The buildup to the Aselia Cup Tournament Final is here! It's Lloyd vs. Presea in an epic confrontation to decide who will take it all! Enjoy!
Chapter 11: The Stage is Set
The outdoor Kitchen Stadium was buzzing with excitement on the night of the final battle of the Aselia Cup Tournament. The sun was setting behind the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge, and the river glistened in a golden reflection. Birds flew overhead, chirping the signal of a rebirth the rain from the other day brought.
While Lloyd and Presea were backstage preparing for the final battle, Sheena, Zelos, Colette, Regal, and Kratos settled into their front-row seats in the Royal Box. Genis and Raine joined Fukui and Hattori in the announcer's booth, having been chosen as the guest judges for the day. The Iron Chefs, minus the two that were challenged by the finalists, filed into the Royal Box next to the World Regeneration group with a look of excitement in their eyes. Morimoto, in particular, eagerly chatted with Michiba about what to expect from an Iron Chef tournament final—to which the elder Iron Chef deadpanned, "an hour of cooking."
"Onee-chan," Colette squeaked to Sheena as the crowd was filing into their seats, "who do you think will win today?"
The kunoichi frowned. "Honestly, it's a tough call. I suppose it all depends on the ingredient, but I think right now, not knowing what it is, it's difficult to say. Now, who am I hoping will win? Lloyd, of course."
"I hope he wins too…" the blonde Chosen sighed. She stared off into the distance, eyeing her portrait amongst those of the other competitors.
"He looks so…fierce up there," she mumbled, giggling to herself.
"Don't be silly, Colette, even you know he was as goofy as hell up there," Kratos chided, remembering the opening ceremonies he spied on from Derris-Kharlan. The blonde Chosen jumped out of her seat.
"Besides," the seraph continued, "I don't TRULY believe he knew what he was doing against you out there. It seems like he threw together a bunch of different ingredients and just hoped to Martel everything worked—and, as luck would have it, it did."
"That's not what he does at the restaurant…" Colette replied, a little confused. "Have you been there yet, Kratos?"
"Well…no," he stammered, "but I suppose after what happened today I'll have to. Of course, I'm willing to give him a chance today, as I think different ingredients tend to sway one's mannerisms, but you never know."
"You definitely should come when you have the chance," Colette replied sweetly. "Some of Lloyd's creations are among the most popular items on the menu."
I suppose I'll have to go after the tournament…it appears it's doing well, but I'll be the judge of that, he thought. The seraph glanced at the other Iron Chefs sitting right next to him, wondering if they ever got tired of being forced to watch these tournaments simply because they were Iron Chefs.
Wait a minute, why are two of them missing…?
~料理の鉄シンフォニア~
Backstage at the elevator platforms, Lloyd stood with his eyes closed, almost meditative in state. In just a matter of minutes, the very section of floor he was standing on would lift him into Kitchen Stadium Symphonia, into the heat of battle for the ultimate honor. The pressure was beginning to mount, and Lloyd needed a break from it all.
"Ninety seconds to show, Mr. Irving," a producer called.
"Thank you," Lloyd called back, not moving an inch. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
Finals…mystery theme ingredient…Dad in the audience…I did this before, I can do it again, right? Dammit, finals, forgot that part…this one's for all the marbles…oh, Martel, help me…
He wanted to scream, and was about to if it weren't for a certain pink-haired woodcutter tapping him on the shoulder.
"Lloyd…are you OK?"
"Hm? Ah, yeah, yeah, I'm fine, Presea, just, ah…a little nervous, that's all."
She cocked an eyebrow at him as she crossed over to her platform. "You? Nervous? I find that hard to believe…"
"Hey, even the Iron Chefs themselves get nervous, it's nothing new!" Lloyd shot back defensively. He shook his shoulders a bit in an attempt to loosen up, though he quickly tensed back up again as he heard the thirty-second warning.
"Look," Presea called out, "let's just have fun, yeah?"
The twin swordsman flashed a grin and winked.
"You're right, let's make Aselia hungry!"
~料理の鉄シンフォニア~
IRON CHEF SYMPHONIA
ASELIA CUP FINAL INTRODUCTION
==ETERNAL OATH==
If memory serves me right, today, the final battle of the Aselia Cup Tournament will take place.
It is a fitting way to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the completion of the World Regeneration Quest, as it is my hope that this tournament will promote peace through the simple act of sharing food with one another.
