Kiki-A witch and n training.

Jiji-One of Kiki's familiars.

Mimi-Kiki's second familiar. Has a name in THIS fan fiction.

Osono-Bakery owner.

Fukuo-Osono's husband.

Fukuo Jr.-A baby with a name in THIS fan fiction.

Tombo-Kiki's friend. Loves to fly.

Howl-A famous wizard.

Sophie-Howl's girlfriend in THIS fan fiction.

The Witch of the Waste-A witch.

Markle-Howl's first apprentice.

Calcifer-Told as a shooting star.

Heen-Howl's new dog.

This story was set in no particular tme frame.

Edited March 1st 2022 for typos.

Edited October 28th to make a surprise.

Upstairs in an attic lived a very young girl all in black. She opened a window and brushed her black hair and tied it in a red bow.

The attic itself was cleaned properly twice a week, but still had a musty smell to it. A few cob webs could be seen here and there.

Two black cats still slept at the bottom of the girl's bed. One was younger than the other. The older was a boy and the younger was a girl. They were wearing clothes fit for kitties that were familiars, which meant they were magic, and which covered them from neck to past their tails.

"Time to get up, Jijj!" Kiki said to the older cat. "You too, Mimi!" Kiiki called to the younger.

A knock was heard ion the door.

"Kiki!" called a woman. "I have a BIG job for you, today!"

"I'll be right there, Osono!" called the girl who's name was Kiki.

Kiki got her broom out of a corner of the room and got ready.

"Let's see where we're flying to today!" Kiki said with a smile.

Jiji and Mimi followed Kiki out the door.

"I LOVE being a witch!"" Kiki declared.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Downstairs from the attic was a bakery. The door was left open to waft in the breeze the smells of bread. Outside, springtime air came in.

A woman all in green with a white apron and red hair stood there with a slight belly left over from pregnancy.

A man was also there, in blue and an apron and brown hair holding a bundle in his arms, rocking it.

"What's the big job, Osono?" Kiki asked.

"Fukuo and I need to go to a doctor's appointment," Osono explained. "We're leaving Fukuo Jr. in your care."

"WHAT?!" Kiki yelped in surprise. "I can't do that!"

"I wouldn't trust you with this if I doubted you. All you need to do is feed him, change him and put him to bed. The milk is in the fridge, diapers are in his room and so is his crib. We'll close the shop for today son you aren't overwhelmed. We leave right now."

Fukuo handed the bundle to Kiki and both parents headed out the door.

The baby had a small tuft of red hair like his mother. He was sleeping soundly.

But that didn't last long.

Fukuo Jr. awoke suddenly, crying.

"I'll do exactly like Osono said," Kiki said to herself.

Kiki had no trouble feeding or changing the baby. She just couldn't get him to sleep.

A knock was heard on the bakery door.

"Kiki!" called a young boy.

"Be there!" Kiki said as she set the baby down in it's crib. Just for a moment.

"Tombo!" Kiki greeted as she opened the door for the boy.

The boy, Tombo, was in a red striped shirt, blue jeans and glasses. He had red-brown hair.

"What are you doing here?" she asked politely.

"Just wanted to say, 'Hi'. What are you doing?"

Kiki explained the entire situation.

"You're lucky I'm here!" Tombo said. "I know all about babies!"

Tombo and Kiki made their wah into the baby's room.

He was crying, again.

Tombo took the baby into his arms. He sat on a nearby wicker rocking chair and began to sing a lullaby.

The cats came over, sat in Tombo's lap and purred.

"White noise," Jiji explained to Kiki.

Soon, both animals and baby were fast asleep.

"Where'd you learn how to do that?" Kiki asked Tombo in a whisper.

"My mom used to sing it to me as a baby," Tombo also explained in a whisper. "She taught me it when my little cousin was born."

"Well, you did a good job!" Kiki said.

"The trick is getting them to the bed!"

Kiki and Tombo stuffed in laughter until they heard another knock on the door. Kiki went to open it.

"Osono! Glad you're here!"

Kiki opened the door and in came a paper airplane.

Tombo managed to put the baby in the crib an the cats stayed on the chair.

"What's that?" Tombo asked in curiosity.

The paper unfurled into a map and a note .

"'Please come to Ingary'." Kiki read.

"'INGARY?!'" Tombo yelped. "That's in another country! Near Wales!"

"Well, the city of Koriko is only a few cities away from, 'Market Chipping'.Kiki read further.

The map had an arrow leading somewhere special.

That's when Kiki realized something.

"A witch must must've sent this,"

"You sure?" Tombo asked.

"They must be! I wonder what they want me to deliver?" Kiki said aloud.

"You're sure you're okay with this?" asked a worried Tombo.

