Happy 2021 wherever you are! (but still publishing this in 2020)
Culinary Rivals is back for the Christmas/New Year season! Thanks to encouragement from previous readers, I've written this spin-off. I also had a song-fic in mind when writing this, but that's another story! I promise this spin-off will be much shorter than Culinary Rivals, so enjoy a cup of Babiri hot cocoa while you're here.
After all... This is simply a winter special of Culinary Rivals. A Christmas gift to previous readers!
And this is to commemorate the Pokémon Fanfiction Net fandom on hitting 100,000 published fics!
Chapter one: Wallace's Ingenious Idea
Martine Grenadine delicately brought her steaming cup of hot cocoa to her lips, savouring the sweetness and warmth of the drink while sitting in Le Café Sinnoh. The hot cocoa was topped with smooth marshmallows that had partly melted into the cup already and further topped with a generous serving of whipped cream decorated with tiny peppermint candies. As she sipped it, she could taste the unique spice of Babiri berries mixed with cinnamon, and the spice sent a gentle jolt through her nerves.
And it couldn't have been a better time to do so. Winter had fallen onto Cyllage City, which was normally active in the summer. Now that winter arrived, the air had turned cold and crisp, and the city was quietly carrying about its business. In warmer weather, tourists regularly came to enjoy the cliffs and beaches nearby, but in colder weather the city was often quiet. Even though there were two critically acclaimed restaurants near the waterfront, there was less incentive to come anyway.
She was told by Sébastien, the current staff at Le Café Sinnoh, that Babiri berries were grown seasonally and its spicy and dry taste made it ideal to add to hot cocoa. As Martine continued sipping more of her hot Babiri cocoa, she felt much warmer after doing so.
Martine could feel the chill of winter blowing through the cliffs nearby into the city the instant it came. There was already a light layer of snow on the streets of Cyllage City, sending a clear signal that winter was on its way. Even the trees were turning to white. Furthermore, the sun was setting early than usual and would remain that way. Looking out the window from where she sat, she could see people passing by, dressed in sweaters and jackets, amid the hanging lights on the streets. The lights looked perfect against the dim backdrop of Cyllage City in the winter. It was like a Christmas card.
And within Le Café Sinnoh, there was even a tree set up with decorations and lights. The mood was sure getting festive at Vue sur la Lune, Cynthia's Richissime-starred restaurant, where Le Café Sinnoh was situated.
It had been a season since the Stone Restaurant and Bistro (or, colloquially, the Stone Bistro) where Martine worked, and Vue sur la Lune had been married into one company. But the two restaurants, literally located across the street from each other, regularly competed to see who was better anyway. There was no denying the Stone Bistro was an entrée specialist and Vue sur la Lune a dessert specialist. That much had been clear over the past year. Their feats earned them two Richissime stars each from the Richissime Guide.
But the guide also explicitly mentioned the love story between the two chefs of the restaurants was worth the third star between them. And so it awarded the third star on the premise that their meals were taken together. That became common knowledge throughout Kalos and became so popular that the media and press wouldn't leave Cyllage City for months.
At least that was the case until the season ended, and things finally settled down when the snow started coming. Like the quiet streets, the two restaurants operated in relative peace with the occasional customers showing up to dine against the dim Kalos coast.
Martine checked how she was doing for time. It wouldn't be long before she had to start work. However she had some time to walk around Vue sur la Lune's chocolatier, since her workplace was conveniently across the street. So the redhead finished her cup of Babiri hot cocoa while listening to the live band in the café play easy listening tunes that seemed to compliment the weather outside, just like how the Stone Bistro and Vue sur la Lune complimented each other.
Now walking outside in the colder weather, which was very different to the summer climate that Martine was used to, Martine took a breath of the crisp air. The cold air felt fresh in her lungs, yet caused her to shiver. Light snow fell on her shoulder-length red hair as she walked into the chocolatier, La Lune de Chocolat.
Unsurprisingly, the ice cream was not selling well at times like these. Martine did notice, though, that the chocolatier was doing quite well. A signature product of La Lune de Chocolat, the Lune Opéra, was selling out in slices and boxes. She could tell, given the display where the cake normally would be was near empty.
"Bon matin," she greeted Henri at the counter, her co-worker at this rivalling restaurant.
"Bon matin, Martine," Henri greeted back. "Are you just dropping by?"
"That's right! Just seeing how you've decorated things now that the weather is like this…" Martine smiled.
