Chapter 8: Rocket Food

There was a new restaurant that was in operation… but the food seemed less than edible. Each dish appeared to be either burnt or still raw. Under-cooked rice, over-fried eggs, coffee that had been in the carafes for too long, and even purple sludge on a few dishes. Customers came in for something to eat, but left feeling disgusted from trying food that was garbage. James and Meowth seemed perplexed with the constant complaints. "I don't understand!" gawked James. "We're doing our best to serve the customers!"

"We've learned how to distribute dere orders!" struggled Meowth. The two decided to glance back to the kitchen. They saw Jessie whimsically making food with her eyes closed. She moved on from one spot of the kitchen to another where meat was left burning on a grill, the condiment table was askew with the table a huge mess, enough green to make a salad on the floor… The kitchen appeared to have had a tornado blow through. "Jessie!"

"The kitchen is a disaster!" To Jessie, it wasn't that bad.

"Oh, lighten up, you two!" she scolded. "It's not bad!" James and Meowth begged to differ.

"Dis much of a mess would have anyone disagree!" scowled Meowth. James also noticed areas that were wrong with the scene as he came to the oven and noticed the stove was not warmed.

"And these stoves are not preheated!" added James as he assumed the other stoves that were supposedly used. Sauce stained the surfaces. "Did you not work in restaurants before!?"

"Oh, please…" scoffed Jessie. "What I make is meant for royalty. People need to understand the ordeal of greatness."

"Only in your dreams!" snapped Meowth. "Did ya forget dat Totsuki alumni are also here!? Dey take one bite and you'll be out of business!" Jessie scoffed again.

"Meowth has a point!" argued James. "You've been making badly made food and we're losing money!"

"They don't know what good cuisines are!" roared Jessie. Just then, the bell rang. Looking, James and Meowth spotted Soma, Erina, Megumi, Ash and Pikachu entering.

"Quarterfinals bound, Ash!" cheered Soma with Remy on his shoulder. "That two-on-two battle was more one-on-two with how well you coached Pikachu."

("That's what trust does!") squeaked Pikachu. Ash snickered to his accomplishments.

"This is a huge warm-up since I reached the Top Eight in my last two regional conferences," Ash pointed out. Seeing Ash and Pikachu made James and Meowth cautious.

"Jessie, it's the twerp and Pikachu!" voiced James.

"Dis is our chance!" advised Meowth. "We just can't mess up!" Jessie nodded, sensing the opportunity.

"Just get their orders and bring it back," she schemed. "While they're busy eating, we'll take Pikachu and they'll be too lethargic to chase us!" James had a question to this plan.

"I can get the order, but make sure to have those ovens and stoves preheated!" he demanded. "We've had too many people walk out and not made a dime to it!"

"Not my problem that they can't enjoy culinary mastery!" growled Jessie. At a booth, Ash and Pikachu sat by Erina with Soma and Megumi sitting on the other side.

"I'm glad your mom was in the stands cheering for you," Megumi brought up.

"Well… moms," Ash shrugged. "She's always been supportive of what I've been able to do."

"Of course, though I think I have an idea as to why I've had great interests in you, Ash," Erina voiced.

"And what would that be?" wondered Soma.

"See, he and I have a bit of refinery about tastes," Erina explained. "I have the God Tongue and Ash has the God Sight. It's a wonder how Ash used his opponent's Ice Beam attack back on Rhydon."

"I was surprised to know Rhydon can learn Ice Beam," Ash pointed out. "Rhydon's a Ground and Rock-Type Pokémon."

"But it does show variety in some of the Pokémon learning unique moves," Soma agreed. "Anyway, what was going on with you and Delia? You two left just as the judges were tasting my dad's and Kojiro's Ratatouille dishes." Ash crossed his arms, tilted his head and closed his eyes.

"I'm not sure," he shrugged. "She said it was personal. Maybe something about Kojiro said something to her." The students were a bit worried about the briefing. "Look, my mom's strong. She was as adventurous as I am."

"We're not doubting that, even though your mom still looks so young," Soma said. "Maybe Kojiro has an interest with her?" The two girls shivered to the thought.

