Ace woke up the next day the way he did the majority of the time these days: violently and loudly.

'Ace! Wake! UP!' Sawa yelled and jumped onto his stomach.

'Ow! Dammit, Sawa, stop it! I'm awake, okay? I'm awake!' Ace shoved Sawa off of him. 'Was that necessary?'

'Yes, it was, because if I try wake you up any other way you ignore me and continue sleeping.' Unfortunately, Sawa had a point.

'Well, I'm awake now.' Ace rubbed at his eyes and yawned, and Sawa, satisfied that he wasn't returning to the sleeping bag, removed herself from his presence and stated toasting marshmallows for breakfast.

He pulled on his shirt and coat and went outside, where Sawa was eating marshmallows. Sawa had put on her regular clothes, and his shirt was nowhere to be seen.

'Can I have a marshmallow too?' Ace asked.

'No.' The answer was always the same.

'Please?'

'Give me one good reason why I should give you some of my marshmallows.'

'Because you're a wonderful and kind person and I can make you do something that you don't want to do if you don't.' Sawa gave Ace a burnt marshmallow.

'Thank you.' It would do for the moment. 'So,' Ace said, trying to pick the burnt bits off to see if there was any unburnt marshmallow, 'we're going to the Clocktower to see Julius, correct?'

'We're going to Heart Castle first.' Sawa said. 'I want to check on Determination.' Determination was Sawa's black stallion, who was way too big for Sawa but neither of them really minded.

'Sure. I'd like to see Positivity, anyway.' Positivity was Ace's grey mare, who he had known since she was just a filly.

Ace rolled up the sleeping bags and the tent, and together the two of them walked to Heart Castle, with Sawa leading the way.

Half an hour later, Sawa stepped out of the woods, followed by Ace. 'Heart Castle,' Sawa said, motioning to the castle on top of the hill. 'Remember this? You seem to forget that this is, in fact, where you live.'

'Ha-ha,' said Ace dryly. 'Very funny.'

Something appeared in front of Sawa and Ace – something that appeared to look like a human shadow, except it was moving and the sun was shining onto it, not creating it.

'An afterimage,' Sawa said darkly.

'Looks like we need to go see Julius,' Ace said happily. 'Sawa, return to Heart Castle, and I'll go.'

'No!' Sawa argued. 'You'll get lost!'

'Very true, although I thought you would appreciate some time away from your hated Knight.' Ace said, raising an eyebrow.

'I don't want to stay here! I might run into-'

'Sawa, my love! You have returned to Heart Castle!' Peter appeared and went to hug Sawa.

Sawa held a gun to Peter's head. 'Touch me and you die.' She growled.

'But my love-' Peter began.

'NO BUTS!' Sawa yelled. 'We work for the Queen, just as you do. Don't forget my gun. Lower yours, and return to Heart Castle.'

Peter reluctantly put his gun away and walked off.

'I seriously don't see what's so attractive about you,' quipped Ace.

'Excuse me?'

'Aw, no need to be so mean.'

'Deal with it.' Sawa said and dragged Ace into the woods.

'Sawa, why are you so mean?' Ace asked happily a while later.

'Because you make me do ridiculous stuff as your squire!' Sawa retorted as if it was obvious, which it was, to her.

'Remind me?' Ace asked.

'Like the time when-'

'On second thoughts, don't remind me.' Ace interrupted. They walked in silence for a while.

'Is there anything I can do?' Ace asked.

'What do you mean, do?'

'To be forgiven for everything that I have done to you, or at least tried to do.'

'…I can't think of anything.' Sawa admitted.

Well, that's probably a good thing. Ace started whistling a tune that came into his head.

'For starters, stop whistling!' Sawa yelled.

Ace stopped whistling.

'And don't start whistling in a minute or two, or ever.' Sawa grumbled.

Ace suddenly stopped. 'Where are we?'

'…Shit. I have no idea.' Sawa looked around, trying to get her bearings. 'Damm, Ace, this is all your fault!'

'You're cute when you're angry.' Ace said happily.

'No I'm not-' Sawa quickly figured that yelling would just provoke more comments. 'I-It's that way.' Sawa pointed east towards the Clocktower.

'Thanks, Sawa, you're the best.' Ace said happily, and for once walked in the direction that Sawa was pointing.