Hey ppls! Yes, I know, it's almost a year, if not more... But I was having major writing block, my health was kinda bad, and also, this yr is 'O'-levels, so I don't have much time... Really sorry... :( You can throw bricks at me if it helps... Anyhoo, enjoy the story!

Gladys panicked. What was happening? "Howl? Howl? Are you alright?" She asked repeatedly while supporting him. He was in so much pain. "Bear with it, okay? We'll be home soon," She quickly conjured a portal to home, and escorted themselves home. There laid a sight too horrifying and impossible to behold.

Madame Suliman stood there, clutching Calcifer in one hand. He looked frightened and was beating around in agony. Madame Suliman smirked. "Well, well. It seems as though I've found Howl's precious heart. Now he has no choice but to obey me!" She threw back her head and cackled.

Grr. If only she was not weighed down by Howl, Gladys would have shot several spells at that woman. Howl was too weak to fight in his present state. She needed to think of a way to get Calcifer out of her mom's hands and restore Howl's heart. She gently set Howl down and stood in a battle stance, ready to fight it out with her mom.

Gladys focussed all her attention onto her mum. She could not afford to waste time. One wrong move and Howl may suffer under her mom's hands. She racked her brains, trying to remember her mom's weak point. "Come on Gladys, think!" Multiple thoughts raced through her head. She knew she had the answer at her fingertips, but she just could not recall it. It was infuriating, not to mention, irritating beyond measures. Beside her, Howl whimpered. He looked like he was semi-conscious. Gladys was worried. She knew she had to act soon, before it was too late.

Madame Suliman looked at her hand with glee. She squeezed it, relishing the power she had. Howl gasped, and slumped to the floor in a dead faint. Gladys' eyes widened with panic and shock, only to be replaced with determination. She could not… would not stand idly without helping. There was no more time to waste. She had to try. And try she would.

"At Che Alakazam, Et Tu Alakanu. Blind her eyes and seal her lips. Bind her hands and turn her round. Make it so till she is gone. Never to rise, never to return. With thy power, I call thee, Great ruler of all Wizardry." Gladys chanted, and released the energy ball. The energy ball pulsed with power, growing bigger and bigger, until it all but engulfed Madame Suliman.

"What are you doing?" She screeched. The incantation Gladys had chanted was the most powerful spell, and the most dangerous. Nobody dared to cast it, as if it did not succeed, the caster would be sacrificed instead. And even if it was cast properly, the caster would still suffer a great ordeal. As such,no one dared to perform it. And that was the only weak point Madame Suliman had. She could only watch in horror as the sphere came for her. Against the blinding light, Madame Suliman shielded her eyes, dropping Calcifer. Gladys scooped him up quickly, and shielded her eyes as well. She heard an almighty "Noooooo!" before everything was silent. Cautiously, she lowered her hands. Where her mom last stood, all that was left were her robes. She was finally gone, never to threaten her family again.

Gladys collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily. The spell was taking its toll. She had used up too much energy. She crawled until she reached Howl, where she painfully pushed herself up to a kneeling position.

"Calcifer, if I gave Howl back his heart, what would happen to you?" She whispered shakily. Calcifer looked at her with his bright orange eyes. "That… "He hesitated. "I have no idea. I may live, or I may vanish like I was supposed to have when Howl gave me his heart." He replied softly. Gladys smiled sadly. She prayed in her heart, willing him to live for the next thousand years. Hoping her desire will be granted, she murmured," Well, Calcifer, I hope to see you soon." She gently placed him over where she supposed Howl's heart would be. Calcifer and the heart slowly sank in. As it sank, a pulsing blue light shimmered, before a bright light shot out of Howl's chest. "I'm free!" The voice yelled. "I'm free!" It zoomed out of the window. Gladys could not help but laugh. It looked like Calcifer would be all right.

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"Ugh…" Howl groaned. His head throbbed so bad. He opened his eyes, and saw Gladys' brown eyes looking at him worriedly. He smirked at her and said," What's the matter?" Gladys' expression turned to one of delight, and out of the blue, hugged him tightly.

"Thank goodness you're all right!" She squeezed him, as though afraid he would disappear. Howl was caught off guard, and quickly tried to loosen his wife's hold. "As much as I like this, I would like it better if it wasn't cutting off my oxygen supply." He said dryly.

Gladys' eyes widened slightly, and loosened her strangle-like hold, blushing profusely and murmuring an apology. Howl grinned, and pulled her back into his embrace. They spent a few minutes like this, basking in the warm afterglow of the battle, knowing that nothing would harm them again.

So this is the end! *sniffles* I'm thinking if I should have the epilogue... Please R&R and tell me if you want the epilogue! Hope to hear from you! and P.S., if you're following the other stories, please tell me which one to update... I'm in a dillemma!