Last week*, the preliminary battles were fought amongst four of the Heroes of Regeneration, with very close decisions deciding both matches. And, of course, the winner of the final will not only receive a quarter of a million gald, but also battle the Iron Chef of his or her choosing. Should the champion win that battle as well, I shall graciously appoint him or her Iron Chef.
==FIGHTING THE SPIRIT==
Allow me to introduce the winners of the preliminary battles: first, the carving artist of Ozette, proclaiming a rebirth of her hometown: Presea Combatir.
And second, of course, is the Eternal Swordsman himself, the pride of Iselia: Lloyd Irving.
Though the two finalists have never been involved in an Iron Chef battle before this tournament, our records show that they were in attendance for both of Iron Chef Genis Sage's battles. Chef Sage speaks very highly of both of them.
Genis: "It'll be a great final. No doubt about that. Presea's carvings are works of art. She's so focused that it actually scares me. And Lloyd is so whimsical in the kitchen that it's entertaining to watch. It'll be worth the price of admission and then some."
The focused vanguard of Ozettian tradition against the unpredictable Iselian leader…this is a battle you do not want to miss!
==SHOW ME YOUR FIRETRUCK==
So now, my two finalists! Use all the skills you have acquired and hold nothing back to impress Aselia in this final battle!
~料理の鉄シンフォニア~
"The Aselia Cup Tournament Final," Fukui boomed over the applauding crowd. "Iron Chef fans from all over Aselia have flocked to the outdoor Kitchen Stadium to watch this historic battle about to transpire here. The winners of the semifinal matches, Presea Combatir and Lloyd Irving, will cross knives in this epic confrontation to decide the best chef in all of Aselia. And with that, let's bring on Chairman Kaga!"
The crowd roared with applause as Kaga emerged from backstage and took his familiar place behind the ingredient stand. He silenced them with a flip of his cape.
"If memory serves me right, three years ago, a group of brave warriors regenerated the world of Aselia, ending the struggle for mana between what was once two worlds and bringing peace to what is now one. I am honored to have them all here today in Kitchen Stadium as my distinguished guests."
At this Kaga gestured to the Royal Box that held the World Regeneration group, and the crowd applauded as they stood.
"Two of them happen to be the contenders for the final battle in this tournament I have established in their honor," Kaga continued. "So now, I call upon the finalists of the Aselia Cup Tournament!"
==SOSHITE BOKU NI DEKIRU KOTO (HEROIC)==
As smoke billowed from the dais, the elevator platforms began to rise, lifting Lloyd and Presea into Kitchen Stadium to a wildly applauding audience. The two could barely hear their names in time to wave to the crowd because it was so loud, but the music stopping cued them to descend into Kitchen Stadium. They were greeted by the Chairman and Iron Chef Michiba, who held a block containing two sticks.
"Please, choose," the Chairman gestured to Presea. Confused, the little woodcutter pulled out a stick. A large number "1" was imprinted on the end.
"I assume this means that my dishes will be tasted first?" she inquired. The Chairman simply nodded, and directed her to the left side of the stadium. She shook Lloyd's hand before descending the stairs.
"And with the two chefs in their positions, we'll now go back to the Chairman for the unveiling of today's theme ingredient," Fukui announced.
"I didn't think twice about deciding the theme ingredient for the final battle," the Chairman began. "We have used this for many special occasions in Kitchen Stadium Japan, and it is only fitting that I bring it for the grandest occasion in Kitchen Stadium Symphonia. They were flown in from my Japanese headquarters this morning—fifty of them. In total, they're worth about a hundred thousand gald. And now, I will announce it! The theme for the Aselia Cup Final Battle…is THIS!"
Kaga ripped the red tablecloth off the ingredient stand, releasing a cloud of dry ice. The platform rose to lift a basket containing numerous live, big-tailed crustaceans that were struggling to escape. Presea and Lloyd went bug-eyed upon realizing what these creatures actually were.
"The theme for the Aselia Cup Final is…JAPANESE LOBSTER!"
*Author's Note:
Kaga saying "last week" is a way of accounting for TV time versus real time. In reality, programs like Iron Chef would be taped weeks (or even months) before they are scheduled to air. This is common practice for taped TV shows.
Oh, snap (goes the lobster claw). This oughta be a goody. How will two Aselians handle an explicitly stated Japanese ingredient? The battle will rage on…in the next chapter! Ryori no Tetsu-Shinfonia kono ato!
