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Chapter 16

"Humans... Racist little, ungrateful, unappreciative, monsters! OOhhh! They make me so mad!" rages one of the newest refugees as some kids steal one of her meat pies and run away calling her all sorts of insulting racist names. The large heavyset porcine woman leans against the edge of her cart as she tries to sell her wares, with little luck. One would think such a large, clean, city would have hungry mouths to feed. Preferably ones who would pay for her wares... The hefty woman left everything behind in her hometown on the coast to come try her luck in the legendary Temple City that everyone seems to be talking about. It is just as beautiful as she had heard, but the people here aren't as friendly as she had hoped. "So far it's only been the urchins that have caused her trouble though, that's a plus I guess?"

As the day progresses she pushes her cart farther and farther into the city. The farther in she goes the nicer the buildings get, and the better dressed the people are. She worries at any time some guard is going to tell her 'Your kind aren't welcome here, go back to the lower city.' As happened too many times to count back home. It's a risk she is willing to take in order to see the progressively more stunning sights. Fountains made of ice, tiny birds flying to and from beautiful flowers she has never seen before that seem to grow out of the very stone.

Finally someone approaches her that looks like they could buy something. A man in a colorful robe with a neatly groomed goatee and a gold chain suspending a glowing crystal around his neck walks up to her who looks like he is interested in her as much as her foodstuffs. She smiles as friendlily as she can and gives her spiel "Welcome to Lady Ponchera's cart of delicious home cooked foods and desserts! What would you like to eat?" She asks accidentally sounding a little bit desperate. The rich looking man produces a small bag filled with tiny glowing gems and asks in a silky masculine voice "Forgive me if I am mistaken, but are you familiar with the currency of Temple City?" The lady looks at his handsome mid-thirties face, and stammers "Oh my! What, oh, ahem. No I admit, I am not. Is that what these are?"

The man proceeds to explain Temple City's system of magic and currency, he also tells her that he is a currency exchanger with a fondness for home baked goods. And in exchange for her promise to bring her cart by his rather impressive house he will keep her updated on the current value of these standard sized Mana crystals, and help her find the value of any larger crystals she will inevitably come across in her time here. He tells her the basics of Jacob Snows seminars, and how the residents of temple city all learn how to use the Mana crystals to use magic. He even makes a show of twirling a fireball around in his hand in an impressive show of flames and agility with an expression of joy at the pure simple pleasure of using magic.

Lady Ponchera is dazzled by the display as well as the musical voice of the attractive man speaking with her. The last thing he tells her is where she will have the best luck selling her wares, high town where the citizens there have grown too occupied with magic and their wonderful new lifestyles. The citizens of high town are the original refugees to follow Jacob Snow, and have adapted to this new way of life quite well. They are almost indistinguishable from the nobility of the big city, the main difference being that they are not as rude in their pompousness. They still remember what it was like to live in tents and battle the desert.

The lady begins to build a reputation for herself in high town as having the best food in all of high town. And at the insistence of Mr. Gold the money changer who helped her learn how to survive in Temple City with its unique currency in exchange for nothing more than her bringing her cart by his home every day, she has been slowly increasing her prices. Due to his wise financial advice she has been making a nice profit and has started to save up to pay some builders to make her a house in high town where she can sell her wares.

One day a group of high town ladies are sitting by an ice fountain talking when Ponchera pushes her cart by and waves to them. They wave back, then seem to have an idea and flock over to her. Their colorful dresses fluttering about them beautifully.

Blue dress "Miss! We've just had a brilliant idea,"

Green dress "Yes! Truly brilliant!"

Yellow dress "We were thinking,"

Green dress "That you should bring your wares to"

Blue Dress "If you wanted to of course, we wouldn't want to push anything upon you"

All the Dresses "Present your wares to Master Snow!"

