UPDATE 2/16/19: From Chapter 5: Savior of the Saviors onwards, there is a major overhaul, especially to Lucas and Ness's characters. This was done in order to have a much better written other half of the story in general, since a younger me was not as invested in the other side of the story as I am now.

(Un)fortunately this means there is a very large chance whatever 'Nesscas' hints will be inevitably written out or at least a lot less 'in-your-face'. I, personally, do not mind no longer having Nesscas in this fic - but this is a fair warning for readers new and old alike.

Re-edited sections of the chapter such as cutting up sentences and the like to better match later chapters. Working on a major overhaul.

X: A Distant Melody

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"What is she doing?"

Major Daisy stumbled forward a little, startled at the question that the Commander had suddenly posed. Actually, scratch that, she was startled by the Commander's sudden appearance behind her, with next to zero premonition that he was even walking towards her in the first place. But then again, the brunette Pigmask Major mused. It's only natural that he'd be somewhere nearby her. After that last incident at the Chimera Lab, I don't think he'll want to leave her alone around the base anymore.

Daisy had been patrolling the floor coincidentally when she had chanced upon Paula sitting by the one large window in the floor, looking as though she was having a rather quaint time being alone, humming to herself as her hair blew in the gentle breeze. Her little Bushie friend was nestled happily in a potted plant in the corner, snoozing, if the moving leaf was anything to base off of. Curious as to what she was doing, Daisy had just decided to pause and ask her personally when Claus had suddenly shown up behind her.

"Did I catch you off guard?" Claus asked cordially, hands at ease behind his back as he stared directly at Major Daisy, the helmet that gave him the title of the Masked Man casting an impressive shadow over half of his face. "You have yet to answer my question, Major."

Major Daisy shook her head. "It's fine, Commander sir. Erm, what… what was the question again?"

"I asked as to what she was doing." Claus told her as patiently as he could, gesturing to Paula, who was sitting by a large window, staring out almost wistfully while still wearing the dress Claus had gotten her. The jacket had been left in the room in favor of receiving the cold winds that blew through the windows every now and then, and the hoop skirt was on the ground to allow her to actually sit on the windowsill.

The sight of the dress being worn, the fact that his gift was being used rather often by the recipient, well, it sent a strange warm feeling throughout Claus, one that he didn't recognize all that well, but appreciated nonetheless. Perhaps this is what friends feel whenever they see that their friends like their gifts. It's… a strange, but good feeling.

Major Daisy turned to look, confused, and suddenly, she giggled, which confused the ginger haired commander greatly. "What's so amusing?"

Though Claus couldn't see it, he could feel Daisy's grin behind her mask. "Why, Commander sir, she's singing!" And indeed, she was.

"Grown-ups have seen so much more than me," Paula's voice was absolutely lovely, the tones that escaped her lips much like a songbird's various melodies as she closed her eyes, letting her own words surround her as she continued to sing. "So many things that I still want to see…" The smile on her face was so serene, so peaceful, that Claus suddenly felt that strange feeling in the bottom of his stomach again as he leaned against the wall, just listening. Major Daisy quietly snuck off in the meantime. "So I… took my backpack into the world… and filled it with memories…"

Hey, C**us!

Paula's singing seemed to have triggered something in Claus's mind, and he closed his own eyes, letting himself get lost in the voices in his head.

"My fav'rite baseball cap on my head,"

C**us… I'm sorry about what I did this morning… but you were being a bully…

"My worn out sneakers, a faded white and red,"

… I-I'm s-s-sorryyy… *sob* C-C-C-**us… don't be m-maaaad… *bawl*

"My lucky guitar pick shiny and clear,"

… O-oh… so… you forgive me…? You're… the best brother ever… *sob*

"Safe in my pocket, right here."

Even until now, I still don't know who the people talking are… Claus's brow was furrowed as he crossed his arms, adjusting his position so that the way he leaned against the cold wall of the Pigmask base was a little less awkward and a little less hazardous to what was left of his spinal cord. … Curious how most of these voices seem to be triggered by Paula, or some event related to her.

Paula's eyes didn't open, but she let herself trace the PK No Bracelet once again, her thoughts floating over to the ginger haired commander of the Pigmask army as she did so. Each breath she took was a little stuttered, as if she was breathless at the thought of him, and she leaned forward a little, away from the curve of the round window whose sill she had been sitting on. Somehow, the thought of him sent a rather lovely warm feeling through her, almost as if drinking a nice cup of hot chocolate in the middle of a cold Christmas sitting by the fire with friends and family, bundled up in blankets. Her lips curled up in a smile as she continued her song, now with two people on her mind.

