Ryori no Shinzo: Heart of Cooking

Story and concept by Wonder-Chefs-Cupcake

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia, Wonder Chef, Dark Chef, or anyone for that matter! (cries)

Synopsis: After thwarting Dark Chef's plans to obtain the Ultimate Recipe in Meltokio, Wonder Chef recognizes Regal Bryant as a great chef with the heart of cooking, and tells him he could be the next Wonder Chef. Dark Chef overhears this and tricks Regal to join him to obtain the Ultimate Recipe. Rated PG-13 for violence, language, and some sexual content.

Notes: The prologue was supposed to be chapter one, but I made it too short, so it became a prologue. This is THE official chapter 1..OMFG.I would love to give UBER MEGA big thank you's to SerpentKnightWingweaver and Dark Magician Fairy for their help and support! Thank you friends. I love you both lots! (Gives cookies). Also, I would like to say that Dark Chef is NOT gay, all right. You know how cynical bad guys are always creepy in a homo way, even though they're not. That's how Dark Chef is. Ok, after much waiting, onto to chapter one!

+Chapter 1: The Quest…+

"Heh…The time is near….He will soon awake…" The Dark Chef chuckled softly and swiftly turned around. Walking over to a stone table, he studied the form of the sleeping president of Lezareno.

"Hm..It's hard to believe that Odoroku would take interest in him…He must possess more than just good cooking skills. He DID beat me after all…." The Dark Chef reached out and touched the emblem on Regal's hat and smirked.

"Such a lovely man… I must say I'm looking forward to this…."

Dark Chef smiled and touched Regal's lips. Sitting on the table, he leaned forward, his lips hovering inches above Regal's. Just when they were about to make contact, the door slammed open and a loud squeal emitted the area. Dark Chef sat up quickly and looked at the door.

"Oh, its you Kaneiryo…."

"Heya bro! Whatcha doin'?" The preteen squealed. Dark Chef covered his ears and yelled, "WHY MUST YOU YELL!"

"Because I am…HYPER CHEF!" The young girl claimed, striking a pose.

"How could I forget.." Dark Chef muttered.

"AWWW SHIKOROI! WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN!" Kaneiryo wined, clinging on her brother's back.

"I told you never to call me that name!" Dark Chef yelled at his sister. When the self-proclaimed Hyper Chef was about to argue back, the two of them heard a groan. They stopped glaring at each other and stared at Regal's stirring body. Dark Chef pushed Hyper Chef off of him and loomed over the awakening cook.

"Ah….He is waking up…."

They stared patiently, when eventually Regal's eyes fluttered open, luminating a soft crimson glow. Regal blinked and his eyes returned to their normal blue, but they still had a little of the red hue to them. Dark Chef looked completely ecstatic.

"Regal Bryant….Who am I?" The Dark Chef asked, to see if his powers had worked. Regal sat up and said, "Shikoroi Yami, a.k.a Dark Chef. My master, why do you ask?" Shikoroi's eyes lite up and he smirked.

"It's nothing. You were just asleep for a long time, so I figured you had forgotten me. Do you still remember your mission?"

Regal nodded and said, "The mission of the Dark Chef alliance is to obtain the Ultimate Recipe passed down through the Wonder Chef family. Current successor: Hikaru Odoroku."

Dark Chef clapped and said, "Great job, Regal. You are one of my greatest chefs. Now please, if you would follow me…" Hyper Chef blinked and said, "Brother, where are you going?"

"Just going to refresh Regal's memory. Wait here Kei.."

"HEY! You're not allowed to call me that! Only people I like get to call me that nickname!"

"Yeah, yeah. Regal? Are you coming?"

"Yes sir." Regal said, standing up and following Dark Chef out of the room. Kei hopped on the table and pouted.

"What a jerk."

"So, master, what is it you wanted to speak with me with?" Regal asked, looking around. The place felt familiar, but still mysterious at the same time. He felt like he was walking through a medieval castle, with all the silk curtains and suits of armor. Dark Chef turned around and said, "That's what I want to talk to you about. Please, stop calling me 'master'. I plan on making you my successor, so you have no reason to call me 'master'. Please, call me Dark Chef like everyone else. But when it's just the two of us, you're free to call me Shikoroi. Understand?"

"Yes….Shikoroi.."

"That's a good boy. Now, to discuss your quest. What I want you to do is simple: capture the Wonder Chef. With that attire, you have the power to manipulate him to think you as one of his followers."

"How do these garments hold that power?"

"I had made them to look like one of the uniforms of the Wonder Chef family. You will simply be able to go up to Hikaru and capture him."

Regal blinked and asked in confusion, "How will I capture him?"

"With your handcuffs, Regal. If you allow me to remove them, I can fill them with a restraint, so they won't come off Odoroku, no matter how much he struggles. He won't be able to do his disappearing act either. So what do you say, Regal? Shall I remove those restraints from you?"

"If it makes you happy sir, than yes. Remove them."

"Excellent! Now hold still, this should be very simple." The Dark Chef chanted an incantation and touched the shackles. With a simple click, they dropped off of Regal's wrists and to the floor. Regal stared at the restraints, than at his wrist.

"My…hands are free…I've forgotten this feeling.."

He moved his hands together, and then to arm length.

"I have so much freedom now. Thank you, sir."

"You are welcome, Regal. Now, let me put a spell on these." Dark Chef picked up the restraints, and chanting yet another incantation, the shackles glowed a black hue and then simmered to their normal state.

Dark Chef handed the shackles to Regal and said, "Good luck, Regal Bryant. Odoroku should be at Altamira café. Bring him to me, alive."

"Yes sir. I'm honored that you have given me this mission." Regal bowed and started to walk away.

"Wait!"

