Hearts Change – Chapter 7

A certain brunette panted with tiredness from walking up all those steps to just get into the Royal Palace and from fury.

"They can't keep Master Howl from coming back home! What do they need him for?! The war's over!" Markl thought as he gritted his teeth and made his hands into fists. The guards that were lined on both sides of the long steps didn't even stop the boy, for they knew who he was.

"Welcome." One of the guards at the very top said as he opened the door for the steaming brunette. The fury that Markl held in his heart was so great that he didn't even thank the guard nor did he notice the door opening for him; he just continued to walk forward.

"Just you wait Master Howl, I'm going to get you back!"

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"WHE- where's Ma- Mr. Pendragon staying?" Markl said to a random maid, yelling at first then remembered that he might raise suspicion if he'd done that. He also remembered that "Master Howl" is "Mr. Pendragon" there.

"Oh! Here, follow me." The maid smiled as she started to walk toward the huge stairs, which led to the upper rooms. The brunette almost groaned, for he had just walked up huge, long stairs a moment ago. But he succumbed and followed the lady.

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"Here it is." The maid stopped at a similar door to all the other doors around them; a brown, plain door.

"How can you tell?" Markl squinted as he tried to spot anything different about the door…nothing.

"You can hear their voices," The maid said as she closed her eyes like a wise woman: hearing things but not seeing it, "And his majesty told me that this is his room!" She said with a grin.

"Their- hm?" Markl blurted out but then stopped, for he heard something beyond the door they were standing in front of; a conversation.

"Nnh…! That hurts…!" A voice moaned; a familiar voice the brunette recognized.

"I'm sorry. Want me to go slower then?" Another voice…a high-pitched one…a lady's.

"N-no…! Just-"

"Master Howl!" Just then, a new voice interrupted a certain raven-haired- Markl's. The boy had suddenly opened the door, for he couldn't shake off the thought that his master forgotten about Sophie and found another lady to love. And his thought was terribly true. There, in the bed was the raven-haired and some woman had her hands on his master's bare hips.

"So you have forgotten about Sophie!" Markl ran in the direction he came from.

"Wait! Markl- hmh…!" Howl tried to get out of bed but the pain that was still there wouldn't let him.

"I can't believe it! I thought he love-" The boy thought as he continued to run, but his thoughts were interrupted by something solid hit him in the face.

"Ow… Turnip head?!" Markl looked up as he rubbed his nose, recognizing the blonde in front of him.

"Oh! I thought you'd be here-" Prince Justin chuckled as he was about to pat the boy's head when suddenly something heavy pushed him backward.

"What have you done with Master Howl?! He loves Sophie! He always has!" Markl was sitting on top of the blonde, pulling and shoving.

"M-Markl please! I never taught you to be this way!" Someone in the background behind the two raised his voice.

"Master Ho- Ah! Let me go!" The brunette turned around and got a glimpse of the raven-haired sinking to the floor before being lifted by two strong hands.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to leave." The person who owned the two strong hands was one of the guards who guarded the main door; the same one who had opened the door for the boy.

"Wait Merlin, he's a friend of mine." Justin said before the guard carried Markl down the huge steps. His blonde hair was a mess, but overall his clothes were just a little wrinkled.

"But your majesty, he-"

"It's all right Merlin. I can take care of him myself." The tone in his voice and look on the prince's face was like a blonde version of the King's, since it is the King's son after all.

"Yes, your majesty." Merlin put down the brunette then bowed before walking back to his post.

"Master Howl!" Once Markl stood on his own two feet, he ran to the raven-haired's side. The brunette found his master leaning his forehead on the doorway frame, groaning.

"What's wrong Master Howl?" The boy asked as he frowned.

"Oh! You must be Markl." A familiar high-pitched voice spoke next to the brunette.

"Who are you?!" Markl's rage fired back up but a warm hand and a wary look from the raven-haired calmed him down.

"I'm the doctor who is taking care of your father."

"My- how do you know my name?" The brunette was just about to say, "My father?!" because he always calls Howl as "Master Howl", since he is learning magic from the raven-haired.

"His majesty told me a lot about you and," the doctor paused to whisper something in the boy's ear, "Mr. Pendragon had mumbled your name in his sleep a few times." She giggled as she pulled away from Markl.

"Hah…well, let's get you back in bed, Mr. Pendragon!" She said cheerfully as she wrapped Howl's arm around her shoulders and helped the raven-haired stand up.

"But-" Howl tried to stop her in a hoarse voice.

"Come on, you need your rest." The doctor said, not falling for the excuse her patient has. The two walked back into the room, taking their time.

"Master Ho-" Markl jumped up to bring his master back out of the red room, but a hand stopped him.

"He's in good hands. You can relax now." Prince Justin said with a smile.

"But something's wrong with Master Howl!"

"Yes, I know," the prince sighed, deciding what to say next, "Right now, he's…not in good shape… You know when you break an arm and it takes time to heal? Well, he's in a similar situation."