The little Christmas trees with ornaments at the window would have made anyone delighted by the mere sight of them. Boxes of chocolates were put beside the trees as if to entice visitors to buy them as gifts too. Berry-flavoured chocolates, brownies, and regular chocolates shined on their display. And from the looks of things, the little Christmas trees seemed like decoration enough.
However, Henri knew the specialty display of chocolates and other treats, prepared just for the winter season, were the real stars. One great example being the Figy berry and cinnamon cake. This cake could be sold by the loaf or by the slice. With Figy berry and cinnamon together, it promised sweet and spicy relief to anyone whose fingers and toes had frozen, let alone throats.
And Martine bought a loaf before starting she left. So long as she was here, she may as well get a treat for her friends at her workplace.
In the lobby of the Stone Restaurant and Bistro, which ran through the front and centre of the restaurant, underneath the modest chandelier hanging two stories above. The usual chandelier, which like a set of cubes and blocks, had been replaced with a set that had its tips resemble candlelight, that and some holiday ornaments to brighten up anyone's day.
Yet the two receptionists, one remarkably handsome and one very pretty, who normally handled the desk and front-line welcoming committee were not at the desk yet. That was because they were both having a friendly Pokémon battle at the square plaza the end of the road, within walking distance of the Stone Bistro and Vue sur la Lune. Plaza Median, it was called, which was so-called by the community because it acted as a middle ground between the then-warring restaurants. It wasn't even called Plaza Median to begin with! But Cyllage City recognised the importance of the plaza in light of the love-hate between the restaurants, and so gave it that name.
For wintertime, where a light layer of snow had covered the park benches, the city had decorated the landscape with lights and sparse decorations. In the dim light of morning, it was a twinkling beacon for the waterfront. While other shops and businesses had done decorating of their own, Plaza Median stood out given its presence with the restaurants.
And it was popular for Pokémon battles. The handsome brown-haired receptionist, Laurent, and his Hawlucha were squaring off against the pretty black-haired receptionist Sophie and her Clauncher. There may have been snow around them, but it frankly wasn't that cold. They were only sparring, exchanging friendly attacks while trying not to damage the landscape. Hawlucha was exchanging fists with Clauncher that suggested that the odds were even between them.
Neither were they fighting to the end. Laurent and Sophie decided it was best to pass time with a little training. The two of them happened to run into each other on their way to work and it was still early. So as they walked together, holding hands as they did, Laurent suggested having a short battle. The two of them, after all, were members of the same club and enjoyed battling each other anyway.
"You're getting better, Sophie!" Laurent complimented his co-worker.
"And you're getting worse, Laurent!" Sophie said to her boyfriend. Aside from being members of the same club and co-workers in the same position, they were also in a very close relationship that was the product of extenuating circumstances. But then again, it came as no surprise to anyone. They were too close anyway.
And when the friendly exchange was over, they two of them recalled their Pokémon and prepared for work. Their schedule was usually morning to evening although it was usually busier from the afternoon onward. Right now, it wasn't even early morning but the limited daylight plus the Christmas lights made it seem like evening already. Sophie and Laurent started their way to work and noticed the familiar redhead on the way.
"Bon matin, Martine!" Sophie called.
The snow didn't help either. It was sucking up sound and made Sophie's voice slightly muted. Martine could still hear her though and walked across the street to meet up with her and Laurent.
"Bon matin!" Martine said brightly. Laurent noticed Martine was holding a loaf in her arms, held in a paper bag. Martine noticed Laurent's eyes, naturally. "Are you curious, Laurent? It's for everyone. Venez, let's try it at work!"
"Ooh! Where did you get that, Martine?" Sophie said.
Martine grinned, eyeing La Lune de Chocolat briefly.
Sophie understood well. If it came from across the street, it was likely something sweet. Come to that, sweet treats were something to look forward to in this weather.
The day had brightened up a little although it was still overcast. In the kitchens of the Stone Restaurant and Bistro, the cooking team were spending hours doing preparation work. Cooking took no time at all, but cooking without preparation was every restaurant's nightmare.
Steven Stone, the head chef and owner of the Stone Bistro, partially supervised his team's efforts. The meats cut, the fish filleted, the vegetables sliced, the fats separated, and the berries peeled or cut where needed. The process would have appeared too fast for anyone to comprehend because everyone was moving in perfect rhythm, completing their tasks and passing them on to their fellow cook the next moment. It was as if a single cook was doing the work, separated into many persons.
And as Steven watched the preparation finish smoothly, that meant everyone had some downtime, time they could use to clean up the kitchen. "I'm not expecting it to be busy today, so if any of you want to help with the Christmas decorations outside, feel free. Just let James know." James was Steven's sous chef.