"That's creepy…" gulped Megumi. "At least your…" She stopped herself, remembering that Ash was without his father. "Sorry. You and Soma are quite alike, only having one parent." Ash and Pikachu gasped to the news.

"Soma?" called out Ash. Soma shook his head to the reminder.

"I don't need to be reminded of my mom's death when I was 12," he murmured.

"You're right," Megumi mulled. "That was insensitive." Pikachu patted Soma's arm in comfort.

"You don't need to do that, little guy," he eased. "Not that I don't appreciate it." Pikachu seemed calm about aiding Soma. "I didn't mean to hide this but after meeting your mom, I had a lapse thinking back to the last time I saw my mom." Megumi knew who Soma referred to.

"If thinking about Tamako Yukihira hurts, then…" she started before Soma rose a hand to her face.

"My mother was opening up the restaurant when she collapsed," he sighed. "I found her unconscious and called for help. She died from a congenital heart defect. Seeing your mom, Ash… Seeing her made me think of the last time I saw her, if you know what I mean." Ash, Megumi, Erina and Pikachu nodded, feeling sympathetic to Soma. James came out with trays of a slop that was a mix of soup and mashed potatoes, a bowl of just lettuce, a moldy pizza dough with just cheese and a strewn of pork and vegetables, overcooked sushi and sliced Oran Berries. Everyone looked at the food and were in disgust.

"What the hell… is this!?" shrieked Erina.

"Is this… food!?" gulped Ash.

"I would rather have Soma's peanut butter and squid tentacles over… whatever this is," Megumi shuttered.

"Whoever made this needs to go to Totsuki Kindergarten," Soma scowled. Erina planned, her arms crossed.

"This calls for immediate action…" she hushed. Ash, Soma and Megumi nodded as Erina stood up and faced James. "BRING OUT YOUR CHEF!" James balked as Jessie emerged, throwing the door open.

"Who summoned me!?" she snarled. Their customers stood with Erina in the front.

"What do you think this is!?" she shouted as she threw the bowl of lettuce. Jessie ducked under the bowl, but some strips of lettuce fell onto her face.

"Hey, I worked hard to make all of that!" snapped Jessie.

"That!?" yelled Soma. "That is an atrocity!"

"I've seen some poorly made food before!" growled Erina. "But what you have would have you expelled from any culinary school possible." Jessie scoffed to Erina's ranting.

"Ha!" she snapped. "Apparently, you don't know what kind of food I prepare for these people in the festivities!"

"We're getting a good look at it right now!" snapped Soma.

"And what you gave us…" added Megumi.

"Belongs in the garbage," Erina scowled. "It's not even worthy of the God Tongue you tried to poison." Another scoff lisped from Jessie.

"God Tongue?" she repeated. "Please… You never bothered to see how successful we are at the business in the Seafoam Islands." She brought out a booklet and turned to a page. "See, this is how we are in the restaurant." Ash looked to the page and noticed something completely wrong: The page was not printed in the same font as the other texts on the other page. In fact, it looked handwritten. He also saw clear tape.

"Seems recently added by you," he pointed out. "Pikachu and I can see clear tape on that page!" Pikachu squeaked in agreement. "Not to mention that someone wrote into it and not print like it should be." The discovery of her fraud boiled anger from Jessie's head. She was steaming mad.

"My food is royalty worthy!" she complained. "What makes you rejecting my food matter!?" Ash stood by Erina, backing the director's claim.

"Royalty!?" he repeated mockingly. "You don't even know what royalty is, let alone what they eat!"

"Besides, a good chef also knows what they're cooking by tasting their food to check for flavor and texture," Megumi voiced, palming Ash's free shoulder. "You did none!" James palmed Jessie's shoulder, telling her to stop.

"It would be better to let it go," he whispered. "It's not worth arguing." Jessie jerked James' hand away.

"I'm not going to let this go!" she shouted. Erina figured that a challenge was upon.

"Neither will I," she warned. "And there's one method to decide it all: I challenge you to a Food War!" Jessie gawked to the challenge thrown by Totsuki's director.

