I trudged into the dining room for breakfast the next morning with drooping eyes, still not fully awake. I tossed and turned most of the night, barely sleeping at all.

I stared at the assortment on the table in front of me. Pastries, eggs, fruit - all the breakfast foods I usually love, and yet I felt ill just looking at it. I hadn't eaten anything since lunch the previous day, but I still couldn't bring myself to eat anything.

I looked at King Dedede. He was having no problems chowing down on a croissant and chugging a large glass of orange juice, albeit slower than usual and with a distant expression, like he was deep in thought.

"Good morning, Sire." I tried to sound somewhat upbeat, but my words came out in a monotonous drone.

"Hm?" He quickly swallowed his mouthful of pastry. "Mornin', Erika."

A small Waddle Dee trotted up to me, holding up a cup of coffee.

"Ah. Thanks buddy, but I don't feel like coffee this morning."

"Don't you gotta take them pills what the doc gave ya?" the King reminded me.

"Oh. Yeah. Well, I can take them without coffee," I stubbornly insisted.

Dedede shrugged. "Whatever. Bring that coffee over here, Waddle Dee."

The Waddle Dee obeyed, and King Dedede threw the hot coffee down his throat in one big gulp.

I pulled the pot of pills out of my pocket, which was still there from yesterday, and tipped two small white tablets into my hand.

I decided I might as well get it over with.

I opened my mouth and tossed them inside, almost gagging as they resisted against my dry throat, but I forced myself to swallow repeatedly until I was sure they were gone.

My predicament didn't go unnoticed by Dedede, who was already laughing at my disgruntled expression. "Looks like you should've had that coffee!" he teased smugly.

I grumbled weakly. I wasn't in the mood.

Waddle Doo suddenly burst into the room, startling both of us. "Your Majesty, I have news!"

"For cryin' out loud!" the King yelled. "You had me jumpin' outta my skin! Don't be chargin' in here like a bull at a bullfight!"

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I have good news and I wanted you to know right away," he announced. "We've just received a message from the Cappy Town hospital. Escargoon is awake and ready to return to the castle this evening."

My heart skipped a beat, hardly daring to hope it was true.

A wide grin spread across Dedede's beak. "He is? No foolin'?" The King jumped down from his seat with a clatter and dashed at Waddle Doo, swooping him up off the floor and spinning him around with delighted laughter. "He's OK! Ya hear that, Erika? He's gonna be OK!"

The news finally started to sink in, and I gave a yelp of joy. "Oh, thank goodness! I'm so glad he's awake! I was so scared!"

"Yeah, ain't it great?" Dedede put Waddle Dee back on the ground, much to the dizzy messenger's relief. "Erika, you go and pick him up from the hospital later," he ordered.

My smile immediately dropped. "M-Me?!" I was horrified. Surely I was the last person he'd want to see. But I knew I had no choice - once His Majesty gave an order, it was almost impossible to get out of it. I gave a despondent sigh. "Yes, Sire."

Despite this, I ate well that morning. I was glad to finally be able to stomach food again.

Of course, I still had work to do around the castle before leaving for Cappy Town that evening, but I couldn't seem to focus. I knew Escargoon was alive, which was a huge weight off my shoulders, but I still couldn't fully believe it until I saw him myself. The entire day I spent dusting the castle, fetching the King's afternoon snacks, keeping the Waddle Dees organised, all I could think of was Escargoon. I promised myself that I'd be nice to him from there on, even if he hated me for the rest of my life.

That evening I drove the short distance to the Cappy Town hospital. When I walked through the entrance into the building, my stomach started tying itself in nervous knots. All of a sudden, I didn't know if I could face Escargoon after all. I tried to leave to go and sit back in the car and calm my nerves, but Doctor Yabui spotted me as I turned around.

"Ah, Erika!" he called. "You must be here for Escargoon."

I forced a queasy smile, "Yeah, that's right."

"Wonderful. Right this way."

I reluctantly followed the Doctor down the hall and into another room, a sick feeling in my throat. There he was, sat upright in a crisp white hospital bed, reading a book on flowers. He briefly looked up from his book to see me standing at the door, but said nothing and went back to reading.

My heart sank. Of course he was still mad at me. Anyone in their right mind would be. Even so, I slowly approached his bedside.

"I'm glad you're OK," I whispered.

He slammed his book shut and clambered out of bed, barely even glancing at me as he brushed past and marched out of the room. I followed closely behind. I didn't blame him for treating me so coldly. After all, it was my fault he was hurt so badly in the first place.

With a stony silence between us, we left the hospital and climbed into Dedede's white limousine. As I started the car on the road home, I stole a glance at the quiet snail in the passenger seat - he was staring straight ahead, seemingly into nothingness. I couldn't read his expression, but I knew he had to be seething with anger. I wondered what kind of vengeful thoughts were going through his mind.

