Sophie found herself sitting in her bed with Luna on her lap waiting for the signal from Calcifer that she could go out.

Michael and Howl were in their rooms most likely asleep seeing that it was almost 11 at night.

'If we don't get there soon I think I will lose my mind waiting.' she thought.

"Hey Sophie. Wake up. We're here!" whispered Calcifer.

'Finally' Sophie jumped out of bed and ran out the door to the wastelands in nothing more than a dressing robe with a cat following her.

It was so beautiful.

The air was crisp and clean. The cloudless sky was filled with with thousands of shining stars. And there in the center of a frame made up of emerald green trees and blue mountains, was Star Lake.

The water was so clear it was as if it wasn't a lake at all, but two skies set right on top of each other.

She could not, would not resist the intense urge to run and dive in headfirst any longer.

Running as fast as she could towards the water, pausing long enough to take off and leave to robe on the shore, and dived right in.

After nearly 3 days without swimming, she had almost forgotten how wonderful it felt to transform into her true self.

Her sapphire blue scales shimmering in the light of the moon as she cruised in the crystal waters of the lake. She felt so free, it was if she was home.

The rest of the night was spent swimming, making bubble balls to play with Luna, and simply staring at the moon.

'It will be full tomorrow night. Maybe I can convince Calcifer to give me another day here. I bet it would be even more gorgeous during the day.'

As she turned these thoughts over in her mind. She felt as if she needed to be here the night of the full moon. She was not sure why or how she needed to be here, just that she had a feeling that she needed to be.

Dawn was approaching, she and Luna returned to the castle to prepare for the day.

Sophie was sad that the night was over, but she needed to talk to Calcifer about saying a while longer.

'No time like the present. Right?' Sophie told herself as she finished dressing.

She gave Luna a final pet and left her on the bed to sleep while she made her way to the kitchen.

As she began to prepare breakfast, she saw Calcifer had started to wake up.

"Morning Cinder-breath." chimed a smiling Sophie.

"And a good morning to you as well little Miss Gill-for-brains." retorted a waking fire demon.

"Calcifer?"

"Awwww... Yeah?"

"Is it possible.. Can we stay here another night? I don't know why but I think I need to be here awhile longer."

"Is this a mermaid thing that I would rather not know about?"

"Most likely."

"Okay."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. Howl will stuck in his bed for at least a week. I don't believe he will notice if we stay or if you do some weird mermaid things at night."

"Thanks Hot Head."

"You're Welcome Wet Blanket."

"So what do you think he's dreaming about up there?" Sophie asked.

"Probably dreaming that he is proclaimed by the King to be the most handsome, clever, and powerful wizard in the kingdom, like he claims to be all the time." smirked Calcifer.

"Talk about only in your dreams!

The two of them broke out laughing just as Michael came downstairs.

Michael had never would have believed it was possible if he didn't she it with his own eyes. Calcifer... Was Laughing?

In all the years that he had lived in the castle he had never once heard Calcifer so much as chuckle and this lady got him to laugh in only a few days! He couldn't believe it!

"Um... Good Morning?" said a now confused Michael.

"Good Morning Michael." replied a smiling Sophie.

"Hey kid." muttered Calcifer.

" So, how does french toast topped with whipped cream and berries sound to you?"

"It sounds great!" stated a now excited wizard's apprentice.

The idea of such a breakfast had his mouth watering.

"Good, can you do me a favor and see if Howl is up to eating the same thing or if he needs something else for breakfast?"

"Sure." And with that Michael walked back upstairs to Howl's room.

When he can back downstairs he said that Howl didn't want anything because his stomach was too queasy.

"Really? That is too bad that he doesn't want french toast, but he IS going to have some breakfast. He is far too thin to go on like this. Help yourself to some breakfast Michael."

With that Sophie grabbed some coins, a handful of berries and left the house through the doorway to Porthaven. She returned and hour later with a bag full of herbs and roots and a large packet from the butchers shop.

She set right to work. She pulled out a pot of water onto Calcifer and he brought it to a boil. She then got out a large carp and set to work filleting it and sorting the pieces that she wanted, the bites that Luna would have, and the parts that she would compost. She ground roots, cut herbs and prepared the contents for her butchers packet on a cutting board. When everything was prepared she brought the board over to Calcifer.

"What are you doing Sophie?"

"Making a magic potion to help Howl get his strength back." she replied with a smile.

Calcifer looked at the items she gathered. Herbs, roots, and... some LIVERS.

"Sophie? Please tell me that is not what I think it is!"

"That depends. What do you think it is?"

"I think I am going to be sick. What kind of magic potion is this?"

