Sophie got out of bed early, and started to bake blueberry muffins for breakfast. The smell of them was enough to get Michael out of his bed and rushing down the stairs.

Howl wasn't so moved and instead of going down right away for breakfast, he went straight to the bathroom for a bath.

Hearing the pipes rumbling, Sophie knew that he would not be out for a while. So with Luna on her shoulder, she asked Michael to grab some money so they could go grocery shopping.

As they left Michael explained to Sophie how the door worked. It was enchanted so that it would lead to a different place with the setting of a dial. Green for Kingsbury, red for Porthaven, and yellow for just outside the castle. The place where the black setting led to was known only by Howl and she was not to go there.

With that knowledge Sophie, Luna, and Michael went to Porthaven to the market place.

When they had all the supplies that they needed they returned to the castle. They had just set the grocery bags down on the kitchen counter when.

"AWWWWW"

Sophie jumped and looked up at the stairs to see Howl running and bumbling into the walls, falling down the stairs and wailing.

"SOPHIE, LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" he shouted angrily

"LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK"

He shoved his head right in her face and she tried to see what was wrong. The only thing that she could see was his hair and it was... red?

"Cool color, it looks nice" she said trying to calm him down.

"YOU SABOTAGED ME, YOU RUINED MY POTIONS IN THE BATHROOM!"

Oh so that's what he was so upset about. That she cleaned that toxic dump and organized the stuff in there.

"I just cleaned up a little Howl, I didn't sabotage you or anything."

"Wrong, Wrong. I specifically ordered you not to get carried away. Ugh and now I'm hideous."

Howl sank down onto the chair in front of the fireplace, gripping his hair in tight fists and dry sobbing. He suddenly shuddered and his red hair turned a raven black.

"It's alright Howl, we can just dye your hair back if you want. But if you ask me this color looks much better than that fake blonde color you use."

It was true, even though she was trying to cheer him up she really did think that he looked much better with his raven black. It even looked as if it had a deep blue hue that she thought would really shine in the sun.

As if she wasn't even there, Howl continued his downward spiral of depression.

"I give up, there's nothing for me to live for if I can't be beautiful."

With that the room became dark, the castle itself shuddered in fear. As the shadows around the room began to moan and come to life.

Michael and Calcifer were worried for Howl and scared of the demons we has summoning. Sophie and Luna weren't so impressed, 'what a drama queen' they thought.

They exchanged an eye roll with each other before Luna hopped off and went to their bed to take a nap. While Sophie went to Howl with her hands on her hips. She watched as his temper tantrum got worse and he started to secrete a foul smelling green slime.

"OK Howl, your little pity party has gone far enough. There are other things that could be worse than what you call a bad hair day. You're not sick, and you're not dying so suck it up! Now you're going to get cleaned up and into bed where you can rethink your life. Because despite what your thinking now you got things pretty good. You have a roof over your head, food on your plate, and you have people who care about you! So quit your bellyaching and get over yourself. There are other people in the world who are far more worse off than you!"

She wasn't sure if he was listening to her or not, but at least she said what had to be said. She tapped her foot waiting for him to move, when he didn't she realized his magic tantrum must have zapped him of his energy.

"Michael would you go and get the water running in the tub please."

"OK Sophie."

Michael then ran up to the bathroom to start filling up the tub.

With a heavy sigh, Sophie picked up Howl, bridal style, and carried him up to the bathroom.

When he was all settled she began cleaning up the mess he left behind. With her powers the job was done in only 15 minutes.

"Hey Sophie, thanks for helping Howl and for the slap in face. He really needed a reality check" said Calcifer.

"Happy to do it. There's really no need to thank me."

"Yes there is, so tonight I am going to stop the castle at a place called Star Lake. With Howl as out of it as he is, I don't believe that you will have to worry about getting caught."

Sophie was overjoyed with the prospect of going swimming. In gratitude, she gave him a peck on his fiery cheek.

"Thank you Calcifer."

"Don't mention it, and I really mean that' said a now blushing fire demon still trying to act all tough and pull off the whole scary demon persona.

Once Michael had Howl all cleaned up, she put him to bed and then went to the kitchen to make a hearty vegetable stew for dinner.

