Drageria
Ch. 30: CAKE!
A gong rang loud across an open area as a huge pyre was lit behind a large throne in a beautiful outdoor setting. Tachibana was sitting up from the throne and took the front on a large wooden stage. Standing before the large crowd of people who all looked on in awe. The dragons are seated behind Tachibana.
Addressing the people, he announced, "Let the Festival of Cake begin!"
All around, the people cheered before diverging off into the newly rebuilt town square. The new construction allowed for a much more open design, which was perfect for the festival and all the crowds. The street vendors that once sold all manner of goodies now sell cakes of all different kinds. There were tables with cake, people walking around with it, and even people making it and bringing it out to be sold, eaten, or decorated. There were even cake-themed decorations around every corner. It was a beautiful scene that everyone from around the kingdom was invited to, especially the royal guards.
Amongst the crowds was the promising up-and-coming group of Izuku, Uraraka, Momo, Kirishma, and Shinso. All of them were walking together through the huge and excitable crowds. Kirishima was snacking on a cupcake; Momo was enjoying a slice of pound cake; Shinso was picking the fruit decoration on a black raspberry cake; Izuku was deciding on a slice of flan, while Uraraka was doing everything in her power to devour every kind of cake she could get her gloves on!
"Woah! What a turnaround! Everyone in the kingdom must be here!", Kirishima said in excitement between bites.
"I think everyone is?", Shinso commented while eating the last berry.
"I'm more curious as to the origin and meaning of this festival?", Momo asked aloud, looking around after swallowing.
"Well, I'm more curious about why Lord Tachibana is wearing a dress and a powdered wig.", Uraraka said while taking a break from her binge eating and looking at their devout leader.
As she had stated, Tachibana was indeed wearing a dress and a powdered wig, but not just any. The huge dress gave his hips the impression they were larger than they were, flowed all around, and had many ruffled layers decorated in gems and sequences and colored purple. The wig alone was larger than his head and made up in a truly high society way, while stark white. To complete the look, his face had been done up in makeup, and he even placed balloons on his chest. Making him look like some kind of monarch from the Victorian era.
Before any of them could form any theories as to why, Tachibana appeared behind Uraraka and nearly scared the girl half to death as he stated, "Why don't you ask me yourself."
Uraraka screamed in fright, dropping all the cakes she was holding. She turned around before bowing before him and exclaiming, "Lord Tachibana! I'm sorry for speaking out of line!"
Tachibana laughed at her reaction and waved his finger, causing the broken and dirty cakes she dropped to become whole and clean while also floating them back into her arms as he told her, "It's alright to ask questions. That's what separates the smart people from the ones who want to be dumb.", he then adjusted his wig before telling them, "Now as for the Festival of Cake, it's more simple than you think!"
"It's an excuse for Lord Tachibana to feed his crippling sugar addiction.", Arete said in a snarky tone as she nibbled on some dark chocolate cake.
"Arete!", Tachibana yelled at her in frustration. After his cheeks cooled off from embarrassment, he returned to the teens and told them, "Well, she's not wrong. Although it's an excuse for me to eat cake and feel bad about it later, it's more of a thank you party."
"A party?", Momo asked.
"For who?", Kirishima added.
"The dragons, of course!", Tachiaban told them excitedly.
"Them? Why are we thanking them? Don't they just eat, sleep, and fart?", Shinso asked aloud, getting the ire glances all off six in his direction.
Tachibana raised his finger and said, "While true, they are also the entire reason Drageria exists. With their powers combined, they made this little slice of paradise the place it is today."
"But I thought YOU were the one who made Dreageria?", Uraraka asked him in confusion.
"I only guided the brush; the dragons are the true artists.", Tachibana humbly told them. Before shifting his focus to his outfit, he chuckles, "As for the dress, it's more of a symbolic joke."
"What kind of joke?", Izuku asked him.
