Chapter 117: The Great Galar Cake Off

"And this year's winner of the Great Galar Cake Off is Bea Saito!"

The crowd cheered as Bea accepted her trophy. Back in Vermillion City, Goh and Chloe watched the recording of last year's competition when Ash and Lillie came in.

"Hey guys, what're you watching?"
"The Great Galar Cake Off! It's the newest hit show on TV."

"Aspiring amateur bakers try to create stunning cakes that will match up to Opal's high standard. The winner gets a big trophy!"

"This is just a repeat of last year. The next competition will be happening soon!"

"I didn't know you were into cooking shows!" Lillie said.

"Oh yeah," Chloe replied. "I just love seeing these awesome creations! Oh, I wish I could be on one!"

Goh shrugged, indifferent.

"I mean, it's alright. Chloe wanted to watch it, and there was nothing better on."

"Oh, don't act like you didn't love it! You were cheering just as loudly as I was!"

Goh just looked away indignantly, trying to hide his blush. Ash looked at the TV screen, surprised to see Bea on the television.

"I didn't know she could bake."

"Apparently. She won last year's contest, so she'll definitely be brought back for the next one."

Just then, the room phone rang.

"That's odd. Who could be calling the lab?"

Chloe walked over to the phone and answered. To her surprise, Opal's face greeted her when the video phone activated.

"Gym Leader Opal?"

"Ah, good, I did get the right number! Hello dearie, how's that adorable Ponyta and Eevee?"

"We're doing great! Ponyta loves the lab."

"That's good. Listen, I'm sure you've seen my cooking show, haven't you?"

"We were just watching last year's when you called!"

"Oh, good! Listen, I need four more competitors for this year, and I remembered our last meeting! So I thought you and your friends would be perfect for it. What do you say?"

Chloe's eyes lit up. A chance to be on her favorite show? How could she pass that up?"

"We'll do it!"

"Great! Be at Ballonlea Stadium by 12 PM Saturday. I can't wait to see you."

"Got it!"

With that, Opal hung up the phone, leaving Chloe excited.

"Do you hear that, Eevee? We're going to be on TV!"

"Evoi!"

Goh sighed in frustration.

"I just wish you didn't answer for all of us. I might have a Project Mew mission that day…"

"Oh, lighten up a bit, Goh!" Ash chuckled. "I'm sure it won't kill you to miss one."

"Come on Goh, don't you want to be on TV?" Lillie asked. Goh thought for a moment.

"Alright, I guess it wouldn't hurt."

Chloe squealed with delight, and gave him a big hug.

"Thank you! You're the best boyfriend ever!"

Come Saturday, the four of them were in Ballonlea, making their way to the stadium. Chloe was practically jumping up and down in excitement.

It didn't take them long to find the stadium, where Opal was waiting for them.

"Ah good, you all came. Everyone's already inside."

Opal led them all to the battlefield, which had been turned into a kitchen for the shooting. Ash immediately saw a familiar face, and ran over to greet her.

"Marnie, hi!"

The girl from Spikemuth smiled, and returned Ash's handshake. Pikachu and Morpeko were equally as excited to see each other, and exchanged sparks.

"It's good to see you, Ash! I saw your battle against Iris the other day, you were amazing."

"Thanks! How's Team Yell doing?"

"Still loud as always. Luckily, Piers is getting better at keeping them under control."

"So, the Lucario trainer showed up?"

Bea, who had been leaning against a wall until Ash had shown up, stood up to greet him.

"Hey, Bea! Don't get too used to that trophy, because I'm gonna take it!"

Bea chuckled, amused.

"We'll see. You're an expert on the battlefield, but can you take the heat?"

"Only one way to find out!"

Just then, Allister peaked out from behind Bea, waving nervously.

"Um, hello. I-I'm competing, too."

"Awesome!" Ash replied. "I'm sure you'll do great."

"Um, thanks."

"Ah, I see you're all acquainted!" Opal beamed. "We're just waiting on two others."

They weren't waiting long, as the two competitors entered a few minutes later. It was who showed up that surprised them.

"Sorry we're late. SOMEONE can't navigate to save their life."

"Aw, come on Rai. It wasn't that bad."

"I'm a Dragon Type expert lost in a forest full of Fairy Types. Today is the worst day of my life, and I haven't even started this stupid show yet."

Opal walked over and whacked Raihan over the head with her cane.

"OW!"

"Have some respect, young man! Honestly, you get into the Masters Eight and suddenly your top of the world…"

Everyone chuckled, before Leon walked over to Ash to shake his hand.