After everyone had eaten their dinner, Sophie took a bowl up to Howl's room to see if he would eat something.

The room was crowded with so many things it was hard to tell where the mess ended and the collection of shiny trinkets began. Every inch of the room was covered in something, either shiny baubles, plush toys, or colorful pictures that scattered the walls.

Howl lay in his overly plush bed, tucked in with is thick over stuffed quilt. Looking very tired and worn out. The scratch marks on his face looked especially red against his now even paler skin.

"Hey Howl, I brought you some dinner. Vegetable Stew." She said with a small smile in an attempt to raise his spirits.

Howl how ever didn't respond.

Looking at the solemn wizard and was tempted to leave him be, but she knew that he would need to eat something. He needed to get his strength back and he was far too thin already in her opinion.

"Come on Howl. Wake up. You need to have some dinner" she said as she walked towards the bed and placed the tray with his dinner on the bed side table.

Howl just continued to lay on his bed, he was so still that Sophie would have thought he was dead if she couldn't see him breathing.

She almost felt sorry for him, ALMOST.

"Look Howl, I know you are tired but you NEED to eat. You already look like a scarecrow, you barely eat enough to keep a bird alive. You have to get your strength back and the only way that is going to happen at this point is for you to eat real meals. Starting with this one!"

Howl, who was awake and heard everything she said, simple groaned and turned his head away from her hoping she would give up and leave.

'Sorry Howl, but I can be just as stubborn as you!' thought Sophie knowing his intent.

She grabbed some pillows off the floor and propped him up in bed.

Howl's eyes popped open with a start as her hands touched his shoulders and stuffed pillows behind his back.

Once Howl was settled, and wide awake, Sophie picked up the bowl and started to try and spoon feeding him.

As the spoon neared his mouth Howl turned his away. Sophie had never met anyone so infantile.

"Look here Howl. Though you may act like an overgrown toddler,the truth is that you are a man! And you need to start acting like one! Now eat your dinner, if you have the strength. If not, you will just have to settle for being the baby you are acting like and let me feed you!"

Howl was certainly feeling some anger at her insults now. He turned towards Sophie.

"Now see here you have no right to... GULP"

Sophie stuffed a spoonful of stew in his mouth while it was open.

Preparing another spoonful she said " There now is this so bad. And one has every right to try and take care of someone that they care for."

"You care for me?" asked howl before Sophie stuffed another spoonful in the mouth of his now surprised face.

" Not directly. I care for Calcifer and Michael, and they care for you a great deal so I am caring for you for them. You have done nothing yet that would give me cause to really care for you."

Howl's face fell through 3 emotions, anger self-loathing and jealousy? Before settling on an expression of sad but thoughtful.

He gave Sophie no more trouble and simply ate every spoonful that she placed before his mouth. Soon the bowl was empty and she was satisfied that he had some good food in his stomach.

As she cleaned up the dishes, laid Howl back down so he could sleep, and went to leave.

"Sophie wait."

She turned seeing Howl looking at her with a hopeful expression.

"Yes Howl."

"Do you think... Is it possible... Is there even the slightest chance... that you could ever truly care for me?"

He looked so hopeful and embarrassed at have asking such a question that it was all that Sophie could do to hold back a surprised giggle. She smiled softly and replied.

" It could happen. I believe that anything is possible. You could be a man that I would care for, it would take a lot of work with the way you are now. A lot of work! But if you really want to change, to be a better man. I believe that you could!"

Howl's eyes were filled with mirth. He looked like he was going to laugh out right at her for what he thought was overly sweet preaching.

'Well I'll put a stop to that.' Thought Sophie with a smirk.

"And you can start by not getting mad when I tell you I changed your potions to try to dye your hair into a bubblegum pink, but it I got it wrong and turned it red instead."

She laughed outright at the look on his face as she left his room. He looked so freaked one would think that she had told him that she ate his first born!

"SOPHIE!"

She laughed all the way down the stairs. Maybe this place could be fun, especially if Howl kept being so easy to tease.

As she cleaned up the kitchen, she took her time all the while thinking about the castle's next stop. Star Lake. 'I wonder what it will be like?'

She looked over at her bed to see Luna curled up in a peaceful sleep.

'Guess we'll find out soon enough.'