After defeating the Arachnotoffee, Choco finally felt relaxed but he suddenly lost his balance and fell down. Marsh snapped out of his shocked state and ran over to Choco's side. "Choco!"
Marsh helped his friend off the ground and had his head resting on his lap. "I'm sorry, I haven't slept since yesterday." Choco groaned, though he felt comfortable on Marsh's lap knowing that he's a soft marshmallow boy.
"Go take a rest, pal. You deserve it." Marsh said patting him by the arm.
Choco instantly fell asleep and Marsh started tearing the edges of his shirt to use it as bandage for Choco's wound. He then gently lifts Choco's head to lay him on the surface, although he was heavier than he expected. Marsh proceeds to observe the Arachnotoffee's carcass.
He would never dare approach the beast ever again, but something about the Arachnotoffee was drawing him closer. He stares at its scarred face and notice something glowing under all those gooey caramel substances. It was gross, but he reached for something inside its wounds and retrieved an orb-like object. Wiping off the layer of goo covering the object, his was incredibly amused by what he discovered.
"Unbelievable…" He turned his head at the slumbering Choco, he can't help but grin. "I never truly believed in destiny, but right now I can feel that destiny lead me to you for this very moment." He muttered and tucked in the orb into his pockets.
Marsh then lays down beside his Choco and watched the bright orange sky turn dark until he fell asleep himself. The two went into a deep yet peaceful slumber unlike the other problematic nights they've been through.
The next morning, Marsh found himself getting nibbled on by small candycritters, He shot up and scared them all away, "Ack!" He freaked out, "Bothersome critters! Ugh… Choco, are you up yet? It's time we get back on track." He glanced beside him and saw that Choco was still asleep.
He gave him a nudge and Choco barely opened his eyes. "Dude, are you alright?" Marsh asked.
"Hngg… I don't think so."
Marsh checked his forehead and sort of expected this to happen. "Holy Sugar, you're burning hot!"
"That's what she said, ugh…"
It was expected for Choco to get sick after overexerting himself when he fought the Arachnotoffee, luckily Marsh was there to help him recover. They moved to a more comfortable spot so Choco can rest better.
"There you go dude; how do you feel?" Asked Marsh after he assisted Choco to lay down under a cool shade of a nougat oak tree.
Choco coughed a bit and gave him a reassuring smile, "I feel absolutely… terrible."
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Marsh may have asked that out of concern, but he's yet to experience a side of Choco after asking such question. "Oh, there's actually this one thing I need you to do..." Choco started with simple and harmless request, then another, and another, until Marsh ended up with a pile of things to do for him.
"I'm feeling kinda hungry, do you have something I can eat? – Can you massage my arm? – Err, my legs hurt too, massage it as well, ye? – Ugh, it feels too hot, can you fan me? – Hey, can you change the bandage on my wound? – I'm still hungry, get me something to eat–"
"Alright your highness! I'll look for more nougat berries over there!" Marsh replied with a tinge of sarcasm. He went a bit further away from Choco, feeling frustrated with his bossy attitude. "Argh, what a jerk! I'm not his butler."
He paced back and forth, complaining to himself, "Just because he slayed that candy beast doesn't mean he get to boss me around! And I didn't run away from home just to get bossed all over again!" Marsh pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "Alright, calm down Marsh, calm down. His request isn't as grand or horrible anyway, I can bear with it until he's in good health, though he better get himself together once he recovers."
He breathes in and out for one last time and went back after he picked a few nougat berries for Choco. But when he came back, Choco was already sleeping peacefully, or is he?
Marsh checked Choco's forehead and noticed that his temperature had risen significantly. All his stress and frustration vanished as he grew more concerned for Choco, "D-Dude, I got your nougat berries here." he tried talking to him, hoping that he'll act fine like he always does.
Though Choco can barely bat an eye at Marsh, his body was in terrible pain and he felt too tired to move a muscle. "I'll have to pass… ugh, I don't feel so good, Marsh." He whined.
"What should I do?! – S-Should I keep fanning you? Or do you want any more massages?!" He panicked.
"I don't know, maybe I can sleep this off…"
"Wait! There's gotta be a way for you to feel better." He held Choco's hand, but noticed that his wound horribly grew swollen. "Ahh!"
"Don't be so loud now." Choco complained, though he noticed his wound as well, "Crumbs, that looks really bad."
"Dude, I think your wound is infected. We have to treat this right away, or you'll never get well!"
"How!? We've got nothing on us."
It was troublesome that they had nothing, Marsh deeply regrets throwing away their supplies since he brought a few medicines with him. He bit on his thumb as he racks his head for ideas, and eventually he did. "Actually, there's something that can help you recover from that wound."
"There is?"
"As much as I want you to rest and get better, we got to keep moving before your infection gets any worse." Marsh seriously stated.
"What? Is there an actual place around here where we can get medicine?"
"No, it's a place farther away from here–" he grabbed Choco's shoulders and look him in the eyes, "the breeding ground of herbs and home to another legend they call as the Minty Witch – Peppermint Hills!"
Since Marsh was way too close, Choco pushed him away gently. "But, wouldn't it take us a few weeks to get there?"
"Yep, so we better move right away! I can't have you die on me." Marsh began to pull him up the ground, and aid him as they walk together.
"I feel like I'd die before we can even get there." Choco groaned.
"Hey, I'm supposed to be the pessimistic one over here."
And so, the two continue on their track to reach the next layer, Peppermint Hills!