Prettyinpinkgal: Review, please :) Thanks for all the reviews so far! I can't believe how popular this story is! I thought I'd have maybe five or ten reviews by the time the story was over, but I already have eight! Thank you, everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Howl's Moving Castle or the Nutcracker.
A CHRISTMAS STORY
CHAPTER THREE
The fighting went on, but now that Howl was actually fighting, Sophie's protectors now had an advantage. Soon, it was down to only a few mice, who were attacking the two soldiers, and Howl was now fighting the Witch. The Queen and the nutcracker man had ventured underneath the Christmas tree. Sophie watched anxiously, wishing to help but not sure how to without getting in the way.
"You won't kill me," she heard the Witch say to Howl. "You're in love with me!"
"I liked you, but I didn't love you," Howl said, blocking her attacks. "And that was years ago!"
"Why, you!" she screeched, throwing a stronger magical attack at him, which he deflected. "It was only three years ago!"
Oh, dear, Sophie thought. Now she's really riled up! The nu--I mean Howl might not last much longer if she keeps throwing attacks like that!
She had to do something. Even if she was the eldest, she couldn't just stand around and not do anything to help him. Sophie blinked and looked at her hands. Somehow, a large gumdrop (which would have been a normal size if she had been her usual height) had ended up in her arms. "Why does that keep happening?" she wondered out loud. She shrugged, then threw it with all her might.
Sophie had no athletic ability whatsoever, which was perfectly natural for young ladies in Ingary, who did not have physical education in schools or sports for women. But somehow the heavy gumdrop hit the Witch right on the head. "I see stars..." mumbled the Witch, a stupid smile on her face. "This is not good." And she collapsed, dead.
Howl stared at the body, as did Sophie. The two soldiers, who had defeated the other mice, stared at the body. Then they looked at Sophie, who was still staring in shock. "Um..." she muttered. "Sorry?"
The younger soldier let out a whoop and twirled Sophie around, who squealed. "She's been trying to kill us ever since Howl broke it off with her! But you actually DEFEATED her!"
The other solder smiled, although the smile did not seem quite right. "Nice job; I'm impressed. My name's Calcifer, by the way."
"I'm Michael Fisher," chimed in the younger one, who had released Sophie.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Sophie Hatter."
"And I'm Howl Jenkins," said the handsome nutcracker man. "Beautiful and not afraid to fight; I like that in a girl. As long as she's not trying to fight me."
"Thanks for saving me, but how did you all come to life? And where did you come from?" she asked, quite confused and deliberately ignoring Howl's last statement.
Instead of answering, they said, "Want to come to our world?"
"Um, what?"
"The Land of the Sugar Plum Princess," piped up Calcifer.
Sophie blinked. Then she covered her mouth, starting to tremble. I can't! she thought desperately. No matter how much I want to, it would be very rude to--
It was no use. She burst out laughing, clutching her sides as she thought what a ridiculous name of a world that was!
Prettyinpinkgal: I know, shorter than even my other chapters, but it's an update. XP Sorry about the extreme shortness though!