"I've flown pretty far before. I'll be careful," Kiki assured.

Tombo checked the time on his watch.

"I gotta go. Tell me all about this new witch when you get back, okay?" he asked. "And try to convince them to come here. Always cool to see them fly. Oh! Sorry! I'm making you jealous, aren't I?"

"No way!" said Kiki. "I know how you love to fly."

Soon, Tombo had left.

"Now I just have to deal with Osono,"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

""You're going WHERE?!" Osono yellped.

"The flyby shouldn't take too long," Kiki explained. "It's only a few cities away from Koriko. Now, it isn't very close to my hometown of Karikiya, but that doesn't bother me!"

"Well, we better get you ready,"

Osono gave Kiki a loaf of bread, cheese, and milk.

"Right here now?" Kiki asked.

"You can never be too prepared," Osono said with a wink.

Kiki was in the attic calling for her cats.

"Jiji's probably telling his family all about it," Kiki assumed. "Jiiji! MimI!"

Only Jiji came.

"Tomorrow, I'm leaving Mimi with her mother, Lily, and her siblings. This journey is too much for a kit her age,"

"But she's in training like me!" Kiki argued. "And she's almost an adult!"

"I must remind you you're training period is almost over and you only know how to fly!"

Kiki frowned. "I know. I'm almost 14,"

Jiji frowned, too. "Don't worry, Kiki. Soon, we'll be home and your mother will teach you about potions,"

"Like I'm looking forward to that," Kiki said with sarcasm.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day was the day to leave for Ingary. Kiki had her food in a basket. Jiji was climbing on and Kiki was looking at a map.

"It says here we're going to a place with markets,"

Kiki and Jiji got on Kiki's broom and set off.

The crisp spring air turned to wintery temperatures.

It started to snow.

Soon, an entire day went by and they were there.

They noticed something below, however.

"Look, Jijji!" Kikij pointed.

There were tiny airships, small enough for three people at a time.

"I bet Tombo would like them! Whatever they are!"

Then people were starting to notice something.

"That girl! She's on a broom!"

"I guess that people don't have flying brooms around here," Kiki said.

Kiki knocked on the door.

"'Market door!" called a voice.

Kiki took that as cue to step in.

Kiki saw a living room and stairs leading up to who knows where.

There was a woman in a yellow dress and sun hat and silver hair who was feeding an old woman oatmeal in a purple dress and whispy white hair in a chair. A boy in green with a red bow tie was eating eggs and bacon.

"Are you a witch?" Kiki asked the woman.

"Wel, no, you're looking for Howl," the woman explained.

"Who's How-" but a gust of air went through her from outside. "It forget must be winter in this country."

Kiki noticed a fire in a hearthq.

"May i?" she asked the silver haired lady.

"You can, but-"

Kiki walked over to a hearth with fire and warmed her hands in it.

"Do you really have to do that?" asked the fire.

"You speak?!" yelped a surprised Kiki.

"Yeah, everyone says that. I'm really a shooting star. HOWL!" the fire yelled, too."

A young man in a red tunic tied onto a belt with white trousers and a necklace came down from the stares..

The woman noticed Kiki's broom. "Don't tell me I'm getting a helper," she grinned.

"No, this girl will be taught just like Markle," the man explained to the woman.

"Excuse me," Kiki cut in. "Who are you talking about?"

"Why, you!" the man related. "We saw you on our new TV saving that boy. Although, he was about to fall into the pool the police car fell in and wasn't in any real danger. You really struggled on that broom, too. That's why you're going to be my new apprentice!"

"Great, another addition to the family," the star grumbled.

"'Family'? 'Apprentice'?" Kiki repeated.

"Well, we're all LIKE family, here. And I think you would be thrilled to learn new magic from me. I'm Howl. This is my girlfriend, Sophie, and my first apprentice, Markle," Howl said as he gestured to the woman then to the boy. "And that's Calcifer and the Witch of the Waste," he pointed to the star and to the old woman. "Pay no attention to either of them. They're not all that powerful."

"Speak for yourself!" spat Calcifer.

"What a pretty young girl!" spoke the witch.

"You're going to teach me?" Kiki asked Howl in confusion. "Why not her?" Kiki pointed to Sophie. "Or her?" Kiki pointed to the Witch of the Waste.

"Because Sophie is not a witch and the Witch of the Waste has no more power anymore. I'M a wizard!" Howl spoke proudly.

"A wizard?! I thought they were a myth!" Kiki said in surprise. "My mother always said witches were only women and they were born with their powers. And we ride on broomsticks, not like those flying mini-airships like they have here."

"That's weird," spoke Howl. "This country is known for it's wizards. It's a small country, though, so I can understand why your mother thought that. And those airships must be flying kayaks."