"Well, I'm sure they don't teach it in schools anymore, but do you know about pre-quirk history?", Tachibana inquired, only to get a nod from Izuku and Momo. Tachibana huffed in satisfaction at this and explained in full, "Well, back in the year 1793, in my home country of France, there was a monarch who almost solely kick-started the entire French Revolution, also known as the Reign of Terror. A woman by the name of Marie-Antoinette had taxed the people so badly that no one could afford bread, not even military officers, while she sat in her castle and ate cake all day long. I'm sure you know her from her famous or infamous line, Let Them Eat Cake. So this is where this comes in.", the kids didn't look convinced, so he told them with a chuckle, "Also, everyone gets a kick out of seeing me in a dress.", he then pulled on the front of his dress to fix it, only for one of the balloons to pop. He groaned and shouted, "Darnit! Not again. Fay! I need another boob, another one popped!", as he walked away, another popping sound was heard, followed by Tachibana saying, "Darnit! Make those two!"
The teens then went on their way and enjoyed the festivities until the coward started to shift and formed a line before the stage that sat Tachibana on his throne. This confused the teens, and they all got close enough to see what was happening. As they stood there, they watched as the people came up one by one, pacing cakes down and allowing the dragons to eat them. Afterwards, Tachibana conversed with the dragons before the person left, soon followed by the next one.
"What's going on now?", Uraraka tilted her head and asked while shoving a slice of cake in her mouth.
"It's called the Challenge of Tastes. People try to make the best cake possible for the Dragons every year. And if they all can agree that it tastes good, that person wins a prize.", Arete told them, coming up beside the teens, looking n at the sight. She then sighed while swallowing her cake and saying with a dejected yet irritated tone, "There's just one problem.", the teens looked to her for an answer, and turning to them, she asked, "You know the chef, Gourmande Savoureux?"
Apart from Izuku, all the teens shook their heads, and the boy said, "The one who prepares the food for Lord Tachibana? I'm familiar with him. Why?"
"Because he wins every single year!", she stated in exasperation.
"Is he that good?", Momo asked in surprise.
"He prepares all the food for the denizens of the castle, Lord Tachibana, and the Dragons. Daily.", Izuku told her, making her gasp a bit while covering her mouth.
Arete sighs and says, "I've tried to get Lord Tachibana to ban him. But he said it wouldn't be fair, and then he always brings up that before then, no one would win because the dragons could never decide on what cake they liked more or less, leaving everyone frustrated."
"That is quite the pickle to be put into.", Momo admits while thinking about it.
Shinso said in his neutral tone, "Don't look now, but I think he's next." This irritated Arete.
"Oh god.", she groaned while shoving the rest of the cake down her throat.
After what seemed like everyone had gone and not impressed the dragons, the Chef, Gourmande Savoureux, came up to the stage with six large food trolleys pushed behind him by his sous chefs; everyone he passed either groaned or made silent comments. Partially opening the coward like the red sea as he came in, his huge belly moving like soup as he fixed his handlebar mustache. Once coming before him, he bowed deeply.
"Chef!", Tachibana exclaimed happily.
"My Lord.", Gourmande Savoureux replied with equal excitement.
"So good to see you again this year.", Tachibana stated happily.
"I can't say everyone else feels the same.", Gourmande Savoureux stated while trying not to look back at the many angry expressions directed at him, which were quickly scared off as Fafnir snarled at the crowd.
"Well, chef, what amazing masterpieces do you have for this year?", Tachibana asks while taking out a silver fork.
"See for yourself, my Lord.", he told him while moving out of the way of the trolleys. All six were lined up in front, each one in front of a different dragon. As the man explained, "Today, I have prepared six different cakes. One made specifically for each of the Princes and Princesses."
The dragons were already impressed by this statement alone. The first sous chef removed the first platter and reversed a very unusual-looking cake. It was made up of a mound or hill but was colored purple and peach. There wasn't even any frosting. It almost looked bland.
"For Prince Ladon, I have prepared a special I call the Ant Hill Surprise.", Gourmande Savoureux explained with pride at the strange-looking cake.
"What's the surprise?", Tachibana asked while poking the cake, only for it to explode into a huge swarm of different bugs as soon as it was opened.
"Bugs.", the chef told him as it happened.
