I don't own any ideas for Howl's Moving Castle. I really recommend reading the book. If you haven't and have misgivings due to the fact that the characters seem so different, don't hesitate! It's just as hilarious and heart warming as the movie.

This includes BOOK references in great multitude. If you'd like, you can read this to see how different the book really is. If you have read it, I hope you get a small laugh.

When Howl first burst through the door of his moving castle one evening with the door dial black down, the inhabitants were just quieting down. Naturally, by the time the moon rose over Market Chipping, the castle was in a complete uproar.

It had all started when Howl had happened to be going by an old video store, just in passing. Nevertheless, as things generally happen with Howell Jenkins, it had ended up not being in passing after all. He'd spotted a film poster pasted to the front of the store (behind the "going out of business" sign) with his name on it and had immediately rushed inside to buy it. Perhaps he had also stopped by to see why he hadn't been cast as himself.

He hadn't even paused to read the back of the case; he'd figured that the general plot would be somewhat familiar. He'd merely rushed in, bought it, and rushed out, leaving the store workers in a daze and the shop smelling strongly of gardenias.

Everything had happened rather fast after that. Howl had run directly home and burst through the castle door, waving the DVD above his head like some sort of flattened and colorful trophy. A television had been conjured, frightening Sophie, who had fallen out of her chair where she had been absorbed in darning socks for Michael.

Sophie had gotten up immediately. She had ignored Howl's apologies and had angrily brushed herself off. Michael had rushed down the stairs with Prince Justin at his heels, a spell in his hand, to find Sophie poking Howl in the chest, Howl's hands raised in surrender, a sparkling object in his right hand and a black box from Wales rooted to the wall.

"HOWL! I told you NOT to do things like that to me! My heart is still having problems and can't take many surprises!" Sophie was yelling, repeatedly poking Howl in the center of his chest. Howl was laughing, waving his hands in the air, not even attempting to push Sophie away. Michael handed Prince Justin the spell and sighed.

"That'll be the usual, then," he said, accepting the lumpy bag of gold pieces from the Prince.

"Yes, that's fine. What's this ruckus, then?" the Prince asked, turning toward the source of his oncoming headache. For some reason, he always left Wizard Howl's home with a headache. Yet he still continued coming back. He really didn't know why anymore. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he felt the need coming on for a heated argument with his brother over war responsibilities.

"I found something amazing!" Howl said, taking hold of Sophie's hand with his free left one. He held it clasped there while she continued muttering to herself at his side and waved the DVD in the air. "It's a film about us! Wouldn't you like to see it, Michael? I'm sure it's just fantastic. It seems to focus on me, after all."

Sophie slipped her hand free from Howl's grasp and faced him. "Whatever do you mean? Where did this come from? Why did you bring it here?"

"Film?" Michael asked, still clutching the bag of gold. He had no idea what sort of magic Howl had created this time.

"I think I'll be leaving now," the Prince began. The beginnings of that headache were really coming on strong now. If his brother sent him to do his errands like this one more time, he was seriously going to have to drag Suliman back from his honeymoon before he lost his mind, Lettie or no Lettie.

"No, you won't," Howl stated cheerfully, popping the DVD in the television with a tight lipped Sophie watching from behind, "you'll want to stay and watch this, I believe. If only our wonderful Royal Wizard Suliman were here. Ah well, I guess you'll have to do." And with that, Prince Justin found that he in fact did want to stay as leaving the castle would mean taking one of Sophie's good chairs with him. He was a bit stuck to it.

"Confound it all," the Prince muttered. He stuck the spell in his pocket as the castle's magical lighting became dim. Howl had caused him nothing but trouble after saving him. He couldn't help wishing for a savior that was a bit more modest. Who could blame him?

Sophie was intrigued. The black box was now imitating a blue, flickering light. She blinked a bit when the blue light suddenly changed into an enchanted, moving picture. Many different pictures were whirring across the screen in bursts of color and movement.

"Botheration!" Howl suddenly shouted, startling Sophie once more, "The sound isn't working. I could have sworn I plugged everything in correctly." He busied himself behind the box, moving the roots around. He apparently found what he was looking for within a few seconds and connected another root to the wall through a dark hole. Howl stood up, grinning broadly as the box suddenly began speaking in a low voice about "future films". "Good. The commercials are still going."

"What is this?" Michael asked as he stepped closer to the box-plant that was now speaking about a different "film". This one seemed to be about talking cars with large, blinking eyes.

"This, my friends, is a television," Howl stated lightly. He collapsed into a chair and grinned up at the confused faces of Michael and Sophie. "It's sort of like a portable play. You can watch the actors anywhere with one of these." Sophie turned to look at the box again. She didn't know yet whether she liked it or not.

Michael, however, seemed entranced. The young apprentice bent to the floor and crossed his legs, all while continuing to stare at the thing.

"Sophie! Come sit with me!" Howl whined, opening his arms. Sophie blushed, feeling the blood rising up her face with great chagrin. He was acting like a child calling for his mother! But she went anyway, managing to become a bit tangled in his trailing sleeves.

"I'll have to cut those off if you ever want me to do this again," she warned softly, fingering the cloth.

"I've been notified," he said. They smiled at each other in the darkness and an annoyed cough was sounded from the prince in the corner.

"Must you be so couple-like with company over? I've heard that it is considered rude in some countries to-"the prince began but was cut off by an excited squeak from Howl who threw Sophie off and dived for the black box. Sophie was so surprised by the noise Howl had made to be annoyed with him for dumping her on to the rug.

"This is it!" Howl shouted, pressing a button on the box. Sophie had one glimpse of the picture there before the box's magical center changed again. A young girl sporting silver hair was holding hands with a dark young man in the shadow of what Sophie assumed to be a very large garbage heap with feet.

This wasn't going to be pretty.

I'm up and running once more! This should be an interesting read. Thought I'd begin with a small intro before hacking my way through a second chapter. Perhaps split the movie into two parts? There's a thought. Sorry this is so short, though. I don't have a lot of time in my day.

blacklitdogstar