smiled, receiving a punch in the arm.

"Speak of the Devil," She hooted, "Tombo! Great, really great actually. How's the airplane business doing?"

"Beautiful. We just finished signing another contract for ten-thousand gliders,"

Ursula whistled and rocked back on her heels.

"Those are the three winged bike things that they've been doing air shows with all over the north, eh? Wow... Good job."

Miriam watched as the two talked, and sighed. Everyone here looked so happy, that is after all why they all came; To celebrate something happy, something good. So why was it that Miriam, the reason why everyone was here, was so unhappy. She'd let her mind wander and lost focus on the conversation, burying herself deep in thought.

"—go, darling."

Her father's address caught her of guard and snapped her back to reality, where Miriam immediately stiffened. "Huh? Pardon?"

"It's time to get going. Here, I'll go and get your broom."

Miriam's father rushed off through the crowd.

"There you are, I've been looking for you everywhere." A warm hand fell onto her shoulder and gave an affectionate squeeze.

Miriam turned to face her mother. She looked more beautiful than ever tonight. It had seemed that over the years the woman had not changed a single bit, remaining every morsel the stunning beauty she was in her youth. Her short, pixie hair seemed to practically glow in the moonlight, its ends dancing about her ears and framing her slender face. She wore Miriam's favorite dark blue dress, simple but elegant, with small golden crescent moons dangling from her earlobes. The tinkled like fairy lights in the darkness of her hair. She was the most amazing witch Miriam had ever met, and also, the most amazing mom.

"Mom," She whispered.

"Oh baby," Kiki dropped down and scooped Miriam into her arms. "I know at first things might seem scary and maybe even hopeless. There are going to be times where you're going to want to give up and times where you'll feel out of place and unwanted. But through all of it," She pulled back and framed her daughter's face, "you'll also find beauty and understanding. You see the world like you've never seen it before and meet people and places that will change your life forever."

Miriam's father emerged from the crowd and placed a hand on her head.

"I remember the first time I saw your mother, speeding around on her broom. If it weren't for her training, I'd have never met her and you wouldn't be here right now. My beautiful baby girl," He hugged her tight from behind and planted a kiss on the top of her head. "I've never been more proud of anything or anyone in my life than with you, Miriam. I know you'll be fine. You're the light of my life," He smiled.

"...The wind under my wings." Miriam finished, a small smile also spreading across her face. "I love you!" She gave them one last tight hug.

Her mother took the broom from her father and passed it to Miriam. "I made the handle longer and a bit thicker for safety. I also packed in twice as much straw on the end and used some of your father's cast iron for the rings. It's a special broom, Miriam, so be sire to take good care of it. It should be perfect for you considering the number of accidents you manage to get into..."

She nodded and smiled. "Thanks, mom."

"Rune! Come on, we're leaving!"

The party suddenly irrupted in a mournful string of 'goodbyes' and 'see you soon's. A runway was cleared and Miriam poised herself at the end, mounting her broom. She adjusted the strap of her bag.

"Hey, your mom did a great job with your broom! Too bad she wouldn't let you make your own, now that would have been an interesting flight!"

"Oh lay off already, would you?"

"Miriam! Catch!"

From her left, a brown paper bag came flying in her direction. Miriam caught it with her free hand.

"We figured that you'll need a bit of a snack along the way, so I packed you some sandwiches and homemade orange juice."

Miriam put the bag in her sack. "Thank's, Osono." She said and smiled at the old couple holding each other, along with their son Kenji, a tall and muscular redhead.

"Oh, I also packed one of my famous butter tarts in there for you, pussycat!" She winked at Rune and he meowed happily.

"Okay Rune, here we go." She relaxed her grip on the brooms handle and fixed her gaze at the stone ledge rounding the bakery.

Miriam, for the life of her, was never any good at flying. Her mother was absolutely amazing at it, but alas, as genetics go, this apple fell very far from the tree.

"We're gonna need a good running start kid, you got that?"

Just breath, it's all in the breath.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She could feel the sensations of her magic beginning to swirl about her, as her dress began to flutter and her hair whip about her face. In her fingertips began the ever familiar and faint tingling sensation that pulled into a low ache, and slowly built until the whole of her arms vibrated with power and raw, throbbing, magic. She let the feeling of it take hold of her and ooze in and out of her core. The ends of the straw crackled and popped as her concentration deepened.

She began running.

"Come on kid, you can do this! Think happy thoughts, happy thoughts!" Rune cried as the neared the edge.

"Go!" She yelled, leaping up into the air and over the stone fencing. For a moment, the broom stayed on course, but suddenly plunged down into a nosedive headed straight for the ground.

Miriam screamed and wrapped her legs tighter around its handle. "Pull up! Pull up!"

Inches from the ground, they came speeding down an alleyway.

"Wall!"

"I know!" With all her might, Miriam pulled at the broom and they shot up the brick building and up into the night sky.

She let out an exasperated sigh. "That was a close one,"

Rune collapsed on her bag. "Jeeze, tell me about it..."

Miriam looked back and saw that the entire party was pressed up against stone railing waiving and cheering.

She waved back, and picked up speed.

"Rune?"

"Yeah Miriam?"

"I hate goodbyes."

"Me too."