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The steps seemed never ending, and Dark Cacao felt his own weight strain his tired legs. How he longed to go home, to stop while he was ahead, to rest his weary eyes for only a second, but both his mind and his heart were set on defeating that wretched beast.
He forced himself to climb up a step. His legs shook with every little movement.
And another, his head feeling fuzzy.
One more, he felt his vision beginning to blur.
Stopping to catch his breath and trying to focus his eyes, he saw what seemed to be some sort of garden up ahead. As soon as he noticed it, the sickly sweet scent of fruit was carried by the wind, invading his nose and making his already empty stomach churn. Maybe, if he could find a way to ignore the overwhelming aroma wafting through the air, he could take some time to rest and regain his strength. Only a few more steps, and he could rest. Just a few more.
One step closer made the burning in Dark Cacao’s muscles awaken once more. Two made the fire in his lungs relight. Three made him stumble, only catching himself the same moment he would’ve fell.
By the tenth step, he wondered if it was all an illusion.
The fifteenth confirmed it wasn’t.
The smell of fruit heavy in the air, almost circling around him mockingly, he couldn’t help but gag. Could he rest here, or would it be too much for him at the moment? No, he had to, he couldn’t even think about treading forward or returning back. But returning back was never an option. He needed that woman dead, and if not, then he was content if he died trying his damned hardest.
Before he could sit under the cool shade of one of the trees, he heard movement from behind him.
“Who goes there?!” Shooting up, Dark Cacao brandished his sword with shaking hands, face to face with someone he never met before. The man looked kind, young and free-spirited, a flower mysteriously atop his left eye.
“A visitor approaches the serene garden, I see.” The stranger smiled, cocking his head. “You look starved and exhausted. You’ve not eaten for a while, have you?”
“Who… Who are you?! Are you another one of the Immortals or some ghost that has come to confuse me? If you try to mislead me with your empty, honeyed words, I won’t hesitate to attack! Do you wish to fight me?!”
The stranger’s smile faltered the slightest bit, his gentle gaze full of confusion. “Fight? I have no weapon.”
Dark Cacao’s eyes landed on his empty hands, confirming that what he said was true.
As he walked forward towards Dark Cacao, the stranger ran his hands along the bark of the trees, picking one of the fruits off one of the branches, pulling the stem and leaves off and letting them fall to the ground. “I tend to this garden of peach bao—a sacred fruit coveted by many. These trees have borne fruit. A rare sight indeed, for this garden blossom only once in three thousand years. Come, share a peach bao with me…”
“The scent…” Dark Cacao murmured, staring daggers into the innocent looking fruit. “Now I understand… It was coming from this garden.”
“It must’ve been an arduous journey. Your dough is scratched, and your hair, tousled.” The stranger caressed Dark Cacao’s face with his free hand, thumbing over one of the wounds on his cheek. Holding up the peach bao, he held it up between them. “Here, have a taste. The warm sunlight made this fruit sweet and succulent.”
“Get that thing away from me! Nothing from this place will touch my lips!”
Dark Cacao ripped away from the other man, holding his sword defensively against himself, eyes flickering between the fruit in the man’s hand and his face, still gentle and serene. A face that made him want to spill his troubles right out, to seek comfort from someone living and breathing. “If I eat that… I will end up like my loyal warriors…”
“Could it be… You haven’t eaten anything at all?”
Dark Cacao pressed his lips into a thin line.
The stranger nodded his head, as if to answer his own question, and he held out the pink fruit once more. “Worry not. The fruit will give you strength. It is said that the peach bao holds the secret to true ascension. But most importantly… You must replenish your energy if you wish to continue your journey ahead.”
Dark Cacao’s breath hitched when the man leaned in, so close that he could feel his breath on his face.
“So please,” the stranger said, “accept this gift from my garden. Have a bite.”
Dark Cacao couldn’t think clearly. He used up all his energy, even the little bit of adrenaline he got when he first heard the man approach him. He was starving. So much so, he could probably eat about twenty of those fruits. The world around him began to grow silent, the edges of his vision closing in, and he found it difficult to keep his eyes open. The only thing keeping him going was the lingering thought of his kingdom, his lost warriors. Was he there just to die, or was he there to save the kingdom he built brick by brick? Was he there to perish, or was he there to protect his beloved subjects? He couldn’t die, not yet. He needed to stay alive. He needed to defeat that beast of a woman.
“Give me that!” Dark Cacao’s voice was far louder than he wanted it to be, but it was a tinge of guilt only felt for a moment as he snatched the fruit from the stranger’s hand. He devoured the peach bao like some sort of wild canine, the saccharine juices cold and refreshing, and although he must’ve looked disgusting, the stranger seemed excessively happy about his choice.
“Ah, look at you! So starved, indeed! How is it? Fragrant and sweet, is it not? You cannot taste his heavenly delight anywhere else.”