Yellow Dress "We are certain,"

Blue Dress "Completely certain,"

Green Dress "He will simply, Adore you"

Yellow Dress "Your wares we mean, of course"

Red Dress "But my dear, you simply must do something with your hair,"

All the Dresses "Yes, and maybe a little perfume? A touch of powder? And a bath, we can't have you smelling like well... Come with us! We will take care of you, oh here, we will buy your whole cart and give it to the poor for the day so there is really nothing holding you back! Yes dear, you simply Must try the Anuvian spa treatment..."

The bustling ladies hand Ponchera the largest crystal she has ever seen, and flutter around her like so many butterflies. The next thing she knows is she's naked and sitting in a flowery bath having her hands and feet scrubbed and cleaned, while someone does her hair, and a seamstress makes her a pretty dress styled around her cooking apron, but made of all fine new materials. After her bath some eager young women massage her every inch, and a few times causes her to flinch as delicate little human fingers touch her in places that naughty little hands ought not. But she relaxes and allows it, as the whole experience has been wonderful.

Before she knows it, she finds herself in the most incredibly well stocked and wondrously equipped expansive kitchen she has ever seen, there is nearly nothing made of wood except for a few utensils that must be, and even those are so beautifully carved and polished it seems a shame to soil them by using them! Most confusing of all are the 6 pretty young women all in identical frilly black and white outfits, all smiling at her expectantly. The woman in the red dress walks into the kitchen and sits on the massive stone counter and folds her legs in an extremely ladylike fashion, and says "all of this, can be yours if you impress our Lord and Master. Little tip, free of charge, he likes sweet and creamy deserts. The rest is up to you! Good luck dear, you deserve this."

Ponchera blinks dumbstruck and sits on a stool as she tries to take it all in. After a few moments, she stands back up and claps her hands loudly causing one of the maids to squeak in alarm, and the rest to flinch, then says "Okay! Lets do this!" She starts issuing commands as she thinks of them, not using all of her maids at first, but slowly she starts getting used to having them around to do things for her. Just in time for supper they finish the last dish, and load everything onto carts.

The maids gracefully wheel the carts of food into the dining chamber and wait for Ponchera's introduction. The announcer clears his throat, and says "Dinner is served, The Lady Bacon and hers present a humble spread and hope that everything is to your liking." The maids eyes go wide as they glance from one to another then stare at Ponchera as she clenches her serving ladle so tightly that her knuckles are white. She maintains her composure however, and carries on the little more than a wince at hearing her last name used. She hates her last name, and everyone in her hometown would use call her by it, "Ms. Bacon! Hey Bacon! Whatcha makin' Bacon?" Etc etc.

Dinner is a grand success, everyone loves everything, and dessert? Priceless. Jacob actually stands up after eating the first bite of the pie put before him, and everyone in the room falls dead silent. After all eyes are on him he says "Lady Bacon, you are the best chef I have ever had the pleasure of being fed by. The Palace kitchen is yours to use as you wish. You are hereby granted full dominion of the Kitchen wing, its staff, its supplies, its treasury, and you are encouraged to use it to make a profit. We will ensure your treasury remains full, in exchange for you and your staff providing us with meals. They need not be grand banquets like tonight worry not. Even simple dishes if made by you I am without any doubt will be the best things ever to grace our mouths." After that he starts clapping, and is soon joined by the other nobles.

Ponchera is overjoyed, she had dreamed of working in a palace since she was a little girl, but to be the head chef and master of the kitchen. Tears of joy well in her eyes as she hugs all of her maids in one giant smooshing luv hug. Jacob snaps his fingers and the announcer stands close "Severus, I am not impressed with your little stunt. In fact I am quite displeased, I am putting you under the authority of Lady Ponchera until I decide otherwise. And if I hear of further misbehavior on your part, well... I'll be more creative with your punishment next time." When Severus looks at Jacob he sees him glaring at his eyes glowing unsubtly a demonic red. He flinches backwards and stutters "Y-yes sir."

Thus Lady Ponchera Bacon became the head chef of Temple Palace.