"But he's-"

"You can see him now…I think that was enough time for them to get settled." Justin grinned as he gently pushed Markl toward the doorway.

"I- thank you turnip head." The brunette smiled back then rushed inside the room to see whom he came here to see- Master Howl.

"I'm going to leave your news-telling to you, Mr. Pendragon." The blonde thought as he walked away, knowing that the raven-haired would tell his boy when it is time to tell.

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The rest of two weeks seemed to pass by quickly, as Howl put it. Markl came to the Royal Palace almost every day, bringing Heen with him. But the brunette always played in the red and gold room when he visited, since the raven-haired couldn't get out of bed.

…Until today. When the morning light shooed the night away, Howl felt different as he sat up. It wasn't because he slept like a rock last night. It was…

"Did you sleep well last night?" The house doctor asked as she smiled, entering the room.

"Uh…oh! Yes I did, Madame." The raven-haired gasped as he smiled, realizing that he could twist his body at the waist again. The dull pain was still lingering but overall, he could move.

"Well, I'm gl-" The doctor started.

"-Glad to hear that." But a certain blonde finished her sentence.

"Your majesty!" The doctor gasped, her smile still on her face.

"I see you've recovered." Justin said as he walked into the room.

"Yes! He's recovered beautifully!" The house doctor had twinkles in her eyes.

"How do you know…?" Howl slowly asked.

"You can see right there," she paused to point at the raven-haired, receiving a questioning look from both men, "I think you need new pants to wear!" The doctor giggled as she saw the raven-haired's expression. Howl looked away from the woman as he blushed from embarrassment, pulling up the red blanket over himself as he lay back down in bed.

"Well, thank you for your time. We appreciate it." Prince Justin said, changing the subject.

"Oh! You're welcome. I had fun doing my job!" The doctor bowed then waved before she left the room when the prince signaled her to leave. Justin sighed as he was relieved to have her gone.

"She wasn't a good doctor too…what am I going to do?" The blonde thought then directed his attention to the being still in bed. The prince found Howl sitting up again, his eyes staring at a gold wallpapered wall with a faraway look.

"Are you…ready to become a father…?" The raven-haired spoke in low voice. Justin didn't answer. Instead, he sat in the gold cushioned chair, which still stood beside the raven-haired's bedside.

It took awhile for the blonde to speak, "…If you're ready to-"

But Howl interrupted loudly, "How can I be?! I'm a man! This…shouldn't be…happening…" The raven-haired ended up in tears as he covered his face with the blanket.

"Here, I got a present for you. Let me get it." Justin spoke in a gentle tone as he slightly smiled and left the room to get the gift. Howl slipped deeper under the covers as he tried to muffle his crying and calm himself down. He was already embarrassed enough in front of that doctor.

When the prince came back, he found that his friend had stopped crying and was "sleeping".

"I'll leave this out for you. You can try it on whenever you like." Justin softly smiled as he left the room, closing the door behind him. Howl lifted the covers when he heard no footsteps passing his door.

"Hm? What's this?" The raven-haired found a black, flat rectangle at his feet. He ran his hand over the rectangle and felt there was something familiar about it.

"It's the same material as my…pants." He quickly lifted the rectangle and found that they were indeed an exact copy of the pants that he was wearing at that moment.

But something white fell out of the fold of the pants, "Wha-" Blue eyes widened as he stretched out the white thing he picked up.

"Underwear?! Well, I guess I better wear this. Don't want any 'accidents'." A light blush ghosted on his cheeks as he began to strip.

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"Wow…it fits…" Howl mumbled to himself as he looked at himself in the mirror, which was leaning against the wall. He ran his hand over his thigh, feeling the newness of the pants.

"…Now, what am I going to do with you…?" He let out a breath as he gently ran his fingertips over his now showing bump. It was near the end of the fourth month, going onto fifth.

"Do you like your present?" A familiar voice suddenly spoke behind him as he saw the reflection of a certain blonde in the mirror.

"Yes, I appreciate it. Thank you." The raven-haired turned around to face the prince.

"Well, I'm glad you like it, my friend."

"What- mmh!" Suddenly, a pale hand grabbed the backside of Howl's head and brought the raven-haired's lip together with the owner of that hand. Howl could feel another hand lie on his newly formed hip, holding him closer to the being in front of him.

"Ah!" Justin gasped as he doubled over. The raven-haired had kicked him between the legs.

"You know, Markl was right. I still love Sophie, and you can't change that." Howl made his hand into a fist and ran out of the room.

"Master Howl?" Markl said as he watched his master run past him.

"Master Howl! Wait!" The brunette said a second later as he ran after the man.

In the room, Justin was sitting on the floor as he covered his mouth in shock of what he was doing a moment ago, "What have I done…? What was I expecting…? He's my friend!" The blonde hit the floor with his fist as he felt tears fall down his cheeks.

"He's my friend but…why do I love him…?"

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Author's note: Oh no! Prince Justin loves Howl! But Howl loves Sophie! Oh the drama! XP Well, hope you liked it! Onto the next chappy!