"Hey Ash, long time no see! I saw your battle against Iris the other day, Dragonite was awesome!"

"Heh, thanks, but all of my Pokemon put in the work. So you're competing, too?"

Leon chuckled.

"Yeah, well, Opal didn't really give me a choice. When Opal wants something, she gets it…"

Suddenly, Opal rapped her cane on the ground, getting their attention.

"Now that everyone's here, we can begin. But before we begin filming, you need to pick your partner."

Opal whistled, and out slithered nine Alcremie, one for each variety.

"As you're probably already aware, Milcery can evolve into nine different forms of Alcremie based on different variables. We have Vanilla Cream, Ruby Cream, Matcha Cream, Mint Cream, Lemon Cream, Salted Cream, Ruby Swirl, Caramel Swirl, and Rainbow Swirl. Each of you will choose an Alcremie to work with to help build and decorate your cake. The order will be Bea, Allister, Marnie, Ash, Lillie, Chloe, Goh, Leon, and Raihan."

"Hey!" Raihan snapped, "Why am I last?"

"Because you two were the last to arrive, and you need to learn manners. Now shut up."

Raihan grumbled, but relented. Bea stepped forward, eyeing her potential partners before settling on Caramel Swirl, retreating back in line without a word. Opal couldn't help but chuckle.

"Stoic as always, I love it. Go ahead, Allister."

Allister shyly approached, scanning his options before offering his hand to the Rainbow Swirl.

"Um…would you, maybe, be my partner?"

Alcremie smiled, and rubbed against his hand. Allister smiled, before taking her back with him, Bea smiling at the scene.

Marnie went next, and chose Salted Cream.

"A rough exterior, but soft inside," Opal commented. "Excellent choice. Ash?"

Ash grinned, and immediately picked the Matcha Cream one.

"Oh yeah! We're going to win this for sure, Alcremie!"

Alcremie squealed as she was taken back with him. Lillie was next and chose Mint Cream.

"My mother used to make this amazing mint chocolate cake for my birthday, I'm sure I can recreate it!"

"A childhood favorite, interesting. Your turn, Chloe."

Chloe looked over the final four choices. All of the Alcremie remaining skittered over to her, making it hard to choose…

Until she noticed the vanilla cream one sitting off to the side, sad that no one wanted her. Smiling, she walked over and picked her up, much to Alcremie's shock.

"What do you say, do you want to join me?"

Alcremie smiled, and nuzzled her cheek happily. Opal smiled, and nodded approvingly.

"A simple choice, but in the right hands can be quite creative."

Goh chose Ruby Cream, Leon chose Caramel Cream, and Raihan chose Lemon Cream.

"Excellent! We'll begin in an hour. I suggest you use this time to decide what you'll make."

An hour later, the battlefield had been transformed into a mass kitchen, with nine stations set up for the competitors to cook. Once everyone was at their station, Opal began the show.

"Hello, baking fans of all ages! And welcome to another exciting edition of the Great Galar Cake Off!"

The crowd clapped and cheered as Opal gestured towards the contestants.

"Let's meet our new crop of bakers! First, coming all the way from Vermillion City in Kanto, Chloe!"

Chloe gave a small wave to the crowd.

"Also from Vermillion City, Goh!"

Goh chuckled nervously, but waved as the crowd cheered for him.

"All the way from Aether Paradise in the Alola Region, Lillie!"

Lillie waved, and gave a cute smile.

"From Pallet Town, he's the Champion of Alola, Ash!"

Ash grinned, and made the victory sign as the crowd cheered for him.

"And now for our hometown heroes! The gym leaders of Stow-on-Side, Allister, and last year's winner Bea!"

Bea remained silent, while Allister gave a meek wave.

"From Spikemuth, sister of the Gym Leader Piers, Marnie!"

Marnie gave one of her signature smiles, making the crowd cheer even wilder.

"The headstrong leader of Hammerlocke, ranked Seventh in the World Coronation Series, Raihan!"

Raihan snorted, but did give a polite wave. His fans cheered for him anyway.

"And last, but certainly, not least, The Champion of Galar AND the Monarch of the World Coronation Series, Leon!"

Leon struck his signature pose, making the crowd cheer even louder. Once the applause had died down, Opal continued.

"As always, each baker will have 2 hours to make a cake of their choice. Before we began, each baker chose an Alcremie to help them decorate their cakes. In addition, they may use up to two of their own Pokemon to help them bake the cake. Once the two hours are up, they will be judged as is, and the best one will be declared the winner. On your marks…get set…cake!"

The minute they got the go ahead, everyone got to work on their cakes. Chloe slowly began stirring the mixture, with Ponyta levitating the ingredients in for her.

