Right, since my first HMC story isn't getting reviews, I decided on an awesome – well, to me – crossover. Enjoy, and review.
In which Sophie is angry and casts a spell.
Sophie Hatter was sewing in front of an empty grate in a castle that was currently stock still in mid-air. "And you really must stop tearing." She told Michael's best suit jacket. "It does get irritating having to mend you. Although I suppose it passes the time…"
Three things happened then. Firstly, there was a flare from the once-empty grate, to which Sophie had no time to give any sign of noticing except a slight glance up and a quick 'Hello', before the door opened and a young man entered, beaming with a box from Cesari's bakery under one arm. He ran right over to Sophie and grabbed her hands, causing her to drop his suit, and pulled her to her feet, swinging her around the room.
"Calm down, Michael!" Sophie said, laughing in spite of herself. "Now, what's all this excitement in the aid of?"
"It's Lettie- I mean Martha! Martha is a much nicer name than Lettie, you know. Anyway, we've properly announced our engagement now!" Michael replied enthusiastically, beaming.
"That's fantastic!" Sophie replied. "I'll make you a meal to celebrate, will I?"
"Oh, no you won't!" Calcifer said quickly from where he'd just reappeared in the grate.
"Oh, come on, Calcifer. For Michael?"
"No!"
But before Sophie had time to start a proper argument with the fire demon, the third thing happened. There was a loud crash from upstairs and a minute later, Howl strode into the room.
"Michael's properly engaged now, Howl." Sophie informed him.
"Really?" Howl asked. "Congratulations. Now, I must be going. It's not an easy life, being possibly the most powerful and quite probably most handsome man around, you know."
Sophie sighed and went back to her sewing.
Michael and Calcifer exchanged looks.
"Oh, and Sophie?" Howl paused with his hand o the doorknob.
"Yes?" Sophie asked, looking up so quickly she felt her neck crick.
"Help Michael with the spell I've left him, will you? It's rather difficult." And then he was gone.
Sophie's lips pursed slightly, quite obviously annoyed.
"Idiot." Calcifer snorted.
"Yes, he's completely clueless." Michael sighed in agreement, then turned to the table and began working on the spell.
Sophie kept sewing until Michael's constant sighing started to irritate even more than she already was. Then she put the jacket over the back of her chair and went over to see what the problem was. Not that she was perfect, but she could always cheat.
Michael showed her the spell, which looked incredibly complicated. "To travel between worlds" she read in printed text and then scribbled in Howl's illegible handwriting "Use to get to Wales ONLY. World 12B." She grabbed some powder irritably. Calcifer dived under his logs. Michael backed up a few steps. It was terrifying when Sophie was in this sort of mood.
"You are to take me to World Twelve A when you are thrown in the air, understood? Twelve A, and definitely not Wales!" she stormed, then without thinking, tossed a sprinkle of the powder upwards.
"Sophie!" she dimly heard Calcifer and Michael exclaim, and then she felt an arm catch her elbow, and then she was spinning, spinning through the air, and the view around her was changing, and then there was black.
When Sophie opened her eyes, she found Michael hanging onto her arm.
"W…where are we he asked her, awestruck. They were standing in a forest, surrounded by (would you believe it) trees.
They definitely weren't in Ingary anymore.
Sophie looked upwards, just in time to be pushed aside by Michael to the ground. When she was about to ask him why, indignantly enough, she saw exactly why. There was some sort of machine, metal parts all around, crashing full force to the ground. Two boys, around Michael's age, or a little younger, were tangled in it. After a moment of hesitation, Sophie and Michael started forward to help.
"Are you alright?" Michael asked the boys anxiously as he and Sophie pulled them out.
"I'm alright." said one. He had dark brown hair and was rather on the chubby side. "Thanks a lot." The other boy added. "Looks like that one didn't work, eh, Roger?"
"What was that?" Michael asked, looking at the machine.
"It was supposed to be a flying machine" replied the boy, Rodger, ruefully. "We really wanted this one to work too."
Sophie said, "Is it damaged?"
"Not anything terrible, but I doubt she'll be flying any time soon." The other boy replied. "I'm Joe Pinhoe, by the way, and this is Roger Chant."
"Sophie Hatter." Sophie said. "And this is Michael Fisher. Now, we need a little help. Do you know anyone who has quite powerful magic around here?"
Roger grinned. "My Dad just might be able to help you with that." He replied.
"What's in it for us?" Joe cut in quickly.
"We don't actually have-" Michael started.
But Sophie cut across him. "If you take me to your father, I'll make your machine fly again. How's that for a deal?"
"How will you do that?" Joe asked suspiciously.
"Swear first"
"Alright. You have our word." Said Roger, overcome with curiosity.
Sophie smiled, satisfied, and turned to the contraption. "Alright, you…thing…you are to work for these boys, understand? You are to work perfectly, and not crash." Then she stopped, ad turned to Roger and Joe. "There. Try it now."
The boys looked at her doubtfully, but climbed aboard all the same. They were airborne within seconds.
Sophie looked satisfied.
The boys looked delighted. "Alright, follow us." Joe called.
Sophie and Michael looked at each other, and then followed the boys on the machine through the trees. They arrived at a castle after a short time.
The two boys landed their machine, and then all four of them went inside.
"Wait in there." Rodger said, directing them to a drawing room. It was huge. "I'll go and get my Dad."
The two boys left the room.
"I wish Howl was here." Sophie muttered absentmindedly.
"Why?" Michael asked innocently.
"To show him what a castle really should look like." Sophie replied quickly.
Meanwhile, back in Ingary
Howl opened the door to the flower shop. It was empty. Curious. He walked through to the castle. It was empty. "Sophie? Michael?" he called, perturbed.
"They aren't here." Calcifer piped up from the grate. "They're in world…ah…Twelve A, I think."
Howl span round. "What?!"
"Yes, Sophie told the powder to go to 'Twelve A and definitely not Wales.'" Calcifer replied.
"Why? My note specifically said-"
"I know." Calcifer cut in. "I think she was just angry because you haven't asked her to marry you yet."
Howl stared at the fire demon for a second, and then picked up the powder, deciding to ignore the comment. "I'll see you, blueface."
"Where are you going?" Calcifer asked, without really having to.
"World 12A." Howl sighed. "I suppose."
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