"Though sometimes I got sad and almost cried, you were always with me, by my side…" The fingers fiddling with the PK No Bracelet traced the silver accessory almost fondly, feeling the smooth metal against warm fingertips. "I knew that we were friends to the core… but maybe it was something more…"

Something… more… Paula's eyes fluttered open a little as she remembered Ness, a rather sad smile crossing her face at the thought of her favorite cap wearing baseball bat wielding PSI user from Onett. Ness... I wonder how you're doing back in Onett… do you know that I'm here…? Lips pursed as she sighed. It's strange… but I don't know if what I'm feeling now… is what I used to feel before. It's all so confusing… being here, being in this place, with no one but Doctor Andonuts to recognize my detachment from this place… and… him. Claus… that's not his name but it feels like it is… The blonde leaned back against the window again, her foot grazing the metal of her hoop skirt and making it brush against the sill, the skirt making a small 'boing'ing noise. It's funny… I wish I could tell you myself, Ness… but he kind of reminds me of you a little… both of you are so reckless, so… willing to throw yourselves into danger for what's important to you…

Paula let her eyes close fully as she sighed again. I wonder… is there something-

The sound of metal clanking against the floor cut her thought short as she let her eyes open once more, glancing to the side and squeaking in both embarrassment and alarm the moment she realized that Claus had been standing there, listening to every single word that had danced its way out of her mouth. The metallic sound had been Claus accidentally dropping his cannon, much to his consternation, as he picked it up hastily, the little Paula could see of his face a luminescent pink.

Heehee… that's so cute. Paula giggled to herself before the thought suddenly occurred to her. Did I… just call him… cute?

"How… long have you been standing there, Claus?" Paula dismissed the previous thought almost immediately, pushing it to the back of her brain as she fixed herself, turning so that she was simply sitting on the windowsill now but facing the jacketed Commander, her hands on either side of her as she patiently awaited his answer, Colo the Bushie turning over in his sleep.

Claus strained to push himself upright once more, trying his best to regain his composure. "I do believe… I was here the moment you started this 'singing' that a Pigmask Major kindly explained to me." He tilted his head to the side a little. "Why were you 'singing'?"

"Why was I singing…?" The thought that Claus had been here the moment she had started singing turned the tips of Paula's ears a bright red as she tugged at her dress's collar nervously, feeling rather embarrassed that he had heard her. At his question, however, she tried her best to reply. "Well… um, sometimes you sing depending on how you're feeling."

Claus raised an eyebrow. "Depending on how you're feeling?"

"Yes. Sometimes you sing when you're sad or lonely… and sometimes you sing whenever you're happy." Paula scooched over, patting the space next to her as she turned to face the outside world, taking in the clear blue skies that hung over the Nowhere Islands. Taking her invitation, the Commander walked closer, stepping on the sill and eventually sitting down, his legs dangling out of the window as Paula continued, "Singing is kind of like talking, but… it's a lot more special."

"How so?"

"Well…" Paula thought for a bit. "Ah! Give me a sentence, Claus."

Claus raised an eyebrow once again, but didn't question it. "I am the Commander of the Pigmask army."

"That's kind of plain, but I suppose it'll do." Paula fixed herself so that she was facing Claus sideways. "Okay, now, when we talk, it's like 'I am the Commander of the Pigmask army', right?" At Claus's curt nod, she continued. "But when it's singing, you get to put a whole lot more emotion into it by making certain… erm, intonations in certain syllables. We're taking words and putting them into a melody. Do you get this?"

"Not particularly."

At his blunt answer, she groaned. "Well, okay, maybe a demonstration would be better. Listen closely. This is me talking. 'I am the Commander of the Pigmask army'. Got that?" At the lack of reply, she elbowed him. "Answer when I'm asking you something, you silly chimera!"

"I understood what you said." Claus begrudgingly replied, batting away her elbow. "And stop doing that. It's annoying and mildly painful."

The Twoson girl rolled her eyes. "Okay… now pay attention. This time, I'm going to sing what I just said. A-hem: I… am the Commander of the Pig… mask… army…"

"That sounds ridiculous." Claus told her promptly.

Paula stuck her tongue out at him. "That's because you gave me such a boring old sentence, you dummy! Give me something more interesting or try it yourself if you want it to sound 'less ridiculous'!"

