A Pastry Competition.

Quince was walking around in the strawberry fields, remembering her past as a farmer. She picked a strawberry, tasting it and savouring it’s sweet taste. She suddenly had an idea as she saw Mademoiselle the stroodle, her pet imp. She was one of the rare succubuns that was creating sweets for the imps. She quickly returned back home to write her idea down. She was going to create a baking competition, open to all, where the goal would be to create a dessert for the imps, using this season’s fruit: the strawberries.

She was going to be the only judge. Of course, she will be tasting the creations to make sure that they were good. Before putting her idea into action, she visited Hops, the bartender of the Rabbit Hole bar. She asked her her cooperation for her future competition by making cocktails for the participants and the spectators of it, as thanks. Hops, down with the idea, told her that she will talk about it with the boss of the bar and, if they accept, she will help her with glee. Quince, while waiting for the response, continued to work on her competition idea. She was thinking about the rewards for the winners when she saw at the corner of her eyes the casino and decided to go ask Angora if she could help. She asked the latter if it was possible to offer to the three winners chances on her machines. She told in details what she was hopping for: the third would have two spins on the slots machine, the second would have one chance on the spin machine and one chance on the roulette and the first would have two spins on the roulette. Of course, she will pay herself the chances and even a supplement for her collaboration. The casino manager gave her a smile and agreed, answering that as long as she received money, that was all that mattered.

Quince, happy to know that one of the points on her list of preparations was decided, was searching where she could host the competition. She decided then that, since the participants will use the fields’ fruits, she would like to do it near them. She went to ask the farmers that gives her the permission to use some space near their fields, at the condition to taste the creations too. She thought back to her decision of being the only member of the jury and told them that the representant of each field could become one too, which they were happy about. After finishing all preparations: the choice of the decorations, the stall for the competition and all the rest, Quince only had to wait for the response of the bar. Many days passed before the bartender came to the pastry chef’s house. As they were talking around a drink Quince made for them, Hops taught her that the boss of the bar agreed to this little collaboration, as long that there was a compensation for the alcohol that was going to be used. Quince affirmed to Hops to announce that the bar will be payed for the alcohol, and with interest. After the departure of the bartender, who had to go back to work, Quince prepared the posters to officially promote the launch of the competition. On them, she wrote every details: the date of the competition, the theme, the prizes for the winners, and the presence of free refreshments for the participants and spectators. However, what she highlighted on the posters was the fact that everybody could participate. The succubuns participating could be pastries chef or not and age didn’t mattered.

When she finished all that, she put up posters all over Burrowgatory town. The firsts succubuns seeing these posters was intrigued, then, many residents were interested in it. There was several competition entries. Everyone was preparing for it. The participants were thinking of what they were going to make while the spectators salivated to the idea of tasting these creations for free. Beacuse yes, Quince had decided that after declaring the winners, all succubuns could also enjoyed the desserts. So it was specified to make cakes and other sweets big enough or in enough quantities to give for the imps but to make sure that the succubuns not participating could have some too. Time passed until the D-Day.

Quince came in advance to make sure that everything was ready and that there wasn’t any problems. Once everything was okay, she was waiting for the participants and the rest of the jury members. When everyone was there and that some spectators were coming, Quince took a microphone in hand and began to present the competition. She revealed the participants’ names, disclosed the time limit to make the pastries before announcing the start of the competition. During many hours, the succubuns could smell the different and tasty perfumes coming from the various desserts. The pastry chefs made creations of all colors, of all forms and of all sizes. Some were using only strawberries, while others used other fruits; many were making simple cakes while others were making some a little bit extravagants; there was the ones that were making many little cakes while the rest were making big ones. The public, jury and Quince were satisfied to see the variety. Towards the end of the time limit, a countdown was announced by Quince before being followed by the spectators. When it ended, every participants deposited their work on a table where there was a little tag with their name on it. Each members of the jury took a slice of each cake and went to debate. It was then the time to revealed the winners. The first place was attributed to a succubun that made a crepe cake filled with cream and pieces of strawberries and was representating some imps. The prizes were given and Quince thanked everyone that were there, whether it be the succubuns participating for agreeing to take on the challenge as well as the member of the jury for having agreed to lend their fields. Of course, she thanked Angora for the prizes and Hops for the cocktails, too, that the succubuns could enjoy drinking.

At the end of the day, Quince took a slice of each creation before going to help remove all the materials. Then, when she was home, she gave the slices to her imps, impatient to see what transformations that this could give.