"Oi, chef," one of his cooks said. "Cynthia not with you this morning?"
With the rest of the staff exchanging smug looks at each and then Steven, Steven swallowed. "Please… You know she's busy right now."
Across the street, Cynthia was managing Vue sur la Lune quite well. She was sipping a welcome mug of black tea that had been boiled fresh in Le Café Sinnoh, mixed with honey and stirred with eight tablespoons of evaporated milk. With that much milk, it provided an incredibly rich taste that tasted great with the cold weather in mind. After taking one sip, Cynthia put her mug down and smiled. Like her associates at the Stone Bistro, the cooking crew were doing preparation of their own, albeit with a focus on dessert ingredients. Eggs were one of the primary ingredients that needed attention as egg white and egg yolk were crucial to the sweet treats.
In light of winter season, eggs were needed more than ever.
Even though 'her' restaurant was under ownership of the Stone Bistro, she and Steven reached a mutual agreement that Cynthia continues to be the manager of her restaurant, and thus the de facto owner. Since then, the two restaurants always casually competed against each other to see who was better based on profits. Plus, Cynthia still had debts that, while still being paid by the profits of the two restaurants, still needed covering.
So far, a huge chunk of her debts had been paid back. But there was still more to cover.
And thinking of her debts made Cynthia smile. Had it not been for her debts, Steven would not have moved heaven and earth to help her. Cynthia's creditors were almost impossible to reach, and Steven had miraculously contacted them after calling every favour he had.
What entertained Cynthia more was that it came at a heavy price for Steven, in which his feelings for her were made public. But she was fine with that too.
She walked around the dining floors of her restaurant, which spanned three stories above Le Café Sinnoh and La Lune de Chocolat. Like the Stone Bistro, business had been quiet for winter season and most of it had come from the ground floor anyway.
Beside her, her Roserade was approached her with a scarf wrapped around her head. Since she was more susceptible to cold than Cynthia was, Cynthia couldn't blame Roserade.
"Hi, Roserade. Is there something you need?" Cynthia said.
Roserade replied in such a manner that Cynthia understood, in part, that she had a visitor. At first, her hopes went up that it would be Steven, though she knew Steven would have just called her. So it probably was an unexpected visitor. A special customer, perhaps?
Leaving the dining floors and making her way downstairs, Cynthia soon was at the front doors of Vue sur la Lune, walking by the sparse holiday decorations as she did. Most of it had been placed near the entrance or in the chocolatier or the coffee shop, but otherwise, there were occasional decorated trees placed about, holly lining the walls, and wreaths on the doors. Even the kitchen doors were fixed with bows and ribbons.
When Cynthia arrived at the main entrance, Roserade could only wonder what was going through her Trainer's mind. It was not a special customer. It was a group of faces she hadn't seen for a season.
It was Wallace, Winona, and Lisia.
But to Roserade's surprise, Cynthia's eyes lit up. "Salut!" she greeted. Roserade was surprised. She would have expected Cynthia to not welcome Wallace, given how irritating he was. "Long time no see, Wallace," Cynthia said. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, you know, Cynthia…" Wallace raised a hand to greet her. "I just had to check on my favourite couple in the whole wide world! Just checking if the plan proceeded as expected. I – UGH!"
Winona had elbowed Wallace on his side. "We're taking a vacation from League duties and decided to come here, check on how our friends are doing. You don't mind, do you?"
"Oh, not at all. Not at all," Cynthia replied. "It's quiet at this time of year in Cyllage City, so how about we talk at a table? I'll make a snack for us, and maybe a cup of milk tea, oui?"
Lisia glanced at Winona and Wallace, smirking. "She must really have lots of time on her hands if it's this quiet. Let's get Steven over here, while we're at it!" She looked back at Cynthia. "Steven is free, right?"
Cynthia chuckled. She gestured the group of three to follow her and Roserade to the floor above. It didn't take long and the four of them plus Roserade were seated together near the window, with the Stone Bistro and its festive decorations in plain sight outside. As well, there was a taller Christmas tree placed within the Stone Bistro's lobby, and in the distance they could glimpse Sophie and Laurent starting work. The day was brightening, albeit not that much.
Fifteen minutes later, Steven had showed up at their table and Cynthia simultaneously came back with a stack of crêpes drizzled in chocolate sauce, candied sprinkles, and softened Mago berries. She wasn't surprised that everyone's eyes lit up at the prospect of eating this, especially in the morning.
