A/N: Yes, I added a songfic portion to this. But please, dear readers, let's not get snappy. I don't make the rules. Oh, wait. I do. Anyway, the song is to the tune of the Mother 3 Love Theme in F major for all my fellow music lovers.

Back with Porky, he heard another knock on the door.

"Ugh, what now?" Porky groaned.

"King P?" Fassad's voice was heard from the other side of the door.

"Oh, it's you," Porky sighed. "Sorry, I thought you were the Masked Man again with some other outrageous and out-of-character request."

Fassad raised a brow. "Come again?" He said as he entered Porky's office. "You don't think he's breaking free from your control, do you?"

"I hope not," Porky answered, rubbing his fat temples. "He's the best soldier I have. Without him, I'm as good as roasted."

"I understand," Fassad nodded as he approached his desk. "Perhaps there is something I can do to remedy this situation?"

Porky raised a brow. "Go on."

Fassad chuckled darkly. "I have a bit of...information that could prove useful for the empire."

Porky kept listening in anticipation.

"This island contains seven needles. If pulled out of the ground, the Dark Dragon appears and grants whoever pulls out the last needle a single wish."

Porky chuckled darkly. "That's quite useful information indeed," Porky said.

"However," Fassad continued. "The prophecy says that only three people have the power to pull them out of the ground."

"Another dumb prophecy?!" Porky groaned. "Last time I got in the way of some prophecy, I got my shit handed to me."

"I see...if it makes you feel any better, two of the people mentioned in said prophecy are in your possession as we speak."

"It does," Porky answered, his smile returning. "Would the two happen to be the tragic lovebirds I just dismissed?"

"The very same~" Fassad answered.

Porky started to plot. "The third one could be anyone at this point. I'll have The Masked Man get started on that tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" Fassad protested. "Why not right now?!"

"If I hear that lovestruck kook go on about Rosella at all for the rest of the day, I'm going to throw up," Porky groaned. "Rose this, Rose that...that...that's it! We can use Rosella as a means to keep the Masked Man in line!"

"I feel honored to serve under such a genius ruler," Fassad said.

Porky put a finger to his double chin.

"But how to go about it..."

Porky turned to a nearby Pig Mask.

"You there! Give the Masked Man his newest mission briefing tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn!"

"Yes, King P," The Pig Mask saluted before going off to do his other tasks.

Back with the Masked Man, he and Rosella were now sitting on his bed together.

This girl is so confusing, he thought to himself. The way she's making me feel, I...

"Hey, Cl—um...uh..."

Rosella's words seemingly snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Call me Commander," The Masked Man blurted out.

"Well, Commander...is there a bathroom nearby?" Rosella asked. "I wish to take a shower and change into pajamas."

"And why exactly do you think you're in a place to make such demands?" The Masked Man asked coldly.

"I'm sorry," Rosella said, panicking. "I didn't mean to come off as demanding..."

The Masked Man suddenly blushed.

"I didn't mean—ugh, whatever. It's that door over there."

He was pointing in the direction of the bathroom as he said that.

Rosella nodded gratefully and went into the bathroom. She locked the door and took a shower. While she was in the shower, she sang.

"I came back to see

You smiling at me

But you went and disappeared

What was I to do?"

The Masked Man's eyes widened when he heard her sing. "Her voice...it's...relaxing. And so beautiful...Have I..heard it somewhere before?"

"So I promised to

Go out and find you

I would travel this earth for you

Because I love you"

The Masked Man started getting flashes of a younger Rosella singing in a secret forest grotto. A place only he, Lucas, and Rosella knew about.

"Good times

Bad times

I know we've been through both

We've helped each other

When we needed it the most..."

The Masked Man removed his helmet and put his ear to the door as she finished the song.

"So don't try to hide...

What you feel inside...

I'll heal your battle scars for you...

Because I love...

You..."

When Rosella finished showering, she used her PSI to conjure up a DCMC band tee and a pair of sweatpants. She kept her hair down. And as she opened up the bathroom door, the Masked Man fell on top of her. This caused her to yelp.

The Masked Man immediately got up, his face redder than the stripes on Lucas's shirt.

"Apologies..." He said, his eyes wandering to her choice in pajamas and long brown hair before promptly looking away again.

Rosella giggled a bit when she saw how awkward the Masked Man was acting. It's almost like she had Claus back, even if it was for a moment.

"It's fine. I'd be glad to sing for you again, you know..."

The Masked Man composed himself.

"Maybe tomorrow," he told her. "For now we should both get some rest. It's late."

"R-Right," Rosella said, blushing. "Oh, that reminds me! Where am I—"

But before she could answer, the Masked Man wrapped her in his arms. This only made her blush redder.

"Cla-C-Commander—"

"Hush. Let's go to sleep," He whispered as he led her to his bed and snuggled up to her.

Rosella felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest excitedly. But alas, she was also pretty tired. The day was such an emotional rollercoaster for her, but at least it ended on a high note.

"Goodnight," She whispered as she dozed off.

"Goodnight, Rose," He responded. "I love you..."

The Masked Man put his hands over his mouth as he said that. What the hell was that?! He thought to himself. Love?! Is that what I feel for her?!

Early the next morning, their slumber was interrupted by the Pig Mask from the day prior knocking on the door.

"Masked Man sir?" He called.

As the two of them slowly started waking up, the Masked Man punched the wall in anger. This caused Rosella to jolt up in fear.

"What?!" He snapped at the Pig Mask.

"Forgive me for waking you, sir," The Pig Mask said. "I was ordered to brief you on another mission."

The Masked Man let go of Rosella and put his helmet back on.

"Elaborate."

While the Pig Mask filled The Masked Man in on his next mission, Rosella went into the bathroom and used more PSI to conjure and change back into her blue overalls. She was feeling relatively cold this morning, so she swapped her pink tee shirt out for a white long-sleeved sweater. She even swapped her sneakers for beige UGGs.

"So because of a prophecy, I have to collect some gold needles?" The Masked Man asked.

"I guess?" The Pig Mask answered. Even he was a bit confused by it. "King P mentioned it...and something about using Rosella as bait to get you to do what he wants and—"

"Oh, is that right?" The Masked Man smirked cynically. "Well, that's unfortunate because she's coming with me."

Rosella was shocked and clearly could not have picked a better time to exit the bathroom.

"Excuse me?!"

The Masked Man picked her up princess style.

"We're leaving."

Rosella held onto him for dear life as he spread his robotic wings and flew off with her. They were on their way to Snowcap Mountain.

Back with Porky, he had just finished eating breakfast.

"So did you brief him on his mission like I asked?" Porky said to his cohort.

"Yes, sir," The Pig Mask answered. "He already left with Rosella and they're out collecting needles as we speak."

Porky's face cracked.

"HE WHAT?!"