The hills along the Wastes were quiet, save for the subtle howling of the wind passing through. They were alone - a small band of five, one too small to walk on his own and another too weak. They were alone, but at least they were alive.

Since the Palace collapsed, they had been wandering through the Wastes, walking only when the wizards were too fatigued to complete a transporting spell. However, it occurred to them once the capital city became only a skyline that any home they previously had no longer existed. There was no castle to return to, no shop in Market Chipping, not even Ovela - and before they settled again, reuniting with their friends was their first task.

Sophie lay in Howl's arms, resting during the entire journey. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. The way she lay her head against his shoulder sleeping so peacefully and how she smiled while dreaming was a beautiful sight. He couldn't remember the last time he saw her smile like that, like the world was finally set right again and there was nothing left to fear. She was relieved of her fears at last.

"Uh, Howl." Kenta held their newborn, Xarx walking next to them. The baby squirmed in the blanket, his toothless mouth crying for attention - and Kenta went blank. "How do I... um, what does he want?"

Sophie stirred at the sound of his cries, darting her eyes in every direction until she focused on the little boy. "Let me see him."

Howl held her closer. "No, you're too tired. You need rest."

Sophie fluttered her eyes like butterfly wings. "He might be hungry."

With that thought, he gently set her on her feet and Kenta placed the infant in her arms. They walked a fair distance away to give them some privacy. Between the morning sun and fog, the wizards found blackened smoke still seeping into the sky. Kingsbury, or rather all of Ingary, would face immense changes following the previous night's events. The royal city was in a state of distress, almost entirely vacant now. The hierarchy was broken.

"I wonder how Justin and Roland felt when they saw this." Kenta said.

Howl nodded. "That's if they're even still alive to see it."

"You think they survived?"

"Anything is possible with those two." Howl shuddered as Xarx tapped his shoulder and immediately turned to him. The man had been quiet since their departure, and merely pointed toward a crowd far off from them, but still approaching them.

Kenta sucked in a heavy breath. "Do you think they're friends or enemies?"

Howl drooped his eyes. He was so tired. Carrying Sophie, moving from place to place so they wouldn't be caught in the middle of the night, and with a newborn child whose only defense was his vulnerable parents - all of these gave Howl reasons for their eventual downfall. After everything they had accomplished, everything and everyone they lost along the way, he couldn't push himself to fight another battle.

He walked back to Sophie, hoping to stay with her should anything happen, but he perked up his ears at the sound of his name. The voice was young and playful and familiar, and the sigh of relief that spread across their small group made tomorrow look much brighter.

"Master Howl!" Markl and Heen rushed toward the couple and embraced them fully. The tiny dog wheezed with excitement and curiosity at the newest addition, yet Sophie couldn't contain her wide smile as their friends and comrades sprinted toward them. Lona rushed into Kenta's arms and he held on like he never thought of letting go. Their loving whispers were too quiet for anyone else to hear, but their tears were those of joy and final peace.

Gwenda took careful steps toward them, the rest of the magicians and humans behind her all looking dim. Howl held their child as Gwenda knelt down next to them, embracing Sophie like the others.

"I thought I'd never see you again." Sophie said.

Gwenda breathed a laugh. "I was afraid of the same thing." She tightened her grip on Sophie, hoping to make the moment last just a little bit longer. However, all the hugs in the world couldn't prepare Sophie for what was to come.

A man with hair like fire knelt beside them, a young woman in his arms. Gwenda released Sophie and held the baby, as she knew Sophie and Howl had one final pressing matter to grieve. Gwenda kept her gaze away from the pain she knew Sophie felt at that moment, forcing her focus on the new life in her arms.

Sophie was stunned. "Ma-Martha?" The lifeless girl lay on the ground like a body in a coffin. Her face was filthy and dirty, but had been clean of the blood for Sophie's sake. She wanted to doubt what she saw, pretend that her sisters were alive and well and thriving. This fate, their early end, was not how things should have happened.

Sophie, the only surviving sister of the Hatter family, wept.

"No, no." She wrapped her arms around Martha, hoping to feel a heartbeat or a breath - but nothing came. Nothing came. "Not you, too."

The crowd stood around, bowing their heads or comforting others. Though few knew of the Hatter sisters and their bravery in the events leading to this moment, Sophie knew. She knew and she wept for all the things they would never have together, the memories they could never share. She wept knowing her sisters gave their lives to save hers.

A few others carried a second body, that of the Witch of the Wastes, and laid her beside Martha. Howl and Kenta sucked in a quick breath, completely still with shock. Her calm figure contrasted everything they knew about her. She was strong; she was arrogant and self-centered at times, but even then she carried a heavy heart filled with love and devotion. Her death was a symbol of that to them.

Howl bowed his head in respect, but Kenta could not. As Lona held on to him tighter, he could only think of how he had never forgiven her for what she had done to his love - and how he would never be able to anymore.

Sophie held her sister securely, hardly paying attention to the man resting a hand on her shoulder. "She saved us all. Suliman is no longer a threat to you or anyone."

She looked up with red, glistening eyes, at the man with fiery hair. All eyes turned to him, some in agreement and others in confusion. He nodded in the reassurance of Suliman's demise and of Sophie's newfound peace in knowing that.

Sophie gazed back and forth between him and her sister. "You mean... but I thought-"

"She made the change that she wanted to see happen." Gwenda smiled, hoping to feel that Martha's sacrifice was not in vain. Knowing that her death meant Suliman's as well was the greatest demonstration of love she had ever seen - she spared Sophie's child from having to face the evil that was Madame Suliman.

