"And I love you," I said right back, wrapping my arms around her. I could not contain my happiness, nor did I want to. Hearing her say those words to me… Between having a fondness for insects and even joking around with the other smashers, I did not think she could surprise me more, yet here we are. And how easily the words left my own lips… Goodness, I surprised myself.

And yet, what is love but many wonderful surprises?

For a moment Samus and I remained in one another's embrace until we both remembered we were susceptible to watchful eyes, for we were just outside the main hall. So I pulled away to give her a smile. "Let's go somewhere, anywhere, just the two of us."

She was surprised by my enthusiasm, but I could see she had an idea. That evening we flew across the sky in her gunship, our smiles never leaving our faces. Once we arrived at Yoshi's oceanside juice bar I frolicked along the waves. To my surprise Samus joined me, and how we splashed and laughed. Afterward we sat beneath a palm tree as we watched the sunset. Feeling inspired, I took out my lyre and began to play a song for us, a song of love that was all our own.

The cool breeze, the crashing waves… Just when it seemed all the world was in agreement we cried out as a wayward crab pinched our feet. What a surprise! We looked at one another and simply laughed.