A/N: Hey guys! SillyLeaf here! See this? This is the first chapter of my new HMC story, Wingbeats and Heartbeats! Its not the one I mentioned earlier, because I got bored of that one. This ones even better! Lots of fluff, fantasy, and romance will ensue!

This is movie-verse, since Im absoloutely in love with the film, but there are hints of book. So if you dont like the movie, or HowlxSophie, don't read!

Also, just to warn you, this first chapter is really boring and quite vague. Its mostly introduction.

Disclaimer: I dont own Howl's Moving Castle. Never have, never will.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Ordinary Stable Girl

"Sophie! Aribba's stall needs to be cleaned still!"

Sophie huffed as she shoveled out waste from the stall she was currently cleaning. She dumped the droppings in the muck bucket and leaned back against the wall, wiping perspiration from her brow. She sighed tiredly.

"Now please Sophie!"

Sophie growled. "OKAY!" she shouted back. Sweeping mouse-brown hair from her eyes, she inspected the stall, making sure it was clean before heading down the aisle to Aribba's stall. She sighed. In all honesty, she hated this job. Cleaning horse stalls was just not her cup of sugar. Making hats was. But she couldn't make enough money doing that. Sophie sighed again as she remembered the conversation she and her mother had a few months back.

Sophie sat at the counter of her father's hat shop, utterly bored. Business was slow as usual. It had been ever since her father passed away over a year ago. She and her mother, Honey, were in charge of it now, but the latter was rarely ever there. She tapped her fingers absent-mindedly on the countertop, watching townspeople pass by, not one of them stopping inside the shop.

This is ridiculous, Sophie thought.

Quite suddenly though, an elegant looking woman dressed in a yellow gown burst through the doors. She ran up to Sophie, a panicked look on her face.

"Oh Sophie, its horrible! We don't have enough money to keep the shop open!" she cried. Sophie blinked, mouth falling open a little. She stared in shock at the woman before her.

"W-what?"

"Its true! We just don't have enough customers to keep this place running! We're going to have to sell the shop!"

Sophie gulped. No, she wouldn't let this happen.

She shook her head. "I won't let that happen. I'll do whatever it takes to keep Father's shop open, Mother."

Honey gazed at her sympathetically. She knew how much her daughter loved the shop. "But Sophie, how do you intend to do that?" she asked.

Sophie looked down at her hands, thinking. What could she do?

Her mother watched her for a few moments, then brightened considerably.

"You could find another job," she suggested. Sophied lifted her gaze to meet Honey's.

"What job? There's not much out there nowadays.." Honey thought for a moment, then grinned.

"I hear the King's looking for stable workers in Kingsbury. It wouldn't be very hard an I'm sure he would pay handsomely."

Sophie grimaced. Stall cleaning? Such a dirty job! But what choice did she have? She sighed.

"But won't that mean I'll have to move to Kingsbury? Who would take care of the shop?"

Honey waved her hand dismissively. "I'll have Lettie and Martha watch over the shop. I will pop in every now and then as well. Don't worry about it." She looked pleadingly at Sophie. "So will you do it?"

Sophie looked away and thought for a moment. She really needed to make some money. And the shop was a ghost town most of the time.. Maybe cleaning stalls wouldn't be so bad? She would get to be around horses, afterall. Sophie made her decision.

"I'll do it."

"Wonderful! I'll inform your sisters and have a carriage sent right away! Pack your things!" Honey swept out of the shop and back into the busy streets of Market Chipping. Sophie stared after her for a moment before heading out the back door and crossing over to her apartment. She reached her room and stepped inside. Pulling a bag out from under the bed, she opened it and stuffed all her clothes inside. Sophie took one last long look at her bedroom before closing the door and heading back to the shop. Upon returning, she was met by her positively shining mother and a fancy carriage.

"She can afford all those nice dresses and carriage rides, but she can't even afford to keep the shop open," Sophie grumbled as she lugged her bag to the coach.

Honey kissed her goodbye and gave her some money for an Inn before Sophie stepped into the carriage, smiling sadly. The door closed and they were off. Her mother waved behind them as the carriage rode off down the street. Sophie sighed and leaned against the window. She fell asleep before too long, dreaming of horses and hats.

Sophie remembered that day clearly. When she had reached the city, she had rented a room at a comfy Inn and stayed there until she had earned enough to buy an apartment. The King had hired her, and Sophie had been working in the royal stable ever since. She has now been in the city for three months, working weekdays and resting on weekends. After only a few weeks, she began despising her job. She was always sore, and the older stableboys never left her alone. Sophie had learned how to yell viciously enough to keep them away. She had only one friend, Lia, and she only worked Mondays and Tuesdays.

Sophie reached the end of the aisle and Aribba's stall. Aribba was a beautiful pinto Arabian with soft fur and gentle eyes. But she was horribly messy. Sophie groaned when she saw the mess in the stall. The other workers always purposely missed this stall and she would always end up cleaning it. Today was no different.

Sophie pulled up the muck bucket and set to work. Will, the boy who had called for her, had left as soon as she replied. He didn't want to end up helping.

After half an hour of shoveling and scraping, the stall was clean. Sophie stepped out and dragged an arm over her face.

Finally done, or so she thought. Nobody had bothered to feed or fill the water buckets before leaving. Now, all alone, she would have to do it. Sophie growled.

This was, by far, the worst job ever.

Yes I know, it sucks. But it will get better! I promise! Chapter two is finished and just needs to be typed.

Sophie and Howl will meet next chapter, so don't worry!

Any questions will be answered in the next update. And updates won't be too long in between. Just thought id let ya know. I will NOT be one of those writers who just randomly stop updating and disappear without saying a word.

Reviews are much appreciated!

Until next time!

~SillyLeaf