Not So Sweet Candyland

XLIX: Edge of the Summits

A long stretch of tundra until a miracle happened.
A winter wonderland that seemed to be full of happiness.

Berry saw the snow accumulate their feet and she cheered quietly.

"What is it?" Chase asked.

"Look! It's snowing!"

Berry ran around like a little child in the snow and finally, she played in it.

"You really do have a childish side."

"What? You want to play too."

She jumped in a pile of snow and cheered. In that moment, their clothes changed and that's when Berry realized something.

"Wait, I think we're nearing the summits."

"The summits?"

"Whipped Cream Summits. A collection of mountains that are quite cold. There is a collection of people scattered around here and there, the mountains make up 10,000 people. It might not seem like a lot, but a lot live at the edge. Because, that's the tamest in terms of cold. And now, we're going to be going into the cold."

"But, it's July?"

"Just because it's July, doesn't mean that the sun shines and melts all of the snow and you're overheating. It's not like that. Not like that at all. If you're from the real world and you have more biomes here, why don't you know more?"

"I don't focus on the forecast that well."

"I can tell."

They kept on walking as the snow started to get more aggressive and blow in their face. Berry seemed unfazed by it.

"It's only going to get worse from here." She said.

Chase felt the pretty but sharp flakes of snow against his cheeks. He felt one cut his cheek and it caused a little cut.

"Ouch." He said.

"What happened?" Berry turned to him and noticed his cheek. "Oh, I guess a snowflake cut you? Oh, that happens."

"Are you going to do anything about it?" He asked.

"We're near a village. They could do something."

Soon enough, there was a collection of houses in the distance. They made a quick put stop at one of the houses and knocked on the door of a random house.

"Hello?" A little boy answered the door.

"Hello. Are your parents home?" Berry went down to his level.

"No, but let me guess, the snow is sharp again? Guess it's bad."

He nodded towards Chase, who held his cheek.

"Come on in."

They came in and whipped their feet on the welcome mat.

"Sit down." The boy pointed to the couch with a teddy on it. "Teddy will keep you company in case you hate doctors."

Chase giggled.

He sat down and that's when the boy went to a sink and got a bowl and filled it with warm water.

"This is what mommy and daddy do when they see that the snow is sharp."

He got a rag and drenched it in the water. Then, he put the rag on the cut and then, he went to another drawer and got a bandaid. He gently put it on Chase's cheek.

"There you go."

"Thank you." Chase smiled.

"You're welcome."

"Where are your parents by any chance?" Berry looked around.

"Oh, they are working. They get home later, at around dinner time. It's been an hour since I got home from school."

"Do you want us to stay with you?"

"No, I can do good here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, miss. I know when somebody needs help, and I love to help."

"Aww, you're cute."

"We're going to go now, if that's ok with you."

"Of course, and of the snow ever cuts you, come back to my house!"

Berry and Chase left and they went on their next adventure. They stopped for a moment and looked at the mountain.

"Are we really climbing that?"

"It's nothing. If you think that it's a lot, at least you don't have to be uncomfortable like in the desert. This is an adventure of extremes, and if you want to leave, you can." Berry had her hand out, but put it away for a moment.

"No. You're right. I'm not leaving. Because you know why? You are the one that protects me and the one that is actually both fun and serious. And, I'm no genius, but you taught me so much, what would I do without you?"

Berry smiled.

"You really think that?"

"Of course." Chase smiled.

"Come on, you idiot. We have a mountain to climb."

Berry held out her hand again and Chase took it. They walked through the city, but not running. Berry rested her head on Chase's shoulder. Chase looked at her and they exchanged a smile.

The village that they were in was just like a storybook village. People were happily chatting, there were kids dancing, a small fire in the torches, and a walkway that seemed to never have snow on it fall. Berry looked at it and wondered.

"I guess you can put magic on paths."

The path was tan cobblestone. It fit in such a weird way, but Berry could never put her finger on it.

While they were walking down, the snow suddenly started to fall lighter and gentle. There was no wind and the world seemed so quiet, as if they were the only ones there. A faint guitar could be heard playing a slow song.

Berry suddenly bent down and created a snowball with her hands. She threw it at Chase, and that surprised him.

"Hey, you just killed the mood."

"What? I don't like the sentimental moments for so long. I'm just saying that."

"Well, if you want to play like that, then be my guest." Chase started to form a snowball and threw it at Berry, but it missed.

"You're just a little short of me. Too bad."

"Oh god. You're cheating."

"Me? What? Never."

That's when Chase formed a snowball and instead of just throwing it like normal, he ran straight to Berry and when he tried to throw it, he and Berry fell to the ground together.

"Ok, fine. You can hit me. I won't cheat anymore."

"Really?"

"Yep."

Chase hit Berry with the snowball.