Before the bugs could go everywhere, Ladon quickly slurped them and the cake up with his tongue in a few swipes. Lading the dragon to belch in delight.
"I've heard of four and twenty blackbirds back in a pie. But never four and twenty hundred bugs backed in a cake.", Shinso committed, making Izuku chuckle.
"Ladon is impressed once again with your baking skills, chef. Well done.", Tachibana commemorates him.
Gourmande Savoureux bows and then moves to the next dish. Once removed, it shows a beautiful cake that looks like the very essence of the sea was placed into it. It was a gorgeous blue, yellow, and green with wisps of something that looked like water around it. It was almost magical.
"For Prince Apalala, The Sea Gods Rage.", the chef told them.
Tachibana broke off a piece that still somehow had the wisps on it and placed it into his mouth while Apalala licked up the whole thing. He made an enjoyable sound as his cheeks exploded before swallowing it and commented, "WOW! It felt like the whole ocean exploded in my mouth!", a snort from Fay made the man turn his head and exclaim, "Don't you dare make a joke, Fay! You're above that!"
From there, the next one was opened, and inside was what looked like a funnel cake colored like the sky. It looked so light and fluffy that it almost seemed like it would just fly off the plate. It even had clouds encircling it.
"For Princess Quetzalcoatlus, I have the Savory Smooth Sky.", Gourmande Savoureux shows off the next one.
Tachibana broke off a piece and almost lost it as it nearly flew right off his fork! After grabbing the piece, he shoved it in his mouth alongside Quetzalcoatlus, and after a moment, both of their eyes glittered with satisfaction. Another moment later, Tachibana looked surprised by something, placing a hand on his mouth.
"OH! It melts on my tongue!", he observed excitedly while Quetzalcoatlus purred.
"For Prince Nidhogg, we have the Rocky Road Top Cake.", the chef showed off the next one.
The next cake had a very odd shape, colored like granite with vanilla frosting on it. Beside it was a small spoon with some already on it, no doubt for him. Tachibana took the spook and tried to take a bite, but it was hard. After trying to bite into it unsuccessfully, he bit hard and broke his teeth. After licking the frosting off, he wondered why it was so hard.
He looked at the chef and said, "Chef…..this is a carved stone with frosting on it.", But Nidhogg just ate it all up in one bite, leading Tachibana to admit while his teeth grew back, "But Nidhogg seems to like it."
"For Princess Tanit, I have made the Sun Goddess Supreme!", Gourmande Savoureux exclaimed while the next top came off.
However, no one could view the cake as it gave off an intense light! The main color was yellow, but there was purple, blue, and white mixed in! So many people screamed as they avoided the sight of the cake glow!
"It sure is bright.", Tacahinbaan commented as his eyes burst into flames from looking directly at it.
"What did he make that cake out of?!", Izuku yelled over the roar of the crowd of dissatisfied people.
"What?!", Kirishima yelled back.
"I said, what did he make that cake out of!?", Izuku repeated himself.
"What did you say!? It's so bright I can't hear you?!", Kirishima yelled again.
Eventually, the overbearing light died as Tanit ate it with extreme pleasure. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness that's over!", Uraraka stated while flailing to her knees.
"And finally, for Prince Fafnir, I have prepared an exceptional treat.", Gourmande Savoureux hyped up his last dish, making Fafnir and Tachibana look at him intrigued. The last one was revealed, and he exclaimed, "Behold! The Five Layer Volcano!"
Sitting on the last platter was the largest cake, shaped like a volcano, with dark chocolate cake and red frosting dripping down. But that wasn't the only thing interesting about it. The whole cake itself had a hot smoke rising off of it and some kind of unnatural heat. It was so hot that I was like looking at a radiator!
"Holy crap! Just looking at it, I can feel the heat from here!", Shinso exclaimed while holding up his arm to shield himself from the heat.
Tachibana broke off a piece and popped it in his mouth, and his whole head went up in flames when he did! A few moments later, the fire left to reveal a blackened skull that said, "It sure is…spicy, chef." All before breathing out a puff of black smoke.
