Peppermint Hills is the most famous layer known to the Sweet Kingdom, it's where they harvest all the herbs that can be the most crucial ingredient to create medicine for the weak and sick. King Sugar Cube would always send a group of Royal Cupcake Knights for an expedition to gather and retrieve a year worth stock of herbs from this land, and it was always a great risk to get themselves exposed to the guardian candy beast they call the Minty Witch.
It's a creature described to be three times taller than the ordinary sweetizen; it has a fluffy sugar white fur, a huge mouth that can swallow a whole person, several long limbs with sharp grippers, a thin figure but incredible strength and speed one could comprehend. They were still a long way, but Marsh is already growing anxious of the possibility of himself meeting this intimidating beast.
"How are you holding, Choco?" He asks, ridding himself of those thoughts.
"Like I said, terrible…" it can be seen on Choco's face of how sick he is, his complexion has gotten worse and worse every passing day. He barely gets any rest and sleep since his whole body was in pain and the fact that they have to keep moving to reach Peppermint Hills. "Say, how long do we still need to travel?" He asked with a hint of impatience.
"I'd say maybe… a few more days? I'm not sure. I can't make an accurate estimate with how slow we're moving." Marsh answered.
That being said, Choco collapsed to the ground and couldn't take it any longer. "Ugh, I give up… go on without me, Marsh. Let nature devour my body and keep my soul in peace within this taffy woods." He cried out poetically.
"Don't go acting all stupid and silly, I'll never leave you to die here!" Marsh protested.
"But I can't walk any more, I feel like I might die if I take one more step!"
Marsh groaned and got himself in position, offering his back to Choco, "Then I'll just have to carry you! Come over here." He demanded.
Choco was excited receiving this offer, and so he gladly crawled his way to climb up on Marsh's back. "Sweet, you're the best! I wouldn't know what I'll do without you." He spoke.
"Heh, you can always count on me." Marsh was glad to hear all that, but when he tried to get up while carrying Choco, he seemed like he would pop a vein trying to lift both their weight. "ERRR!" And as he tries even harder, he unintentionally farts in the midst of the process.
"Crumb, why are you so darn heavy?" Marsh complained.
Choco sighed and got off his back, "Ugh, I really can't go on much further like this..." he coughed, his condition wasn't getting any better; he had this horrible dark-circles under his eyes, his complexion was turning way too pale for a chocolate, and he can't feel a thing on his wounded arm.
"I really don't want to die yet, but looking back, I still feel awesome about killing that Arachnothingy. Does killing a legend makes me a legend?—ahh, nevermind..." He pulled out his precious sword and decided to hand it over to Marsh. "Here, take my Caramia, you'll need something to defend yourself with."
"No Choco! I already told you that I won't leave you behind—and you named your sword?" He was a little surprised at the fact, "Anyway, don't lose hope just yet. Hold on a little longer, yeah? Maybe just a day or two more won't hurt, I promise we'll get there… eventually." Marsh extends his hand to Choco, convincing him to keep moving forward.
Although Choco feels completely drained and sick, he takes his hand and tried to get up one more time. "Fine, I'll try not to die." Marsh continued to support Choco as they continue on their track.
Trying to endure the unbearable pain as they walk, Choco tries to distract himself from the pain by talking to Marsh. "You know, I feel like I've never done anything right with my life. Even right now, I'm being a burden to you." He chuckled.
"Don't talk like that, you're like a sick old man saying his last words." It was making Marsh anxious with the way he's talking. Choco paid no mind and continued, "Remember when I told you that I tried running away a lot of times before?"
Marsh nods as he quietly listens.
"That's because I always felt like I never fitted in the Sweet Kingdom. I'll have to admit, my life back then probably wasn't as bad as yours… I actually had lots of people doing everything just for me, most would even bend over backwards just to win my favor, and no one can even dare to go against my orders – seriously, I had everything at my disposal! But I chose to run away." He sincerely shared, though this had Marsh squinting his eyes at him.
