"I-I-I can't believe you were kn-knocked out three times in one day!" Doctor Patchingo fussed as he wrapped Eddie's head in bandages. "And by P-P-Professor Pester and Dastardos, even! I'm n-no psychologist, but I know you're i-insane for doing what you d-d-did!"

"I saved the girls, didn't I?" Eddie's tone was confident and he was glowing like a firebrand beneath his bruises. "That's all that matters!" Eddie had left his disguise folded in the corner of the room and exchanged it for a hospital gown that was covered in frolicking Bunnycombs. It wasn't very flattering on him, but Eddie wasn't about to complain. As the village doctor patched him up, Eddie had told him the tale of how he received all of his injuries. Doctor Patchingo had seemed incredibly embarrassed for some reason when Eddie got to the bit about his short stint as a drag queen.

"Y-y-you don't seem to have any serious d-damage…" Doctor Patchingo taped Eddie's bandage and consulted a clipboard. "B-but you have some bad b-bruising and a b-b-black eye. Just wait it out and you'll h-heal."

"Thank you, Doctor," Eddie gave him a grateful grin.

"R-rest for a moment. I need to go g-get another form…" Doctor Patchingo opened the door and was almost bowled over by a tidal wave of women.

"H-hey! I n-never said he could have visitors!" Patch tried to protest, but he was ignored. All of the girls crowded around Eddie, who looked absolutely delighted. This was the moment he had been waiting for…

"Maxime told us everything!" Leafos said enthusiastically, her blue eyes glimmering with adoration. "I can't believe what you went through for us!"

"Dressing up as a girl and smooching Pester?" Sahari laughed and slapped her knee. "You're a true hero!"

"Not just smooching, you married the bastard!" Maxime grinned so broadly that her tiny dimples showed.

"Thanks to you, none of us had to be trapped in his lair forever!" Fannie gushed. "You're amazing, cutie pie!"

Eddie blushed. "Oh, come on…"

"That certainly was a…creative way to save us…" Avalon shook her head. "…but it worked surprisingly well!"

"Such amazing bravery…" Gretchen purred. One end of her scarf lifted up Eddie's chin gently. "Not bad…for a little boy…" Gretchen smirked and leaned in, giving Eddie a kiss on his forehead.

Eddie's blush darkened and he breathed "Wow…" Gretchen chuckled and winked at him.

Sahari leapt onto Eddie's cot and squeezed him into a grateful hug. Eddie squeaked in pain from the pressure on his bruise, but Sahari didn't seem to notice. Fannie leaned over and hugged him too, much more gently, and Eddie felt the mouth of her mask bump against his cheek.

Once Fannie and Sahari moved aside, Leafos took Eddie's hands and smiled into his eyes. "I'm going to tell everyone about how amazing you are! Fooling Pester is an impressive feat! Thank you so much for saving us, Eddie!" She leaned forward and gave Eddie a peck on the lips. She pulled away quickly, giggling under her breath.

"I think all of us owe yew one!" Avalon gave Eddie a hearty pat on the head. "If I had to spend one more minute with Pester, I would 'ave torn my 'air right out!" The rest of the women laughed in agreement with her.

There was only one girl who hadn't expressed her gratitude to Eddie yet, and she was the one who Eddie had been looking forward to the most. He smiled expectantly at Maxime, the girl of his dreams, the one whose capture had pushed him to do the crazy thing that he did. She smiled back and daintily walked over to Eddie. She leaned in, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders. She licked her lips and Eddie felt his heart flutter with anticipation…and then she fist bumped him.

"Atta boy, Eddie!" Maxime wore an impish grin. "I'm so lucky to have a friend like you, even if you are insane! Thanks, you're the best!"

Eddie felt his heart shatter to pieces and he wrapped himself in the cot's paper sheets. "Well, thanks for stopping by, ladies, but I really ought to get some rest…" his voice was shaky and he paled significantly as he pulled the sheets over his bandaged head.

"Yeah, come on, girls, let's let him be. He probably has a huge concussion and I don't want to be here when he throws up," Maxime made a face and led the ladies out the door.

Eddie buried his face into the cot's paper-covered pillow and began to sob quietly.