Swallowing the final bite, Dark Cacao felt a rush of energy flow in his veins, and the world around him seemed so much brighter than before. “Ah… Now that I’ve come to my senses… I see that this place… Is truly beautiful… The warm sunlight smooths over the mountain ridge as the pillowy clouds swim slowly across the sky, gently drifting across my dough.”
What was he saying?
“To think that such a beautiful and serene paradise truly exists…” Dark Cacao sat down on the cool dirt underneath him, bathing in the sunlight that smiled upon him.
“Oh my, you’re quite the poet.” The stranger sat down beside Dark Cacao, picking up one of the fallen leaves and petting it with the pad of his thumb.
“…Ah! I got carried away looking at my surroundings!” Dark Cacao stood up as quickly as he could after coming to his senses, raising his voice and gripping the handle of his sword tightly. “You there! What did you put in this peach bao? You must have done something, or I would not be behaving like this!”
“No, I assure you. If anything, this fruit cleared your vision.” With a grin, the stranger stood up as well, taking Dark Cacao’s hand. “Do not ignore what you hear, see, and feel. Your senses will help you reach enlightenment.”
Dark Cacao jerked his hand away harshly, and he forced himself to look the man in the eye with a scoff. “Enlightenment?! Ha! In order to reach this “Enlightenment” you speak of, I must find Mystic Flour and put an end to her evil! If I cannot eliminate the diabolical Cookie that took away my subjects and spread a plague in my Kingdom, then… I will never be able to forgive myself, even in the afterlife.”
“So that terrible anguish of yours is directed at Mystic Flour…” The stranger thought for a moment, turning to face the largest mountain that stood tall in the distance. “Look at the mountain ridge… Do you see the summit, where a single peach tree stands? That is where you must go to rid yourself of the resentment that lies within.”
“The summit, you say… Then I still have a long journey ahead of me. But are you not on Mystic Flour’s side? Why do you show me the way so easily?”
The stranger giggled. “Oh, I am but a simple caretaker of this garden. Yet, some say… Even Immortals crave fruits from my garden…”
“…What are you saying…?”
“Hehe, farewell. I am grateful that you enjoyed the peach bao. There will be times where you miss its sweet taste.”
And the years passed by quickly. It seemed like it was only yesterday when Mystic Flour was defeated, the plague that overrun the Dark Cacao Kingdom fading away as quickly as the wind blew. With his newfound power, Dark Cacao felt unstoppable. No, he was unstoppable, and he knew that was fact. Finally, after so long, he felt worthy of the crown given to him. However, with all the glory that came with his victory and return, there was an empty hole in his heart, waiting to be filled.
The stranger was right. There were definitely times Dark Cacao missed the sweet, warm taste of the peach bao, the story he shared fondly with those who asked about his journey, but that wasn’t the only thing he ached for.
That man he met, the man with the flower fixed on his left eye, was something he missed more than the succulent fruit that aided his travels. He had only talked for a mere moment in the grand scheme of things, but there was something about him that drew Dark Cacao in. Was it his face, beautiful and kind? Was it his voice, smooth like honey? Was it his scent, sweet like the fruit but not nearly as overwhelming? He was unable to figure it out. Maybe that was what the stranger did to the peach bao; he made it so Dark Cacao wouldn’t be able to ever forget him.
He never even caught his name.
The kingdom was split on the announcement of Dark Cacao’s return to Mystic Flour’s land. Some thought it could be of good value and give him the closure he needed, while others found it redundant and unnecessary.
So, Dark Cacao went out to see the garden caretaker once more.
The stairs were still as grueling as before, but he had came prepared this time around with plenty of food and water. The scenery was still as beautiful as he remembered it to be, and he held onto hope that, somehow, the garden would be replenished with succulent fruit. Although a bit disappointed to see that the garden was bare, he continued up the steps, ignoring the burn in his legs. For whatever reason, he felt his heart begin to race each step he took that led him closer to the garden, a wave of anxiety and anticipation washing over him. What if the stranger was no longer there? No, he must be. He is the caretaker of the garden, after all, and it’s only been a few short years since they first met.
In the blink of an eye, he had gone up the last few stairs, face to face with the garden that felt so familiar yet different, but beautiful all the same. Taking some time to catch his breath, he began traversing through the trees, looking around for any sign of the stranger, until he reached the heart of the garden. There, he saw the man sitting on a rock facing away from him, making what seemed to be some sort of crown made from peach flowers, and Dark Cacao jumped when he began to speak.
“Ah, you have returned, vengeance seeker. My apologies, there is no fruit this time around, but you can come and see the wonderful flowers that have bloomed.”
“That is alright, I am not here for the fruit,” Dark Cacao said, sitting on the ground next to the stranger. “I came to meet with you again. How did you know it was me?”
“I have been counting the days since you had left, mighty King, for you were my first and only visitor from outside this land.”
“I am glad to have the honor.”
“My name is Peach Blossom,” the man said after a few seconds of comfortable silence, taking off Dark Cacao’s hat and placing the flower crown on his head instead. “I have realized that I never told you my name, and I do not know yours.”
