Author's Note:

A Scarecrow's Secret {Part 2}

[From last Chapter]... Don't worry, Sophie! I'll save you! I thought as I lunged myself in front of the rapidly sliding platform.

"TURNIP!!!!!!!!" Sophie cried as she watched, horrified as my stick was quickly reduced into sawdust from the friction of the sharp, rocky hill. The pain seared through me, like multiple stabs through my heart as the stick became shorter and shorter.
Suddenly, the stick came to a stop, right on the edge of the cliff. Everyone, except for the unconscious Howl, all sighed in relief, but the pressure on my leg was too strong (What with the weight of the plumpest witch in Ingary), and the stick snapped into two. Falling from the cliff, We prepared for our sudden deaths, but at the last moment possible, the platform was caught between a rock and the wall of the ravine. I fell onto the pile of people on the wooden planks, and Sophie leapt up, and grabbed me, and desperately exclaimed:
"You'll be alright, Turnip! I'll get you a new pole!" But I knew it was too late. I slowly faded into the darkness, never expecting to see the light of day again, but suddenly, I leapt up, revived from a kiss from my true love- Sophie Hatter.
I slowly changed form, from a unraveled scarecrow to my former self. I got up, dressed in the fine beige suit I had been cursed in. I saw the look of surprise on Markl, The Witch of the Waste, and even the dog, but Sophie had turned her full attention to Howl, who was waking up, his heart restored. I swallowed at the sight of them, being so intimate and caring, but forced myself to speak.
"Thank you, Sophie. I'm the Prince who's been missing from the neighboring kingdom. Somehow..." I threw an accusing glance at the witch."I got this blasted spell put on me." Having ignored my glare, the witch perked up. "I know that spell!" She cried. "A kiss from your true love breaks it!"
"That's right!" I glanced at Sophie, hoping she'd get the hint. "If it weren't for Sophie, I'd have been a scarecrow for the rest of my life!" Sophie nodded at me, uninterested, then turned her full attention back to Howl.
"Unngh... Where am I? I-I feel terrible! like there's a weight on my chest!" Howl woke up from unconciousness.
"A heart's a heavy burden."
"Wow, Sophie! Your hair's just like starlight!"
"You think so?" Sophie pondered. "So do I!" She leapt onto Howl, knocking him over. I turned away, not wanting to see any more of the lovey-dovey scene.
"Looks like your true love is in love with someone else." The Witch of the Waste boldly said to me. I winced. You don't have to rub it in. Howl looked around.
"Where's the Castle? Where's Calcifer?" He asked.
"Um... This is the castle. What remains of it, that is." Sophie mumured. Howl looked down at the wooden platform under his feet with a shocked look on his face.
"Wha-what happened?" Howl gasped. Sophie proceded to tell him everything that had happened... in graphic detail.

"So, in short, Calcifer's gone, The Castle's a wreck, Turnip Head is Prince Justin, and I got my heart back?" Howl said, confused. We all braced ourselves for an angry outburst from Howl, but to our surprise, he just shrugged it off and said "Oh Well. It was worse when the Witch of the Waste was looking for me." He turned to the rock face, and motioned to us to start climbing up. I noticed that Sophie was a bit rough at climbing and held out a hand to help her, but Howl had already beaten me to it. I scowled, and turned to focus on the rock face I was climbing on.

Soon, we were all on top of the hill, and we all stood next to each other, side by side. Howl, once again, was next to Sophie, holding hands behind their backs. My blood started to boil.
"Hmph. Looks like you won." I patted Howl on the back.
"What? There was a contest?" Howl confusedly asked.
I sighed. "Never mind." I sighed again.
"I really should be going, now." I said.
"How are you going to get down?" Sophie asked.
"I suppose I could just walk..." I trailed off.
"Well, I could make something for you..." Howl smiled. All of a sudden, a pogo stick jumped in out of nowhere.
"Howl!" Sophie laughed.
"Hey! It isn't my fault if my heart's still one of a child!" Howl said. I looked at the stick. I placed one foot on it, then the other. The pogo stick immediately jumped away, down the hill.
"Goodbye!" They all cried as I bounced away. Turning around to see them, I saw how happy Sophie was with Howl. Smiling sadly, I knew that her happiness was the most important of all.

Author's Note: Poor Turnip Head! First he gets turned into a scarecrow, now he's been dumped!
Well, guess that's how the story goes! you win some, you lose some, am I right?
You know what? One of the reasons why I haven't posted in such a long time is because I wasn't motivated. You know what my motivation is? REVIEWS! So if you want quicker updates, I suggest you at least post a encouraging message! Cheers! ^_^