"Try it myself, huh…?" Claus looked out towards the horizon. New Pork City was visible from where they were sitting, the hulking shadow of the Empire Porky Building looming over the whole area menacingly. Claus tried out a few moments of harmonizing, copying what Paula had been doing before she had begun singing. "Aaah… aaah…"

Paula smiled. "That's it, you're harmonizing! Now, try 'actually singing'."

"…" Claus gave Paula a dry look, as if to say 'I'm trying', before staring at his hands, letting himself try and imagine the feeling of 'singing'. He was unsure, very unsure, seeing as this was practically foreign territory. He couldn't understand, firstly, how Paula managed to make a simple fluctuation in tone sound so… well, pleasing to the ear. Claus had heard singing before, certainly, but not singing done by a human: a songbird chimera had been brought in before from the chimera laboratory, singing in a series of whirring chirps almost like a clockwork doll before falling over and dying. It wasn't a pretty sight, but the singing was rather lovely.

Just like Paula…

…'s voice. I mean voice. Claus pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance with himself, much to Paula's utter confusion. I'll be damned if I let these thoughts suddenly take over my everyday life... surely this must be the not yet unlocked power that Paula must have, affecting me so often. His hand fell back to his lap, and he lifted one leg up so that he could rest his arm on it while the other arm stretched out a little behind him, grasping the edge of the windowsill as he stared out, lost in thought.

Just then, the melodious soprano from weeks ago returned to his mind, and he let the voice bathe him in soothing calmness, bringing with it a familiar tune – one whose words that Claus seemed to remember.

Shine on one dear child, one so very small…

"One who carries on alone, strong after all…"

"Hey, you're doing it!" Paula exclaimed, surprised and glad that he was beginning to get it. "That's not a song I'm familiar with though… it sounds lovely, Claus."

"… It's…" Claus shifted so that his legs were dangling out of the window again. "… This melody… I'm sure it's longer than that… but that's all I can remember of it. It's strange."

The blonde studied him, lips pursed. "… You know, for someone who hasn't sung at all before, you sing rather well, Claus. Your voice is really good… I like it. It's got this rumbling quality to it that makes me feel… well, all warm inside, you know?"

"No, I don't know, seeing as that I'm not you and I can't be you."

"Oh, is that how we're going to be now? I didn't think you were capable of this much sass, Commander." Paula teased, poking a finger at Claus's chest. "It almost seems like you're a normal teenager not commanding an army of pig mask wearing people, I'm surprised!"

Claus threw a smirk in her direction, one that made her melt a little. "I blame you for this. I could personally have you executed for this kind of insubordination, you know."

"You won't execute me."

"What makes you so sure I won't, Lady Polestar?"

"Because I'm your friend." Paula told him decisively, grinning cattily at him. "And you gave me this dress, and because I care about you and you care about me."

Claus raised a finger, ready to retaliate, when he realized that everything that his charge had just said was absolutely correct. He put it down, a look crossing his face that Paula could only describe as a pout, or something along those lines. "There is no discrepancy in what you just said."

"Hah, told you so." Paula giggled before crossing her legs, supporting herself with her two hands as she and Claus both turned to stare at the trees that spread out for miles and miles.

The two were quiet, silently enjoying each other's company as they turned their gazes down to the ground where Pigmasks walked around to and fro, doing their various assigned tasks. A Major looked up, and upon seeing the two waved in a friendly fashion, Paula waving back. She soon giggled as a smaller Pigmask – a regular one – walked up to the Major, oinking something. Once that was over, the Pigmask looked up at Paula and hesitantly waved before hiding behind the Pigmask Major's back. The Pigmask then oinked rather loudly in delight (you know it's loud when even Paula winces a little at the volume) when Paula waved back, also in a friendly fashion. It was like watching a child rejoicing at having their idol talk to them, and it made Paula chuckle and Claus smile just a little.

"You know something, Claus?"

His mismatched eyes glanced at her sideways. "Yes?"

"I never really expected… that we'd end up becoming friends, you know?" The blonde stopped crossing her legs to dangle them over the ledge, tilting her head to the side as she felt Colo hop up and on the window sill, his leaf tickling her arm as he settled down near her right hand.

The Commander glanced at her. "You… don't like being friends?"

"No, no, of course I do! Being friends with you is great!" Paula faced him, patting his arm in reassurance to reinforce her words. "It's just… well, you're different now than when I first met you."

"Explain."

"Well… for one, you put up with me." The girl raised a hand and began ticking off fingers with the other. "You smile more often too… at least, I think so, anyway, and you're actually showing more emotions beside 'I am the Commander, fear me, blah blah' and 'I hate everyone'."