"It's early to eat something this sweet, don't you think?" Steven said.
"I thought of that, mon chéri, so I got you some hot drinks," Cynthia said.
Behind her, Sébastien came with a set of steaming mugs of coffee and tea which were placed on the table. Steven could smell the distinct flavour of pumpkin spice and orange in each mug. As if it wasn't warm enough in the restaurant already, the drinks made it warmer. Sébastien greeted Steven with a "Salut, boss" (in which Steven returned with a wave and smile) before walking away.
And for the first time in a while, Steven was pleased to see Wallace. He would have dismissed Wallace as an irritant like he did the last time, though the circumstances had changed since. Before, Wallace had appeared because he wanted to force Steven to have a relationship with Cynthia (which, in the end, actually worked out). What could Wallace possibly be doing here?
"How are things, Wallace?" Steven asked. "Got your wedding plans worked out yet?"
The last time they had spoken directly, Cynthia and Steven witnessed Wallace propose to Winona at a Unova beach. So they would hazard a guess that Wallace and Winona had some plans made. Then again, that had only happened two seasons ago at most. Perhaps the wedding would wait later.
And their hunch was right. "No plans have been made yet!" Wallace proudly said, with Winona quietly sighing. "You see, I have bigger and more important plans to take care of besides my wedding." On saying that, Winona angrily mumbled nonsense to herself.
Cynthia rolled her eyes, as if agreeing with Winona. "I'm afraid to ask, but what could be more important than your wedding?" She couldn't help but wonder if Wallace was saying that out of spite for his wife-to-be.
"Well, checking on how my best friends and fellow Champions are doing!" Wallace said in the same enthusiasm Steven knew for as long as he knew him.
Wallace helped himself to a crêpe and stuffed it in his mouth. As that was an opportunity for someone else to say something, Winona spoke. "Aside from wanting to visit you, which is true, by the way, Wallace thought of an ingenious idea for the Christmas season."
Coming from Winona, Steven and Cynthia found it hard to believe. Winona? Calling an idea of Wallace's 'ingenious' for once? They knew Wallace and Winona were in a relationship and were engaged, but even this was extreme by Winona's standards.
Cynthia looked at Wallace patiently for an explanation.
"Well you see, Cynthia." Wallace clasped his hands together. "All of Kalos and every reader of the Richissime Guide knows you two are high-profile in the culinary world! You two are the ideal celebrity couple!"
"Wallace… We're not celebrities," said Steven flatly.
Unfortunately Steven knew he was lying to himself because although he and Cynthia tried to not be celebrities, the media and Wallace had forced them into becoming so. The last straw was when the media turned their rivalry into a sensation on the newspapers, magazines, and television. And the final blow was their shared third star in the Richissime Guide. Their relationship became as popular as their restaurants. They loved each other, but would it be too much to ask for privacy?
Not in Wallace's perspective.
"Okay, say you're not celebrities, but you know you and Cynthia are popular in the culinary world!" Wallace said. Then his expression finally became a little serious. "Anyway, it is my duty as Pokémon Champion to engage with the community. You two know that better than anyone.
On saying that, Cynthia and Steven nodded, waiting for Wallace to continue. "Here's my position! I'm throwing a fundraiser for every Pokémon Centre, clinic, hospital in Coastal Kalos, and I spoke with Diantha about it and she's on board, adding she might do the same for Hoenn one day."
A fundraiser? So it was something that was not crazy coming from Wallace.
"Is there a catch?" Steven asked.
Wallace's eyes brightened. "There is! My idea is that I want warm holiday meals served to Pokémon Centre and hospital patients in each of the towns and cities I had in mind. You two, and just you two, will undertake this on your own. I can see it… Two culinary rivals-slash-lovers battle each other, taking on hundreds of patients who can't celebrate at home!"
Cynthia sighed. "That's impossible. We'd be severely understaffed. Wallace, you must understand it's not like the last time when we battled each other with a single dish. Here, you're asking for a hundred. Maybe many hundreds."
As much as Steven wanted to say Wallace had a great idea, he too had reservations. "Plus, we'll have to consider what to cook and the cost of the ingredients. And Cynthia and I might need compensation. We can't just go about and leave our businesses on their own! Even if it was quiet."
Despite that said and agreeing with it, Cynthia wondered if it was because business was quiet that they could actually pull off something like this. "How would we ever compete, anyway?"
Honestly this is a little hard for me to write because I don't want to make the story too long... But anyway, leave a review and have one of the delicious crêpes that Cynthia served here! I promise to keep the story shorter this time!