Fafnir ate up the cake in one bite and gurgled with contempt while breathing steam from his nose.
After this, all the dragons came together and began to squeak, squawk, coo, burp, and purr in some kind of discussion. After it ended, they all seemed to relay their decision to Tachibana.
He nods, stands up, and addresses the crowd, telling them, "Well, I think the dragons have agreed.", everyone groans and rolls their eyes at this, already knowing what's to be said. Tachibana then begins to say, "This year's winner of the Challenge of Tastes is-."
"WAIT! We still have one more competitor, my Lord.", a voice shouts out from the crowd.
Tachibana's eyes widened with curiosity, and he said happily, "Oh, then, in that case, send them up! Everyone should get a chance no matter what!"
Once again, the crowd parted like the Red Sea, and a familiar and cute little girl was holding a tray with six decadent desserts on it. Tachibana smiled and chirped, "Oh, hello, Eri! Have you made something for the dragons?"
Eri, who looks ready to burst from all their eyes on her, clambers up to the stage and says in a small voice, "Yes."
Tachibana claps his hands and asks, "And what have you prepared?"
"C-Candy Apple C-Cake.", she manages to stutter out.
"Oh, that sounds delicious! Right, kids?" Tachibana says with a wide smile, waiting for the dragon's answer, only getting nothing in return. A tack mark appears on his head as he half scolds them: "I said RIGHT, kids!?" This makes the dragons stiffen and nod their heads. Tachibana then prompts Eri, telling her, "Go ahead and give your cakes."
Eri came close, held up the platter with six candy apples covered in fluffy cake and decorated with a different color, one for each color of the dragons, and held it up as high as she could for them. Tachibana watched the dragons like a hawk, making sure they weren't rough with her, staring holes into their souls! A stare that all of them could feel and listen to. So, each dragon carefully brought their heads down, one after the other, and took a single apple into their mouth before eating it. After eating, the dragons again converted with each other, and Fafnir brought his head to his father and gurgled something to him.
"Oh? What's that?", he asked as the dragon grumbled to him. "Oh. Oh! Oh? Oh, okay.", he finally said as he pulled his head away, allowing Atchibana to stand up and address the citizen once more. "Ladies and gentlemen. A slight change of plans. The Dragons have decided to change their decision.", the crowd began to get increasingly curious about this turn of events and softly murmured to one another as Tachibana raised a hand to silence them. "The winner of the Challenge of Tastes is Eri!"
With that, the whole crowd cheered with glee at the news, and even the dragons celebrated by launching their breath weapons into the air! Leading poor Eri to become confused and overwhelmed by all the sudden commotion, nearly making her cry!
"Yeah! Go Eri!", Izuku called out, putting the girl at ease.
"She won!", Uraraka cheered while hugging and jumping with Izuku.
"I can't believe she won. Good on her.", Shinso smiles.
"I never knew those reptiles could ever agree on something.", Arete complements.
Gourmande Savoureux walks up to Eri, going to one knee and taking off his hat, and he says, "Oh, little lady. Your time in the kitchen with me has truly shown the fruits of your labors here and now. From the little girl who could barely hold an egg to a bright little cook who could satisfy the dragons. You have made this old chef well.", getting choked up, he took out a hanky and exclaimed before blowing his nose, "I'm so proud of you!"
Eri smiles wide at this before Turning back to see Tachibana standing behind her and hearing the man say over the cheering, "Congratulations, Eri. You're our winner!"
"What I win.", she asks, confused, yet happy.
"Well, normally, we have this oversized trophy," he tells her while pulling out a huge trophy with a cake on it. But he quickly puts it away as he guesses, "But I'm sure you don't want that." She shakes her head, and Tachibana offers, "I thought so. So, instead, you get the honor of joining me in trying all the other cakes for the Festival!"
"I'm sure he would have done that anyway.", Arete side-chuckles to Izuku.
Who in return chuckles and says, "Yeah, I'm sure he would."
Tachibana takes out a fan and walks around while rousing the people, announcing, "Now let us continue with the festivities! Come come! Eat, drink, and be merry one and all!"