Lovestruck

i'm no damsel in distress

"Are you crazy?" Calcifer asked in his usual grumpy tone as he grabbed a log "I can't hold the portals without Howl's help." "You have to try." you said while making your way over to the witch with a red blanket in your hands. "If we dont break away, Howl will keep protecting the shop and use his power on that instead of using all of it on fighting the enemy." you informed as you placed a blanket on top of the witch and tied a knot by her neck in order for it to stay on, like a coat. "I preferred him as a coward." you mumbled to yourself.

"We have to go now." you said in an eased tone to the witch, helping her get up from the green couch. "Are we going for a stroll?" she asked as she got up from the couch. "We can't to that! It'll make us more vulnerable!" Calcifer protested. "We already are!" you replied while helping the witch on her way out little by little. "And if we don't move quick, Howl doesn't have any chance." you continued.

"Y/n!" you heard Markl yell from the entrance. You turned your head to face the door and saw him on the stairs with Heen right next to him. "They are about to bomb the shop!" he exclaimed, informing you that you were now on a limited time. Howl's magic was strong, but not strong enough to shelter you from a bomb. "Markl, help her get outside!" you said and let go of the witch. "On it!" Markl replied and started running towards the witch to help her. Meanwhile, you made your way over to the fireplace and grabbed the fireplace shovel that was next to it. With a strong motion, you held the shovel in front of Calcifer. "You're coming with us. Hop on." you said firmly. "I can't!" Calcifer stated. "It's impossible! Noone but Howl can take me out of this hearth!" he continued to tell you, but you had set your mind on helping Howl.

"There is no time to loose Calcifer," you said "we have to try something." And with that, you dug the shovel into the coal beneath him and scooped him up while he screamed; "Don't do this! Help, help, crazy lady with a shovel!" "If you take me out of that door, the castle could collapse!" he yelled anxiously, and you stopped right on the top of the stairs that led to the door. "Good!" you snapped back, tired of his complaining. Your plan would work, at least that was what you told yourself.

It was still raining outside wich made you a bit sceptical about your plan, thinking that Calcifer's flame could go out, but you had to try something. "We're ready!" Markl told you. "Great, step back!" you replied. "Make sure i go out last Y/n." Calcifer instructed you as you made your way down the stairs, towards the exit, step by step. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm sure it won't be good." he said in a low and anxious tone as you reached the bottom of the stone stairs. 

You turned around to make sure Calcifer would exit the castle last. He gripped the metal shovel tightly with his flame-hands and a worried look in his eyes. He panted nervously and was obviously scared to death, but you had no expression on your face as you moved. You started backing out of the castle and at once Calcifer was not under its roof anymore, the inside looked as if it was vacuumed into nothingness. Everyone but the witch gasped in surprise and your eyes widened as the whole castle collapsed bit by bit with intense noise. Metal was bending, planks were breaking apart and falling on top of eachother, various bricks were falling out of the wall and glass shattered. The whole castle looked.. dead. As if Calcifer was its heart.

"I told you it would collapse!" Calcifer told you, but suddenly gasped as he realized he was an open flame in pouring rain. "Rain! Rain!" he exclaimed as he tried to shelter himself with his hands from the rain. Your eyes searched your surroundings just for your eyes to meet a metal ship in the cloudy sky heading towards the town. "That ship is headed for town!" Markl stated. He was also watching it, wondering what chaos it would cause. 

"Markl, look after her okay?" you asked, nodding towards the witch. He nodded back to you as a yes. Now it was time to really start your plan. So, you made your way towards the castle again, to find an entrance, with Calcifer in your hand. "Turnip, help me find a way back in." you commanded and he followed, jumping after you. "Don't you worry, I will take good care of you." you could hear Markl telling the witch behind you.

You searched around the castle for a bit, looking for an entrance big enough to get you all inside safely. "You better hurry up Y/n, i'm going to go out soon." the fire said. "Shush." you replied back, with your eyes glued to the castle, searching. Then, your eyes met a big and glowing hole in the metal walls. You and Turnip made you way up to it and made the decision that it was safe to go inside from there. "Markl, here is a way in!" you yelled before going inside, finally getting Calcifer dry and safe from the rain. Turnip hopped over to Markl and  the witch. He then proceeded to pick the witch up in some magical way and hop inside with Markl and Heen running right behind them.