"I do not hate everyone."

"Nobody hates everyone, you silly." Paula smiled before continuing, "My point is… well, I'm just really happy we got to be friends in the end, and that I got to see you… well, got to see you slowly change, you know?" Paula leaned against the side of the window again. "… Poo was like that too when we first met him."

Claus raised an eyebrow; this was new information, information that he had yet to glean from her until now. "Who?"

"Another friend of mine… he was rather uptight, being the prince of a kingdom, just like you, when you told me you were the Commander." So Paula is friends with royalty? How peculiar, but not unexpected; she is charming. Perhaps she'll get along with the King…? "But he was also a teenage boy just like you and me years ago, and in the end, he showed that by joining in in our fun and games and our pillow fights in the hotels and… wow…"

"Wow, what?"

"Wow, I actually… it just hit me right now that I…" Paula's voice hitched, which made Claus freeze in alarm. "… that I… really miss them, oh gods…" There it was, one of the few things Claus didn't know what to do about: crying. The tears were cascading down the Twoson native's cheeks as her body began to be wracked in strangled, hiccupping sobs, though these were punctuated with a few harsh laughs here and there. "Haha… I… wow… how long has it been, even…? Months…? Weeks, yes… haha, I can't believe it just hit me… n-now of… all the times I-I could…"

On the outside, Claus was composed. On the inside, the Commander was having a stressed fit, unable to determine how to make her feel better. She's cried before, she's cried many times – most in her sleep – but that doesn't mean I know how to act accordingly! The ginger looked like he wanted to tear his hair out in frustration as he faced Paula, trying to see what he could do, to no avail. Pork damn it, I am the Commander of the Pigmask army, and I should not have to deal with things like this! Pause. … But I'm also her friend now, so I should be able to do something to make her function at a higher percentage than usual.

… But what?

"Erm…" Claus cleared his throat, trying to gather the words to say as Paula continued to hiccup, sapphire blue eyes glistening with tears. The sight made Claus falter a little, but as she tried her best to look at him while trying not to let the tears fall, the ginger felt his resolve strengthen, and he coughed loudly to clear his throat once again. Once he had Paula's attention however he was silenced, unable to say anything substantial.

Think, think! He quietly urged himself. You're looking like a buffoon not speaking to her, think of something!

Paula was quiet, but her eyebrow was raised as she started observing the internal conflict that Claus was currently having, which was being mirrored on his face. Moments later however, he sighed and scooted over a little closer to her, an arm snaking around her and holding her close. Paula didn't have time to react before Claus eventually let his other arm wrap around her as well in an awkward-looking hug, his head resting on hers, though it was a little awkward given the fact that he still had his helmet on. This surprising action had made the girl's cheeks flush a bright cherry red, and she stiffened a little, unsure of how to react. The tears had long since stopped due to the surprise.

"What… are you trying to… do, Claus?" Paula asked semi-skeptically. She did not move away, however.

Claus mumbled something into his jacket's fur trimming that Paula didn't quite catch.

"I'm sorry… what?"

"… I am attempting to restore you to a hundred percent functionality."

"By… hugging me?"

Claus glanced at what he doing, and then back at Paula. "… If that is what this is called, then yes, I am 'hugging' you to restore your functionality."

"… You think that hugging me will make me happy?" There it was again; the telltale glistening of her eyes which meant that tears were about to fall. However, this time she appeared to be… smiling? "… You're such a dork."

Claus had no idea what a dork was, nor what Paula meant by it, but he took it to be a good thing because she appeared to be smiling as she reached up to wipe away a few tears with the back of her hand, sniffling a little, but happy. After wiping away her tears, she moved to give him a hug of her own, but not before tapping his helmet a little. "You know, we'd be able to hug better if you took this off."

"…" Claus blinked at the suggestion. "No. This is perfectly fine. I do not see the need to remove my helmet unless absolutely necessary."

"… Are you sure you're not just keeping it on because you don't want me to see your face?"

"Why would I do that?"

Paula's eyes narrowed in mock suspicion, but she shrugged, instead choosing to release Claus from her embrace and lean against him instead, her head resting on his shoulder. "That's not exactly helping in convince me, you know. Why don't you take off your mask, Claus?"

"It is imperative that I keep it on at all times whenever I am technically on duty." Why did she let go? Did she not like hugging him? As petulant-sounding as it was, Claus was a little disappointed that Paula had ceased hugging him, though he wasn't quite sure as to why he was feeling this way, only that he knew that her embrace was rather nice and warm. Still, he continued to have his arms wrapped around her as he continued, "There are many functions in this helmet that enhance my capabilities as the Commander."