Regal turned around and stepped back in surprise as Shikoroi grabbed his ascot and brought him so they were nose to nose.

"Just in case he give you trouble, take this…" Dark Chef whispered alluringly, as he put a cold metal object into Regal's hand.

"Just read the words…It'll show its true form. Once again, good luck Regal. I'm putting my trust in you." He let go of the purple cloth and walked away, leaving the new cook in shock.

Blinking, Regal looked at his hand and noticed that Shikoroi had given him a black fork with a pentacle on the prong. Noticing the words he had mentioned, Regal read them off in a confused matter.

"Dark Chef alliance, I am one with thee. Unleash thy power, show your true form to me." The fork began to glow, and grew so it was about 4 feet. "Wow. Well, I guess I should go. I will not disappoint you sir. I will bring Hikaru Odoroku here at all cost!"

Looking around, he blinked. "Um, how exactly do I get to Altamira?"

"I can help you with that!"

Regal turned around and blinked. "Aren't you 'Hyper Chef'?"

"Yep! That's me! I can help you get to Altamira in a jiffy! Follow me!"

Grabbing his hand, she dragged him down a hallway and into a dark room. Turning on a light, she pointed to a transporter.

"There! Just stand on there and say your destination. Its easy! I'll come with you so I can help you get back!" Hyper Chef explained, pulling out a spoon. Chanting the same words Regal did, her spoon grew to a 4-foot size also.

"OK, to Altamira we go! By the way, you can call me Kei. Teehee that rhymes!"

"Um, thank you Kei."

"No problem!"

In a flash of light, and a quick mind spaz, they stood in front of the entrance gates of Altamira, the beach side resort.

"Being here..It feels familiar…"

"Its prolly just a case of Deja' vu. Come on, let's go get that caped goon!"

"You have a cape too.."

"I knew that!" Kei blushed and walked toward the gates.

"Hey! Our trip was made short! There he is!" Kei exclaimed, pointing her spoon at the blonde haired chef, talking to a similarly dressed female with cream-colored hair.

"I wonder who that lady is? Should we take her too?" Kei asked. Regal's eyes seemed to glow and he said in a cool voice, "Yes. We will take her along. She may be of use."

Regal walked forward, his shackles hidden behind his back.

"Wonder Chef, what a surprise to see you!" Regal exclaimed.

"Hello, Mr. Regal Bryant! What a coincidence! I was just telling my friend Mystery Chef here about you! Do you have business?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do! With you!" Regal exclaimed, running at Hikaru.

"Teehee that rhymed too!" Kei pointed out. The woman known as Mystery Chef screamed as she watched Regal tackle the Wonder Chef to the ground.

"HIKARU!"

"CRÈME! GET OUTTA HERE!"

"I can't just leave you!"

"GO!" Hikaru screamed.

"Right!" Crème yelled as she ran toward the hotel.

"Nah ah! Your coming with us too!" Kei yelled, pulling out a rope. Glomping Crème to the ground, she tied her up and picked her up.

"Phew..This is hard work. At least you're light!"

Kei looked at Regal, who was having a hard time wrestling Hikaru down. This, of course, had started a lot of commotion in the city as many civilians and tourist took shelter around the area.

"CRÈME!" Hikaru yelled, running toward Kei.

"Uh oh! Sorry Regal, gotta run! I'll leave the transporter open for you!" And with that, the Hyper Chef ran out of the Altamira gate.

"How dare you kidnap her! You don't have the dignity to wear that costume!" Regal, seizing this opportunity ran forward and put the shackles onto Hikaru. The shackles shone brightly, than crackled with electricity. Hikaru screamed and fell to the ground in pain.

"Heh, that was easy. Now, come along." Regal said sinisterly, as he lifted the blonde from the ground and walked away.

"Oh, I don't think he would want to forget these!" Regal said, picking up Hikaru's hat and fork. Placing his own hat on his head, he walked away, leaving the whole town in disbelief. Only one thing was running through everyone's head;

"Why would Regal Bryant attack the Wonder Chef? And why did he do it here?"

OMG! I actually wrote a nice full chapter! I'm so proud of myself! (Hugs self) I'm really happy with how this turned out, even though I might get yelled at for my minor shounen ai content. Boo. I liked how I fitted it in.

OK, to explain, there was 2 new characters in here, and there will be many more. I will do a quick chart to explain who they are and who they belong to!

First, Hyper Chef. She belongs to my friend Danni. Hyper Chef's full name is Kaneiryo Gaki (I know Gaki means brat, but we couldn't find hyper in the Japanese dictionary. Oh well, it fits though! ;;) Her nickname is Kei, since saying Kaneiryo is a mouthful. She is Dark Chef's younger sister and around age 13. (Since I believe Dark Chef and Wonder Chef are really early 20's or really late teens.) Kei is known to be hyper and annoying, but proves to be helpful. She is obviously on the Dark Chef Alliance side. Her insignia changes, but is usually a smiley face or a swirl with a star.

Second, Mystery Chef. She belongs to me! Her full name is Crème Misuteri. Not much is known about her, cause she IS Mystery Chef! All that's known really is she's a servant of the Wonder Chef family and has been close to them for a few years. Her and Hikaru are best friends and always help each other in times of need. But they obviously couldn't now, could they? Crème is 19. Her insignia is a sun with a moon in front of it and a star at the points of the moon.

There will be many more chef's in later chapters, including the infamous SUPER CHEF with his mysterious rainbow spork (dedicated to my friend Nicole-Lu, aka Zephyr or God) and the all knowing, all fish cooking SUSHI CHEF, who belongs to my friend Caitlin. Look forward to these two new characters in later chapters.

I'm having fun writing this story!

3, Wonder-Chef's-Cupcake