OK, next up, a little bit of sweetness. Thanks for reviewing, animelover.
"Howl!" Miyoko ran to the now raven-like wizard, and hugged him. This was the first time she'd compared him to a raven, but then again, this was the first time she'd seen him completely covered in feathers, except for his face.
"Sorry, Miyoko." he whispered. "I didn't get here fast enough." He hugged her back.
"I'm just glad you're alive!" Miyoko whispered back. The minions were staring to get around her distraction, and Howl spotted them. He immediately flew her into the castle, and the blobs couldn't get in.
"You guys are OK!" Markl cried in relief. He looked at the young Miyoko with slight confusion, but seemed to understand that she'd been under a spell.
Howl immediately went to Calcifer, and with another hand movement, the fire demon sprang up, coughing, but seemingly OK.
Rosaria was still smoking the cigarette nonchalantly. Howl addressed her. "Did that cigarette come from Natasha Rainbow?" he questioned. In fact, Rosaria was smoking from a pack found in Rainbow's pouch.
"I don't think it's that." Calcifer said weakly. "It was something she got me to swallow. It made me feel sick. I still do."
Rosaria shrugged. "Don't know, don't care."
Miyoko sighed, snatched the cigarette from her, and stubbed it out. "Rosaria, what did you do?" she demanded.
"Don't blame me." Rosaria snapped back. "That cousin of yours left it here. She was working for Rainbow."
Miyoko stared. "Topaz did this?" Charlotte's face flashed in her mind. She'd seen her looking slightly guilty, and now she knew why. "She did, didn't she? Jessica and Charlotte were in on it!" She scowled fiercely. "Once this war ends, I'm going to have it out with them." She turned her attention back to what was happening now.
Howl planned to leave to protect the castle. "Stay in here." he told the residents as he turned towards the door.
"No, wait!" Miyoko cried. Even if she hadn't fallen in love, she'd still have done it. "You can't go!" Miyoko cried. "What if you get hurt?"
"I have to go out and fight." Howl replied, face serious. "Calcifer's too weak to protect everything."
"We could run." Miyoko said desperately. "You could die out there! Please."
"I've run away all my life, but I can't run this time." Howl told her. "This time I have something to protect." Miyoko stared up at him, dark eyes wide. "You." And with that, the wizard Miyoko loved flew out of the castle.
Miyoko knew better than to leave the castle. She sank down onto a chair, rubbing her head, a physical version of racking her brains. She knew she'd have to do something. She had to make sure Howl didn't get hurt. She'd just have to work out how to do it.
Suddenly, she had a thought. "Guys, the castle itself is attached to the hills, right? So if we somehow separate the dials, the only thing to protect will be the castle. Santa Monica is the most dangerous place, so we have to separate the red dial from the others, at the least." She glanced around, and then said "Calcifer, you're the source of power to the castle, right?"
"What are you getting at?" Calcifer asked with a suspicious look.
"If you were to leave the castle, would the dial stop working?"
"Yes, but the castle will collapse! How are you planning to get me out of here, anyway?"
"Wait." was all Miyoko said. She quickly told everyone else what's happening. "Markl, you and Rosaria go outside. She might need some help getting down the stairs." Then she picked up the fireproof scoop, and got Calcifer.
"This is crazy!" Calcifer said insistently. "You can't do this!" Miyoko ignored him, so he added "At least make sure I go out last. Something will happen to the castle, even if it doesn't collapse."
The minute Miyoko and Calcifer will out, the castle did exactly as predicted.
"I told you!" Calcifer said loudly.
Miyoko looked around. SS was near, so she said "OK. Silver, help me find the way back in. Markl, Rosaria, stay out here until I tell you to come back in." The night was cold, and everyone human was shivering, but they stayed. This was the first time they'd seen Miyoko like this. Although she seemed strong enough, she'd never taken charge like this, almost coming off as bossy. But then, she'd never fallen in love before.
For the first time, Silver came into the remains of the castle. Miyoko called everyone in, and then realized the one flaw in her plan. "Dammit! Howl's going to keep protecting the red dial. We have to tell him the castle isn't there any more." She turned to Calcifer. "You have to get the castle to go to Santa Monica."
Calcifer stared at her. "How am I supposed to do that? There's no chimney here!"
Miyoko looked back, and then smiled. "I'm pretty sure you can do this. Seriously."
Calcifer seemed to deliberate. Finally he said "I'll try. But I need something of yours. I can't do it on my own at the moment. You know I'm not that strong at the moment. What about your eyes?"
Miyoko backed away. "What? My eyes? Does that mean I'd be blind? Does it have to be something essential?"
At that moment, her dark hair brushed against her shoulders, and she realized how she'd do it. "Has anyone got a hairband?" she asked.
Everyone stared at her, but nevertheless, Rosaria pulled one out of her jean pocket and tossed it over. Miyoko tied her hair up loosely and pulled her ponytail over. "Will my hair do?" she asked Calcifer.
Her answer came straight off, as Calcifer took most of her ponytail. And it did seem to help, as he was soon blazing, and although a lot of the castle had crumbled, enough of it was running down the mountains to Santa Monica.
Miyoko's hair still reached her shoulders. Her hair was so long that she hadn't had to give up all of it.
"Wow!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe you were able to get the castle to move this fast, Calcifer!"
"Think of what I could have done with your eyes, or even your heart!" Calcifer answered.
Rosaria's eyes lit up. "Now I get it!"
I thought that this would be a good place to end the chapter. Please review!