I deserved every single one of them.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly.

He didn't respond.

I wondered if he didn't hear me over the sound of the car engine. "I'm sorry," I repeated, louder this time.

Nothing.

I abruptly stopped the car midway up the path to the castle. I couldn't take the silence anymore.

"Escargoon, please say something!" I begged. "I know you're mad at me, so just yell at me! Or hit me, I don't care! I deserve what I've got coming, so just do it already!"

The lavender snail let out a deep sigh, and finally spoke. "I don't want to fight anymore, Erika." He gazed at me with sad eyes. "And you know what? You win. King Dedede is all yours."

I was confused. "He's mine?"

"Don't play dumb, kid. I know how you feel about him."

"What… do you mean?" I said slowly, desperately hoping he wasn't thinking what I thought he was thinking.

"You're in love with His Majesty, aren't you?"

I let out a high pitched squeal of disgust. "No! I've never felt that way about him!"

He paused, a slight pinkness spreading across his face. "So… you have no romantic feelings for the King?"

I vigorously shook my head. "Why would you even think that?"

"I always thought you wanted me out of the picture so you could get closer to His Majesty," he admitted. "Then what are you always being a brat for?"

"I'm a brat? I'm a brat because you're a brat!"

There was a silence.

The mollusk let out another miserable sigh. "Just… let's not fight anymore, Erika. That's all I wanted to say."

"You don't hate me?" I whispered sadly. "Even after everything I've done?"

"You've been a real thorn in my shell, but I can admit I haven't been perfect either. In a way we're both as bad as each other. And I realise now that life is too short to fill it with hatred."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Where did this life lesson stuff come from all of a sudden?"

"Coming face-to-face with death really make you think," he said quietly. "When I was laying in the courtyard thinking I was about to die, I realised I haven't done everything I want to do with my life. If I died today, I'd be dying with regrets. I don't want to die with regrets."

"What kind of regrets?"

There was a pause. He swallowed thickly. "Promise you won't laugh."

"I promise."

"I mean it." He looked me dead in the eyes with a serious face. I knew he wasn't messing around when he made a face like that. "Promise you won't tell another soul. Especially Dedede."

I nodded. "I won't breathe a word."

He turned to gaze wistfully across the hills where the sun was setting. "I want… to get married someday." A small smile appeared on Escargoon's face.

"You do?" I was intrigued. I had never seen this side of him. "Escargoon… that's really sweet."

Looking at his blissfully saccharine expression, I could almost see the image in his mind of his wedding day.

My mind started conjuring up images too, wondering what kind of role I'd play if such a day ever came. I had never been to a wedding before. I flipped through ideas, picturing myself in various wedding scenarios. Perhaps now that we weren't fighting anymore, he'd want me to be a bridesmaid? I guess it would depend on what his bride wanted too.

Maybe I would be the bride.

My hands flew to my mouth. Did I really just imagine myself as his bride?

Why did I even think of that?

And even more importantly, why did I like the idea of being his bride…?

Oh no.

I glanced at Escargoon again, who was still deep in a daydream. That smile on his face… surely he had someone particular in mind? He didn't seem like the kind of snail to want to get married for the sake of getting married.

I spotted his hand resting on the car's dashboard, and my mind started racing. Should I hold his hand? Is this even what I want? Alone, watching the sunset… it did seem like a pretty romantic setting. Ideal for something like a first kiss. My face started burning up at the thought.

Maybe I really did like him. Like like him. Why did I suddenly feel that way, after viewing him as a rival for so long? Is it possible that I never truly disliked him in the first place? Could it be that deep down, all that sarcasm, all those pranks and teasing remarks, were just a way of disguising my true feelings?

And is there a chance that he felt that way about me? He picked on me because he thought I was in love with Dedede… was it jealousy?

Was he in love with me the entire time?

"A little personal space would be appreciated, Erika."

I suddenly realised I had been leaning closer and closer to Escargoon's face. I quickly jolted back to my original sitting position, blushing furiously.

He laughed at my embarrassment. "Your face is as red as a tomato. Wedding talk got you thinking about someone you like?"

I looked at him, shocked. Surely he didn't figure it out already?

"N-No way!"

"Relax, I'm only teasing." He smirked. "Although if you did get married, I hope you'd send an invitation my way," he said, winking.

I let out a breath of relief I didn't realise I was holding, and laughed. "Sure thing, buddy."

I relaxed and started the car back on the road home, realising how irrational my thoughts were and hoping it was just a passing crush. I didn't want our newfound friendship to be spoiled by some fleeting infatuation. Regardless, I was happy we were on speaking terms again. Better yet, it seemed like our bitter rivalry was finally over.

I only hoped it would last.