Jiji pawed at Kiki's leg.

"Oh! You have a familiar!" Howl piped up. "I was thinking of training our dog, Heen, into one!"

A dog came in the room with a sweater head to tail as he, too, was a magic pet and stared at Jiji. He barked.

"Never mind! Let's leave!"Jiiji said in fear.

"What were you going to say?" Kiki asked. "That we should stay? That I can learn from Howl? And I thought you weren't afraid of dogs anymore."

"I'm cautious. That's dfferent!" Jiji complained.

Kiki ignored him.

"You are wrong about my broom flying skills, but I would love to learn how to use a flying kayak. And how to make potions."

"Great! You start today!" Howl announced. "Oh, and kayaks aren't magical, by the way."

"What do I do in return?" Kiki asked.

"Nothing! Why?" Howl asked back.

"I don't want to do something for nothing,." Kiki explained.

"Well, Markle sells things and practices his disguise, so I suppose you should do something as well," Howl decided.

Kiki noticed the boy.

"Is he 13?"

"15!" said Markle, matter-of-factly.

"Wow, I didn't expect that!" Kiki said aloud.

"Well, uh. You're really tall!" Markle tried to name-call.

Kiki changed the subject.

"I'll cook and clean for you," Kiki told them. "I do it all the time."

"Good! I finally get some help around here!" Sophie said.

"Wouldn't that mean you have less time to bake bread and and make deliveries?" Howl inquired.

"You mean I can?" Kiki asked.

"Yeah! Also you don't have to clean or cook." Howl said.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Oh, well,"

There was one more thing Kiki had to decide. "Can I please help my friend with her baby, too?"

"A baby?" asked Howl. "I suppose so."

"Then we have a deal!"

"Now that that's settled, let me show you something," Howl said as he lead Kiki to the front door. There was a a dial above the door with the color of yellow.

Howl opened it and Kiki saw the market town again.

"This is where we sell hats and flowers," he explained.

Howl closed the door and opened it on the purple dial.

Kiki saw flowers everywhere, as far as the eye could see.

"This is where we get the flowers for the shop," Howl explained again.

Howl closed the door again.

"These next two are for you," he said.

The next dial was orange.

Kiki was bewildered.

"It's the attic in Koriko!"

She turned around to Howl.

How did you know where I was staying?"

Howl grinned. "Same how I sent that message to you: rumors and a magic map. You're a rather famous witch, now, you know. Normally, I don't need a map, buy I never traveled to those places so I needed one. That's why I gave you one."

"Why didn't you come by yourself?" Kiki asked.

"I wanted to see if you could get over here on your on," Howl explained. "One more surprise!"

Howl closed up the dial and opened up the last dial, which was black.

Kiki immediately recognized this place, too.

"My home in Karikiya! It's my old bedroom!"

Howl closed the door.

"Now, you can visit your friends and family whenever you want!" Howl beamed.

"Thank you for this!" Kiiki said with a bow.

"You should tell them the news so we can get started," Howl said.

"Then all's I need is to get their permission!"

"Before you go, you should see something more. CALCIFER!" Make the castle fly!"

"I'm right here!" Calcifer called in the living room. "Fine."

Kiki heard strange sounds. Howl opened the door.

Kiki saw nothing but scrap metal and wings. It still surprised her. Jiji, too.

"Wow!" Kiki.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Just knock on the door when it's time for you to leave," Howl directed to Kiki.

Kiki entered the musty attic. She headed for the downstairs bakery.

"Oh! Kiki! Did you fly in?" Osono asked when she saw her.

"You must've, right?" askes Tombo, who had also been waiting for her return.

Kiki explained everything.

"Well, I'm not going to change your mind. I'm just happy you're still sticking around,'" Osono told her.

"I wish I was as lucky as you, Kiki!" Tombo said. "And when you get around to it, teach me how to fly on a flying kayak, okay?"

"Okay! Now I just gotta tell my parents,"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I was hoping you'd be back home by now, Kiki," Kiki's father said. "What do you think, Kath?"

Okino was in brown hair and glasses. He had on blue pants and a red vest and white color shirt and red tie.

"I think it's a wonderful idea, Okino!" Kiki's mother exclaimed. "I never had the time to teach her potions, so learning them from a wizard-which I did not know existed, by the way-sounds good! Anything this man can teach her is fine by me!"

Kath was wearing a black dress, black scarf on her head and apron.

"Horray!" Kiiki said as she hugged her parents.

"Now, onto Howl's moving castle!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

At the king's castle, Madame Suliman was busy planning.

She was all in red, necklace, and a red hat. She had a staff.

"Never mind the king. I need Howl. And I will get him!"