"Oh?" This was new. "Do tell. I don't think you've ever told me what your helmet can do."

Even though he was positive she couldn't see it, he gave her a semi-affectionate smile. "My helmet is an extension of my own internal database; I can analyze someone's weaknesses and general makeup given a certain amount of time looking at them, and that information is stored within my helmet for future use. It can also be used to identify heat signatures to check for the living or the dead." Pause. "Doctor Andonuts says that it is also mostly used to obscure my identity."

"Why?"

"I am… not quite certain myself." He shifted so that Paula's position was a little less awkward, adjusting until they were both comfortably leaning against each other, his arms still wrapped around her. "But it has not failed in either function so far, so he deems it a successful invention."

Paula made a little 'hmm'ing sound, musing, "Having a helmet like yours would be pretty cool, now that I think about it. It sounds like a pretty interesting thing to have."

"…" Claus considered her thoughtfully. "Perhaps you could have Doctor Andonuts make one for you. I do believe he won't mind if it is beneficial to the Pigmask army." Or to you, seeing as that you seem to know each other.

The blonde looked up at him, curiosity sparked. "Do you really think he'd make one for me? I mean, I'm not a part of the Pigmask army… wouldn't materials be wasted on me?"

"… You're not a waste of materials, Paula." The Commander intoned seriously, unintentionally wrapping his arms just a little tighter around her. She noticed this but didn't say anything, still reflecting on his words, a little touched. "You can say that it was on my orders that you procure a helmet of similar function to mine… except a few modifications, of course." He loosened his hug a little to tap the half visor of the helmet covering his one red eye. "You don't have cybernetic enhancements, so the 'extension of self' functions could probably be removed."

Paula mumbled incoherently to herself, thinking. Finally, she stated, "Well… if you're sure. Thank you, Claus." A few heartbeats passed before she mumbled, "Um… Claus?"

"Yes?"

Paula considered telling him about the PSI power the PK No Bracelet didn't manage to hold back. After a few moments, however, she shook her head. "… Never mind."

Claus raised an eyebrow, but didn't question her, instead choosing to close his eyes just for a moment, letting his embrace tighten around nothingness-

His eyes shot open.

"CLAUS!"

Claus cursed loudly as his wings immediately spread out behind him, his body automatically falling straight down to the ground almost as though he was an arrow, his arms reaching out desperately…

"Oof!"

There she was.

Claus didn't know why or how, but somehow Paula had fallen off the window sill and out of his embrace, screaming. Colo had chittered in panic the moment Claus had skydived down from the window sill, the sounds of his roommate screaming sending the Pigmasks on the ground floor into a riotous orchestra of panicked oinking. At almost the last moment, Claus had caught the blonde in his arms and with a flap of his wings – the hole was still there, when would Doctor Andonuts fix it? - , he managed to slow their descent, landing softly on the ground with a small thump.

"Commander, sir!" A Pigmask Colonel oinked, saluting him as they approached them. "What happened?"

Claus held a trembling Paula close to his chest as he barked out some orders at the Colonel and the other approaching Pigmasks. "I want a railing on all windows similar to the one we were sitting on, stat!" His grip tightened. "I will not have any other casualties, Pigmask or not, from such windows. Do you understand?!"

"SIR YES SIR!" The Pigmasks chorused, immediately marching away, presumably to carry out the new order.

A sapphire blue eye cautiously opened. "… C…"

"It's alright. I got you." Claus let his wings fold back into his back as he gently let Paula stand back up on her own, supporting her as she wobbled a little while trying to regain her balance. Once she was on her own two feet again he straightened out, his face growing serious. "What happened there? How did you slip?"

The blonde looked lost. "… I… don't really know… one minute, you're hugging me, and the next…" A shudder rippled through her body. "… I think I might be developing a fear of heights."

"So you didn't have it before?"

It was an honest question really, but Paula had socked him in the arm for it. Not that it did anything to him; it felt more like a pillow hitting his arm more than anything given his resistance.

"…" Claus gave her a stare. "What… was that for, exactly?"

"Don't ask about someone's fears just like that, Claus, that's considered rude." Despite her words, Paula's hands found their way to his arm, and she clung to it precariously, still a little shaky. "Erm… could we go back to our room, now? I think I'm going to need a long sleep after this."

The heterochromic eyed commander nodded. "I'll bring you back and talk to Doctor Andonuts about your own helmet while you do so. Will that be alright?"

"Yes… thank you."