"Alright, one more stir and we should be good to go! Care to do the honors, Eevee?"

"Evoi!"

Eevee, with a mitt covering her tail, began stirring the mixture. After a minute, it was done, with Chloe opening the oven for Ponyta to put the pan in with her psychic powers.

"Alright, now to let it bake…"

Lillie glanced at her phone, reading the recipe she had her mother send her.

"Alright, now to freeze the strawberries. Care to do the honors, Snowy?"

Snowy smiled, and froze the strawberries with a Powder Snow. Lillie smiled, and stroked her fur.

"Good job, sweetie!"

"Vul!"

"Alright! That's layer one done, not to cook it!"

Goh chuckled to himself, a genius idea already popping into his head.

"Who needs an oven when you have an awesome fire type?"

"Cinderace!"

"Do your stuff, pal!"

Cinderace kicked a small Pyro Ball into the batter…

Which set it on fire, making both him and Goh panic. Luckily, they were able to put it out quickly, but the batter was ruined.

"On second thought, maybe the old fashioned way is best."

"Race."

Pikachu watched nervously as Ash dumped everything edible he could grab into the bowl, a mad grin on his face. He loved his trainer, but cooking was not one of his strong suits.

"Pika?"

"Don't worry Pikachu, this is going to be the best cake ever!"

Pikachu sighed, and shook his head. This wouldn't end well.

As time began to run down, everyone started taking their cakes out of the oven to cool. Chloe's cakes had already cooled, and she was just putting the layers together.

"Alright, now for the frosting. Alcremie?"

Alcremie squirled, and squirted vanilla cream from the top of her head onto the cake. With a knife, Chloe began spreading it around while Ponyta spun the plate for her. After a minute, the cake was ready.

"Alright! Great job, guys!"

"Evoi!"

"Ponyta!"
"Cremie!"

"And done! Step away from your cake!"

Everyone stepped back, marveling at their creations. Oapl smiled, and dug out a fork.

"Now, for the fun part: tasting!"

First up was Goh's cake, a two-layered Chocolate Cake with Ruby Cream frosting. Opal cut herself a slice, ate it, and hummed in thought.

"A bit dry, but not bad. Good recovery."

Next was Bea's three-tiered Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Caramel Swirl.

"Oh my, this does look promising!"

When she bit into it, she found that it did not disappoint.

"Nothing less than I expected, dearie."

Allister's Apple Cake with Rainbow Swirl Frosting was next.

"Hmmm, delicious. I see baking runs in the family."

Allister sheepishly turned away, making the audience Aww. Opal then moved over to Ash and his…

"Oh my…Dearie, please explain your….creation."

Ash chuckled. He knew he'd messed up.

"Well, I've never really baked before, so I kind of…well, let's just say it's a Kitchen Sink Cake."

"Pika." Pikachu said, trying to hide his face. Opal smiled, and patted Ash on the shoulder.

"Well, as long as you had fun, that's all that matters."

She then moved on to Lillie and her two-tiered Mint Chocolate Cake.

"Delicious! Clearly your mother taught you well."

Lillie giggled.

"Thank you."

Marnie's Salted Caramel Bundt cake was next to be judged.

"Hmmm, a bit too salty for me, darling, but a splendid effort nontheless."

Raihan grunted, pushing his Black Forest cake with Lemon Frosting.

"Oh, don't be such a sourpuss, Raihan! You did a fantastic job."

Raihan looked away, trying to hide his blush as she moved onto Leon and his Angel Food Cake with Caramel Frosting. When Opal bit into it, her eyes lit up.

"Oh my, Leon! This is marvelous! Who knew the Monarch was such a skilled baker?"

Leon chuckled, and rubbed his head.

"Ah, well, Hop loves it, so…"

"Aw, such a good big brother!"

And last but not least, she came to Chloe's Neapolitan cake with Vanilla Frosting. Opal bit into it, chewed it, and remained silent for a minute before walking away, making Chloe nervous.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity Opal came back with a decision and trophy in hand.

"I'm pleased to announce that this year's Great Galar Cake Off Champ is…Chloe Cerise!"

Chloe jumped up in shock when the spotlight hit her and Opal handed her the trophy.

"I…I won?"

"Your cake was delicious, dear."

"You did it, Chloe! That was awesome!"

Chloe smiled, taking the trophy and giving her Pokemon a big hug.

"We did it, guys! We won!"

"Evoi!"

"Ponyta!"

"Cremie!"

And as the crowd and her fellow competitors cheered around her, Chloe felt like she was on top of the world.