"Woah, are you sure you don't fit in? It almost sounds like you're bragging, are you actually a runaway royalty or something?" Marsh raised an eyebrow with a suspicious smile plastered on his face.
Choco leaned away for a bit and shook his head, he avoids to look him in the eye as he almost made a slip of a tongue, "N-No! I'm just saying that… I don't know, maybe I was spoiled. But that's beside the point!"
"Alright, go on."
"A-As I was saying, I chose to run away… The life I had may sound great and all, but it was too much pressure. Everyone always had their eyes on me, watching my every move, expecting I'd do great things and reprimand every little mistake I do. It weights too much for a simple guy like me." It was true that Choco was way too simple to deal with anything too complex or handle things that bears a huge responsibility and dedication. All he ever wants was to go on adventures and fight monsters like a heroic figure admired by many.
"I never thought you'd be the type to care about what other people think of you." Marsh grinned; he never knew there was this kind of side to Choco.
"Oh, I don't really care about them. Screw those guys, it's my family who's concerned about maintaining a good image. I wish they can just like–NOT care about other people or trying so hard to look perfect. It's not like the world will end if I picked my nose out in public or let out some fart during a meeting."
"Pfft, ahahah!" Marsh laughed uncontrollably; he can imagine Choco doing those things without a care in the world. The more he talked, the more Marsh gets invested in his background. And so, he started playing with his words to unravel Choco's true identity, "I guess that's just how it is for noblemen like yourself. People always set those unrealistic expectations, ignoring the fact that not everyone is perfect."
"Tell me about it, but I'll do what I want either way." Choco felt so annoyed after recalling all those people ridiculing him, he sometimes daydreams that he punched them all in the face before leaving home for good.
"I see, I guess they spoiled you well at the Earldom." Marsh's sneaky words caught Choco off guard as he tried to correct him, "I live in a Duchy, Marsh. I'm the–" He flinched as he realized that he finally revealed himself.
Marsh was shocked to find out the truth about his friend, they froze on the spot and Marsh's jaw dropped. Since he accidentally spilled the beans, Choco sighed and confessed, "Fine! You got me you clever bastard. I'm Choco Von Fudge II, heir to the Fudge Dukedom and fifth in-line to the royal throne–well, I used to be. That's all in the past anyway."
"WHAT!?" Choco knew Marsh would react this way if he ever finds out, "Y-You had everything a man could ask for! That's ridiculous, how can you leave and abandon your life? You had EVERYTHING!"
"I know, I just told you that." Choco mentioned, he started to feel a little strange but continued to move forward while they talk.
"Surely there's more to that story," Marsh began, struggling to comprehend Choco's decision. "I just can't imagine someone like you LEAVING just like THAT! If I were in your shoes, I'd do anything to live a life like yours. I mean, you had it all! And yet you just… walked away?" Marsh's voice wavered, tinged with a deep sense of regret, as if he was the one who lost something precious.
"Of course there's more, but that's a story for another time." Choco held the side of his head, feeling a little disoriented and his vision started to blur. He might have strained himself by having this conversation with Marsh.
"No way, don't leave me hanging! Why did you run away?!" Marsh wanted to know more, but Choco wasn't feeling very well. "I'm sorry, I just can't right now, Marsh. I feel sick…"
"Oh, don't go using that excuse, you were talking just fine!"
"No, seriously, I feel–" Unexpectedly, Choco barfed and got weak in the knees. Marsh caught him just before Choco could fall down, "Choco, no!" He gasped, gently shaking Choco to keep him awake.
"Ugh… now that I've told you my s-story, I trust that you spread word of my l-legendary tale of slaying the Taffy Ground Beast… ughh…" Choco's head hangs to the side as he fainted.
"Dude! Don't die on me!" Marsh tried shaking him again, but he won't budge. This strengthened his resolve as he laid Choco to the ground and tightened his grip on Choco's legs, "J-Just don't die on me Choco! I swear, I'll get us to Peppermint Hills! Just hang on!"
Now that Marsh was left with Choco who is unconscious and on the verge of dying, he continued his way to Peppermint Hills while dragging Choco's body with him.