Sophie stared at her sister, memories flooding in like a hurricane. All the times they fought, the times they shared secrets or played in the yard or showed how much they loved each other - Sophie would carry those with her. Martha and Lettie, her sisters who risked their lives in order to protect her, would always be remembered.

Sophie wiped her eyes clean, then turned to the man with the vibrant hair. "I'm sorry, I don't believe I know your name."

He smiled and reached his hand to rest on Gwenda's shoulder. "Come on, Soph. I thought you'd never seen a fire with more spark."

She stared in awe and amazement and disbelief. Her lips trembled as Gwenda nodded with spirit, and Sophie cupped her lips as he knelt down next to them. The fire demon she assumed to have perished like the rest was standing before her the way he had always dreamt, and for the first time the longtime friends held each other, arms wrapped around in a warm embrace.

They buried the two witches, along with the many others who died in what would be known as the Magicians' War. They prepared for a brief memorial. Howl spoke proudly of the two women he knew, expressing his respect for their strength and sacrifice. While at times he felt betrayed and wronged by them, that didn't matter anymore. They didn't deserve the fate they were given, yet their choices led them this way. All of their choices led them to where they all stood. In the end, Martha and the Witch both made the ultimate decision, not knowing what the effects leading would be.

Far off from the hills of the Wastes, the capital Kingsbury bustled with people filled with fear and anxiety. Everyone walked to the edge of the hill, watching the aftermath ensue. Those who had been fortunate in life now faced the misfortune of a crumbling kingdom and a shattered ruling system. All of Kingsbury would feel the damages at some point or another, once the country realized what had become of the Royal Family.

Gwenda spoke low. "King Roland is dead."

Sophie held her child close to her, though her eyes scanned the aftermath. "And Justin?"

"He ran off. I let Johanna go. She never wanted the life of a queen, and now she's free of it."

Howl narrowed his eyes. "I wonder where he is."

"Who knows?" Kenta scoffed. "Probably basking in the glory that he'll be king now."

"How can you be a king without a kingdom?" The baby squirmed in Sophie's grip and she dropped her gaze to him. He rubbed his eyes with tiny fists and showed toothless gums to everyone who was close enough. For someone so small and fragile, he brought smiles to those who believed happiness was lost. He brought joy and excitement - and to others, he secured the hope of a brighter future.

Calcifer and Howl stood close behind her, their eyes sparkling at the little life in her arms. His eyes were lighter than the sky, two oceans of blue glistening as he caught his father's stare. Calcifer pressed a firm grip on his shoulder as Howl wiped one eye clean, still in disbelief of the wonder he and Sophie gave life to. His responsibilities were clearer than ever now - family over everything. No more missions, no more secrets, no more risks.

Sophie turned around to the former fire demon, her arms moving up and down slowly to rock the baby. "I remember you saying once how you wished to hold the baby."

Calcifer blinked. "Me?"

She nodded. With careful precautions, Sophie transferred the little boy to Calcifer's stiff arms. His teeth chattered and he was unable to move a muscle. Having only been human for less than a day, he thought of all the possible outcomes that may arise if he couldn't control his muscle movement properly. He had to stay completely still.

A gentle hand appeared on his arm and squeezed softly, her other hand tickling the baby's bare chest. Calcifer's cheeks reddened as Gwenda made childish noises for the baby's entertainment, her spirit so lively and free. She made him feel more comfortable in his new form, like he had been this way his entire life.

"He's so adorable," Gwenda said. "And he looks just like Howl."

Sophie chuckled. "Wonderful. Hopefully, he won't inherit his self-admiration, too."

Howl rolled his eyes as the women laughed. A few feet from the main crowd, Markl and Heen sat next to Xarx. Heen wagged his tail as Xarx gestured with his arms, creating a spell only a light source could. Markl stared in awe at the creation, never wanting to remove his eyes from the sight. Xarx showed him the motions again, adjusting Markl when needed until the little boy wizard was able to create a novice version of Xarx's.

Like Howl had done many times, Xarx smiled proudly at the boy's accomplishment - the way a teacher would at their student's success.

"Howl." He whipped his head back to Sophie. She was distressed. "He won't stop crying." Calcifer had returned the baby to his mother, who frantically rocked him back and forth in an attempt to soothe her son. His wails were as piercing as the moment he was born, although she was oblivious to what he might desire.

She gritted her teeth. "I-I just fed him and he slept through the night and I just don't know what to do, Howl, I don't-"

"Sophie." Howl rubbed her arms with a tender touch. She widened her eyes, the nerves of parenthood evident in her gaze. Howl, though very much frightened of taking care of a child, smiled at his love. "Just breathe. We will figure it out."

Sophie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded abruptly. She knew. She knew things would turn out all right.

"This might be a bad time," Calcifer said over the baby's persistent cries, "but have you picked out a name for him yet?"

Sophie and Howl glanced at one another. Neither had truly considered what to name their child. It was, in all honesty, the last thing on their mind during the pregnancy - rampant witches and wizards and kidnapped friends and family were of top priority at that time.

Sophie turned to her sister's grave. As children, Lettie and Martha shared possible selections for baby names, something Sophie never felt comfortable doing unless she was in actual preparation to have a child. Martha had dozens of choices, but the one Sophie remembered was one Martha loved for either a boy or a girl.

After whispering to Howl and receiving an approving nod, they were sure. Sophie looked to their friends and family, all eager to hear her say, "Morgan."