Reaching to feel the soft petals of the flowers, he smiled gently. “Dark Cacao.”
“What a lovely name. It suits you well, Dark Cacao. How have you been fairing since defeating Mystic Flour?”
“My kingdom was saved from the plague, and my return was welcomed with the cheers of many, including those who were healed. The kingdom has flourished since then, and I am proud of what it has become. How have you been?”
“As well as I could be, alone in a garden unable to bear fruit for thousands of years. It may sound a bit silly, but I did miss you, Dark Cacao.” Reaching a hand out to smooth the king’s hair, Peach Blossom tucked some of it behind his ear. “You look good. Healthy and lively, much different than when we met. How I wish to gift you a peach bao, but I am afraid that this crown of flowers is all I have.”
Dark Cacao chuckled, taking Peach Blossom’s hand. “Seeing you is more than enough.”
“Come.” Peach Blossom stood up, pulling Dark Cacao off the ground. “There is something I want to show you.”
With a nod, Dark Cacao let the other man lead him through the rest of the garden to a nearby cliff, the sunset shining an orange hue on the horizon. It was breathtaking, and Dark Cacao was able to see from the very beginning of his journey to the end, and he found that he didn’t feel any particular way about the memories. He looked to his right, his gaze softening at Peach Blossom’s smile dyed with the gentle light of the setting sun. As if it had a mind of its own, his left hand found its way to the other’s face, turning it to face him. With a silent understanding, Peach Blossom put his hand on top of Dark Cacao’s, nuzzling into it.
“Dark Cacao,” he whispered, looking up at him through his eyelashes. “I was upset that you left the garden as early as you did.”
“But had I not left when I did, my kingdom would have been destroyed.”
“I know. I know how important it is to you, and I was not upset at you, but rather the circumstances that had led you here. I thought about you every day and every night. I am grateful you decided to come visit me.”
“I have found myself thinking of you as well… Far more than I would ever admit to somebody who is not you. I… Am sorry for my behavior the day we met. I was under a lot of stress, and—“
“Do not be sorry, I will not let you be sorry. I did not, and never will, hold it against you. I was always able to tell that you were a kind, wise soul, deep down. I must admit, I have been dreaming of you.”
“Have you?” Dark Cacao felt his breath hitch, and Peach Blossom leaned closer to him.
“I have. Dreams of meeting you again, dreams of you bringing me to your kingdom, to live a life unlike the life I know. If only that was my reality—What am I saying ?” Peach Blossom jerked himself away, turning to face the sun, almost completely hidden by the horizon. “I cannot leave this place, not even if I desired to. I have tended this garden for thousands upon thousands of years, I have seen the birth of this land, and to leave it abandoned…”
“Please, do not worry about this right now. I am here and I will be for a few days, so let us spend our time together without any troubles.”
“I am sure there is somebody back at the kingdom more worthy of your affection.”
“But you are the only one that is you , Peach Blossom. I do not care if that is a possibility if you exist. Look at me, please.”
Swallowing his pride, Peach Blossom nodded, facing Dark Cacao but avoiding eye contact. The king tucked some of the other’s hair behind his ear, he pulled him into an embrace, resting his chin on his shoulder.
“This time we have together, let us cherish it,” Dark Cacao whispered.
Peach Blossom took Dark Cacao’s face into his hands, gently pressing their lips together and squeezing his eyes shut. It was obvious that he never kissed somebody before, his body tense and movements awkward, but it was endearing and Dark Cacao found it adorable. He wrapped his arms around his waist, running his fingers up and down his back, a small smile forming on his face when he saw how flushed Peach Blossom’s cheeks were when he pulled away.
“I wish I knew why I did that,” Peach Blossom stammered. “I felt… Overwhelmed with emotions I have never experienced before.”
“If you were not the one to initiate it, I would have.”
“…I do not know how to properly kiss somebody.”
“Just follow my lead.” Dark Cacao leaned in and kissed him again suddenly, startling Peach Blossom for a moment. He let Peach Blossom adjust to his liking, his body loosening up, and Dark Cacao slotted their lips together properly. Mimicking the gentle movements of the other, Peach Blossom inadvertently deepened the kiss, sighing softly. It only lasted for a few moments, but the fire that began to kindle between them was almost tangible, and while neither of them wanted to pull away, they eventually broke the kiss for air. The serene face that Dark Cacao was used to seeing was dusted a light shade of pink, mouth slightly agape as Peach Blossom panted, and he felt a familiar warmth course through his veins like a raging river.
“Was that alright?” The king asked, and he couldn’t help but chuckle at Peach Blossom’s rapid nodding.
“I… Never thought that it could feel so nice to kiss someone…”
“You learn quickly as well. I am glad it was as enjoyable for you as it was for me.”
Peach Blossom let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, laughing lightly. “The sun has officially set. Let us go to my chambers, you must be tired.”
“The night can wait, I wish to stay like this for a little longer.”