"Food… War?" she stuttered before standing firm. "Then let's have it! If I win, you pay me double for the food!" Both sides headed off to their rightful corners as Jessie and James hid in the kitchen and Erina's group left the restaurant. Back with Meowth, Jessie had a question. "James, explain this to me: what's a Food War? Is it like a food fight?" James and Meowth shook heads.

"Where were you, yesterday!?" scorned James. "A Food War is a battle of who can make the best food to three judges!"

"Meaning, if you don't improve your cooking, you'll be a laughingstock in dis here convention!" warned Meowth.

"Then, I can prove to these twerps that I am the best in this," Jessie sneered. The next morning, Ikumi and Tiger found and ran across the beach. Ikumi had a pair of white shorts and her red, white and blue bikini on as the two journeyed the coast of Seafoam Island. After a couple of miles, the two stopped and looked out to sea.

"I can't enjoy the ocean enough like this," she muttered. Tiger barked happily when there was some splashing. Looking out, they saw the manta rays from when Ikumi first arrived on the island. Red pigeons flew under the jumping mantas. Ikumi and Tiger awed the sight… but not alone.

"The Pidgey and Mantine seem to be having fun!" voiced Misty. Ikumi and Tiger saw Misty with Max behind.

"Morning, you two!" she greeted. "So the mantas are called Mantine… That is cool."

"It sure is, Ikumi," Max agreed. "I still feel bum that Momo is older than me, but she did give me some tips so that's nice to have a little something."

"Yeah, that's true," Ikumi acknowledged. "Momo is usually wise. Maybe she sees you as her student."Misty and Max giggled. "Besides, another Food War is on the horizon: Erina vs. Jessonya."

"I heard," Misty knew. "And Mrs. Ketchum's on the docket to judge it." Ikumi believed she would be fair. At the resort, Erina donned the white uniform.

"It's been awhile since I wore this in a Food War," she hushed. She stepped out with a bag and meeting Ash and Pikachu.

"You seem ready to go," Ash sensed.

"I am… I'm ready to show that Jessonya is nothing but a sham." They reach the Food War arena where Erina knelt down to Ash. "Watch me, and you'll see how well I do." She gave Ash a fist bump between his eyes. Ash nodded with Pikachu agreeing. Ash soon straightened himself out before finding a seat by Satoshi.

"Not a lot of boys get that lucky with Erina," Satoshi grinned as he softly slugged Ash in the arm.

"I get it," he sighed. With the women set backstage, Diego set himself up for introductions.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" he started. "We are here for another Food War! Before we see who is battling today, here are the judges!" The first spotlight struck Delia, shocking a lot of people.

"MOM!?" gawked Ash.

("She gets a turn!?") squeaked Pikachu.

"First judge is Delia Ketchum!" introduced Diego. Then another spotlight shone, Pete being underneath it. "Next up is Pete!" The last spotlight struck Joichiro, causing more gasps.

"DAD!?" gawked Soma.

"And last but not least: Joichiro Yukihira!" finished Diego. Erina saw the last judge, a lump on her throat forming.

'Soma's father?' she thought. 'Now, the nerves kick in…' Jessie awed Joichiro's appearance.

"Ooh, that is one hunky man!" she salivated with drool pouring out of her mouth. Delia, Joichiro and Pete reached their podiums when Diego took the floor.

"Alright, this is a battle of restaurant owner versus Totsuki's director!" he informed. "So, let's introduce the chef of RockEnything Restaurant here on Seafoam Island: Jessonya!" Jessie ran out of the hall and waived to the people. None were too thrilled to see her, but she didn't care. Her girly coos didn't alert Joichiro. Diego was ready to bring Erina in. "Her opponent, director of Totsuki Culinary Academy: Erina… Nakiri!" Cheers erupted but Erina didn't turn to the crowd. Instead, her eyes were on Jessie.

"You know, you didn't offer a counter offer to me," Jessie sneered.

"I won't need one," she mulled. "It will be you who will wear the shame once this Food War is over." Both women returned to their kitchens.

"Today's menu will feature eggs!" announced Diego as he rose an egg. "We did stock a dozen eggs to try and make so… no rush… Now, let the Food War… BEGIN!" With a bell ringing, Erina and Jessie were battling. Who would emerge the winner?

TO BE CONTINUED...