"I don't know if I made it up or not. But one time when my sister was sick I wanted to help make her better. I guess it was instinct cause I found myself later with all this herbs and things making a really bad smelling soup. She didn't want to drink it so I told her that it was a magic potion I had bought to help make her better. I don't know how I knew how to make it but I think it really was a magic potion. Cause the minute she drank it her fever was broken."

"Wow. How did she take it when you told her it was made from liver?"

"I didn't tell her so I can't answer that, but it works great cause from then on whenever anyone was sick I made that potion and it always cured them."

"I don't know Sophie. Should you really give this to Howl? I mean I would love to see the look on his face when he drinks that sludge you call a magic potion but then he would be up and about. Then you wouldn't be able to go out tonight."

"I got that covered. He is still confined to the bed until I am certain that he is fully recover. If he even tries to leave his bed before I say so he'll find himself in chains and under his oversized quilt."

At that neither one them could contain their laughter. When they sobered up Sophie finished brewing enough potion to last a couple of meals.

Luna was woken by the familiar smell and bounded to Sophie's shoulder meowing as if saying "No way I am going to miss this!"

With that the pair walked up to Howl's room with a mug of the magic potion.

Howl was still in the same place that she had left him in yesterday. Sulking in his bed under think quilts.

"Morning Howl. Time for breakfast."

"I am not in the mood for french toast. Thanks anyway."

"That's good, because you are not having any! You're getting something else."

Howl opened his eyes and gave Sophie a puzzled look.

"Since you didn't want french toast you will be having a special potion instead."

Howl opened his mouth in an attempt to protest that he didn't want anything.

"Oh no you don't. You are not going to get away with not eating anything anymore. You are nothing but skin and bones and as long as I am here you will eat proper meals. And before you say 'you're fired' you won't be getting rid of me that easily. I don't care if you fire me I will be staying here as long as I like. As of now, that won't be until I alone deem you well enough to look after yourself, Calcifer and Michael. You're not a bachelor you know, you are a man with a family that depends on you. Now since you don't want a real breakfast you will drink this potion, and I mean all of it!"

Sophie finished off her scolding with a glare that would have had Howl shaking with fear if he wasn't already frozen with shock. His gaze kept shifting from Sophie to the steaming mug and back to her again.

Sophie didn't wait for Howl to reply she placed the mug on the stand and forced Howl to sit up in the bed before holding the mug in front of his face.

Howl upon taking a sniff of the so called potion and grimaced wrinkling his nose at the foul odor.

"Ah, could I have some of that french toast you made instead? I would very much like to taste your cooking as I imagine it will taste like heaven." he asked batting his eyelashes while trying to push the mug away.

"Flattery will get you no where Howl. You had your chance and you didn't want any. If I recall correctly Michael said that you claimed your stomach ached. It is most likely to delicate to eat anything solid anyway. So until your stomach settles and strength returns this is all you will get to eat." answered Sophie quite sternly holding the mug under Howl's nose again.

Howl's face was practically green as he stared at the mug in horror.

Luna was shaking with laughter and had what could be called a smirk on her feline face. She was very much enjoying the show from Sophie's shoulder.

Howl's hand was shaking as he reached for the mug. His face scrunched up in a sour expression before he through back his head and chugged the mug as quickly as was physically possible in an attempt to avoid tasting it. It didn't work. It tasted revolting.

Once he got past the taste of it potion, he realized that he was feeling better. So much better in fact, what was in this potion?

"There now, that wasn't so bad was it. Now then go back to sleep and get some rest." said Sophie taking the mug and settling Howl back down on the bed.

"Now then, just so we are clear Howl. You are not to leave this bed for any reason other than bathroom breaks. If I find that you have done so without my permission I will tie you down and you will stay in your bed for a month. Understood?"

"You wouldn't do that to me. Would you beautiful?" asked Howl trying to turn on his so called charms.

Sophie was unimpressed. She and Luna shared an eye role before she gave her answer.

"As a matter of fact, I would do that to you. I would even go so far as to gag you just to prolong the peace and quiet I have been enjoying. Now do as I say and get some rest, I shall be back with another dose of potion for your lunch later."

"Sophie? Sophie! SOPHIE!"

Sophie was practically quaking with laughter when she made it downstairs. She could feel Luna shaking in the same way.

"Well that was entertaining wasn't it Luna?"

"Meow"

"I haven't had a good laugh in ages. Perhaps we should tell him what was in the potion later just to see how he reacts. Oh well, I'll think about it later. Let's get on with the rest of our day shall we?"

"Meow" said Luna nodding her head in agreement and off they went.