Maxie looked out at the ocean. Generally he didn't go to the beach, but it seemed a good idea that particular morning to go for a visit. He listened to the waves crash on the sand, each sounding like a song.

He realised how much he missed the seeing ocean, having since realised that expanding the land wasn't really ideal.

He wondered if Archie ever pondered his own mistakes.

He sat down and rested his chin on his hands. He felt peaceful for the first time in years.

…

He found himself visiting the sea more and more often, and soon enough he went there every day.

One particular day Archie joined him. Not saying anything, just sitting next to Maxie, just staring out into the sea.

…

After two weeks of sitting next to each other, Maxie spoke.

"Archie… did you spend a week sitting at Mt. Chimney?" he joked, although it wasn't noticeable in his usual tone, his eyes still on the ocean.

Archie chuckled. "Nah. I actually went looking for ya there."

Maxie looked at him.

"I had no idea what I was going to say to you, but Courtney got sick of me comim' 'round and told me you were here at Dewford, so I came down here to see ya. I still don't know what I want to say."

Maxie nodded. "That's okay. Perhaps it's nice just to sit here and listen to nature. As it was intended to be, of course."

Archie nodded. "Yeah."

Within the next hour the sun began to set. Maxie stood up, pulling his jumper over his head. "I'll catch you later Archie."

"Do you want to grab dinner?"

"Good luck finding a restaurant here."

"So, you're saying yes then?"

"Uh…"

Archie chuckled. "It's okay. You can go to dinner with your rival. Anyway, I'm sure we can go elsewhere to get food."

Maxie nodded. "I don't think… that we are rivals… as I have no plans." He folded his arms across his chest, feeling the cold chill of the ocean rush straight through him.

"Neither" said Archie, standing up. "But there is a friendly rivalry, yeah?"

"Perhaps."

Archie smiled. "You're too conceited."

"Me?" Maxie raised a brow. "I am not. You are at least seventy five percent more arrogant than me."

"Impossible."

Maxie looked at Archie, cracking a rare smile. "You have no statistics to back that up."

Archie rolled his eyes. "There is probably no number big enough to, uh, explain your arrogance."

Maxie snorted accidently causing Archie to laugh hysterically. "Oh man, that is not like you."

Maxie frowned.

"That face, yeah, that is."

Maxie allowed himself to relax, his usual frown disappearing, replaced by a thin smile. "I'll go to dinner if you're shouting."

"That wasn't the plan."

Maxie shrugged. "I'm cold and hungry, accept it or I will go home."

"To Mt. Chimney?"

"No. On this island is my home. Where I was born and raised."

"By the sea?" he murmured. Archie raised a brow, intrigued. It seemed that there was a lot about his rival that he didn't know. "I'll take you to dinner, but I want to know a little more about you" he decided.

Maxie looked out at the sea. "Okay. But in return you have to tell me about you."

"Deal."